By Beth Marino
In a down real-estate market, buyers may fantasize about transforming a starter
house into the home of their dreams. But at what cost? We find out.
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Search: "Lincoln Square"
By Rebecca Little
A roundup of sales, store openings, and shopping news in May 2008 Read more
By Penny Pollack & Jeff Ruby
Get Provincial
Randy Zweiban, the longtime exec chef/partner of Nacional 27 (325 W. Huron St.; 312-664-2727), steps down on April 30th to open Province (161 N. Jefferson St.), a 140-seat spot in the West Loop. “It’s modern American cuisine influenced by the flavors of South America and Spain,” Zweiban says. “It will be a bit broader than what I’ve done here at Nacional.” A few dishes he’s got nailed down for the menu: Tasmanian salmon carpaccio with preserved Meyer lemon and salsa; spice-rubbed grilled ahi tuna taco with chipotle tartar salsa; prawn and... Read more
By Dennis Rodkin
Fountain View's Ranney carries on a family tradition Read more
By Anne Halliday and J D Koziarski
Everywhere we turn, it seems as if our city has produced another hard-core female athlete: a tough, toned woman who can bench-press more than your boyfriend (and look hot doing it). Meet four up-and-comers. Read more
By Penny Pollack & Jeff Ruby
Ryan’s Hope
Chef Ryan Poli, who had a huge following at Butter, has returned to Chicago to become the chef de cuisine at Perennial (1800 N. Clark St.), the upcoming spot from Rob Katz and Kevin Boehm (Boka, Landmark). “Things just sometimes don’t work out the way you want them to,” Poli says of his recent jaunt to Phoenix, Arizona. “So I decided to come back to Chicago. It’s where my passion is.” Poli also spent about a year interning in various standouts in Spain, including...
Read moreBy Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby
Next Gig
Giuseppe Scurato (formerly of Boka and MK), who recently parted ways with Fox & Obel, has joined forces with Branco Palikuca (owner of Amber Cafe, 13 N. Cass Ave., Westmont; 630-515-8080) to open Topaz (780 Village Center Driveway, Burr Ridge; 630-654-1616), a 150-seat contemporary American place in a new shopping center. “It should be ready to open by the beginning of April,” says Scurato, whose plans to open his own place are still on hold. “Most of our ingredients will be organic. We’re not going to ...
Read moreBy Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby
6 Questions for chef Tony Priolo, 37
Priolo, 37, is leaving Coco Pazzo on March 29th to open Piccolo Sogno (“little dream”), a casual, 80-seat Italian restaurant in the former Thyme/Timo space (464 N. Halsted St.)
D: You’ve been at Coco Pazzo a long time. Why the change?
TP: It’s been 11 years. I love this place but it’s time for me to give it a try on my own. I owe it to them to make sure this place is still going to be the same, so I’m training Chris [Macchia] from [Coco Pazzo] Café. He’s one of my best friends.
D: Where are you from originally?
TP: Grew up on Northwest Side by Harlem Avenue. Went to CHIC...
By Penny Pollack and Jeff Ruby
Coming Soon
Briejo (211 Harrison St., Oak Park), a promising spot in Oak Park's arts district, is slotted to open in early May, with a helping hand from Jody André (Speakeasy) and Nicole Parthemore (She She). André and Parthemore are developing the menu for Brigette Lytle's "American eclectic" restaurant. "It'll be fine dining but a lot of comfort food," says Lytle. "Like a center cut pork chop seared in a butter brandy. A truffled risotto. Also very thin-crust pizzas as well. Maybe five a night."
Quotable"Any time a person goes into a delicatessen and orders a pastrami on white bread...
Read moreBy Mark Guarino
We chat with Stephin Merritt, lead singer of the Magnetic Fields Read more