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CHICAGO PREVIEW ISSUE

Chicago's OF King THE Steak Chicagoâ€™s Golden Age of Beer

Designing Your Downtown Studio The luxury rental market in downtown Chicago is blowing up and brand new construction is popping up on every corner

APRIL 2016 |

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Beauty Boutiques Hit the Windy City

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TABLE of CONTENTS FASHION & BEAUTY CHICAGO VOLUME 9 ISSUE 7

Chicago's OF King THE Steak Chicago’s Golden Age of Beer

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER

Designing Your Downtown Studio

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Beauty Boutique Boom Hits Chicago

FIRST ON THE SCENE

LIFESTYLE

The Chicago High-Rise Guide to Hibernating This Winter

Designing Your Downtown Studio: Small is the New Chic

Neighborhood Scene

Beauty Boutiques Hit the Windy City

The luxury rental market in downtown Chicago is blowing up and brand new construction is popping up on every corner APRIL 2016 |

Volume 1 Issue №1 April 2016

DINING Contemporary Remains King of the Steakhouse

Drinks

Chicago’s Golden Age of Beer

NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

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A Tourist in MyOwn Hometown: Navy Pier

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Letter from the Publisher

We’re back,

bigger better than ever! Strengthened by a new editor, new writers and a new design team, Chicago Scene will once again be the preeminent source for what’s happening in the city.

HICAGO SCENE was founded back in 1998 and began as the

go-to source for Chicago nightlife and entertainment. Now, nearly 20 years later, we plan to leverage our amazingly intimate connection to Chicago and its residents to provide an unparalleled reading experience. Distributed monthly, CHICAGO SCENE is the go-to source for urban-dwelling Chicagoans looking to experience all the wonderful opportunities the city has to offer. Our approach begins with a focus on Chicago’s most unique and vibrant neighborhoods. We will work with each neighborhood’s Chamber of Commerce to ensure we have the inside scoop into the most current news, events and hotspots in each area. Then, we will deliver content through sections that include Food & Beverage, Nightlife & Entertainment, Fashion & Beauty, Sports & Fitness, Lifestyle, and Neighborhoods. We hope you like the new look and feel of the magazine. We put a lot of work into ensuring CHICAGO SCENE provides readers with the most interesting and current insight into what Chicago has to offer at a hyper-local level with a ﬁnger on the pulse of what readers need to know. Why ﬁx what’s not broken? One of our most popular features has always been the inclusion of images from around town. In order to recapture the hearts and minds of our audience, the rejuvenated CHICAGO SCENE Magazine will once again contain photos from the very best events throughout the city. Check out our new website as well at C HICAGO S CENE .COM . Enjoy,

Ted

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FIRST ON THE

SCENE

▲ Swift & Sons

| Swift & Sons 1000 W Fulton Market (312) 733-9420 swiftandsonschicago.com Swift & Sons is nestled in the heart of once was Chicago’s meat packing empire and strives to emulate the atmosphere of a 1920’s boys club with a

modern flair. To match the atmosphere of a 1920’s boy club, Swift & Sons features a boastful 22-page drink menu and a menu conceived by the remarkable Chef Chris Pandel. If steak isn’t what you’re craving, Smith & Sons features an adjoining seafood restaurant, Cold Storage, which features

casual seafood dining while maintaining elegant atmosphere. Smith & Sons carries its sophistication all the trough to its bar deemed “The Tavern” which not only has just about every drink imaginable but also its own menu filled with steak tartare, oysters, onion rings in a maple chili sauce.

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FIRST ON THE SCENE

▲ Latinicity

| Latinicity

The seafood is sweet, refreshing and the perfect way to prepare for the thick and juicy steaks complimented by either expertly paired wines or innovative takes on traditional cocktails. All of which can then be followed up by a whimsical A product of renowned Chef Richard Sandoval, array of deserts. Maple & Ash has an impressively Latinicity provides one of the most delicious spins elegant menu for the upstairs restaurant which is on Latin street food. Complete with 10 kitchens, a mirrored with a classy and fun menu for the bar tapas restaurant, coffee café, full bar and market, – both of which are destined to leave you satisfied Latinicity ensures that every trip through the door but still craving more. will a full sensory experience completely different than the last. The 10 counters feature everything | Monteverde from a build your salada to Latin influenced 1020 West Madison St. Burguesas and even Sushi & Ceviche combos. (312) 888-3041 If you’re looking for more than just a stop at a monteverdechicago.com counter, Latinicity features a full-service tapas restaurant ideal for a small-plate happy hour or an Whether you are searching for traditional abundant menu full of enticing dinner options. Italian cooking or something with a twist, Monteverde is the spot you’ve been searching for. | Maple & Ash Chef Sarah Grueneberg has combined the tradi8 W Maple St tions of Italy with her world travels and person 312-944-8888 background to create a menu filled with distinct mapleandash.com and adventurous flavors. With ingredients raised with the highest standards Gruenberg Maple & Ash is one of the cities newest steakuses only the best the Midwest and Italy have to houses featuring a more relaxed, yet still elegant, offer. As a result of Gruenberg’s high standards, atmosphere than your traditional steakhouse. the Pastificio is the heart of Monteverde with 108 N. State St. (312) 795-4444 latinicity.com

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FIRST ON THE SCENE their team creating a variety of shapes, sizes and textures of pasta through out the day to ensure the absolute freshest dish possible.

| GreenRiver 259 E. Erie St. (312) 337-0101 greenriverchi.com Someone once said “A drink precedes a story,” and from that philosophy came GreenRiver. Situated on the 18th ﬂoor GreenRiver strives for excellence in every aspect whether it be the crisp white wall of wine selections, their elegant spin on classic American dishes or their house blend sodas. Inspired by the daring combinations and unspoken subtleties of Chicago, GreenRiver has devised a cocktail menu sorted by key ingredient to tell the stories of the city’s Irish-American inﬂuence.

▲ Monteverde

| Oyster Bah 1962 N. Halsted (773) 248-3000 oysterbah.com

▲ GreenRiver

▲ Oyster Bah

Resting with Lincoln Park lies Oyster Bah, a restaurant so New England the name has an accent. Priding itself on its oysters, Oyster Bah only uses the highest quality oysters from the U.S. and Canada. If shell ﬁsh isn’t the thing for you, then Oyster Bah uses ﬁsh from all over the world to create classic dishes and unique seafood adventures. Carefully matched, Oyster Bah created a selection of wines that seem to be made for their dishes. Within the New England restaurant resides an intimate basement bar, deemed “The Crab Cellar,” which holds an exclusive eight tables and ten bar stools.

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CH EAT SH E ET WHAT’S HOT AND NEW ON THE SCENE

| RESTAURANTS Gold Coast & Old Town Carmines Chicago Q Fig & Olive Gibsons Hugo’s Frog Bar Jellyfish Le Colonial Maple and Ash Nico Osteria Tavern on Rush Three Arts Club

River North Bavette’s Bohemian House Bottle Fork Chicago Cut Steakhouse Gene & Georgetti’s GT Fish & oyster Joe’s Seafood & Prime Steaks

Mastro’s RPM Steak Sienna Tavern STK Sunda Tanta

North/ Lincoln Park Appellation Baker Miller Balena Band of Bohemia Boka Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Half Shell Home Slice Knife & Tine North Pond Oyster Bah Sai Cafe Summer House The Sixth

North West/ Logan Square 90 Miles Cuban Cafe Longman & Eagle Band of Bohemia Honey Butter Fried Chicken Lula Cafe Osteria Langhe Owen & Engine Revolution Brewing Yusho Far North Band of Bohemia Cantina 1910 DMK Burger Bar Hutch Ixcateco Grill Mia Francesca Fish Bar Dry Hop Crisp

West Loop/Fulton Market Au Cheval Bar Siena Girl & the Goat Green Street Smoked Meats Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken Momotaro Parlor Soho House The Aviary The Publican

Buck town/ Whicker Park Big Star Dos Urban Cantina Fat Rice La Sirena Clandestina Monteverde Presidio

Pub Royale Queen Mary Sink|Swim Taxim Trenchermen

Loop/South Loop/ Near South A10 Acadia Cai Dusek’s Board & Beer Elevn City Diner Latinicity Maria’s Packaged Goods & Community Bar MingHin Cuisine Packed Pleasant House Bakery Punch House The Duck Inn The Promontory The Scout

| BARS / CLUBS Gold Coast / Streeterville Howells & Hood Luxbar Maple & Ash Nico Osteria Pump Room Purple Pig Tavern on Rush

Old Town Benchmark Camper J. Parker Old Town Pour House Old Town Social Pomp & Circumstance The VIG Woodies

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River North Bottled Blonde Bub City Henry’s Hubbard Inn Moe’s Cantina Old Crow Godfrey Hotel I/O Rooftop Studio Paris The Barrelhouse Flat Three Dots and a Dash Underground

North DryHop Brewers Duffy’s Hopleaf Moe’s Cantina Old Crow Smokehouse The Sixth

Deuces Casey Moran’s Murphy’s

South Loop/Near South Del Torro Maria’s Packaged Goods Punch House Reggie’s Tack Room The Scout Lagunitas Brewery Motor Row Brewing Wabash Tap Weather mark Tavern

Logan Square / North West Billy Sunday Chicago Distilling Company

Emporium Logan Bar & Grill Lost Lake Owen + Alchemy Q-Tine Revolution Brewing The Heavy Feather The Radler Slippery Slope

West Loop/Near West

Bucktown / Whicker Park Bangers & Lace Big Star Danny’s Tavern Double Door Emporium Arcade Bar Estelle’s Links Taproom Pub Royale Queen Mary Rainbo Club The Violet hour

Bar Sienna Billy Sunday G&O Haymarket Pub & Brewery Lone Wolf Maude’s Parlor Sportsman’s Club The Betty West End

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DINING

“Contemporary Remains King of the Steakhouse” BY LAINE MCDONNELL

There are more than 10 steakhouses in the River North and Gold Coast areas. It used to be that to indulge in a steak in this town you needed the boys, some cigars, a giant t-bone steak, and an even bigger martini made by a grey hair in a white jacket. But these days, you’ll find a whole new breed of steakhouse in Chicago. Sleek and sexy new steak spots have been popping up almost weekly to entice diners to eat a little heartier.

or more than a century, Chicago was home to the Union Stockyards, which meant that from the Civil War to the 1920’s, more meat was processed in our city than anywhere else in the

world. It stands to reason with this history that we would continue to hold on to our reigning title to some of the best steak restaurants in the world. Here are a few of the classic ones that have stood the test:

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DINING

▲ Gene and Georgetti’s

| Gibsons 1028 N Rush St. (312) 266-8999 gibsonssteakhouse.com The glitziest of the old school Chicago steakhouses, Gibsons holds court as the king of the Viagra Triangle. The bar is busy seven nights a week slinging classic martinis with live piano music. The dining room evokes a bygone era still ﬂush with tourists and locals alike. Their surf and turf, while substantial, is perfectly executed proving their reputation as one of Chicago’s best.

| The Original Morton’s 1015 N. STATE ST. (312) 266-4820 MORTONS.COM/STATESTREET Another throwback still doing things right, Morton’s doesn’t try to impress with flourish or gimmicks, rather a solid steak served well with everything you’d expect from a top tier steakhouse. It’s still a little bit of a boys’ club, but top notch in terms of execution.

| RPM Steak 66 W. KINZIE ST. (312) 284-4990 RPMRESTAURANTS.COM Still a go-to spot for Chicago scenesters, River North’s RPM Steak backs up all the swank and glitz with some serious steaks good for impressing your boss or a hot date. The bar is packed every night of the week as is the patio all summer with those looking to splurge on a well-executed cut of beef.

| Gene and Georgetti’s 500 N. Franklin St. (312) 527-3718 geneandgeorgetti.com This place is so old school it looks just like a movie set. Gene and Georgetti’s remains Chicago’s quintessential traditional steakhouse. The potatoes with red sauce are almost as famous as the steaks themselves and the patrons have been coming for generations with good reason.

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FOOD

▲ Chicago Cut Steakhouse

| Chicago Cut 300 N LaSalle St. (312) 329-1800 chicagocutsteakhouse.com

favorite of President Obama, Jay Cutler, Patrick Kane, and even Oprah.

| Kinzie Chophouse The most recent of the classic style steakhouses, Chicago Cut overlooks the river and despite the ﬂashiness of wine lists on Ipads and impressive bottles, it really focuses on making one of the most perfect steaks in the city. And this has not gone unnoticed, as Chicago Cut has become a

400 N. Wells St. (312) 822-0191 kinziechophouse.com Poised to celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2016, Kinzie Chophouse might not attract the beautiful people, but it does attract those looking for a quality steak and well-executed

sides without any of the nonsense. This spot appeals to the most traditional connoisseurs of quality. But these days the traditional steakhouses are sharing the spotlight with the stylish newcomers that are not to be missed. At these trendy spots, not only is there a focus on the cut of beef, but also on everything from the décor to the cocktail program aimed to attract a more diverse spectrum of clientele.

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FOOD

▲ Boeufhaus

| Boeufhaus 1012 N. Western Ave (773) 661-2116 boeufhaus.com This low-lit stunner on Western screams date night with a strong cocktail program, exposed brick bistro atmosphere, and candles. But with a menu heavy on the steaks with German and French inﬂuences. Boeufhaus stands up to any of the traditional Chicago steakhouses.

| STK 9 W Kinzie St. (312) 340-5636 togrp.com/restaurant/stk-chicago

It’s rare that a New York restaurant group invades Chicago — rarer still that they’re trying to sell a “female friendly” steakhouse to a saturated market. But with its undulating ceilings and semi-circular booths and menus that break down your steaks by size, STK certainly offers more than just a massive tomahawk steak on a plate. The bar too can be quite a scene.

| Bavette’s Bar and Boeuf 218 W. Kinzie St. (312) 624-8154 bavetteschicago.com Bavette’s Bar and Boeuf is so stylish and excels at so many dishes it’s hard to remember that in its heart, it functions as a French steakhouse. Come in early to sit at the bar and enjoy some expertly crafted cocktails beneath the chandeliers, or sample fresh oysters from the raw bar before you sit down to enjoy a perfectly done steak. They’ll even waive the corkage fee if you share a glass from your bottle with another table.

| Maple & Ash 8 W. MAPLE ST. (312) 944-8888 MAPLEANDASH.COM Newest on the scene, this sultry Gold Coast spot has a lot to compete with. Maple & Ash is the new see and be seen spot for those in the know and tired of Gibsons across the street. Being perched above the Viagra Triangle, this restaurant is taking over as one of Gold Coast’s trendiest dining establishments.

▲ STK Chicago

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LIFESTYLE

“The Chicago High-Rise Guide to Hibernating This Winter” BY AMANDA KAHN AND MICHELE KERULIS

The first snowfall of the year always marks the beginning of a lovely Chicago winter. We break out snow boots, hats, gloves, fleece-lined leggings, and curse our West Coast friends that post statuses of “85 degrees in January.”

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COLONTITLE Though it may be hard to believe, there is a silver lining to being stuck inside during a polar vortex. Luxury highrise buildings house some of the most lavish indoor amenities, which make being “snowed in” a treat. | The Spa

ou just made it home after a treacherous, icy commute, and are freezing down to your bones. What should you do to warm up? Head down to the spa, of course. The spa is one of my favorite amenities featured in several luxury high rises. Jacuzzi whirl pools with waterfalls, steam rooms, saunas, and massage and facial treatment rooms make for an incredible oasis, without having to leave your building. One River North high rise features a Chroma light therapy shower, which uses a combination of LED lighting and hydrotherapy to create the ultimate soothing experience.

| The Movie Theater Whether it’s the big game or Game of Thrones, what better place to watch your favorite show or team then from the comfort of your own screening room? In-home movie theaters house enormous flat screens, lazy boy recliners and popcorn machines. With an expanded premium cable package (including HBO and NFL Sunday ticket), Blue-ray player, and access to Netflix, there is no shortage of what you can watch. These theaters can also be reserved for a

private event, so you can invite friends over to watch anything from The Bachelor to the Bears.

| The Rooftop Lounge It is no secret that rooftop bars and lounges are what Chicago summer is all about. In the winter, we have to resort to the next best thing: the indoor rooftop sky lounge. Once upon a time, the top floor of a building was reserved for Penthouse apartments. Now, several buildings have chosen to make the penthouse floor an amenity floor, so all residents can enjoy the spectacular views. Rooftop lounges are often equipped with posh furniture, fireplaces, wet bars with icemakers, and full demonstration kitchens with state of the art appliances. Whether you are enjoying a glass of wine after a day of work, or hosting a dinner party, the rooftop lounge is the swankiest place you can be this winter, without even having to put a coat on.

| The Hidden Gems There are some indoor amenities that are unique to only a few buildings. Amli River North houses a virtual golf simulator room. Who would’ve thought you could work on your long game in the dead of winter in Chicago? For the wine lovers out there, Parc Huron has a climate-controlled wine cellar. Kept at 66 degrees, the room features lockers for cases of wine and champagne. It can be reserved for a wine tasting event or you can store your best bottles down there, and pop them open just before you hit the spa.

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FASHION & BEAUTY

Beauty Boutique Boom Hits Chicago What can beauty lovers get out of the booming television market in Chicago? Top of the line beauty stores and products. Seriously, it’s true. With a growing establishment as an industry hub for production, a growing celebrity presence in the city is creating the perfect home for high-end pro beauty boutiques and stores.

resource for many artists in the city for over 30 years. The shop is a favorite to the artists behind locally ﬁlmed TV shows Empire and Chicago Fire. Kathy is constantly updating her stock with new professional product lines that makeup artists love. She also carries some very high-end skincare lines from all over the world. It can be intimidating to step in and see products you may have never seen or heard of before, but Kathy is extremely knowledgeable about everything she carries. Still not sure on what to purchase? Just schedule an appointment. Che Sguardo has a wide range of services from makeup applications to her top-notch facials.

BY JEN BROWN, MICHELE KERULIS

| Che Sguardo: 161 W. Illinois St. Chicago

hese boutiques are great for a number of reasons. First, it always feels good to support a local business rather than a large chain store. Second, these specialty shops are focused on providing access to professional makeup and skincare lines that makeup artists love and trust. Aside from the exposure to these trusted products, most of these shops are owned and operated by beauty professionals. What this means for you is the pros are there to do more than sell you products, they are there to help you purchase the right product for your needs. You can start with Che Sguardo, a high-end makeup studio and spa in River North. It’s run and owned by Kathy Schmalen-Abenne who has been in the beauty world for most of her life, both in front of and behind the camera. Che Sguardo has been a huge

A newer beauty location to check out is Muse Beauty Bar Chicago. Located in Lakeview in the back of the Restoration Salon, you can make an appointment with a talented team of artists. Not only can you stop in and get a certiﬁed, experienced artist to help sculpt those brows or create a special makeup look for you, but you can also have access to pro grade products for purchase. Muse carries some of the makeup kit essentials for skin, eyes and lips. Make an appointment with an artist to get matched up with the right pro products.

| Muse Beauty Bar: 3255 N. Broadway (Inside the Restoration Salon) So the next time you’re looking for a new eye cream or foundation, take the time to stop by one of these local gems for products you may not be able to ﬁnd anywhere else in the city. In addition to creating a trusting relationship with a local shop owner, some of the perks of pro products include reliability, longevity, and of course beautiful results.

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LIFESTYLE

“Designing Your Downtown Studio: Small is the New Chic” BY AMANDA KAHN AND MICHELE KERULIS

The luxury rental market in downtown Chicago is blowing up and brand new construction is popping up on every corner.

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LIFESTYLE

ore and more of my clients are trading in their 1-2 bedroom walk-ups for apartments in luxury high rises. The convenience of living close to work, restaurants, shopping, and nightlife, combined with state of the art amenities and finishes, can sometimes come with a hefty price tag. Studios or “efficiency” layouts have become more and more popular as clients can have it all: a fabulous apartment, an incredible location and an affordable price. Of course there is a catch — these affordable apartments can be as small as 360 square feet. The question becomes: How do you maximize such a small space? Brook Furniture’s Erin Mungovan and West Elm’s Nicole Mendoza are often challenged with this same question. They offered helpful tips and tricks on how to smartly and stylishly design any studio apartment. In order to keep the apartment clutter-free, use aesthetically pleasing furniture with multiple functions. For Instance: Erin favors a chic TV stand that has a fold out desk/work space. She will also use

a dresser to double as the TV stand. Another trick of Erin’s is to ditch your coffee table for an Ottoman with storage. You now have a furniture piece on which you can rest your feet, store clothing/blankets, use as a cocktail table, or move around for extra seating. Nicole prefers modern weave baskets as a great choice for

see and sit where you sleep. Erin uses sliding barn doors to divide the room, as they create separation and take up minimal space whether open or closed. Nicole’s tip is to choose furniture that will allow light to travel through, such as an open shelving unit or light bookcase. You want to

additional storage. A lot of my clients are concerned with the idea of their bed being the front and center focal point in the room. There are fantastic ways to create separation within the room, so that your guests don’t walk in and immediately

steer away from any pieces that are too tall or bulky and will close the space off. According to Nicole, one thing you should take advantage of in any small space are your walls. You can mount shelving on the wall for extra storage without taking

up closet or ﬂoor space. Paint the shelving the same color as the wall so it feels more cohesive and less clunky. Painting an accent wall will also help create deﬁnition in the space. Choose a light color to keep the room bright and airy.

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NIGHTLIFE & ENTERTAINMENT

“A Tourist In My Own Hometown: Navy Pier” BY R.A.M., MICHELE KERULIS

I have lived in Chicago for nearly 15 years – longer than anywhere else I have lived. I cheer for the Cubs, the Bears, the Bulls, and the Blackhawks. I have even started to add an unnecessary “s” to “Jewel” and “Soldier” (when in reference to the Bears’ home field). In short, I consider myself a Chicagoan.

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ecently, though, I had family visiting from Ohio. My sister-in-law, who had never been to our fair city mentioned that all of her friends told her that shee must sh must go go to N Navy avyy Pi av Pier Pier. er..

“Why do people go there?” she asked. It dawned on me then; although I live in Chicago, I don’t necessarily know Chicago. At least I don’t necessarily know those parts of Chicago that the rest of the world seems keen to visit – the tourist attractions.

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The redevelopment looks promising, though, with portions of it already begun, including the recent opening of DMK Burger Bar / Fish Bar, Goddess and the Baker, and Porkchop outposts.

So, I became a tourist in my own hometown and I started in the place where most tourists want to go: the ultimate tourist playground, Navy Pier.

| A Brief History of Navy Pier |Why Locals Should Check It Out

Despite its name, Navy Pier was not originally built by the U.S. Navy. When it opened in 1916, it was originally known simply as “Municipal Pier” and was intended to be used for both recreational and shipping purposes. It was renamed “Navy Pier” in 1927 to honor naval personnel who served in World War I. Over the years, a variety of groups have called Navy Pier home: Army recruits, radio stations, government agencies, and innumerable conventions and trade shows. The University of Illinois was even located at the Pier before moving to its current campus on the southwest side of Chicago. Throughout its history, Navy Pier has maintained one of its original purposes: recreation. Today, Navy Pier is the #1 leisure destination in the Midwest. It is also undergoing a year-long redevelopment to bring the Pier into the 21st century and cement its status as a world-class attraction.

On a sunny summer afternoon, there are few things more enjoyable – and inexpensive – than strolling down the Pier and taking in some breathtaking lake and skyline views.

For families, the Pier also boasts a world-class children’s museum.

| My Visit

In the winter there’s the Navy Pier IMAX theater, one of the few “official” IMAX locations in the city. Seeing a movie made for IMAX on a giant IMAX screen is truly an experience that everyone should try at least once. With Star Wars and Avengers ﬁlms scheduled to be released by the handful in coming years, there should be no shortage of Jedi and mutant fanboys heading to the Pier for a fully immersive experience.

I recently visited Navy Pier on a Sunday in December. Granted, this time of year is not the ideal time to visit the Pier, given that many of its more popular attractions, such as the lakeside boardwalk, the cruise ships, the iconic Ferris Wheel (which is actually being replaced by an even larger version), are more warm weather-friendly activities. Nonetheless, Navy Pier still has plenty to do on a rainy December evening. Navy Pier’s primary attraction in the colder months is the entirely indoor Winter Wonderfest. Largely catering to families with children, the Wonderfest features cookie decorating, ice skating, some mild thrill rides, and even Santa. Walking through Navy Pier, one thing is very clear: This place is clearly designed for tourists. There’s shopping, dining and attractions, but rarely are any of the offerings at the Pier superior to what a Chicagoan could ﬁnd in his or her own neighborhood. The shopping is largely geared to souvenirs and other items that can be emblazoned with the words “Chicago” or “Navy Pier.” Admittedly, there are a few interesting kiosks selling jewelry and other crafty items. There’s also a Build-ABear Workshop (which, much to this writer’s delight, was prominently displaying several Star Wars-themed items, including a build-your-own Chewbacca!).

Navy Pier is also home to a number of interesting events throughout the year, including the upcoming Ideal Home Show in January and an intriguing Mardi Gras bar crawl in February. Finally, although most locals will have little use for the tourist shops, their personalized, Chicagothemed trinkets of which there are plenty could make unique place holders or favors for your next dinner party. Most of all, though, each Chicagoan should take a trip to the Pier at least once every few years, if only to re-familiarize yourself with the lake front’s star tourist attraction. If you have not been in awhile, you will deﬁnitely want to check it out as it continues its redevelopment.

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AN N UAL

Chicago Scene New Year’s Eve Party at The Drake Hotel

More than 3000 attendees celebrated the New Year in style at the historic Drake Hotel, voted ‘Best Chicago New Year’s Eve Party’ by ABC’s Good Morning America. The evening featured the hottest local DJs spinning through the New Year, an incredible balloon drop and a midnight champagne toast. Entertainment included: Lollapalooza 2015 & Red Bull Thre3style U.S. Champion DJ Trentino, DJ Wizz Kid, DJ Charles Protege, DJ Justin Dahl, and DJ Orion Roswell.

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DRINKS

Chicago’s Golden Age of Beer There’s never been a better time to be over 21 in Chicago, especially if you’ve got a predilection for craft beer. BY MATT KIROUAC

was top priority for city-founders, and thus was born a brewery courtesy of J. & W. Crawford. One devastating fire and a Prohibition later, Chicago emerged in the 1900’s thirstier than ever for craft beer, no longer content to subsist off imports from our beer-guzzling neighbors in Milwaukee. While a myriad of tiny brewing operations dotted the city, Goose Island made a splash in 1988 with its first brewpub near its namesake island. Today, the godfather of local beer still stands strong, and although the company has been largely sold to Anheuser-Busch, it still commands a veritable empire of fans throughout Chicago and far beyond. Beers like 312, Honkers Ale, Green Line, Sofie and Goose IPA are as

ong gone are the days when the local beer conversation started and ended with Goose Island, an institution that helped pave the way for a seemingly never-ending barrage of up-and-coming breweries, both small and large. Nowadays, venerable classics like Goose Island share shelf space and draft lines with new MVPs such as Half Acre and Revolution, as well as smaller scale innovators like Forbidden Root and DryHop. Chicago’s long, passionate affair with beer dates back practically to the city’s inception in the mid1800’s. Apparently establishing a brewery in 1833

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DRINKS renowned in Chicago as Cubs players, and customers clamor for limited-release Bourbon County Stouts every year with the type of fervor typically reserved for Black Friday shoppers at Target. Over the years, new breweries have established themselves as serious, enduring players in the Chicago beer scene. Half Acre, Revolution, Metropolitan and 5 Rabbit Cerveceria (Chicago’s ﬁrst Latin brewery) have all emerged with great success, each one churning out coveted staples like Half Acre’s Daisy Cutter Pale Ale, Revolution’s wonderfully ﬂoral Rosa, Metropolitan’s Krankshaft Kölsch and 5 Rabbit’s colorful Paleta series, featuring fruity beers made with the likes of guava and watermelon. Additionally, Chicago lured California-based Lagunitas, which opened the largest brewery in the Midwest in Douglas Park. Then there’s indie brewpubs like DryHop Brewers, the triple-threat restaurant, bar and brewery responsible for some of Chicago’s most quirkily named beers like Shark Meets Hipster wheat IPA, Kitty Empire schwarzbier, and a nitro pub ale called Strangeways, Here We Come. Flash-forward to 2016, a time when Chicago’s appetite for craft beer has reached such a fever pitch that elite chefs like Rick Bayless have gotten involved with brewing, and “culinary”-inspired brewing beckons the onset of a new national trend at places like Moody Tongue, Band of Bohemia and Forbidden Root. Along with this new crop of Chicago classics, such as the aforementioned newfound

household names like Half Acre and Revolution, these fresh new brands are taking beer in bold new directions. Bayless’ ﬁrst new major local project in years (any foodie with a pulse recognizes him as the chef and owner of Frontera Grill, XOCO and Topolobampo) is set to debut this year with a nano-brewery on in the West Loop called Cruz Blanca. The restaurant and micro-micro

brewery will be making its own beers, including their soon-to-be signature beer, La Guardia pale ale made with hominy and epazote. Then there’s Moody Tongue, a Pilsen-based brewery presided over by chef-turned-brewer Jared Rouben. The Goose Island alum has made a name for himself with inventive, bracing brews like churro porters and ales infused with

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BREWS

locally sourced ingredients like pawpaws, peppers and nectarines. Another chef-cum-brewer, Michael Carroll is manning the tanks at Ravenswood’s newest and most exciting restaurant and microbrewery, Band of Bohemia. Here, the cast of characters reads like an Avengers-level talent team, with food and beverage pros from Alinea, The Aviary and

The Brixton, among others. Carroll, most recently a brewer for nearby Half Acre, helped conceptualize what they’ve dubbed a “culinary brewhouse,” where the on-site beers are speciﬁcally designed to pair with and accentuate the food. And they do so by making beers with ingredients that sound more like salad-ﬁ xings than suds. Examples include a grilled apple and tarragon beer,

an orange-chicory-rye option, and a rich, dessert-friendly maitake mushroom beer infused with basmati rice. Billing itself as Chicago’s first “botanical brewery,” West Town’s Forbidden Root uses spices, herbs and botanicals in all of their unique brews, like their boozy root beer made with wintergreen and sandalwood, their “Sublime Ginger” scented with lemon myrtle and honeybush, and their “Wildflower IPA” brewed with elderflower, marigold and sweet osmanthus. With Chicago’s food scene at the forefront of the world stage, it’s only logical that the local beverage landscape would follow suit. Brewers are taking risks like never before, experimenting with beers to appease an audience thirsty for innovation. Customers are approaching beer lists with the same curiosity and appreciation of a fine dining tasting menu. There’s truly never been a better time to be a beer-lover in this great beer town.

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The 12 annual

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Kandy Kane Ball, held at Joe's Bar Chicago icago on Dec. 13, 2015, had over 800 holidayy revelers showed up with th toys in hand to donate ate to Chicago Children’s Charities. The event is one of the city’s largestt private toy drives, the fundraiser included live ve entertainment by Sorry For Partying and a The DJ Firm.

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RIVER NORTH

5665 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago IL 60659 THEANGRYCRABCHICAGO . COM

Swerve Salon 1419 N. Wells 312-255-0255 SwerveSalon.com

This Cajun-style restaurant is the best place in all of Chicagoland to savor the great tastes of Louisiana. Editor's Top Pick 5 Years Running!

Swerve Salon is Chicago’s Redken Elite hair salon. We are a progressive urban salon combined with an old-fashion beauty parlor, wrapped up and rested in a cozy loft.

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Bottled

Blonde

troll up and stop in for a pizza pie and pint. Bottled Blonde is the casual neighborhood concept of restaurant & nightlife developers Evening Entertainment Group. We’ve upped the al-fresco ante by carving out 10,000 sq ft inside and 2,500+ sq ft of lushly-landscaped covered patio dining and lounge space right in the heart of stylish, Urban River North. The contemporary Italian menu is both rustic and relaxed while whimsical audio/visual installations showcase pin-up girls and artistic nods to the classic East Coast brewery. Grab a seat at one of our picnic-style tables and tuck in to a gourmet stone oven pizza with a local or craft beer in-hand. We’ve taken modern nods from both the classic Italian kitchen and German bier garden – communal in nature with emphasis on beloved recipes, local and craft beer.

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Calendar of Events | Saturday, April 16 ‘PHOENIX’: 7:30 p.m. Screening of the new German noir Holocaust thriller set in postWWII Berlin. At Falmouth Jewish Congregation. Call 508-540-0602.

| Monday, April 18 ORT AMERICA AUTHOR BRUNCH: 11 a.m. Featuring Jewish writer Tova Mirvis. At Papa Razzi in Wellesley. Call 781-444-5954. BUS TOUR OF JEWISH BOSTON EXPLORES SYNAGOGUE COMMUNITIES: Noon-6 p.m. Explore the relationship between synagogue communities and their sites. www.synagoguecouncil.org. HIKING IN THE LYNN WOODS: 1 p.m. Presented by Yachad, a group for youth with disabilities and JCC. Meet at Great Woods Road entrance. RSVP by calling 978-712-8807. SISTERHOOD ANNUAL FALL RUMMAGE SALE: 2-5 p.m. Clothes, household items on sale. Also held Oct. 19, 6-8 p.m. At Temple Beth Shalom in Needham. Email robertaseilerslp@gmail. com. BICYCLE TOUR: WHY THE JEWS LEFT BOSTON: 3:15 p.m. Learn about block busting, redlining and the role of racism on this tour of Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. Email liz@circleboston.org to RSVP. ‘THE BOSTON GIRL’: 4 p.m. Anita Diamant, author of “The Red Tent,” will discuss her new novel. At Congregation Beth El in Sudbury. Call 978-443-9622. EVE AND LILITH: TORAH AND LEGEND: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Keith Tornheim will read poems from his recent book “Spoiled Fruit: Adam and Eve in Eden and Beyond.” Presented by

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Havurah. At Lutheran Church of the Newtons in Newton. Call 617-564-0188.

| Sunday, April 17 BOOK AND AUTHOR LUNCHEON: 10 a.m. Presented by Brandeis National Committee. With authors Talia Carner, Alyson Richman, and Larry Tye. Lunch held at The Lantana in Randolph. Call 781-963-7455. TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES: 6:30 p.m. A workshop for parents of children with disabilities. At the JCC of the North Shore in Marblehead. Call 978-712-8807. GODMOTHER’S DINNER: RSVP deadline for this Sharon Stoughton Hadassah’s annual event, scheduled for Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. With two nurses from Hadassah Medical Organization. At the Red Mill Village Clubhouse in Norton. RSVP to Lisa Abramson at 4 Flint Lane in North Easton.

See Chicago Real Estate 1255 N State 312-810-6693

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For more than 25 years, Ted Guarnero has been a leader in Chicago's residential real estate market, developing a loyal following of Loft homebuyers and sellers, developers, and community leaders.

OUR beautiful new facility constructed this year, is located in the historic Bauer Building on Huron and Franklin. Just ONE block from the Our 5300 Square foot facility features over 50 pieces of top of the line free weights, cardio and strength equipment.

| Tuesday, April 19 TRAIN YOUR BRAIN SEMINAR: 11 a.m. For Parkinson’s patients and caregivers to learn strategies to maximize cognitive fitness. At the JCC in Newton. RSVP to wellness@jccgb.org. TAPESTRY: A TRIBUTE TO CAROLE KING: 12:15 p.m. Luncheon followed by concert. Presented by L’Chaim Group. At Temple Emanuel in Newton Center. Call 617-959-4928.

| Wednesday, April 20 SCOTS JEWS: IDENTITY, BELONGING AND THE FUTURE: 6 p.m. Opening reception for photo exhibition on contemporary Scottish Jewish life by Judah Passow. At Hebrew College in Newton. On display through January. RSVP at www.hebrewcollege.edu/upcoming-events.

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WICKER PARK & BUCKTOWN

5665 N. Lincoln Ave Chicago IL 60659 THEANGRYCRABCHICAGO . COM

Swerve Salon 1419 N. Wells 312-255-0255 SwerveSalon.com

This Cajun-style restaurant is the best place in all of Chicagoland to savor the great tastes of Louisiana. Editor's Top Pick 5 Years Running!

Swerve Salon is Chicago’s Redken Elite hair salon. We are a progressive urban salon combined with an old-fashion beauty parlor, wrapped up and rested in a cozy loft.

773.784.6848

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hicago is widely known for being home to a large number of diverse neighborhoods, each leaving a mark on the city in a unique way. Among the 77 different areas are Wicker Park and Bucktown, two vibrant neighborhoods that provide Chicagoans with areas to explore great vintage shops, restaurants, distinctive bars, the arts and much more. Home to a variety of Chicagoans consisting of all ages, cultures and backgrounds, Wicker Park and Bucktown are recognized for being a bustling part of the city. And though some may consider the general location ‘hipster,’ the region provides a number of options for people of all backgrounds. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner for a loved one, trying to impress a ﬁrst date, or just hang with your friends, there are many hot spots for dining, drinks, music, dancing and more. In addition to great food and nightlife options, check out the local cultural scene. Both Wicker Park and Bucktown are booming with creative-minded residents centralized in an area of Chicago with a rich history of artistic expression. As a result, among the local highlights include many music venues and art exhibits, coffee shops that host open mic nights, and lively and creative murals that line the sidewalks of the streets. Even though there is a strong presence of artistic personality in these neighborhoods, there’s something for enthusiasts of all types. If you’re a music lover, April is a good time to swing through the area to catch a show. Artists such as Joy Formidable, The Falcon, Dreamers and Tech N9ne will take the stage at the popular venues Double Door, Subterranean and Concord Music Hall. There are also some great art related events in April, including the monthly First Fridays at the Flat Iron event, and the Chicago International Movies & Music Festival.

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WICKER PARK & BUCKTOWN

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Calendar of Events | Saturday, April 16 ‘PHOENIX’: 7:30 p.m. Screening of the new German noir Holocaust thriller set in postWWII Berlin. At Falmouth Jewish Congregation. Call 508-540-0602.

Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Havurah. At Lutheran Church of the Newtons in Newton. Call 617-564-0188.

See Chicago Real Estate 1255 N State 312-810-6693

Symmetry 230 W Huron 312-643-0929

S EEC HICAGOR EALE STATE. COM

S YMMETRYC HICAGO. COM

For more than 25 years, Ted Guarnero has been a leader in Chicago's residential real estate market, developing a loyal following of Loft homebuyers and sellers, developers, and community leaders.

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