Events Newsletters Subscribe

April 2010
Cardboard Accessories

These fun vases and coasters are made of recycled—and recyclable—cardboard by New York artist Cathy Henszey of cardboardesign.com. They’re new at Sawbridge Studios, and as the PR-man there says, they’re the modern-day Slinky. Prices range from $15 for a set of four coasters to $45 for a curved-edge vase.

—JAN PARR

Read more
Toni Preckwinkle Backs Machine Candidate for Assessor
By Carol Felsenthal
Toni Preckwinkle, almost certainly the next President of the Cook County Board, is backing Democrat Joseph Berrios—lobbyist, head of the County Democratic Party, toady of House Speaker and state Democratic Party chief Mike Madigan—for assessor.

When I read of Preckwinkle’s preference for Berrios over reformer Forrest Claypool (in Stella Foster’s Sun-Times column), I was surprised. Silly me. I must have consumed too many orgasmic editorials... Read more
A Perfect Pair: Paul Virant's Haute Farm Food and Craft Beer
By Nora O'Donnell
Hey, Chicago, did you hear? Craft beer in the Windy City is kind of big now. With last month's Stout Fest, last week's Craft Brewers Conference, and the opening of three breweries in the past two years (Metropolitan, Half Acre, and, most recently, Revolution in Logan Square), it's easy to feel a bit saturated—in suds... Read more
M Burger mini-review
By Denise Peñacerrada
Streeterville, rejoice—the Lettuce Entertain You team has carved a nook out of the Tru kitchen for M Burger, a walk-up counter offering delectably inexpensive burgers, fries, shakes, and nothing else. Read more
Budget Beat: Big & Little’s mini-review
By Joanne Trestrail
Friends from grade school, Gary Strauss (biggish) and Tony D’Alessandro (littleish) are giving fast food a good name at scrappy Big & Little’s, where, sure, you can get a hot dog ($2.50), but you can also get a made-to-order crab tostada ($4) enlivened with a spritz of lemon and a dash of cayenne. Read more
Sable Kitchen & Bar mini-review
By Angela Shukert
You may recognize the chef heading up the open kitchen in this new 158-seat “gastro lounge”: It’s Heather Terhune, the former pastry chef at 312 Chicago and longtime executive chef at Atwood Cafe. Read more
The Patio Puzzle: Is True Relaxation Possible at Chicago Outdoor Hotspots?
By Amalie Drury
Quick, what's your favorite place to drink outside in Chicago? Why? What are your secrets for snagging a table? I never, ever tire of this discussion, so please leave your answers below.

Meanwhile, I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I want to go to Big Star whenever I feel like it, be seated immediately and without clawing anyone's eyes out, drink lots of... Read more
Painted Lady Winners

I had a lot of fun helping to judge The Painted Lady’s design contest, in which customers entered photos of their living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms. We saw some great stuff, and it’s inspiring to see how non-professionals take their homes seriously. Cindy Rand’s dining room, shown here, was a winner. See the others on The Painted Lady’s Facebook page.

—JAN PARR

Read more