We caught up with Yuck bassist Max Bloom and drummer Jonny Rogoff after their intense Sunday afternoon set at Pitchfork. more ›

Spring is undoubtedly here, and we're getting ready for baseball season to really kick into full gear. But before you rush to Wrigley Field to stuff four hot dogs in your mouth and wash it down with a stadium cup full of beer next month, we hope you've got bleacher seats. more ›

Take a second or three to marvel at the latest tubesteak experiment from Doug Sohn. The Feast's Kate Bernot sat down to chat with Hot Doug himself to get the details of this pork sausage topped with a Vosge's "Mo' Bacon" chocolate bar. 'I'm not sure this works, but I can't stop eating it,'" Sohn told Bernot. more ›

We've ooh-ed and ah-ed over Starshaped Press before. Their incredible letterpress creations have us inventing reasons why we need cards and invitations. If we could, we'd get married 5 or 6 times, just for the stationary. A series of their posters (none food-related) hangs in the Chicagoist test kitchen! more ›

The Belly Dog has undergone some changes since it was first introduced. more ›

For about a year, I've been discussing in passing with Wiener and Still Champion owner Gus Paschalis on a Sonoran hot dog collaboration. When made with care, this border take on the hot dog can be as revelatory as your first Coney dog, NEw York style dog, or Chicago dog. more ›

It's been a few months since Leo's Coney Island (3455 N. Southport, 773-281-5367) opened, along with the subsequent rush of gawkers and gourmands who have to be The First Through The Door. Folks here at Chicagoist are not ones to shy away from a good chili dog, especially a Detroit-style Coney. After ordering two Coney dogs from Leo's (partly for dinner, partly to bring down my blood sugar levels after sneaking guava Jarritos and Reese's Pieces into a screening of the restored "Metropolis"), I wished I had made my own from Karl's recipe, or my own favorite combination of Vienna Beef and chili from Ramova Grill. more ›

If a hot dog joint dares to venture beyond Chicago-style territory and up its game with gourmet sausages, comparisons to Hot Doug's are inevitable. Alexander Brunacci apparently understands this, which is why he's gone to great lengths to distance himself from the reigning king of gourmet encased meats on my visits to Franks 'N Dawgs. "I understand that people are going to make those comparisons," Brunacci said. "But I think we're more akin to a place like Kuma's Corner with what we're doing." more ›

Remember the Roscoe's/Rosscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles kerfuffle from last year that had readers quoting lines from "Coming to America?" Looks like we're about to see it again, only with Superdawg in the role of plaintiff. more ›

Wanna see something that would scare the pants off Stephen Colbert? Just hit play. more ›

Second base, center field and the hot corner aren't the only vacancies the White Sox are looking to fill. Sara Lee's announcement last year they were getting out of the kosher hot dog game by cutting its Best Kosher line left a void at hot dog stands inside a Sox Park. more ›

While the weather when the puck drops Thursday at Wrigley field will be nowhere near the extremes of the Bears' last three home games, it'll still be cold. While we know some of you attending the game will be sneaking flasks, beer and soda will also be served in plastic bottles only. Hot chocolate will be served in a commemorative Winter Classic cup, as well. more ›

While we love our Chicago-style dogs, we don't shy away from a real good chili dog. Depending on which "wacky food holiday" calendar you're referencing, either last month was or this month is National Chili Month. But far too many hot dog stands , using the "stack 'em high" approach of building a Chicago Dog, try to do the same when making a chili dog, leading to a mess of a meal. In the case of a chili dog — with a couple exceptions — less is more. Simple is the order: chili, some shredded cheddar and raw onions is all you need. more ›

On March 4, 1837, Chicago officially became a city, first mayor William B. Ogden presiding. more ›

This is most likely too late for you downtown workers, but if you're interested and at Portillo's tomorrow they're giving away 500 free hot dogs (via). That's right, 500 free hot dogs. more ›

Sneakerfiles reports that the Levi's 501 premium selvedge denim have an elephant print lining the inside and the signature Air Jordan symbol is embroidered on one of the pockets along with six gold rings that symbolize each of the championship rings MJ won during his BBall years. The jeans, sneakers and shirt come in a red collector box decorated with graphics from each brand. more ›

Unlike so many political figures in Chicago, Tony Rezko didn't come from a background steeped in ward politics and clout. In fact, after he finished his degrees at IIT, did what most new immigrants to Chicago do: he got a job. more ›

The Reader's Guide to Late Night Dining is now online, and there's the expected eclectic mix of diners, hot dog stands, taco joints, upscale pub grub, and places where only the fearless dare enter. Even better is that the range of offerings encompasses a wide stretch of the city and connecting suburbs (big love for Gene & Jude's Red Hots in River Grove!). If you're at the stage in life where "I'll sleep when... more ›

On the subject of hot dog stands, it's the little differences that separate the ones we like from the ones we don't. Growing up on the Northwest side we had the good fortune (although as teenagers we never realized it) of living near some of the best, like Bemo's on Fullerton; the recently closed Toots Drive Thru at Central and Montrose; Duke's, just up the street at Central and Bryn Mawr; and Jimmy's Red Hots on Grand and Pulaski. A visit to Jimmy's over the weekend showed us how much a neighborhood can change in over twenty years: compared to our memories the intersection today could pass as a suburb. But the muffler man at the auto parts store on Grand still lords over all he surveys, and Jimmy's is still doing business the way we remembered. A hot dog stand like Jimmy's doesn't stay in business for fifty-five years by serving up bad red hots. more ›

The November issue of Chicago Magazine is on newstands, and the cover story is, simply put, open for discussion if you're a gourmand. more ›

Chicagoist has long been a fan of Southport Grocery and Café, helmed by chef/owner Lisa Santos. The small, specialized shop and bakery also has a take-out/eat-in menu for adults as well as a handful of dishes especially for kids. This menu section, nicknamed “For Our Little Ones”, has a variety of foods for $5 that include breakfast and lunch options. It’s ideal if your kid wants noodles for breakfast or pancakes for dinner. Choices range... more ›

There are two big happenings tonight in Chicago. One involves Chicagoist's mild obsession, Top Chef, whose finale will be shot live tonight at an undisclosed location. (We'll be live-blogging it.) The other involves one of our esteemed city's baseball clubs ... you've heard of them, right? But since food and sports are both on the mind right now, we would be remiss in not mentioning the culinary wager made between Daley and Phoenix Mayor Phil... more ›

You'll remember the story of Dave Warwak, the middle school art instructor in Fox River Grove who put down the paints, chalks and paste to passionately talk to his students about the virtues of the vegan lifestyle. If by "passionately" we meant "beat the kids over the head about how all hot dogs are sketchy-assed." When he was busted for doing that, he took the concept of "keeping it real" to Chappellian levels, demanding that... more ›

Dave Warwak was just another mild-mannered middle school art teacher in Anywhere, USA (actually Fox River Grove Middle School in McHenry County). Then, in January, he switched to a vegan diet, sold his boat and fishing tackle from his side job as a fishing guide, and became politicized on the issue of animal rights. Last week Warwak handed his students a book by John Robbins titled The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save... more ›

This clip from The Simpsons is as good a place to jump off this week, as we're leaving to see the film after we file this, and the beginning setting is at a fair. Which makes a nice segue for us. Last week, we went to the South Side Arts & Music Fest we profiled in last week's installment and were confronted with the sticker shock of seeing a funnel cake sell for nine... more ›

Oh, how we love lists. Is there any other piece of journalism that has the ability to spur so much pointless and arbitrary discussion? Via the Drive-Thru, we found this list of Chicago's "hottest dogs" from Travel + Leisure. more ›

He had to promise them one of his lovely TIFs, but Daley did manage to convince mapmakers Navteq to stay in Chicago rather than relocating back to the Silicon Valley in California. It's the City of Chicago vs. Harry's Hot Dogs and the Showmen's League of America and a Giordano's restaurant. And throw in a travel agency too. City Hall wants the buildings at 300-308 W. Randolph torn down to make a small park... more ›

Seattlest has a talk with the photographer from last week's "Segway Mom" and then experiences some dissension in the ranks over the question of wine vs. beer. It's not West Side Story, but about as close as they'll get. They're also still waiting on some inbox relief after a spammer is arrested. As Chicagoist counts down the days to its third anniversary party, they found all-organic pizza to be underwhelming amidst the hoopla, tried... more ›

Vegetarian Hot Dogs? more ›

All across the land this weekend there'll be grills firing up; hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie patties will be duly seared, oversmeared with condiments and consumed. But at Facets, another kind of feast is on display. The ingredients? A desert island. Reality TV. And hungry contestants. more ›