Enough said. Photo by dresmall.......

We've got a Taste of Chicago preview for you later. In the meantime, here are some things around town to check out in the coming days. The Red Witch Pirate will set sail this evening for a 2-hour cruise and dinner with food catered by Bonsoiree. Cost is $45 and interested parties may RSVP here. The churrasco-meets-slow-food restaurant ZED451 (739 N. Clark St.), which has become one of the hottest destination restaurants in town largely......

The seeds for a recent visit to Juicy Wine Company for brunch started with a spirited discussion over where to find a good bloody mary. Every item on Juicy's brunch menu, served Saturday and Sunday - is $5 and we wondered if we would be served a quality bloody mary for the price. Thankfully, we were, although it was served in a Collins glass, not the standard pint to which we're accustomed. The can......

A couple weeks back an old friend of ours was in town from Hong Kong and one of her main agendas was to eat at as many places as she could, not being a fan of the culinary delights in Hong Kong. Over a brunch at Meli we brought up the subject of Polo Café's "Eggs Benedicto XVI" brunch dish. Both our friend and a friend of hers said, "We have to go." So......

In this special Mother's Day edition of YFFB, we'll help you find a way to say "I love you" even if you have been the sort of child this year that your mother never wished she had. We kid, we kid. We know Chicagoist readers know how to treat their respective moms right. Say It With: ... an e-card. Whenever we come across anything with an e-card it reminds us of the early days of......

Some people have really tough jobs. Really tough. For example, we regular wonder how Chicago's public school teachers, police officers and sanitation workers get up day after day to do what we imagine are incredibly difficult and often thankless jobs that are non-the-less important. You know who Chicagoist doesn't worry about? Tribune dining critic Phil Vettel who had the taxing job of visiting 70 brunch spots over the past two months (with the help......

It's Easter, y'all. That means, in addition to the re-enactment of the Passion happening as we write this in Pilsen, churches will be filled, families will gather, and restaurants will offer Easter Brunch specials. We have a few for you, in addition to the usual complement of food news and notable events. So sit back and unbuckle your belts. Who Comes Up With These Names, Anyway?: Leave it to us to be late to the......

This week's theme: soul food, y'all. We ate enough of it last week to pine for the days of Ms. Biscuit on South Chicago Avenue (located next door to Mr. Biscuit's Hand Car Wash and Auto Detail). Here we go. City Mouse: Chef Gilbert Langlois (Rushmore, SushiSamba Rio) describes his new North Center-based concept Chalkboard as "new American cuisine," drawing inspiration from French country, classic Southern, and the less spicy elements of Creole for his......

The Horseshoe (4115 N. Lincoln) always kept its main windows by the stage obscured, so when we were walking by on our way to brunch we thought to ourselves that they must not be open on Saturday mornings, only Sundays, and we didn’t really give it another thought. We loved the Bluegrass Brunch — a brunch for those of us not into Gospel, but it’s right back to praising the Lord with our eggs because......

We've wanted to write about the Motor Row-based Cuatro, one of our favorite restaurants and a staple of the city's "Nuevo Latino" movement, for a while, but didn't feel like we could add anything new or different to the existing dialogue about the place. Everyone loves it, from critics and foodies to our next-door neighbors who never leave the house, but did so just because they heard such great things about Cuatro's scallop and......

This weekend the debauchery known as Horizontal Action's Blackout will be going out with a bang at the Empty Bottle. From the stories we've read in the Reader and around the internets, the fest is unlike anything that "normal" people would gladly pay for, but then Horizontal Action has never been for the straitlaced. Tickets sold out back in March before any bands were announced, so we admit we're being a tease by posting who's......

Brunch is a bitch, people. Whether it's finding a spot that serves a decent array of both breakfast and lunch options or finding a place without an hour-long wait on a Sunday, brunch is one of those meals that has the potential for as many headaches as the Sapphire & Tonics you mainlined the night before. But maybe Chicagoist is just jaded. No matter. On a recent Saturday on the so-chic-it-sort-of-make-us-want-to-throw-up-we're-serious stretch of Southport Avenue......

The Tribune's website has a big ol' package on things to do in the city this Memorial Day weekend; it includes a rundown of the "top shows" this summer. Some are a bit pricey and a few weeks away. So if you're stuck in town for the weekend but feel like trying something different, here are a few places that offer live music for little or nothing. Carol's Pub, 4659 N. Clark St. This late......

Sometimes Chicagoist is in the mood to entertain, but not hold a big, expensive, planning-way-in-advance dinner party. We find the best thing to do is have a brunch. Brunch is a great way to have friends over, enjoy a meal that stays with you most of the afternoon, and doesn’t involve mixing a lot of cocktails (well, not usually, anyway). Chicagoist has a couple of good brunch buddies, two friends from the marathon training group,......

For as much as some hold true to the idea that much too much is made of Valentine's Day, there are just as many out there for whom this day is their reason for being in a relationship in the first place. Chicagoist is not taking a position either way, but we do suggest that it's as good as an excuse as any to go out to dinner. And, really, for those of you......

Ann Sather is pairing up with Mama Mia! to transform its Wicker Park location into a disco to celebrate ABBA's music during its monthly ABBA Brunch on Sunday, July 4 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. ABBA Brunch features funky lights, a disco ball, ABBA music as well as music from the soundtrack of Mama Mia, giveaways and an "ABBA Special" on the breakfast menu. Brunch goers will also have the chance to register to......

Say what you like about them, yesterday Citysearch announced the winners of their 5th annual "Best of Citysearch" restaurant winners in more than 55 categories. Either Portillo's employees were skewing the votes or else Portillo's has good everything.. this year's winners include: » Best Bar Menu: Cafe Iberico, » Best Brunch: Walker Bros Original Pancake House (in Wilmette) » Best French Fries: Portillo's Hot Dogs » Best Hamburger: Portillo's Hot Dogs » Best Hotdog: Portillo's......