Our top five picks for things to do this week: Hop on, hop off, get down . . . bouncy castles for big kids . . . a pocket guide to Jazz Fest . . . what the lovely Lilli Carré is up to . . . and more Read more
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By Penny Pollack & Jeff Ruby
Since Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz took over the Tizi space, everyone’s been wondering what the boys would do there. We had heard it would be a steak house, but now comes word that 531 North Wells Street will be a “chef-driven oyster bar...” Read more
By David Bernstein
THE INSIDER: With a background as a Democratic Party boss, a lobbyist, and a powerful commissioner of a property tax appeals board, Joseph Berrios now wants to be Cook County assessor, a role that will give him even more sway in picking winners and losers among local taxpayers. Chicago magazine’s political editor—working with the Better Government Association—argues that Berrios shines as a vivid example of the clout-infested politics for which Illinois is famous Read more
By Penny Pollack and Graham Meyer with Denise Peñacerrada & Kaitlin Petersen
By Dennis Rodkin
Residential property tax rates rose—in some cases, steeply—in 9 of 12 representative Cook County municipalities over the past decade, according to the Civic Federation. Meanwhile, taxes on commercial and industrial property went the other direction, declining in 11 of the 12 municipalities... Read more
By Penny Pollack & Jeff Ruby
Before splitting town for New Orleans, Rick Tramonto (formerly of Tru and Tramonto’s Steak & Seafood) gave us the scoop on Restaurant R’evolution, a 200-seat spot he’s unveiling with John Folse in the Royal Sonesta Hotel on Bourbon Street in the summer of 2011... Read more
By Penny Pollack and Graham Meyer
Stein and Dine
The mystery about who would helm the kitchen of The Florentine (JW Marriott, 151 W. Adams St.; no phone yet), the upcoming Chicago debut of BLT Restaurant Group, didn’t stay mysterious for long... Read more
By Bradley Lincoln
I’ve been noticing a venti home design trend percolating through town, and I’m pretty wired about it. Designers and artists have started to use Read more
By Cassie Walker
SHOCK OF THE NEW: From music to architecture to literature and beyond, Chicago has often defied the placid Midwestern stereotypes. We pick the city’s top 40 artistic breakthroughs Read more
By Dennis Rodkin
The Properties: Three suburban houses have each sold for exactly $1 million in the month since I reported what $1 million buys in the city. Let’s take a look at what suburban homebuyers are getting for that benchmark price right now... Read more