A Walgreens security guard was shot and killed at the River North store last night. more ›

After much anticipation, Ryan Poli's new restaurant is finally opening. Plus, they are accepting limited reservations right now. more ›

Today in restaurant news: Patrick and Mike Sheerin finally start finalizing the details for The Trencherman, upscale Chinese in River North and a possible retail addition to Ruxbin Kitchen. more ›

They're giving away 1,000 free cupcakes in River North. It will be a frosting-fueled stampede! more ›

The woman implied she had a gun, received an undisclosed amount of cash and fled the scene. more ›

Passersby cocked their heads in wonderment at the long line of locals on State Street last night. They were not qeued up for the latest iRelease. Nor was it an admiring throng waiting for tickets to see the latest teenybopper to hit town. No, these folks were lined up in anticipation of some free frozen yogurt. It was not just any fro-yo mind you. They were waiting for a taste of Pinkberry. more ›

Homer Simpson may have said it best when he called the doughnut sacrilicious. The rightness, the wrongness. The guilt, the pleasure. It’s a plump, round dichotomy with sprinkles. If you couldn’t tell, we’ve been charmed ever since our visit to Brendan Sodikoff’s newly opened Doughnut Vault, the hole-in the-wall doughnut and coffee shop just around the corner from Sodikoff’s Gilt Bar. And we’re not exaggerating about the size; Doughnut Vault isn’t much more than a brief hallway with a business end. A residual bank vault lends the place its name and, presumably, the rackful of fresh doughnuts stored within a false sense of security. Touches like the chandelier over the counter, the mirrored and tiled walls, checkered floor, pale blue doors and trim, and antique gold cash register all suggest an affinity with Sodikoff’s other local haunt, the likewise Francophile Maude’s Liquor bar. A window may soon serve walk-throughs, but for now the cashier is keeping it closed on account of the brisk weather. (Ed. Note: How can you not love a place with a "1/2" in its address? It's like the Hogwarts Doughnut Shop!) more ›

We toured the about-to-open GT Fish & Oyster last Friday, but we weren't allowed to take any pictures, since the restaurant was still finishing up construction. The Feast got in once things were a bit more in order, and Chef Tentori showed them around the about-to-open restaurant. We are excited to see the rotating series of chalk paintings on the back wall, and to add this to our growing list of "restaurants with ampersands." If you are breathless with anticipation, and you want to eat oysters at the GT-branded boomerang table, this video should keep you sated for a few days. Hints of the decor and menu have been trickling out for weeks, and it seems likely that this spot will be packed to the gills (ha ha) once it opens. Feast also has the entire menu. more ›

Last month, the online culinary magazine Star Chefs posted a glowing assessment of Chicago's craft-cocktail scene. Noting how far things have come in recent years, the article charts a course from circa-2005 cran-apple Martinis rimmed with graham-cracker crust to artisanal creations like Bristol mixologist Debbi Peek's Smoked Sicilian Manhattan made with house-cured cherries. Indeed, the city's growing cohort of talented barkeeps are presenting more thoughtful and refined drinks, and we patrons have responded with approving slurps. And although "Chicago Mixology's Night and Day Transformation" may not say so explicitly, the story goes far to explain the deliciousness afoot at Hubbard Inn. more ›

A Maywood man has been accused of punching a traffic aide in River North after she wrote him a ticket last Friday. more ›

Dozens of cocktail dens around Chicago have been quick to muddle, squeeze and otherwise embrace in their drinks the increasing amount of small-batch, regionally produced spirits, mixers and bitters available to them. But perhaps none go so far as the Watershed to source locally. To boot, none feel quite so much like a den. more ›

An extra-alarm electrical fire early Sunday morning at Jenkins Hall--a 200-unit River North high-rise building that houses disabled and elderly patients, in addition to college students--left two elderly women hospitalized, hundreds on the streets, and many others with physical injuries. Emergency crews responded around 12:15 a.m. to the 14-story building at 171 W. Oak St., Fire Media Affairs Chief Kevin MacGregor told the Chicago Sun-Times. With at least 18 fire trucks and 120 firefighters and paramedics at the scene, the fire was extinguished by 1:50 a.m., MacGregor said. Early reports have revealed that the fire might have began inside several electrical vaults. more ›

James Finkl, 46, of the 400 block of West Huron Street, was charged at 10 a.m. on Wednesday for possessing more than 30 unregistered guns, police said. Finkl was charged with 36 counts of having unregistered guns and four counts of having assault ammunition, police News Affairs Officer Ronald Gaines said to the Chicago Sun-Times. Finkl was arrested based on a search warrant police implemented on his house. He is scheduled to appear in court on July 2, police said. An investigation by Near North District police is still underway. more ›

Police are on the look-out for a suspect driving a dark colored SUV in connection with a shooting that injured a man early Sunday at North LaSalle and West Ontario streets in River North. At 1:02 a.m., police responded to a man who had been shot in the abdomen while he was sitting in his own vehicle, according to police News Affairs Officer Ron Gaines. The man was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and listed in "guarded condition," Gaines said. The shooter was known by the victim and no one is in custody as of 4 a.m., Gaines said. Belmont Area detectives are investigating. [Chicago Sun-Times] more ›

Walking into the Crescent Room at Tizi Melloul is like walking into a Mediterranean fantasy. We honestly have no idea as to its authenticity for any particular culture, and it doesn't really matter - it's exactly what you want it to look like. In a restaurant filled with modern design touches this more traditional space, with low couches, vibrant colors, pottery and a giant cluster of lanterns hanging above, perfectly sets the scene for the meal to follow. The main dining room is lovely, and has a wider variety of food selections, but we were quite happy with our choice. more ›

Starting Monday morning River North residents heading to the Loop have a new option for their weekday commute. The Water Taxi will be making a new stop along the River Walk at the edge of Erie Park between North Larrabee and West Erie, in addition to the stops at Michigan Avenue and Union Station. Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) plugged it as the “first ever residential-oriented stop” and told the Tribune it would “ease downtown congestion at no cost to the city.” more ›

Police reopened Ohio Street to traffic after an inactive grenade was found in the River North area this morning, according to Chicago Breaking News. A man found the grenade inside a sock on the sidewalk near Clark and Lake and notified police. The device was real but "inert" and "did not pose a threat," the report said. more ›

Back in 1989 urban planners proposed a plan to develop the South Loop into an arts community that would provide fixed affordable housing for artists alongside studios, galleries, and performance spaces. At the time, a decline in manufacturing and warehousing business in the area north and west of the Chicago River had opened up an abundance of cheap loft space that seemed suited for working artists and galleries. more ›

The Green Door Tavern in River North (676 N. Orleans, 312-664-5496) manages to walk the balance between classic tavern and tourist trap with aplomb. Housed in a 130-year-old wood frame building built shortly after the Great Chicago Fire (the last building of its kind built that close to the Loop) if you look at it hard enough you'll see that it has a noticeable lean.. more ›

Opening this week in River North is Eve (840 N. Wabash, 312-266-3383), from Chef Troy Graves and the team behind the contemporary American bistro Tallulah in Lincoln Square. Eve is only open at this time for lunch service through November 5. If dinner includes the spicy pomegranate glazed prawns shown above, we'll be among the first to check it out. ["Lunching at Eve:" Got Buzz@ Kurman] more ›

De La Costa, the Nuevo Latino restaurant in River North, was recently sold by its parent company. But the $1 million offer by buyer Dock 465 LLC is half of what Panacea Partners LLC is asking. Additionally, the sale could be moot if Dock 465 can't obtain a liquor license from the city. [Crain's] more ›

We attended the soft opening for Graham Elliot, the new River North "bistronomic restaurant" from former Avenues chef Graham Elliot Bowles at 217 W. Huron, last month and were sufficiently impressed by what we sampled to put it on our list of restaurants to return, keeping in mind that soft openings are generally where a new restaurant does its best to maintain initial appearances more ›

Last week’s free McSkillet burritos spoiled us. All we had to do was purchase one little drink and we got a free breakfast? Suddenly paying for meals seemed like a sham. It got us thinking - where else can we score some free grub in this town? Well, seek and ye shall find: more ›

The city's License Committee added Alderman Brandon Reilly's 42nd Ward, which includes the Loop, River North and the Gold Coast to the list of wards where private businesses will have the legal authority to boot cars parked on private property. "It seemed like an interesting concept. I figured we’d give it a try,” Reilly told the Sun-Times, pointing out that illegal parkers wouldn't have to travel to remote lots to spring their towed vehicles, and that a private attendant would be on duty to remove the boot once the fine had been paid. more ›

At this point, most of us have graduated from decorating the walls of our humble abodes with the typical college posters of yesteryear. The dilemma then becomes a matter of how to display our personal sense of artistic style without succumbing to the availability of “artwork” sold at places like Bed Bath & Beyond, and without dropping vast amounts of money at the River North galleries or the summertime street art festivals. more ›

The foggy mist that hung over Chicago Monday night seemed a perfect backdrop to a mystical experience with local psychic Patrick O’Brien at RoSal’s Restaurant in Little Italy. O'Brien visits RoSal’s twice a month to hold mini psychic readings for the pasta-loving crowd. Even those of us intrigued by psychics are often put off by the dozens of 900 number-type, big fat fakers out there. But there’s hope. Anyone seeking a more worthwhile experience than one can find with the $5 street festival psychics (you know, one yes-or-no tarot card question, the generic “you’ll live a long life” palm readings) should give O'Brien a try. He has a reputation for accuracy, plus we've been told he helps the Chicago PD solve crimes. Nice. more ›

Metromix describes Jake Melnick's Corner Tap as "a casual neighborhood pub specializing in traditional American bar cuisine; burgers, salads and homestyle specials such as barbecued ribs and chicken." You know, like the typical, run-of-the-mill River North bar. But things are about to heat up (ha!) at 41 E. Superior St. more ›

Five days ago, a New Foundland dog escaped from its owner's office in River North, not having been seen since. While it's fairly common to have a pup go missing in the city, most dogs aren't quite like Johnny B. Good, who weighs in at a staggering 125 pounds and stands at over three feet tall on all fours. His owner, Chad Munger, said that the dog opened two doors himself, using his head and... more ›

A few minutes walk from Bubba Gump, Shakespeare Theater and the IMAX is this weekend’s Exposition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) Chicago, bringing around 100 similarly eclectic galleries to Navy Pier’s Festival Hall. Considering the show’s artistic star power and the stacks of bills changing hands, Friday afternoon seemed positively mellow. Visitors seemed more intent on finding that perfect trinket for their living room or personal adornment than investing in the next Picasso.... more ›

Before we go to the listings, we want to bid farewell to the Tribune's Kevin Pang, who's heading over to the Tempo section. But he leaves the food beat with a profile of Peter Engler, the city's foremost expert on mother-in-law sandwiches, street food and other south side cheap eats. Shaw's Crab House concludes this year's edition of their "Royster with the Oyster" festival with their annual tent party at their Hubbard Street location tonight.... more ›