Time Out Chicago news

Over the past decade, Marvel superheroes have jumped from the pages of comic books to blockbuster movies that dominate the box office. Now, the publisher's stable of memorable characters is heading to the Museum of Science and Industry as part of a traveling exhibitions that examines the history of Marvel through displays packed with costumes, props and original art. “Marvel: Universe of Super Heroes” will open at the Hyde Park museum on October 8, assembling more than 300 pieces of memorabilia sourced from Marvel movies and comic book artists. Guests will come face-to-mask with statues of popular characters like Spider-Man, the Thing and Black Panther as well as costumes created for the cinematic versions of Captain America, Doctor Strange and Thor. Comic book fans will find tributes to important Marvel creators like Stan Lee, Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko throughout the exhibition, as well as original artwork sourced from issues released over the past 80 years (including a copy of the debut Marvel comic, released in 1939). The look of the exhibition takes cues from the Marvel cinematic universe, with a mirrored room inspired by the trippy visuals of Doctor Strange and a recreation of Tony Stark's lab as it appeared in the Iron Man films, stocked with multiple versions of Iron Man armor. There's also an interactive augmented reality experience that allows visitors to control a virtual Iron Man suit and test its capabilities. The Museum of Science and Industry will be at this

Come spring, the James Beard Awards will once again take over the city of Chicago, doling out top honors to the country's best chefs, restaurants, bartenders and sommeliers. But before then, the James Beard Foundation teases us with a roster of semifinalists, which will eventually be whittled down to nominees before the winners are announced at the Old Post Office on May 4. This year's contenders include 19 familiar names from Chicago, like Boka, Lula Cafe and Monteverde. Notable local newcomers Thattu and Tzuco are recognized in the Best New Restaurant category, which includes 28 other all-star eateries from across the U.S. Thattu opened last year inside West Loop food hall Politan Row, and chef Margaret Pak and her husband, Vinod Kalathil, use the quick-service counter to dish out Indian street food from the state of Kerala. Tzuco is the crown jewel of chef Carlos Gaytán's triumphant return to Chicago, serving a menu of French-inspired Mexican fare that's been met with rave reviews. Both spots made Time Out Chicago's list of best new restaurant openings of 2019. On the booze front, Lost Lake is once again up for Outstanding Bar Program, while Spiaggia is again recognized for its killer vino list in the Outstanding Wine Program category. First-time semifinalist Emily Spurlin represents Chicago as as a leading pastry chef for her work at Lula Cafe, where she whips up chocolate-rye scones and chocolate-beet cake. The Best Chef: Great Lakes category is unsurprisingly dominate

These days, there's a festival for just about every food group, from wings and pizza to doughnuts and ramen. This spring, the folks behind Baconfest are debuting a brand-new event that celebrates the city's rich culinary history through iconic Chicago eats. Hosted on Friday, April 17 at UIC Dorin Forum, Da Best Fest invites local restaurants to create traditional and inspired spins on pizza puffs, hot dogs, jibaritos, sweet steak sandwiches and Malört. The growing lineup already includes more than 30 vendors, with the likes of Black Dog Gelato, Hermosa, Le Bouchon and the Duck Inn leading the pack. Festival organizers promise a mix of traditional fare, creative takes and lesser-known delicacies, like aquarium-smoked rib tips. (If you're scratching your head, this 2016 piece from Eater Chicago fills in the blanks.) Sweets vendors Black Dog Gelato and XO Marshmallow are both tackling Malört, aiming to transform the bitter-tasting liqueur into something delicious. The one-day festival even pulls Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's fame out of retirement as a keynote speaker and event host. Da Best Fest takes over UIC Dorin Forum on Friday, April 17 from 7 to 10pm. General admission tickets are $75, while VIP passes go for $130 and allow early access at 6pm. Attendees are treated to tasting portions from all participating chefs as well as seven boozy beverages. Tickets for Da Best Fest are on sale now, so start brushing up on the difference between a Jim Shoe sandwich and a sweet steak hoa

You can take the adult version of "kid in a candy store" to the next level at Eataly's annual SpringFest—a one-night, all-inclusive extravaganza hosted on Friday, March 20 that spoils ticket-holders with unlimited food and booze. That's right: all the pasta, pizza and wine you can manage. The two-level superstore highlights its talented chefs through classic Italian menu items like bubbly Neapolitan-style pizza, handmade noodles, a whole-roasted pig and an endless supply of cheese and cured meat. Wash it all down with imported wines, in-house beers and cocktails from the likes of CH Distillery. If you need a break from all the sipping, slurping and noshing, you can tap your toes to music from a live band all night. SpringFest is hosted on Friday, March 20 and runs from 6pm to midnight. Ticket-holders choose from three check-in times at 6, 7:30 and 8:30pm. This festival notoriously sells out fast, and the 6pm slot is already full; you can still grab tickets, which are $84, on Eataly's website.  Photograph: Julie Dietz Photography Photograph: Julie Dietz Photography Photograph: Julie Dietz Photography Photograph: Julie Dietz Photography What's life really like in Chicago today? Take the Time Out Index survey and tell us about it.

Have you ever rolled up to an early Sunday morning brunch and been disgruntled to find that mimosas (or Bloody Marys, or bellinis) aren’t on the menu just yet? You’re in luck, boozy brunch enthusiast: City Council voted Wednesday to allow restaurants to begin selling liquor at 9am on Sundays, a full hour earlier than was previously permitted. You can thank the rising tide of European soccer fans—who hit the bars early to catch overseas games—for the switch. Alderman Michele Smith of the 43rd Ward co-sponsored the proposal, arguing that the earlier start time would allow local eateries to bolster sales. “Because of the growing popularity of watching games from Europe, many of our establishments would like to open up a little bit earlier to be able to play the games, and of course, have brunch,” Smith said in a February 13 committee meeting. Bars with a license to serve food, currently disallowed from selling liquor before 11am, will also be able to sell liquor starting at 9am. The change is part of a slow wave of updates to Chicago’s blue laws. In 2014, City Council approved an ordinance allowing large supermarkets to begin selling packaged liquor at 8am on Sundays; the law was expanded further to include smaller supermarkets last year. The new amendment officially went into effect Wednesday, according to the text of the ordinance. Happy boozy brunching, Chicagoans. Before you go, tell us how you really feel about living in Chicago.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of Pitchfork Music Festival and organizers are celebrating the occasion with some big headliners, an unexpected reunion and lots of other exciting acts. The festival's full lineup dropped this morning (no mural-painting required), revealing art-rock trio the Yeah Yeah Yeahs as Friday night's marquee act, hip-hop duo Run the Jewels topping the bill on Saturday and morose indie-rockers the National closing out the weekend on Sunday evening. RECOMMENDED: Check out photos and reviews from Pitchfork Music Festival One of the most surprising bands on the lineup is brother-and-sister duo the Fiery Furnaces, who have been on hiatus since 2011. Eleanor and Matthew Friedberger (both of whom hail from nearby Oak Park) have continued performing separately, but their set at Pitchfork Music Festival will be the pair's first live show together in more than a decade. Other notable acts on this year's bill include indie-rock balladeer Angel Olsen, Savages frontwoman Jehnny Beth, concise rapper Tierra Whack and experimental rocker Kim Gordon—yes, those are all female-fronted acts, which make up more than 50 percent of this year's Pitchfork lineup. Local acts also have a major presence on this year's bill, including appearances by rowdy rockers Twin Peaks, lo-fi trio Dehd, R&B singer Kaina, nimble rapper Femdot, Latinx psych-rock outfit Divino Niño, frantic new wave combo the Hecks and saxophonist Dustin Laurenzi. Organizers are also teasing a week of sp

The NBA All-Star Game brought a slew of extravagant parties and performances to Chicago this weekend, with sightings of celebrities like Kanye West, Kim Kardashian West, 50 Cent and Cardi B. If you missed out on the action, there's at least one luxury pop-up experience that's still open—and you don't need an invite to check it out. Designer brand Gucci set up shop inside the former South Central Bank at 160 N Morgan Street, transforming the once drab building into a groovy, upscale retail experience. Wrapped in a purple geometric mural painted by Colossal Media and adorned with disco balls, the pop-up shop showcases Gucci's '70s-inspired GG Psychedelic Collection, which reimagines the iconic logo in technicolored hues. Shoppers can browse men's and women's handbags, luggage, shoes, accessories and jewelry. As a nod to the weekend's festivities, there's even a double-G–emblazoned basketball that goes for a cool $1,980, according to Block Club Chicago. Looking for something a bit more affordable? A $25 notebook is the least expensive piece of designer merch you can snag at this pop-up, but window-shopping isn't discouraged. Gucci's psychedelic West Loop retail experience will stick around through March 2 and is open daily from 11am to 8pm at 160 N Morgan Street. Take a look around the glitzy designer digs below, and start saving your pennies if you plan to ball out. Photograph: Pablo Enriquez for Gucci Photograph: Pablo Enriquez for Gucci Photograph: Pablo Enriqu

Chicagoans have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Aon Center’s $185 million observation deck since it was first announced in 2015 and for good reason: Its vertiginous thrills will likely make the Willis Tower Skydeck and 360 CHICAGO seem tame by comparison. While plans for the Aon Center’s aerie received approval from the City Council at the end of 2018, it’s only now that a construction schedule and anticipated opening date have been announced. Work will commence during the third quarter of this year with a ribbon cutting slated for sometime in 2022. Will it be worth the wait? You betcha. Visitors will enter a brand-new 9,000-square-foot street-level pavilion before getting on elevators that will rise along outside of the building. Did we mention that they’re made of glass? There’s that, too. Once people get to the top, they’ll have the option of taking a spin on the Sky Summit, a gondola that dangles riders over the edge of the roof for 30 to 40 seconds. Formerly known as the Standard Oil Building and the Amoco Building, the 1,136-foot-tall Aon Center was completed in 1973, and is currently Chicago’s third largest structure. However, it will be bumped to fourth place once the Jeanne Gang designed Vista Tower is completed this fall. Still, think of all that the terror-inducing fun, not to mention a convenient location near Millennium Park—where the faint of heart might want to hang out while their braver friends go off to enjoy the ride. Take a look at what

As you read this, Sherp ATVs (which look like tiny boxes on a gigantic set of wheels) are cruising through Chicago stocked with Kanye West's latest creation for Adidas, the Yeezy Quantum. According to a release, West is launching the new shoe exclusively in his hometown today—and he wants local youth to be the first to snag them, free of charge. Sherps are being dispatched to Wicker Park at noon today (Friday, February 14) as well as Grant Park at 1pm and the West Loop at 2pm. Details are sparse, but if you're a young person who happens to be in one of the aforementioned areas this afternoon, keep your eyes peeled for a strange vehicle filled with sneaker boxes. The launch of West's latest footwear (which be available for $250 via retailers throughout Chicago on Sunday, February 16) coincides with NBA All-Star Game weekend in Chicago, which brings basketball stars, celebs and a long list of limited-edition product releases to the city over the next three days. If you're heading to any nightclubs or watch parties throughout the weekend, you're almost guaranteed to see a few hype beasts sporting the freshest Yeezys. West will also make an appearance in Chicago this weekend, bringing his Sunday Service concert series to UIC's Credit Union 1 Arena on Sunday, February 16. Tickets sold out in the blink of an eye, but as with everything that West has a hand in, there are plenty of secondary market options available if you simply must witness West's gospel show. Best of luck to al

In 2019, we asked more than 34,000 urban dwellers from across the globe to weigh in on the nitty-gritty details of life in their cities. What we learned might not surprise you: Chicago was voted the food and drink capital of the world, beating out 47 other metropolises—including culinary hotspots like New York and Paris—to take the No. 1 spot. Restaurant-heavy neighborhoods the West Loop and Logan Square also scooped up top marks as the best locales in the city to grab a bite. Now that we’ve entered a new year (and a new decade) it’s time for you, dear readers and citizens of our great city, to reevaluate if Chicago really is the best place in the world to eat and drink. You can also sound off on a host of other city-related questions, like: How expensive is it for a night out? When was the last time you went out for brunch? And is it maybe even possible that Chicago is the best city to have it all, like voters said for two straight years? Help us find out and put your opinion on record with our Time Out Index 2020 survey. It’s an easy-breezy, 10-minute way to give your honest assessment of life in the city, packed with fun questions about culture, social happenings, sex and more. Plus, once you’ve finished, we’ll tell you your soul city—the place that, based on your survey answers, you need to visit this year. May the best city (cough cough, Chicago) win!