Time Out Chicago news

According to very official food historians, the Italian beef was born in Chicago in 1938, in the throes of the Great Depression, when meat was scarce and folks weren't splurging on fancy eats. Al Ferrari dreamed up the now-iconic sandwich as a cheap fix, filling chunky loaves of crusty Italian bread with thin slices of beef and dressing it up with peppers for added flavor. These days, the economy is looking up, but the Italian beef remains a beloved local favorite that's got just as much clout as the Chicago-style hot dog or deep-dish pizza. Though Chicagoans are sticklers for tradition, there's a new beef in town you gotta try. The only catch? It's not made with meat. Duck Inn chef-owner Kevin Hickey has perfected a vegan version of the sandwich that's—dare we say—just as good as the original, if not better. The Beet Street is crafted with roasted and shaved beets that have been brined for five days in salt and spices, imparting the same rich flavor that graces its meat-filled counterpart. The beets are then bathed in a savory, mushroom-based umami jus and stuffed inside a flaky sub roll from D'Amato's Bakery. You can (and should) make it a combo by adding a Beyond Meat Italian sausage to the mix; hot and sweet peppers are a must. The tender, slow-roasted beets and punchy Italian spices will satisfy carnivores and meat-free eaters alike. Try Hickey's Beet Street—and the original version, which is crafted with shaved prime rib—at Decent Beef, opening inside Time Out Market

More than two years after it was first announced, Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago will finally open its doors to the public on Friday, November 15. Located at 646 N Michigan Avenue in a building that formerly housed a Crate & Barrel, the 35,000-square-foot outpost is the company's largest public roastery to date, packed with exclusive beverages, food and experiences that differentiate the sprawling destination from your usual neighborhood Starbucks. It's a little bit like Eataly for the coffee-obsessed. Upon entering the five-story Reserve Roastery, you'll immediately notice the metal tubes that snake across the ceiling of every floor. They're not just decorative—the pipes ferry freshly roasted beans from a 56-foot steel cask (where beans go to rest after they're roasted) to each of the coffee bars, where they can immediately be used to create drinks. The space also features a first-floor roastery, a sleek curved escalator (the first of its kind in the Midwest, according to Starbucks) that ushers visitors to the building's second floor and a series of murals by local artist Eulojio Ortega. If you're going to the Starbucks Reserve Roastery looking for a Frappuccino or caramel macchiato fix, you're going to be disappointed—those drinks aren't on the menu. Instead, the various coffee bars throughout the Reserve Roastery focus on classic espresso beverages (think lattes, cappuccinos and cortados) and coffee blends that are made with small batches of beans that are roasted in

We love a holiday pop-up bar just as much as the next guy, but the folks at Block37 are upping the ante this season with a nap lounge. Who needs shots of Rumple Minze when you can have peace and quiet?  ReJuve, The Nap Lounge is open now on the third floor of the Loop mall, and tired Chicagoans can book their "rest sessions" in basic, deluxe and premium suites for 30-, 60- or 90-minute stays. The basic package grants you access to a semi-private nap pod, while the premium suite is a private room outfitted with a Tempurpedic bed, noise-cancelling headphones and an eye mask. Or settle for something in the middle, with the deluxe offering, which includes access to a semi-private nap chair and noise-cancelling headphones. Pricing starts at $15 for a basic suite for 30 minutes and maxes out at $90 for a 90-minute session in the premium suite. ReJuve will stay open through December 30, and hours are Monday through Saturday from 11am to 8pm and Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Why fall asleep on the Red Line when there's a place to snooze in the Loop after your holiday shopping haul? Want more? Sign up here to stay in the know.

The boot is back, baby! At least, that's what we imagine Christkindlmarket organizers are shouting from the rooftops today. Hosted in Daley Plaza, Gallagher Way and Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, the beloved annual holiday market doesn't open until later this month, but earlier today attendees got a sneak peek of the coveted Christkindlmarket mugs. RECOMMENDED: Everything you need to know about Christkindlmarket 2019 What's the big deal? Well, real Chicagoans know that Christkindlmarket has been producing keepsake mugs since 1996. Every year, the design changes, and the iconic boot shape was briefly retired in 2013 before making a quick comeback in 2015, much to the delight of diehard fans. Last year's heart-shaped vessels were cute, but they were no match for the classic boot. This year's ceramic trio represents the market's three locations in Chicago (Daley Plaza), Wrigleyville and Milwaukee. Each is decorated according to its surroundings: The Wrigleyville boot showcases Gallagher Way and a street sign at the intersection of Clark and Addison, while the Chicago mug offers views of Willis Tower and the Picasso sculpture. In an effort to highlight the bazaar's roots, the vessels' interiors are painted red, black and yellow—the colors of the German flag. When Christkindlmarket opens later this month (November 15 in the Loop and Milwaukee, November 22 in Wrigleyville), attendees can purchase a bundle of all three mugs for $20 or individual mugs at their respective locations. Y

When was the last time you played Cards Against Humanity without a drink in your hand? The creators of the Chicago-born card game recognize that playing with your friends is synonymous with food and drink, which is why they're debuting the Chicago Board Game Cafe in Logan Square next year. The 14,000-square-foot space will be located at 1965 N Milwaukee Avenue, in the same building as Margie's Candies. The café will offer visitors more than 300 games to choose from—from classics like Monopoly and Scrabble to more unique creations from indie developers from across the globe. The games are stored in the building's bank vault, which has been converted to a library of sorts and is managed by teachers who can help guests find the right fit for their table and show them how to play. "I think part of the reason board games are having a renaissance right now is that people are really atomized and alienated and lonely," says Cards Against Humanity co-creator Max Temkin. "I remember when I moved to Chicago after college how hard it was to connect with a community and find my people, and my dream is to make that easier for people in the future." Chicago Board Game Cafe also boasts a full dinner menu from executive chef-partner Aaron McKay (Schwa, NoMi) and chef de cuisine Evan Behmer (Mercat a la Planxa, North Pond). The duo's offerings will span the globe, "inspired by markets and sidewalk cafés where locals might gather to play games in Spain, Vietnam and Mexico," according to a pr

Since owner Brian Chankin founded Odd Obsession in 2004 (originally in Lincoln Park, now located in Bucktown), the beloved video rental store has amassed an impressive library of more than 25,000 titles on DVD, Blu-ray and even VHS. The store’s collection is organized by genre, country and director, and features a wide array of movies for all tastes, including classic Hollywood films, foreign movies and independently-release cult classics. From the beginning, Odd Obsession has distinguished itself by specializing in rare and off-the-beaten-path titles, including many that are not available on streaming services, making it an invaluable resource for local cinephiles. “This is a place where you can really embrace an all-inclusive sense of film history,” says Chicago Reader film critic Ben Sachs. Chankin is now moving on to pursue other endeavors and is handing over the business to the store’s volunteer staff who hope to keep it afloat. The goal is to keep Odd Obsession’s collection available to Chicagoans with a new model of membership that will make the business sustainable well into the future. Long-time volunteer Josh Brown is leading this transition effort, which includes the Indiegogo fundraising campaign “Keep Odd Obsession Movies Alive!” For contributions of $120 to $400, customers can receive between three months and one year of free rentals (four at a time for a week’s duration with an “extreme late fee forgiveness” policy); but there are plenty of other more affordab

For the past 14 years, Time Out Chicago has thrived on the simple mission of pointing you to the good stuff, whether that’s an inspiring new Indian restaurant, a festival devoted to Malört or a secret concert series. As quasi–cultural historians, we can say with confidence that there’s never been a more exciting time to call yourself a Chicagoan. The city is pulsing with energy that’s fueled by creativity and change. This year, we’re turning the page on traditional journalism by opening Time Out Market Chicago, a culinary and cultural destination that will bring the pages of our storied magazine to life in Fulton Market. You can read all about Time Out Market Chicago before it opens later this year in the fall issue of Time Out Chicago. We want to make it easy for you to get your hands on our latest magazine, so we're handing them out on Wednesday, October 23. In the Loop, you can find us at State and Lake Streets from 2:30 to 6:30pm. Heading to the 'burbs or across the River? We'll also be hanging out near Ogilvie and Union Station from 3 to 7pm; find us on the Adams, Monroe and Madison bridges before you get on the train. The magazine is packed with delicious details on our Market vendors, including Pretty Cool Ice Cream, Abe Conlon, Thai Dang and Split-Rail. Plus, we're also sharing the downright coziest things to do in Chicago this season, this year's must-see museum exhibits (Andy Warhol, anyone?), and plenty of excuses to get out of the house, even as the temperature

The enormous retrospective exhibition “Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again” goes on display at the Art Institute of Chicago on Sunday, October 20, with more than 350 works for viewers to explore that include examples of ubiquitous Pop Art creations in addition to lesser-known forays into performance art, television and publishing. While you'll probably have a lot to process after seeing work from every era of Warhol's career, your celebration of the artist's output doesn't have to end when you exit the museum. Over the next few months, you'll be able to see intimate photos of Warhol's New York townhouse, see his famous Marilyn Monroe print projected on the side of a 25-story building and sample dishes and cocktails inspired by his work.  Photograph: Neil John Burger Taste a Warhol-inspired menu at Terzo Piano The Art Institute's in-house restaurant is whipping up a Warhol-inspired menu to feed the crowds that come to see the museum's marquee exhibit. Open for lunch from 11am to 3pm Monday through Saturday, the offerings at Terzo Piano include a double angus beef patty Warhol burger, a Debbie Harry chocolate milkshake topped with cotton candy that comes with a side of fries for dipping and a spicy tequila Bloody Mary served in a Campbell's soup can. Spot gigantic Warhol works at Art on theMart Beginning on Thursday, October 17, gigantic renditions of Andy Warhol’s Liz #3 [Early Colored Liz], Flowers, Shot Orange Marilyn, and Cow Wallpaper [Pink on Yellow] will be

While rumors and leaked press releases have been circulating for the majority of the year, Chicago soccer fans got an official confirmation this morning: the Chicago Fire will return to Soldier Field for the 2020 Major League Soccer season. The soccer club played several seasons in Soldier Field after it was founded in 1997, but it has been based out of SeatGeek Stadium (formerly Toyota Park) in suburban Bridgeview since 2006. The Fire's ownership has been working on a deal to bring the team back inside city limits for the past year—according to the Chicago Tribune, the Fire will pay $65.5 million to the village of Bridgeview to break its lease at SeatGeek Stadium. The Chicago Fire's latest season at Soldier Field will commence with the club's home opener on March 21, 2020 against Atlanta United FC. Under the terms of the Fire's current deal with Soldier Field, the team will play home games at the stadium through 2022, with an option to extend the contract for eight more years. Local billionaire Joe Mansueto (full disclosure, Mansueto formerly held a stake in Time Out Chicago), who purchased full ownership of the Chicago Fire in September, seems to have served as the driving force behind the move to Soldier Field. In a letter announcing the team's new home, Mansueto stated "it is my pledge to deliver a world class club worthy of our city and one that represents all of Chicago." Getting the Chicago Fire back inside of city limits is an accomplishment (albeit one that came wi

Just like the Sears Tower, Comiskey Park and the John Hancock Center before it, the Museum of Science and Industry has been bestowed with a new name that most longtime Chicagoans will probably ignore. The Chicago Tribune broke the news that the Hyde Park institution has received a $125 million gift (the largest in the museum's history) from local hedge fund manager Kenneth C. Griffin. MSI plans to honor the sizable donation by renaming itself as the Kenneth C. Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. While the new name was accepted via a vote by the museum's board, it will take a while for it be reflected throughout the museum, not to mention on its website, marketing materials and anything else that bears the institution's identity. MSI president David Mosena told the Tribune that it "could take a year or more" to fill out the paperwork and officially transition to the new moniker. What will the South Side museum do with $125 million? According to a release, the money will be used to "help secure the institution’s long-term financial future," which likely means that funds will be used for building upkeep, new exhibitions and attracting first-time visitors to the institution. MSI revealed that a portion of the financial windfall will be used to create a new exhibition called "Pixel Studio," described as "a state-of-the-art digital gallery and performance space that will be the only experience of its kind in North America." Hopefully the museum will come up with a way to mak