Author: michael austin
Town within a town rejuvenates Glenview
I have put myself in a most unusual situation. First of all, it is the dead of winter and I am surrounded by nautical bric-a-brac – enough blue [...]
Good fixtures make for good neighbors
The relentless wind today blew a light covering from my building into a neighbor's stairwell, leaving glass shards on their steps. I felt compelled to [...]
The shady side of Beverly
For anyone who happened to sojourn south (or north or east or west) yesterday for the South Side Irish St. Patrick's Day Parade in the Beverly neighbo [...]
Del Toro is good, no bull
I ate at Del Toro in Wicker Park the other night, and it is very good, friends. Whether you like anchovies or not you should try the anchovy bruschett [...]
The Irish are coming
If you're one who likes the Irish traditional music, here are three great concerts over the next month at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. L [...]
Lez review the show, shall we?
My sense, first off about the Lez Zeppelin concert at the Cubby Bear on Saturday, is that the Lezzies are not lezzies. Not that there's anything wrong [...]
Mamet's creative secret
As David Mamet Festival begins this weekend at the Goodman Theatre I am reminded of the wise words of Mamet as related to a friend of a friend of a fr [...]
Heavy Metal Lesbians
Friends, look no further for something to do this Saturday -- date night.
The all-girl band Lez Zeppelin pays tribute to heavy metal-Celtic-druid-roc [...]
Irish ways
Over the weekend at R.J. Grunts (2056 N. Lincoln Park West, 773-929-5363), the Lincoln Park restaurant that started it all for the Lettuce Entertain Y [...]
Victor Hotel is a lounge
Restaurateur Jerry Kleiner's newest venture is a lounge called Victor Hotel, a place so named because of a sign Kleiner had, a sign he loves, that r [...]
Jimmy's cocktail book
Heaven on Seven chef/owner Jimmy Bannos, he of the famous red headband, kicked out a romping stomping pre-Mardi Gras party last night at his original [...]
Custom House a happy home
I am here to say with a full belly that Custom House lives up to the hype it has received. The meat-centric restaurant in the Printer's Row neighborho [...]
Palatine's smart growth
Metra station is focal point for continuing building boom downtown
Sue Curry is a living endorsement for Palatine. She was born in Boston but moved w [...]
Truth at the bottom of a tea cup
Master Tea Blender John Harney of Connecticut's Harney & Sons Teas, returns to the Ritz-Carlton Chicago on March 2 to read the fortunes of people usin [...]
Valentine Dinner Countdown Seven
This is the seventh of a week's worth of suggestions on where to take your honey on Valentine's Day. We're talking dinner here. (And yes, I realize th [...]
Valentine Dinner Countdown Six
This is the sixth of a week's worth of suggestions on where to take your honey on Valentine's Day. We're talking dinner here. (And yes, I realize that [...]
Valentine Dinner Countdown Five
This is the fifth of a week's worth of suggestions on where to take your honey on Valentine's Day. We're talking dinner here. (And yes, I realize that [...]
Valentine Dinner Countdown Four
This is the fourth of a week's worth of suggestions on where to take your honey on Valentine's Day. We're talking dinner here. (And yes, I realize tha [...]
Valentine Dinner Countdown Three
This is the third of a week's worth of suggestions on where to take your honey on Valentine's Day. We're talking dinner here. (And yes, I realize that [...]
Valentine Dinner Countdown Two
This is the second of a week's worth of suggestions on where to take your honey on Valentine's Day. We're talking dinner here.
Suggestion: Bistro 110 [...]