Ride and dine in style aboard five mid-century train cars. more ›

Baskins Robbins is hosting a "Create Baskin's Next Favorite Flavor" contest! One lucky winner who submits a new flavor combination on BR's website will get a free trip to Boston and their concoction will be sold in BR stores everywhere. So, that's fun. more ›

Midwest wine country. Sounds a bit like an oxymoron but today our state and neighbors are growing grapes on par, or better, than some of those grown in the romantic wine country known as Napa Valley. Midwest wine country may not have Thomas Keller or Screaming Eagle but it has proven to be the perfect weekend get-away from city living folks like us. more ›

Often the food we eat as adults is informed by what we ate at home growing up. Coming from a family with deep Southern roots, this is a great time to be a Chicagoan who loves to dine out. Southern cooking and cocktails are everywhere. After many false heralds, this is the new bacon meme, really. more ›

Just as Senate Dems secured enough votes to open up President Obama's Health Care plan for debate, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris is headed for an early-week visit to troops in Iraq. Sen. Burris, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, is part of a delegation that will, as an aide told the Tribune, "examine security and political developments in the region." Burris will be joined by Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, (both Oregon), Tom Udall (New Mexico) and Michael Bennet (Colorado), all fellow Dems. The delegation will return by Thanksgiving. Last week, Burris was cleared by a Senate ethics committee of any wrong-doing stemming from his testimony about his communications with then-governor Rod Blagojevich about the Senate seat he now holds, but it did earn him an admonition from the panel. more ›