Limbaugh lampoon easier to take than the original

“Does Fox News have a theater critic?” I wondered, after viewing Second City Theatricals’ “Rush Limbaugh! The Musical.” Probably not. Live theater may be deemed too effete for their NASCAR- and gun sports-loving audiences.
If they had, I’m sure he’d have panned this show. As a card-carrying member of the Big-City, Blue-State, Liberal Press, though, [...]

Hair of the dog: Chicago New Year’s Day brunch bunch

Feed your hangover and get a little of the hair of the dog that bit you at New Year’s Day brunch.

33 Club, Old Town, noon to 4 p.m.
A la carte brunch items include hand-sliced smoked salmon, whole wheat banana pancakes, challah french toast, eggs benedict and omelets.

Dunlays on the Square, Logan [...]

50 Chicagoland restaurants and bars open on Christmas Day

You don’t have to eat Chinese food on Christmas.

Dining Chicago picks the best new restaurants of 2009

In the middle of a recession, Chicago restaurants experienced an astonishing upswing. The Trib called Chicago in 2008 a “chef magnet.” Travel + Leisure listed L2O, Perennial, The Publican and UrbanBelly in their “50 Best New American Restaurants.”
Does this make up for Blagojevich’s shamefaced media stint? All told, not a bad year. Here is [...]

60 more Chicagoland restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner

Is there anyone left cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home? Most restaurants used to close on Thanksgiving, but no more.
Last week I ran a list of 25 Chicagoland restaurants serving Thanksgiving dinner and apparently only scratched the surface. I’ve heard from dozens more Chicago and suburban restaurants that will be open on Thanksgiving.
So here are [...]

Night out: Moran or Morris? Tough choice for music fans

Heather Moran
Audrey Morris

Tomorrow night presents a conundrum for cabaret fans.
You can go hear legendary Chicago cabaret diva Audrey Morris in a celebration of “The Great American Songbook.” Morris’s career dates back to the 1950s, when she was a regular performer at places like the Capitol Lounge and Mister Kelly’s.
Or you can catch vocalist Heather [...]

Drink up, Chicago! October wine events offer global flavors

The October harvest of wine events continues.

Osteria Via Stato Autumn Harvest Wine Tasting, River North, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, $20.
Master sommelier and host of “Check Please!” Alpana Singh leads a tasting of 20 autumn harvest wines that pair well with fall ingredients, such as brussels sprouts, apples, pears, squash and pomegranate, exemplified [...]

Leah’s Notebook: A decade for Bistrot Margot, Edzo’s nears opening

FACEBOOK FUMBLE. If you’re reading this blog via Facebook, you have to click the title, then “View original post” to see the complete blog entry. Sorry.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, Bistrot Margot. Old Town’s French stalwart celebrates its 10th anniversary in October. Chef Phillip Foss of Lockwood in the Loop reflects in his blog about his time [...]

The David Leonardis Report: Again

David Leonardis

Hello, Folks.
Here we are again. I’m glad to say I extended my contract with TGO, which will keep the DLR happening for some time to come.
I was watching “Crazy in Alabama.” Kinda watching it. It’s a chick flick, you know. Anyway, there’s a fun soundtrack and the line from the Nancy Sinatra song is [...]

Mexican influence rising, one restaurant at a time

It’s a banner week for Chicago Mexican food lovers!

Chef Chuy Valencia and Soraya Rendon opened Chilam Balam Cocina Mexicana, named for the historic Mayan chronicles, on Friday in Lakeview. The 45-seat BYOB serves a mix of small plates and seasonal Mexican entrees, such as roasted leg of lamb in a sauce of mulato chilies, bitter [...]