Author: michael austin
Dancer on a bun in Glenview
A new northwest suburban gourmet hot dog joint is serving up genuine Reindeer Hot Dogs for the holiday season. The place is called fRedhots and Fries [...]
Chicago's tchotchke neighborhood?
Flying in from Dublin on Sunday night, straight over the lake and into O'Hare, a woman from Will County behind me was commenting on how close we were [...]
Chicago wine auction moves north
The esteemed Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. is moving its auctions north. The Chicago based company, which sells rare wines, is changing the venue of its co [...]
Turkey Day with a Jewish flair every day in the Loop
You will not find it on the menu--or at least I didn't--but if you ask your server (as I did the other day) to have the kitchen whip up a turkey reube [...]
Prime business location in Old Town vacant
First the Days Inn at the corner of Clark, Lincoln and Wells in Old Town changed its name to the Gold Coast hotel (that was about six months ago). The [...]
Ladies' Lingerie in Boystown
The heterosexual males out there who thought there would never be a good reason to venture into Boystown...well, there's a reason all of a sudden.
On [...]
New Bucktown restaurant Il Covo
In the block of Damen Avenue just south of where the expressway crosses overhead, a new restaurant called Il Covo (2152 N. Damen, 773-862-5555) is tur [...]
River North burgers going fast
There is a restaurant in River North called Naha (500 N. Clark St., 312-321-6242), and it is one of the finer restaurants in the city. Chef Carrie Nah [...]
Endless sushi in Lincoln Park
Sure there's probably a band somewhere called Endless Sushi (or there should be), but this is about dinner. On Mondays, at the Lincoln Park sushi rest [...]
The Morton Grove mix
"Urban-suburban" village builds new downtown around Metra stop
story and photos by Michael Austin
Say what you want about Evanston's quasi-urban b [...]
Renovo no more – Morton Grove spa suddenly shuttered
You wouldn't know it if you were to read my upcoming New Homes / YoChicago story about Morton Grove, but the men's spa featured prominently in the st [...]
Wine education in Bucktown
Meritage Café & Wine Bar in Bucktown (2118 N. Damen Ave., 773-235-6434) is hosting a series of wine education classes beginning Nov. 1. Dubbed the Wi [...]
Tantrum cocktail lounge a hidden find in the South Loop
You would walk right past Tantrum (1023 S. State St., 312-939-9160) in the South Loop without knowing what was inside. And even if you did know it was [...]
Custom House restaurant draws raves in South Loop
The newest restaurant by acclaimed chef Shawn McClain, Custom House, 500 S Dearborn St, balks at referring to itself as a "steak house," and for good [...]
Ye olde suburbs
Story and photos by Michael AustinÂ
Despite building, rising prices, Long Grove, Kildeer maintain pastoral presence on Chicago's fringeÂ
Hear ye, [...]
Tasty new Mexican restaurant in River North
Zocalo (358 W. Ontario St., 312-302-9977), a new restaurant by members of the family who started the Lalo's empire, officially raises the city's quoti [...]
Another classic Chicago movie theater closing
Coinciding with the news today that yet another classic Chicago movie theater is closing--the Esquire on Oak Street in the Gold Coast--Chicago magazin [...]
Irish music in Wrigleyville
Tonight only! The upscale coffee shop/performance venue Uncommon Ground hosts one of Ireland's most talented accordion players, County Mayo's David Mu [...]
Bacon and Beer menu in West Lakeview
Bacon and Beer is here. Beginning this Friday, a newer restaurant called Fixture (2706 N. Ashland Ave., 773-248-3331) is offering a Bacon and Beer pri [...]
New gastropub in Chicago's River North
Gastropubs are so prevalent in London, the place where they were born, that it's hard not to pass one or two on a lazy stroll through virtually any pa [...]