Indholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Chicago magazine

AS ANY GOOD JOURNALIST KNOWS, IT’S important to do your research. Which is how I, along with my two sons, ended up at the Eiffel Waffle in Downers Grove one Wednesday night in June. If I was going to put one of the local chain’s decadent ice cream concoctions on this month’s cover, I wanted to see how it played with its target demographic: the Instagram generation. My 18-year-old, Terrance, who declares himself “not a fan of novelty sweets,” was skeptical. “This is obnoxious,” he said as he eyed cover star Cookie Monster (Cosmic Cookie ice cream topped with cookie dough, Oreo crumbles, strawberries, chocolate syrup, and whipped cream, all set inside Eiffel’s signature bubble waffle cone). “How do I even eat this?” He managed to make it through the…

@lifeoftygs When Tyger Ligon was a kid, his parents gave him a camera, which he didn’t put down until he went to college. Then, during the pandemic, the Washington Heights resident, 27, a video production freelancer, got back into photography. He’d been in a creative rut and used this contest to visit a new part of the city. “I was wandering around North Avenue Beach seeing all the people out and about,” he says. “I ran into this group of guys kicking a soccerball around.” Ligon was drawn to the motion and expression in the scene, which to him captures the joy of a Chicago summer. NEXT CONTEST Post your best high-resolution shot of local beer on Instagram by August 15. Follow and tag @chicagomag and include #chimagcon test on…

AS THE SUPREME Court and surrounding states have limited abortion rights, Illinois has done the opposite. In 2019, Governor J.B. Pritzker signed a law establishing abortion as a “fundamental right.” More recently, Illinois struck down a parental consent law for teens. But just getting here for the procedure can be daunting for an out-of-state woman without a reliable car or a credit card to book a hotel. That’s where the Chicago-based Midwest Access Coalition comes in. Founded in 2014, it’s one of the earliest and most active examples of a new type of abortion rights effort: the practical support organization. With a paid staff of four and more than 200 volunteer drivers and overnight hosts, MAC helps at least 120 women a month — mostly people of color, from as…

Q: Can cannabis make me a better parent? A: One summer day when my young son had a lot of energy to burn and was chasing after me to play, I took a hit from my vape and thought, Here goes. We got on the floor and played for an hour — and it was more fun than usual. Normally, with the busy brain of an adult, it’d be hard to sit and do make-believe for so long. But in that moment, I really felt present with him. Yes, cannabis can push you to be a more engaged, fun-loving parent. It interacts with our endocannabinoid system to restore homeostasis — a feeling of level and balance. Our bodies rarely get there on their own because of stress and distraction. If…

FOR YEARS, BRUCE FINKELMAN looked at the massive Morton Salt sign above Elston Avenue with a sense of curiosity. “This all started with a simple question,” he says. “What’s going on in there?” Now Finkelman, managing partner of 16" on Center — the hospitality collective behind spaces like the Promontory in Hyde Park, Longman & Eagle in Logan Square, and Beauty Bar in Noble Square — is providing a new answer. Originally built in the 1920s, the old packaging and warehouse facility across the Chicago River from Goose Island reopens its doors this month to welcome music fans as the Salt Shed. It’s a massive $46 million overhaul of the 4.2-acre site that Morton sold in 2017. But the venue — which runs along a two-block stretch of the river…

When James Shin was 15, his family moved from the suburbs of Busan, South Korea, to the suburbs of Atlanta. While he just as well may have landed on Mars, he discovered he was far from alone. The city’s long-standing Koreatown had exploded northward and had morphed from a few Korean barbecue spots into a galaxy of specialty houses serving only, say, goat soup, tofu stew, or hand-stretched noodles. “When I was growing up, there was so much demand for Korean food,” he says. “Not just from Koreans but from Americans, too. They found out it wasn’t really that exotic, it was just so good.” Twenty years later, with New Village Gastro Pub in Northbrook (reviewed on page 44), he’s helping bring that same inviting energy to the Koreatown emerging…

1 OBELIX What A lively, refreshing take on French fare from Oliver and Nicolas Poilevey, the siblings behind longtime Bucktown staple Le Bouchon Why Steak tartare inspired by banh mi? Asparagus with al pastor hollandaise? A foie-co (yep, a foie gras taco)? This is the most exciting new Gallic spot to open in years. Where 700 N. Sedgwick St., River North 2 PUBLICAN QUALITY BREAD What Greg Wade’s impeccable breads, now available to the public at this new storefront Why Grab loaves of ciabatta, jambon-beurre sandwiches, and plenty of pastries, like a tiramisù cruffin. Where 1759 W. Grand Ave., West Town 3 NINE BAR What Barkeeps Lily Wang and Joe Briglio turned her family’s Moon Palace into a fun cocktail bar. Why Pop in for a mai tai with almond cookie orgeat…

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Chicago comedy fans knew Sarah Sherman better as Sarah Squirm, the freaky face of the Hideout’s bizarre showcase Helltrap Nightmare. While she joined the cast of Saturday Night Live last fall under her real name, she carried her flair for the outlandish and grotesque with her and made a quick (and sometimes queasy) impression in her freshman season. Whether imagining slasher-flick doll Chucky as an HR nightmare or roasting Colin Jost at the “Weekend Update” desk, Sherman often stood out. She even brought her affinity for gross-out body horror to the screen in one of the season’s weirdest sketches, playing a woman who reveals to her date that her body is covered with singing, puking meatballs. That’s our Squirm.…

The life and work of Defcee provide a study in contrasts. He’s a serial altruist, rallying his pupils to conquer the written word. (His background includes stints as a CPS teacher, part-time prison instructor, and mentor to aspiring poets.) But on record, this lanky, lantern-jawed Jewish boy eschews warmth; instead, he tells hard truths with a forbidding scowl. After years of enervating toil, Defcee (real name Adam Levin) caught a break last fall with the Billy Woods–endorsed Trapdoor. His latest album, a collaboration with local producer BoatHouse, is called For All Debts Public and Private — and sure enough, Defcee has the snarling, pitiless calm of a debt collector. This is what underground hip-hop was like a quarter century ago: neck-snapping drums, bruising punch lines, and deftly syncopated flows. Public…

The tropical behemoth Three Dots and a Dash is not exactly what we’d call restrained, but the Bamboo Room, a hideaway tucked within the River North bar, sure is. When it reopened last November after a pandemic pause, the tiki trappings had been stowed away. Now this 22-seat bar serves spirit-forward rum cocktails like its signature drink, a riff on the classic Bamboo. Beverage director Kevin Beary adds an aged rum, Madeira, and cane syrup to the traditional mix of sherry and vermouth for a nutty, rich flavor. BAMBOO ROOM Makes 1 cocktail ½ oz. Habitation Velier Worthy Park 2005 rum1¼ oz. amontillado 1 oz. Mancino Bianco Ambrato vermouth½ oz. Rare Wine Co. Boston Bual Madeira½ oz. cane syrup Orange peel, for garnish 1. Stir ingredients in a mixing glass…

Chicago has its fair share of craft-coffee-meets-vintage-records spots, but the newest addition adds another layer: a retro-diner-inspired horror-movie haven. From the owners of the adjoining Bric-a-Brac Records, the Brewed takes cues from David Cronenberg’s 1979 cult-classic flick The Brood and is filled with 1970s and ’80s cinephile memorabilia from the owners’ personal collections. Grab a Firestarter (a Stephen King–themed latte flavored with ancho chile, cinnamon, red chile flakes, and tangerine extract) and head to the back, where you’ll be greeted with pink walls meant to replicate the wallpaper in the 1977 version of Suspiria. 2843 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square…

Liv Melchers is a former stylist at Madewell who relocated from Nashville to Elgin for its historic charm and the opportunity to grow her online vintage business into a full-blown concept shop last year. She sources everywhere from neighborhood garage sales to Paris flea markets for the furniture, clothing, artwork, and accessories that fill her sunny downtown storefront. While the vibe is midcentury modern to the max (the abundance of steel candlesticks and ceramic vases doesn’t lie), you’ll find other throwback surprises, like Reebok high-tops or cutie-pie ’80s Liz Claiborne dresses. 23 S. Spring St., Elgin; ableshoppe.com…

Here’s a toast to risk taking. After all, the top brass at Cooper’s Hawk could have gone “rosé all day” on us and dropped yet another of their standard wine-themed eateries in the old Esquire Theater space. Instead, they took the Nebbiolo route (read: bold as hell) and ran an experiment: Esquire flies in high-profile chefs who work outside the 606 to execute limited-time menus. Tom Colicchio’s debut impressed mightily, as should stints by Carla Hall, then Tyler Florence later in the year. But it was the decision to hire master sommelier Emily Wines to curate what’s housed in the 50-foottall glass-enclosed wine tower that will have corks and taste buds popping all year. 58 E. Oak St., Gold Coast…

If ever a food fit its surroundings, it’s the fried treats at this café, where comic-style illustrations by local artist Mia Larson cover every surface. Looking as if they were plucked straight from Homer Simpson’s fingers, these rings get their fluffy-chewy texture from a mix of mochi, tapioca, and wheat flours. Standouts include the cinnamon-sugar-coated Chocolate Churro and the Strawberry Sprinkle, finished with a punchy berry icing in a cartoon pink. $4.50. 3155 N. Halsted St., Lake View East…

In September, three years after setting up an online store, founder Miguel Cervantes and partners Lucy Angel and Dom Cordilla opened a brick-and-mortar outpost to sell jewelry, pottery, clothes, and other goods from Mexican designers. The weekends-only shop not only stocks items from south of the border but also serves a vital purpose as a community space. The designers often visit to discuss their process, drawing residents and fostering dialogue around Mexican identity. These events, conducted in English and Spanish, showcase food and drinks from local small businesses, which often use the occasion to launch products. It’s a slice of Mexico City’s famous cosmopolitan energy right in the heart of Chicago’s Southwest Side. 2901 W. Cermak Rd., Little Village…

Behold the scent of clean linen and freshly cut wood. It’s coming from a hand-poured candle, and you’ll immediately want 10 of them. That’s the charm of Wilderhouse. Snuggled on a quiet stretch of Damen Avenue, this breezy little apothecary stocks natural bath and body goods, plus gifts like artisan jewelry, woven totes, vases, and dried floral bouquets. Add personal service and an extra-sunny vibe, and you’re getting all the small-town feels. 1339 N. Damen Ave., Bucktown…

THE SURVIVORS WHO ARE PART OF OUR MUSEUM FAMILY HAVE seen the absolute worst that humanity has to offer, and yet they’re optimists. They’re also unbelievably generous, because every time they recount their story, they’re right back on the arrival ramp. They want to create a better world, not just for themselves and their children and grandchildren, but for everyone. The other thing is — and it’s probably a survival mechanism — they have amazing senses of humor. So between all of those things, they’re a gift. When you visit Auschwitz today, there’s green grass and trees. On a sunny day, there is a blue sky and you can hear birds chirping. But survivors will tell you there wasn’t a blade of grass or a piece of bark on a…

TO EVOKE CHICAGO’S NOTORIOUSLY temperamental climate for “What Weather Forecasters Know” (page 74), design director David Syrek decided to photograph the three celebrity meteorologists interviewed, then insert the photos into illustrated backdrops of extreme conditions (a rainstorm, a snowstorm, a windstorm). “We thought that would bridge the reality and seriousness of a lot of what they’re talking about with something that is still fun,” says Syrek. He turned to illustrators (and siblings) Peter and Maria Hoey to create Chicago scenes in their graphic novel style. During the shoots with photographer Saverio Truglia, the meteorologists were told to act as if they were in those scenarios — while adding a touch of the dramatic. (For inspiration, Syrek showed NBC-5’s Brant Miller photos from Gene Kelly’s Singin’ in the Rain dance routine.)…

LITTLE MORE THAN A DECADE AGO, WATER TOWER PLACE WAS THE ULTIMATE DES-tination for shoppers itching to spend money along the Magnificent Mile. The gray-marble-clad building on North Michigan Avenue was home to retail titans of yore, including Lord & Taylor and Marshall Field’s. The eight-story mall had scores of brand-name shops, chic boutiques, and a bustling food court with a dozen stations each serving a distinct cuisine. These days, the department stores are gone, leaving vacant spaces. Other familiar retailers have fled, including Gap and Banana Republic, making way for sports jersey and T-shirt shops. The food court’s highlight is an M Burger. “Everybody would love Water Tower Place to go back to what it was,” says Alderman Brian Hopkins, whose 2nd Ward includes part of the Mag Mile.…

INSTAGRAM HANDLE: @sillyamerica FOLLOWERS: 13,000 Who: Val Bromann Getting started: The Brookfield native, 41, began traveling the nation and blogging about roadside attractions in 2007. Her love for the genre came from growing up near The Spindle, the since-demolished sculpture of cars aligned on a spike in Berwyn. Alone for the haul: Bromann usually travels solo. “I exhaust my friends, because I want to see so many things.” Favorite place: Casey, Illinois, which has a dozen “world’s largest” attractions in Guinness World Records. “They started with the world’s largest mailbox and the world’s largest rocking chair.” Headed to Texas: Bromann will continue blogging when she takes a new job with the Dallas Opera. “I don’t want to stop until I’ve seen every state.”…

> 1 BELTING IT OUT OF THE PARK Spread a blanket and hear some show tunes as Porchlight Music Theatre’s Broadway in Your Backyard series tours the city. Part of Nights Out in the Parks, Porchlight’s concerts visit a different park each Tuesday. Through Sept. 6. porchlightmusictheatre.org > 2 SPRING FORWARD The Art Institute exhibition David Hockney: The Arrival of Spring, Normandy, 2020 features dozens of landscapes created by the British pop artist, who spent the early months of the coronavirus pandemic in rural France. Notably, the octogenarian created these works on an iPad, using a custom-designed app. Aug. 20–Jan 9. artic.edu > 3 OUT TO MARKET Northalsted Market Days turns 40 this year, but don’t you dare call it middle-aged. One of Chicago’s biggest summer street fests and among…

IENGAGE IN A STARE-DOWN WITH A TOILET AT SIDEKICK’S, A KARAoke bar on Montrose Avenue just east of the expressway. I squint as I try to focus on the blurry image of my cellphone at the bottom of the bowl. Through the bathroom door, I can hear a chorus of hoarse voices singing in unison: “SWEET CAROLINE! BAHM BAHM BUM …” I automatically mumble along as I plunge my hand into the cool wetness of wees past. After quickly rinsing my phone in the sink and wiping it against my shirt, I beg my feet to balance along the edge of the dance floor leading to a stage. Two ladies dressed in matching jean jackets rap Salt-N-Pepa’s “Shoop” into a microphone. My friend Ray leans on a high-top table, fingering…

BEST NEW SPOTS TO SIP WINE CHÂTEAU CARBIDE Best for: Views and vibes The scene: Situated atop the 24-story Pendry Chicago, this lounge offers gorgeous downtown panoramas, a rosé-obsessed menu (yes, you can get a three-liter of Whispering Angel to share with your crew), and an elegant selection of Japanese-inspired bites. Pick: Four Graces Pinot Noir. “It has a juicy flavor profile with slight acidity and subtle tannins, making it a great rooftop red option,” says food and beverage director Adam Peabody. $17 a glass. 230 N. Michigan Ave., Loop — AUDARSHIA TOWNSEND LOS NATURALES Best for: Low-key imbibing The scene: This natural wine weekend pop-up inside Caminos de Michoacan was started by three friends from the Southwest Side who wanted to bring top vino to their community while supporting…

Many of us have graduated from those flasks of scalding-hot, dirt-cheap sake into the world of a gorgeous chilled version, served in proper glassware, that smells both floral and earthy and lingers on the tongue after every sip. But man, it’s a steep learning curve. Does daiginjo refer to the polish of the rice or a Pokémon character? Thankfully, we have Jun-Jun Vichaikul (pictured, with co-owner Naomi Hattori) and his remarkable selection of sake at Konbini & Kanpai. An excellent rice wine guide, he will lead you to a bottle guaranteed to blow your mind with its depth of flavors and the aptness of its pairing with your food of choice. 1433 W. Belmont Ave., Lake View…

1 PAN CON CHICHARRÓN AT AVENIDA PERU Sandwiches are eaten at all hours in Peru, but they’re most popular for breakfast. Karlo Caceres turns his restaurant into a sanguchería on weekend mornings, and the star is the pan con chicharrón. It starts with a crunchy-crust bun that has an especially soft interior — all the better to soak up juices from the roast pork. Sliced sweet potato adds texture, while a salsa criolla (marinated red onions) adds some zip. $9. 3131 N. Central Ave., Cragin — TITUS RUSCITTI 2 MAIDWRONG AT TRIBECCA’S SANDWICH SHOP From Cubanos to horseshoes, Becca Grothe knows her way around regional sandwiches, but it’s her update to Maid-Rite’s loose meat specialty that’s particularly brilliant. She mixes Slagel Family Farm ground beef with onions and mustard, then decks…

With its crispy griddled cheese crust, the costra taco is a product of Mexico City that’s becoming popular in the States. You’ll find a really good version at El Tragón Taqueria, which opened last October in a gas station complex near Halsted and Division. Listed on the menu as a taco de bistec, it comes with seared green onions and a cheesy Chihuahua crust that amalgamates with tender slices of rib eye. $4. 1234 N. Halsted St., Goose Island…

For many of us, there comes a moment when we wonder just how we landed where we are. We may wonder, too, how our paths ended up so different from those of the people closest to us. For journalist Dawn Turner, these questions didn’t just linger in her brain. She spent years interviewing her friends, teachers, relatives, and others, seeking answers. She grew up in Bronzeville, enveloped in the loving friendship of her sister and best friend. But soon the three girls, who were as tight as a freshly braided cornrow, ended up on very different paths. Some of it was the choices they made, but some was connected to structures and systems, to opportunities and influences. Turner’s elegant memoir, Three Girls From Bronzeville, which came out last September, isn’t…

Tony Quartaro has that familiar COVID-era story: Chef gets furloughed, brilliance ensues. In 2020, Quartaro — a pedigreed pasta guy who honed his skills at the Bristol, Balena, Formento’s, and Daisies — began making noodles and sauces from his home kitchen in Beverly. When demand exploded, he leased the Grand Avenue storefront from which he now churns out textbook paccheri, rigatoni, ravioli, and other pastas, along with slow-simmered sauces that teem with seasonal veggies and DOP-certified meats and cheeses. Weekly rotating combos, which average $30, come ready to hit your stovetop for a foolproof simmer and boil. 1117 W. Grand Ave., West Town…

Chicago theatergoers have long known Tyla Abercrumbie for her grounded work as an actor in plays like Dominique Morisseau’s Pipeline at Victory Gardens and Lynn Nottage’s Sweat at the Goodman. Her talent as a playwright was lesser known — until February, when TimeLine Theatre Company (of which she is a member) premiered Relentless. Her generational family drama depicts an underexamined slice of American life: the Black Victorian era. Set in 1919 Philadelphia, the play follows two affluent, well-educated sisters tending to the affairs of their late mother, who was born into slavery. A savvy and engaging history lesson, it resonated in a moment when certain forces were renewing efforts to downplay the darker notes in America’s story. Relentless sold out its run at Theater Wit and later transferred downtown for…

Big and chunky scarves are winter’s thing. For summer, silky and virtually weightless ones win. And you can find them in Deseda’s chic assortment of styles and patterns. From her Lake Forest studio, owner Sarah Somers, who left her job as a finance executive four years ago to launch her business, partners with artists from as far away as the Netherlands to design limited-edition pieces. They are printed and hand-finished by Italian silk specialists. From the thin and easy-to-knot Twiggy (pictured) to the across-the-shoulders statement Grand Dame, there are styles for anyone under the blistering sun. shopdeseda.com…

1 In his first head coaching gig, can Matt Eberflus reverse a decade of futility for the Bears, who’ve had one winning season since 2010? The latest would-be savior debuts in an Aug. 13 preseason game against the Chiefs. 2 Mayoral candidates can circulate petitions starting Aug. 30. Lori Lightfoot will face familiar foes Paul Vallas and Willie Wilson, plus newcomers such as Aldermen Ray Lopez and Rod Sawyer. 3 Raised concrete curbs to protect bike lanes are going up this month on Milwaukee between Addison and Irving Park. A cyclist killed in May was the second fatality there in the past three years. 4 For 122 years, Woodlawn’s Mount Carmel High School has educated only boys, including Sheriff Tom Dart and NFL QB Donovan McNabb. Noting “elusive” growth for…

DIDN’T WE JUST do this? you might be asking. Didn’t R. Kelly just get sentenced for a bunch of horrible things? Oh, you sweet summer child, much more is to come. The so-called Pied Piper of R&B is accused of seemingly endless crimes. Yes, Chicago’s own Robert Sylvester Kelly was convicted in a federal court in Brooklyn last fall of racketeering and sex trafficking, for which he was given 30 years in prison in June. But the feds are piling on with 13 more counts in a trial due to start in Chicago on August 15. Additional charges, in state courts here and in Minnesota, are also pending. THE BACKSTORY Let’s rewind. If you so much as stepped foot on planet Earth in the 2000s, you heard about the tape…

IN THE SPRING OF 2021, University of Chicago economics student Xander Hastings left Hyde Park for Fiji to compete in the 41st season of Survivor, CBS’s endurance game show. His combination of athleticism, smarts, and moxie powered him to fan-favorite status, fueled by a great TV moment when he bluffed his way out of being double-crossed. He ended up in third place, despite the starvation diet that caused him to drop 34 pounds. It was not his first transformation. A self-described “chubby kid” who grappled with body image, the Florida native switched to a paleo diet in high school and became a competitive runner. Post-Survivor, he reluctantly quit U. of C.’s cross-country team last fall. “When I started running competitively again, I very much hit a wall. My body wasn’t…

CELEBRATING ARTFUL LIVING FOR 30 YEARS LUANA COONEN TRUNK SHOW JUN 24 – 26 FROM IRIDESCENT BUTTERFLY WINGS TO 18K GOLD LEAFING, LUANA FINDS BEAUTY IN IT ALL SHAUNA BURKE ARTIST TALK AUG 11, 5P – 8P SHAUNA JOINS HER TRAVELING EXHIBITION OF 60+ ARTISTS TO GIVE US INSIGHT ON THE SHOW PLAN B ART PROJECT AUG 11 – SEP 18 60+ ARTISTS IN A TRAVELING SHOW CREATE WORK IN SUPPORT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD HILARY FINCK TRUNK SHOW OCT 14 – 16 HILARY JOINS US IN PERSON TO SHOW US HER SIGNATURE ‘CAPTURED SETTINGS’ TOUCH OF GOLD OCT 27 – JAN 8 WE ALL WISH WE HAD THE MIDAS TOUCH, BUT THESE ARTISTS ACHIEVED IT VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR OUR FULL EVENT CALENDAR WWW.PISTACHIOSONLINE.COM | (312) 929-6575 | INFO@PISTACHIOSONLINE.COM PISTACHIOSJEWELRY…

When friends get together in Korea, the destination typically isn’t a single restaurant or bar but rather a whole entertainment district with several stops along the way, each round with its own name in Korean. In the North Shore’s version of Koreatown, the crawl might go something like this: 1. EEL CHA The first round is often a tabletop barbecue restaurant with shots of soju to wash down the grilled meat. Try Pro Samgyubsal (3420 Milwaukee Ave., Northbrook), where the house specialty isn’t beef but pork belly. Geonbae! 2. EE CHA Traditionally, the second round is at a hof, or beer garden, where fried chicken and, yes, beer are the order. But many places (like New Village Gastro Pub in Northbrook) will offer fresh fruit plates to lend some balance.…

SOURCE: Data provided by agencies No. 1 CARRIE McCORMICK @Properties Christie’s What are the oddest things you’ve seen thrown in to close a sale? A client had a Rolls-Royce, and the buyer asked for it to stay in the garage. It worked. I’ve had buyers pay the sellers’ moving costs. I also had buyers who paid the sellers’ taxes for the year. What should sellers do to get their homes ready for market? I always recommend doing a pre-inspection so that everything comes back clean. Should sellers put their homes on the market as is? The market does support it right now, but I still think, from a value perspective, if a seller prepares their home properly and it looks clean and well taken care of, they’ll get more money for…

On a crisp March day in Hyde Park, a group of people, most of whom have never met face to face, are having a reunion. Twenty undergraduate and graduate researchers, administrators, and professors cram into the former servants’ quarters of a converted mansion. Some find seats around a long table, while others spill into the hallway or perch beneath a whiteboard on which is scrawled “Winter 2022. Stated Motives Analysis.” Mateo Garcia, a student research supervisor, sits at a computer. His screen bears the words “Project Insurrectionists.” “Today’s the first time I’m seeing a lot of these people in person,” Garcia says. He nods toward a lanky student he’d previously encountered only on video. “He’s much taller than I thought.” Seated at the end of the table is the crew’s…

The exigencies of the moment demand a certain seriousness — unless you’re Baha Bank$, a pouty-lipped enchantress who calls herself the Queen of Chicago. Prior to 2020, Bank$ was not a rapper but a bottle girl and a YouTube comedian best known for her sketches on the much-subscribed Korporate Bidness channel. Were it not for a viral rap challenge that piqued her interest, Bank$ may never have started rhyming, but now she’s waging a veritable counterinsurgency against the doom and gloom of local hip-hop. Bank$ has more fun in a single verse than most Chicago MCs will have in a lifetime. She grabbed attention with “Shake Dat A$$,” her delightful, unencumbered 2020 duet with Chance the Rapper (who knew he was a strip club impresario?), and there’s plenty more where…

Chicagoans have long flocked to Starved Rock State Park for its gorgeous waterfalls and vistas, but the surrounding area has traditionally lacked standout lodging. That’s changed thanks to this new 96-acre glamping resort just 10 minutes from the park. The camp (from $450 a night, including breakfast and dinner), which opened in April, boasts 11 elevated safari-style tents outfitted with en suite bathrooms, sustainable bamboo linens, and your own bonfire for s’mores. On the grounds, you can hike or bike winding trails over streams or paddle a canoe on one of the property’s serene ponds. Later, sit down to a private gourmet picnic amid fields of native wildflowers. Need more evidence this isn’t your typical rustic campsite? A boutique general store sells Midwestern-made soaps and honey from the onsite apiary,…

In Chicago, Southern food has for too long meant fried chicken, pimento cheese, and the kind of biscuits that would make any Southerner bust out a passive-aggressive “Bless your heart.” But thanks to two chefs, Hyde Park has emerged as a destination where down-home flavors ring true. Erick Williams deserves all the accolades he gets for Virtue (1462 E. 53rd St.), where the collards come drenched in potlikker and the veggie plate contains both field peas and fried okra. He will soon open Daisy’s Po’ Boy and Tavern (5215 S. Harper Ave.), featuring the iconic NOLA sandwiches. Meanwhile, Charlie McKenna brings all-day goodness to Roux (1055 E. 55th St.), the diner he opened in January, where the beignets come hot and puffy, the shrimp top stone-ground grits (pictured), and the…

Watch the local news and it’s easy to despair about the state of things in Chicago these days. But for all those well-documented troubles, there’s still plenty to love about this town — especially the ordinary people who make our city great. Spotlighting those Chicagoans is the mission of It’s All Good, a Block Club Chicago podcast hosted by Jon Hansen. Each episode profiles a person or organization doing something extraordinary: a Lane Tech student who doubles as an elite chess player, the mother who took on a preschool’s racist hair policy, the barber for the Chicago Bulls, a South Side double dutch club for adults. My favorite is the show’s 14th installment, which tells the story of a South Shore man who lost a prized football championship ring —…

It’s not often that a shop is born in a hot-pink school bus. But Vintage Frills owner Jen Kelly isn’t one to fit the mold. She started hawking retro goods in a mobile shop she called the Vintage Fleet to give access to neighborhoods lacking in thrift shops. Her Avondale boutique opened last summer, welcoming one and all to browse a wide selection of women’s clothing from the ’40s and beyond — most of which is organized by colors. (Feeling chill? Hit the Blue Room.) Items like rotary phones and Super 8 cameras area also a blast from the past. Local creations, like jewelry from the Vintage Royalty, make an appearance, too. 2846 N. Milwaukee Ave., Avondale…

With their coffee brand Bueno Days, Alma and Cristóbal Mora, a Mexican American couple from Little Village, breathe tangy new life into cold brew by mixing it with a sweet-and-sour blend of agua de Jamaica (made from hibiscus) and orange juice. They source the coffee from Mexico and sell it at pop-ups, including Lululemon in Hyde Park (1451 E. 53rd St.). buenodays.co…