Chicago kids don't have third places. The diners are gone, staff at other restaurants don't want to serve minors b/c they can't booze and inflate check totals. Not even small parks. Check out the dog owners who let Fido go to town without conscience.
@MichaelSkolnik
@GovRauner
It cracks me up to hear police and politicians talk about “public safety” as their No. 1 priority when they failed so hard to address gun violence in the first place.
Revival Food Hall is closing after eight years in the Loop. Foot traffic hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels and it seems food halls aren’t the answer as incubators for new chefs. Sad news.
I loathe the words “better than takeout” in recipes, especially international ones. The implication is once you think you’ve mastered the flavors you can discard the people and cultures behind them.
It’s been three years since Quenchers closed. There are parents inside that pediatrics office that have no idea what’s taken place between those walls.
Some personal news: This week marked my first *official* week as editor of
@eaterchicago
. Sorry. I’m not going away. I drank a smoothie to celebrate; it may or may not have contained malort.
FYI LeBron is at Au Cheval in West Loop. I wonder if he is going to complain about the service charge because he has never met a charge call he didn’t like.
Really kind of hilarious to see Yankee fans defend their guy Josh Donaldson who’s played a grand total of 36 games for the club. Being loyal and standing up for laundry is one thing, but I am not sure the laundry they are standing up for has pinstripes…
Can I petition Chicago media to never use "family-owned restaurant" in a headline ever again? Lettuce Entertain You is family owned. Lou Malnatti's is family owned. The phrase has lost a little bit of its cachet, don't you think?
Some breaking personal news:
We are acquiring a lil’ slugger ✅
The kulcha is baking in the tandoor ✅
Baby Boy Selvam Coming Soon 👶🏽
Oh… and the
#whitesox
in five!
So... My wife and I both had COVID-19, likely the delta. My wife still has a cough, but feeling better after a few weeks. Bad news for my enemies, I'm more or less healed; vax deflected serious symptoms (which is what a high-quality product does). No excuses: Get those shots.
At Club Foot @ 2002, saw the band Bush. Albini entered & Gavin Rossdale yelled "You bloody champion" & hugged him.
After layoffs, Albini donated to the
@vox_union
GoFundMe. I interviewed about diners. The last thing he said to me? "Fuck Mike Clevinger"
What a bloody champion.
@N7IRL
@GailSimone
Doom believes in adequate pay that doesn’t have to be subsidized by an unjust system of tipping. Employees who serve Doom deserve health care and full benefits. 😂
I don’t know why I woke up early today. But then checked my phone and had to call my mom telling her third sibling had died from COVID-19 over in India. Uncle was supposedly recovering... check in on your Indian friends, folks. Be excellent to each other...
Chicago strikes first! Damarr Brown of Virtue is a
@beardfoundation
winner. Virtue is now a two-time winner after Erick Williams won last year. Hyde Park is going to be lit.
#JBF2023
Well here’s some good news about Logan Square’s Owen & Engine, a beloved restaurant closed since last year: owner Bo Fowler is on the comeback trail and assembling her staff to reopen. Nothing immediate, but good news for those who thought it a COVID goner.
There it is: Lightfoot announces restaurant and bar vaccine mandate for Chicago or anywhere the serves food and drink starting Jan. 3. Grocery stores exempt. Pick up and go (coffee shops) don’t apply, but if you linger: yes
Oh, hi. Hope your Sunday Yoga classes are booked. My uncle has COVID and is in search of an oxygen cylinder in India. Namaste. 🙏🏽 Give that feeling back.
Just got off the phone with the Zucchero siblings and talked about their father. The story has been updated, but I'm going to need another story to include all the anecdotes they graciously shared with me:
Someone just searched our site for "how to eat cheap at alinea chicago.” I want to create fan fiction surrounding this query. Who is this person? What’s their motivation? I’m intrigued.
There are only two aspects of living in Chicago that I feel like we lose to New York. One. The bodega bacon egg and cheese sandwich ubiquity. Chicago has failed there. Two. The vibrant 24 hour a day NYC restaurant culture. The 2am-6am eating options in this city are sparse.
Finally! Owen & Engine’s Bo Fowler tells me her Logan Square gastropub will reopen this week for the first time since the pandemic began. Official reopen Friday, but there might be some burgers served before….
It’s funny how many folks are piling on the Black owner of a gourmet hot dog stand for charging $12 for a dog and discounting his experiences. This is the city that embraced Hot Doug’s.
Usually this is the best time of year in Chicago. Ohio has gone back home for the holidays. The
@MetroChicago
or Riv have amazing shows that feel like a high school reunion. Hoping we can get back to that. 👊🏾
We’re trying something new, translating our first story into Spanish at Eater Chicago. Since Spanish speakers represent such a large number of restaurant workers, we want to make sure this information is seen. Please RT and tag any handles that can help make that happen!
Una organización quiere ayudar a trabajadores en Chicago de la industria de comida que perdieron sus trabajos obtener dinero para sobrevivir la pandemia
And there it is folks. No new Eater Chicago stories today. This wasn't an easy choice, and I'm doing what I can to not check emails, check-in with sources, etc.. We love what we do. But we need to see a fair contract. We'll be back when that happens.
Today‘s our last scheduled day of bargaining.
@voxmediainc
is still apart from us on:
- competitive wage scales
- strong guaranteed raises
- better severance
- subcontracting work
We’ve decided we’re not showing up to work today until we resolve these issues.
@tanzinavega
Inflating DEI interview numbers for internal audits, pushing internal candidates to work longer hours to prove they are worthy of the promotion while stringing them along. You know, all ace management tactics.
The
@whitesox
&
@Cubs
should right now be working with Chicago restaurants on a “home fan kit” with food, drink, and merchandise. And they should go beyond their food sponsors. Throw in a program and scorecard. Maybe some Cracker Jack.
@WritersofColor
We’re looking for freelance pitches at
@eaterchicago
from features to daily news. Read our pitch guide and get a hold of me or hit up the emails in the link. Chicago South and West side stories, especially
@soxmachine_josh
Eh. Folks wanted Robert off the team after he couldn’t hustle, too. Guy is exhausted. Seattle kicked their asses and the team is rudderless and fired a bunch of folks. Not going to read too much into Eloy’s answer today.
This column by
@Wesley_Morris
is so delicately and passionately put together. It reminds me of dozens of experiences I've had in "fancyland" and it's well worth a read
Did you know Claudio Velez, the Tamale Guy, worked at Handy Andy when he first arrived in America? Read his story before he opens his restaurant tomorrow:
Chicago’s legendary Tamale Guy — Claudio Velez — speaks about his new restaurant opening Thursday, his immigrant story, and the West Loop complaints that led to a cease-and-desist letter from the city
Happy International Left Handers Day. This isn’t much of a declaration to celebrate but as a reminder that we are out there and the uprising will happen soon. And you will be looking the wrong way.
A lot of people are going to be hurting in ways you don’t understand beause of that court decision. Try to show some compassion; today is going to be hard for a ton of people.
You know what sucks?…your aunt has a stroke — you think; you’re unsure. She’s paralyzed and can’t talk. Hospitals won’t admit her for fear of COVID, and she dies three days later. This happened in India. Welcome to 2020. Listen to doctors and wear a mask, you ingrates.
The air quality warning is no joke. My kid slept for 12 hours and has a scratchy throat. I'm lethargic and my throat hurts, too. Take care of yourselves, Chicago.
Chicago rush hour traffic patterns of late are insane. With construction on the Kennedy, folks forgetting how to drive during COVID, and summer construction season starting, it’s been a cocktail for mayhem.
Multiple women have accused the ex-manager of Cochon Volant in downtown Chicago of physical violence; former employees allege that he also created a toxic work culture
We’ve been serving up justice for 37 years. And now with Facetime & Curbside Abuse, you can get your ass charred from a safe distance & relish your free speech (while it lasts). All sales now support both Chicago Black Owned Restaurant Relief
@blackpeopleats
+ Chicago C19 Fund.
Just called a barbecue spot to find out menu info and asked about the wood they use to smoke their meats. Answer: “What kind of wood? The kind from the tree.” My job is a gift.