Have to admit, watching Rahm Emanuel flit about town like a dervish on his "Tell It Like It Is" listening tour is reaping some unexpected dividends. He must be glad to be back in campaign mode, even as he gets earfuls he didn't expect from Chatham residents at Izola's and Pilsen residents at Nuevo Leon. Which is probably why he decided to put Ricobene's on 26th Street on his itinerary yesterday, which he declared was a "good sandwich." Whether he was endorsing the breaded steak, Italian beef or the combo, we don't know. Having personal experience in navigating Ricobene's during lunch, he probably found a good crowd of supporters instead of the folks who turned out Monday to take him up on his listening tour slogan. more ›

It’s not often that we give a positive review to a restaurant that started flooding during our meal. Heck, it’s not often that we EXPERIENCE a flood during our meal - though the urge to pair up and make like Noah’s animals gave our date a certain sense of urgency. But Paramount Room is an exception. An upscale pub from the group behind the popular Roscoe Village spots Kitsch’n and Volo Restaurant Wine Bar, Paramount Room is a dark, atmospheric dive that, in another time, would’ve been filled with smoke and gangsters. more ›

Our winter just became more tolerable with the news that chocolate maker Barry Callebaut A.G. is opening a chocolate academy in Chicago. The academy, slated to open in June, will be in Callebaut's local headquarters in the Montgomery Ward building on West Chicago in River West and fulfills the company's desire to have an academy in the United States. more ›

The dog days of August are here. And we've got some ways to beat the humidity or, even better, give it a big ol' raspberry. We've also got some food news for you. Let's get started. - From Crain's, Jon Young and Helene Albert, the folks behind Kitsch'n and Volo have a new gastropub opening later this month. The two-story Paramount Room at 415 N. Milwaukee in River West will center on pairing upscale pub... more ›

While we tend to wear skirts or dresses about 350 days of the year, we’d be lying if we said jeans played had no place in our wardrobe. Although we don’t wear them as often as many of our friends, few clothing options offer as much versatility as a sharp pair of jeans. more ›

The largest art gallery event in Chicago that doesn’t involve Navy Pier or the Merchandise Mart, Vision 12 kicks off tonight with more than 30 gallery openings in River North and River West. New shows, plenty of group shows, run the gamut from university final projects to more established portfolios. The two week celebration of gallery goodness is presented by the Art Dealers Association of Chicago, who have, appropriately enough, chosen “the business of Art”... more ›

The turkey's in the oven, the parades are on TV, and jocks turned analysts are ready for some football. Thanksgiving is here! Before indulging in the big bird and enough sides to feed a small army, let's take a moment to give thanks. more ›

At Chicagoist, we have a lot of love in our hearts: for our friends, our colleagues, our readers, and even our critics. It’s not always easy to express our appreciation for everyone who visits our humble little site. more ›