Features

Chicago’s Top Doctors
by Geoffrey Johnson
In cooperation with Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., Chicago presents a list of 350 of the area’s best physicians in 55 different medical specialties from addiction to psychiatry to vascular surgery. There is also an up-close look at four top professionals, as well as Q&A’s with experts in sports injuries, childhood allergies and asthma, family medicine, and, in an unlikely pairing, obesity and robotics.

The Difference Between God and a Surgeon
by James McManus
In an exerpt from his new book, Physical: An American Checkup, the author describes the terrible accident that jeopardized his daughter’s eyesight-and his hopes that Peter Rabiah, a local pediatric ophthalmologist, might pull off a miracle.

MVPs
Introducing our Chicagoans of the Year for 2005: a Latin orchestra leader, a saver of soles, two scholars with an encyclopedic knowledge of the city, a South Side community activist, a dedicated nurse working here and abroad, and the world champion Chicago White Sox

School Lunches 101
by Dennis Rodkin
In the midst of a nationwide childhood obesity epidemic, Chicago schools are getting smarter about what to feed students-thanks in part to increased parental involvement and a shove from new federal guidelines. What’s on your kid’s tray?

Fashion: Right On! and Match Points
by Stacey Jones
Formal brides are brightening up white and ivory with subtle hints and strong splashes of color. Even quirkier are the venues of choice for ceremonies and receptions.

Departments

Contributors

Arena
Designing brothers Christopher and Daniel Streng; a better burger from a sandwich whiz; a Chicago trio treks across Antarctica; Columbia College film professor Dan Dinello reveals what science fiction can tell us about tomorrow’s new technologies; a day with Jim Karas, celebrity personal trainer; Katharine Kuh’s fascinating memoir; Victoria Lautman chats with James McManus; the style secrets of jewelry maker Lana Fertelmeister; more. PLUS: The Shopper, Style Sheet, and Sales Check

How We Spend
by Clare La Plante
Sure, it costs a lot to fill up at the pump, but gas isn’t the only-or sometimes even the largest-expense of driving. PLUS: Big bucks for tiny bubbles

Business | Air Power
by Robert Reed
The Spanish-language WOJO-FM is now one of Chicago’s top-rated radio stations. Its star DJ, “El Pistolero,” has legions of fans, and a few detractors.

Reporter | Fatal Connection
by David Bernstein
When a high-priced call girl turned up dead, it didn’t take the police long to nab her killer. But the case also brought attention to Chicago’s hidden and thriving world of online prostitution, which exists largely outside the law.

Deal Estate
by Dennis Rodkin
Tree-huggers, please apply: the lavish David Adler/Jens Jensen estate in Lake Forest, once owned by television star Mr. T, is up for sale and in need of continued tender loving care. PLUS: Condo news from the city and suburbs

Nightspotting
by Sarah Preston
Our correspondent finds puppy love at the Fur Ball, a benefit for the animal anti-cruelty group PAWS. Plus: Jerry Kleiner’s new hot spot Carnivale

Classifieds

The Closer | Name Branding
by Jeff Ruby
A slew of online auction purchases by Goldenpalace.com, a particularly opportunistic new media enterprise, seem to prove that one man’s trash is truly another man’s treasure.

Events

Chicago Guide®
During January: Mary Zimmerman exults in staging plays most other directors don’t. Like Shakespeare’s Pericles, a metaphorical tale in which the eyponymous hero solves a riddle to gain the hand of a princess, and is cast out to sea after he uncovers its dark meaning. The fantastical journey opens at the Goodman Theatre on January 17.
Marquee: A preview of coming attractions

Food & Drink

Dining Out | French Dressings
by Dennis Ray Wheaton
Suburbia gets a boost as Evanston’s newly remodeled Hotel Orrington makes fine dining an amenity and an ambitious chef/owner ventures into Winnetka.

Restaurants
The definitive guide to Chicago’s top restaurants
This month: Eleven new and updated listings, including Maza and Aria
Dish: Ten hottest restaurants right now; gossip; Q & A with Ricky Moore-who plans to bring fine dining to the South Side with The Parrot Cage, leaving pretention behind.