Chicago weather, as tumultuous as it is, gives us this rare week, an opportunity to both celebrate (and wish away) the nice parts of winter while lusting for spring flowers to bloom. Atop the Macy’s shopping complex on State St. sits Noodles by Takashi, where you can enjoy a traditional bowl of ramen, then mosey down stairs to see Towers of Flowers in spring bloom. more ›

Irving Park bus rider/POTUS Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel earned headlines this week upon word that his "renting" of the basement in scarily-spectacled Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)'s Capitol Hill abode is illegal. Delauro tried to clear up the matter, telling the press that Emanuel's been staying there for free. Scandal averted? Nope: "Free" is actually worse than "renting," thanks to the Obama administration's new and improved ethics rules regarding acceptance of private gifts from personal friends in high places. Delauro's hub, a Democratic pollster, owns the house. Whoops! more ›

From Crain's comes word that Le Lan Executive chef Bill Kim is leaving behind the river North French-Vietnamese outpost to open a noodle shop/casual eatery in Logan Square. more ›