Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2025 i Chicago magazine

LIKE A LOT OF US LIVING IN CHICAGO IN 2015, MIKE THOMAS remembers well the protests that followed the release of dashcam footage of a police officer killing 17-year-old Laquan McDonald. But it wasn’t until he began work on “The Video That Shook Chicago” (page 64) that he fully understood what it took to get that recording made public. He talked to the seven key people: journalists, activists, lawyers, and a witness. “All of them were just fearless about what they were doing,” he says. “They’d run into brick walls but just kept going. The other thing that surprised me was how iterative the process was, how some individual efforts inspired the efforts of others.” The video made a lasting impact on this city. “Until people actually got a chance to…

Q: What is the oldest town in Illinois? The answer dates back to 1703, when the French controlled the Illinois Country. That year a Jesuit group established its mission along the east bank of the Mississippi River to minister to the Kaskaskia tribe of Native Americans and founded a permanent settlement named for the group. They also set up a fur trading post there. The town played an important role in Illinois’s early history. In 1741, King Louis XV sent a 140-pound bell to Kaskaskia. When George Rogers Clark captured the town from the British in 1778, during the Revolutionary War, the bell was rung in celebration, earning it the name the Liberty Bell of the West (although it is actually 11 years older than the one in Philadelphia). In…

THE MEMBERS OF TORTOISE don’t operate like they used to. At least not like at the beginning, back in the early ’90s, when most of the experimental rock band lived together in a converted warehouse loft in pregentrified West Town, innovating a sound that music critics dubbed “post-rock.” For starters, the quintet’s members, now spread across the country, send each other more emails. “To even have a meeting is, like, 20 emails or something,” says Dan Bitney, one of the two Tortoise members who still call Chicago home. “Then there’s always someone at the end like me today: ‘Oh my God, I can’t go to the meeting. I have to go get a tooth pulled.’ ” Indeed, Bitney, a multi-instrumentalist like everyone else in the band, had to reschedule our interview…

WITH MEXICAN SPIRITS MUY DE MODA IN TODAY’S COCKTAIL WORLD, bars specializing in them have been popping up here of late. Let’s take a drinking tour of three such newcomers: a homey Pilsen spot, an easy going eatery with great drinks, and a CDMX-style lounge. First up: Cerdito Muerto (1700 S. Halsted St., Pilsen), which Emidio Oceguera, former general manager of Chicago Cut, debuted in June in the building he grew up in. Note the comfy stools and banquettes, the kitchen where his mom’s used to be, and the 100 bottles of mezcal and tequila on the wall. Drinks include Mexican wines and Casa Humilde’s Latin beers on draft. Not to be missed: Palomas with housemade Squirt. Next head north to La Lunita (2539 N. Milwaukee Ave., Logan Square), which Samantha…

IZAKAYA SHINYA 2255 W. North Ave., Wicker Park ◼ Perfect order Takoyaki, hamachi kama, wagyu yakitori ◼ In Tokyo, students, coworkers, and pals will gather at an izakaya to drink beer and highballs, snack on yakitori, and hang out until the last train home. Hugo Leung, who owns Bridgeport’s Shinya Ramen House, tapped this spirit two years ago to open Izakaya Shinya, where he serves Japanese bites and drinks to after-work and late-night crowds. In true izakaya spirit, Shinya is open only from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. and everything on the Walmart-size menu is under $20 and shareable. There’s a hit list of yakitori, skewers of grilled meat and vegetables. I love the wagyu, which arrives on its own little robata charcoal grill; the crunchy brûléed sweet potato; and…

I WAS READING A NEWSPAPER ONE DAY WHEN AN OLD PHOTOGRAPH caught my eye. It showed a hot summer day in Chicago. Barefoot children were playing in a splash pool and climbing a giant stylized sculpture of a bull. The photo was taken in front of the Jane Addams Homes in Little Italy, not far from where I live. The bull was one of seven art deco sculptures in Chicago designer Edgar Miller’s Animal Court, which had stood outside the public housing complex until most of those buildings were demolished in the early 2000s. I hadn’t lived in the neighborhood long enough to share it with Miller’s limestone animals. But I soon learned that the sculptures hadn’t been lost: They were being restored by a man named Andrzej Dajnowski, who was…

Here, five local sommeliers pair off-the-beaten-path favorites on their menus with classic dishes. HANA MAKGEOLLI FORBIDDEN TAKJU + WAGYU RIB EYE Perilla’s Thomas Oh: “It is made with an heirloom variety of black rice, and with its unfiltered finish, the texture pairs well with the rich coating of the palate the rib eye provides.” 2021 RADIKON SIVI PINOT GRIGIO + SHRIMP COCKTAIL Boeufhaus’s Jamie Finnegan: “This is my favorite orange wine pairing, and the herb and citrus of the court-bouillon we poach the shrimp in matches its notes.” 2022 ELENA WALCH BEYOND THE CLOUDS ALTO ADIGE BIANCO + COTOLETTA FRITTA Tre Dita’s Kat Hawkins: “In Alto Adige, in that part of Italy, you will find German and Austrian influence, and the breaded and fried nature of this dish is a…

Not many designers would put scarlet sequined gowns in the same collection as beaded silk tops that pair with jeans. But Sujata Gazder embraces that tension between drama and ease. She launched her namesake line in 2024 from a home studio in Aurora, sourcing tweeds and lace from France and sending beadwork to India for hand-finishing. The results move easily from black-tie to after-hours. Her inspirations skew eclectic: wrought iron swirls, Mughal mosaics, quilts. “Even an interesting vase with fretwork can spark an idea,” she says. Raised in Kolkata, Gazder came to Chicago in the ’90s to study piano, but design kept pulling at her. The vibrancy of India — saris, brocades, and saturated colors—infuses her work, though she insists it’s less about spectacle than emotion: “I’m a romantic at…

◼ My chef friend Marc Murphy can feed 50 people at his house by himself without stressing at all. I do not have that gene. I’m not a professional chef. I did not go to culinary school. I’ve worked in restaurants but not real restaurants. And I prefer not to have people staring at me while I cook. In fact, I ordered my last group of guests out of the kitchen. ◼ You don’t need a $1,000 knife, but you definitely need a good knife. And the most important knife for me is an eight-inch chef’s knife. You have to keep it sharp. It’s actually more dangerous to have a dull knife, because it’s more likely to slip and cut your fingers. You can get a Chicago Cutlery chef’s knife…

1 Paul McCartney ends his Got Back tour with two shows at the United Center on Nov. 24 and 25. The 83-year-old first played Chicago in 1964, as a Beatle, at the International Amphitheatre. Expect less shrieking this time. 2 On Nov. 1, Illinois starts its own health insurance market place through Get Covered Illinois, joining 19 other states in moving away from the federal HealthCare.gov amid rising costs. 3 Northwestern football leaves its temporary lakefront stadium, where it has been playing while Ryan Field gets rebuilt, for a pair of games at Wrigley Field: Nov. 15 against Michigan and Nov. 22 against Minnesota. That’s a 250 percent jump in seating capacity. 4 On Nov. 15, Nike is bringing back its coveted retro Air Jordan 1 Low OG Chicago, featuring Bulls…

■ Sell naming rights to the city: Since banks love to brand civic institutions, how about Wintrust, Illinois? ■ Smoking cars on the L: Mayor Johnson has vowed to crack down on cigarette use on the trains. Instead, embrace it and charge smokers double fare for a dedicated car. ■ Distracted-driver cameras: We have cameras to catch speeders and red-light runners. Why not for drivers who check their phones? At $100 a pop, we’d have to nab only 12 million to erase the deficit. ■ Sell neighborhoods to suburbs: There’s confusion between the community area Riverdale and the village Riverdale. End that by unloading Riverdale to Riverdale. ■ Siphon off Lake Michigan: With a lot of people and not enough water, California, Arizona, and Texas have long been thirsty for…

> LA CATEDRAL “This restaurant is famous for its chilaquiles—it has at least 10 varieties. The decor honors the name: It feels like you’ve entered a church. Ambrocio Gonzalez, the chef-owner, is committed to lifting up Mexican culture with his culinary treats.” 2500 S. Christiana Ave. > ARTESANÍAS ELENA “I’ve known Elena Durán, the owner, forever. Her store’s tag line is ‘A Corner of Mexico in Chicago.’ She works directly with artists and producers from all regions in Mexico. You can get jewelry, ceramics, decorations for Day of the Dead, clothing.” 4333 W. 26th St. > CARNITAS URUAPAN “The Carbajal family, a father and son, have been in the restaurant business for years. They feature pretty much only one meal: Michoacán-style pork carnitas. It’s great, high-quality food.” 3801 W. 26th St.…

SCALING HEIGHTS The local chamber group D-Composed, which devotes itself to performing pieces by Black composers, glides into a three-night residency at Steppenwolf. Nov. 6–9. steppenwolf.org A POSE BY ANY OTHER NAME In The Capulets, a world premiere from Chicago Repertory Ballet founder Wade Schaaf, the starcrossed lovers take a back seat to the machinations of Juliet’s mother and hotheaded Tybalt. Nov. 7 – 16. chicagorepertoryballet.com SONGS FOR A MINOR Tony-lauded Hell’s Kitchen, the Alicia Keys jukebox musical about a piano prodigy growing up in Manhattan, comes to the Nederlander. Nov. 11 – 30. broadwayinchicago.com SALT, FAT, ACID MEET James Beard Award–winning author Samin Nosrat chats about her new cookbook, Good Things, with Chicago scholar Eve L. Ewing at the Athenaeum. Nov. 12. chicagohumanities.org IN FORTUNA VERITAS Decades of questionable…

1 CREEPIES What A new Midwestern-inspired bistro from the Elske team. Why We’ll eat anywhere David and Anna Posey are cooking. Where 1360 W. Randolph St., West Loop 2 ADALINA PRIME What Yet another steakhouse? (See page 48.) Why This one comes from the team behind the Gold Coast’s Adalina and has a gorgeous design. Where 360 N. Green St., West Loop 3 DIMMI DIMMI What A classic red-sauce Italian spot. Why Cool nights call for comfort food. Where 1112 W. Armitage Ave., Lincoln Park 4 MILLI BY METRIC What An all-day café from one of the city’s top roasters. Why You can sip single-origin espressos while exploring the serious pastry program from an Obélix alum. Where 3110 N. Kedzie Ave., Logan Square 5 LITTLE LARK What A pizza spot at Guild Row from the Meadowlark team.…

No. 1 Tre Dita and its bistecca alla Fiorentina 1. Tre Dita 401 E. WACKER DR., LOOP In this era of big, glitzy steakhouses, there’s nowhere we’d rather splurge than Tre Dita. Located on the second floor of the St. Regis Chicago, this Tuscan spot is a collaboration between Los Angeles chef Evan Funke (pictured) and Lettuce Entertain You. That hospitality group has long had its finger on what the dining public wants, and it’s especially true here. Servers are knowledgeable and smooth, yet entirely approachable. We are enamored with the all-Italian wine list, but the cocktail program is equally great. The food is superb, whether it’s thick tangles of pici cacio e pepe or the steaks, which Funke sears over a wood fire. The signature cut is the massive…

Chef Andrew Zimmerman breaks down Proxi’s offerings, which tap Asian influences. SSAMJANG BUTTER The gentle heat comes courtesy of a traditional Korean condiment of fermented soybeans, red chile paste, garlic, and green onions that chef de cuisine Jennifer Kim makes. “Jennifer can’t help but ferment stuff.” SOY–BLACK GARLIC JUS Inspired by Japanese yakitori sauces, Zimmerman cooks down roasted chicken jus with soy sauce and black garlic until it takes on the consistency of caramel. “A lot of savory and umami flavors,” he says. SICHUAN SALSA VERDE A mash-up of Argentina’s garlic forward salsa verde and spicytingly Sichuan sauce. “Having a lot of herbs and acidity is one of my favorite ways to eat a steak.” FOIE GRAS TOYOMANSI A traditional Filipino offering made of soy sauce and calamansi vinegar gets…

WHEN ANA MARIA ESPINOSA WALKED INTO A HIDDEN jewelry studio in Florence, Italy, she expected to merely shop. Instead, she and her family were handed trays of charms, then taught how to assemble them into complete pieces. “It was so fun and memorable,” she says. “To me, jewelry has always been personal. Why not make an activity out of it?” Back in Chicago, Espinosa pivoted from her premed track at Northwestern to replicate the idea. She opened Charm Bar in 2024 with her mother’s help. The Logan Square shop offers affordable stainless steel charms sourced from Italy, Greece, Latin America, and elsewhere. Add to that earrings her Ecuadorian grandmother makes that are shaped like margaritas, purses, and martini glasses. Guests customize chains while sipping sangria at the back counter. Likely, you’ll…

ELECTRICITY COSTS FOR many people in the Chicago area were up noticeably this summer — 10 to 15 percent from last year, on average, according to ComEd. Why? And what can be done about it? To get some answers, Chicago talked with Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of the Chicago-based Citizens Utility Board, an advocacy group for electric and gas consumers that was created by state legislation in 1983. Spoiler alert: It will be at least another year before you get any relief. Q: On the most basic level, why are our electricity prices spiking? A: There are a lot of reasons, but most immediately the fact that our regional grid operator, PJM Interconnection, ran an auction for capacity that yielded record high prices. Q: You’re talking about the annual auction in…

AS DETECTIVE KIM Burgess on Chicago P.D., actor Marina Squerciati has barreled down alleys, fought with criminals, and even climbed into a well once. No surprise, then, that her offscreen wellness routine is geared toward preparing her both physically and mentally. “If you’re not ready to sprint up stairs or do a stunt, you’re going to get hurt,” she says. Last year, Squerciati, who has been with the show for all 13 seasons, was back on set a mere four weeks after a C-section. That kind of grit defines life these days for the Northwestern grad, who balances long shooting days with raising two kids under 10. “I’m really just keeping it all together with duct tape right now.” DAILY GRIND “I don’t have stamina; I have coffee. La Colombe,…

Appetizers Begin your quest to create the ultimate Midwestern charcuterie plate by stopping in at Logan Square’s Lardon for a variety of regional salumi. Customize a board by ordering familiars like salame piccante and spicy coppa, but don’t miss out on the truffled lardo, a delectable spread made from cured fatback, with a touch of luxe from black truffles. Be sure to add focaccia, onion jam, beer mustard, and pickles. For the dairy side of things, swing by Beautiful Rind, a few blocks away. (Both places also deliver.) Curate your own cheese board, or rely on the expertise of owner Randall Felts and his team. Try the approachable, nutty Prairie Breeze cheddar from Iowa’s Milton Creamery and the Little Lucy Brie, which is triple-creamlike, from Minnesota’s Redhead Creamery. But also…

IF MARGARET PAK COULD WRITE HER STORY in food, kadala curry — a comforting stew of black chickpeas in coconut gravy — would be a recurring motif. “It’s pretty near and dear,” the Thattu chef says, noting it first entered the plot as breakfast shared in the home of her in-laws in Kerala, India, and has been the sole menu constant throughout the restaurant’s metamorphosis from pop-up to food hall stall to brick-and-mortar. In other words, it’s a dish with depth built not only on a slow cook and warm spices but also on layers of memory. THATTU’S KADALA CURRY Makes 2 servingsActive time 1 hour 15 minutesTotal time 2 hours, plus 8 hours for soaking chickpeas ¾ cup dried kala chana (black c hickpeas)23⁄4 tsp. kosher salt, divided, plus…

Martinis are standard on steakhouse menus, which means I have tried many over the years. But none have made an impression on me quite like the El Che Martini, a newbie from director of culture Jarod Boyer that fits this Argentine restaurant perfectly. Boyer uses a La Luna mezcal made specifically for El Che that incorporates a tomahawk steak into the distilling process. More minerally than beefy, it makes for an ideal base here and is balanced by herbaceous Barr Hill gin and citrusy La Fuerza Blanco vermouth from Argentina. Boyer then dots the top with vibrant green drops of chimichurri oil, adding a bright note of herbs to finish off a martini that could only be served at El Che.…

▶ Yes, you can throw everything on a plate and zap it in the microwave, but we all know how that will end up — with overcooked meat and soggy sides. Here’s a better idea: Use these easy-to-follow recipes to transform your leftovers into entirely new dishes in minutes. If you have a leftover baked potato … Loaded baked potato hash Spoon off any toppings like bacon, sour cream, cheese, and chives and set them aside. Chop the baked potato into roughly one-inch pieces. Heat a tablespoon of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat, add the potato pieces, and cook until golden brown, flipping them over to crisp each side. Transfer pieces to a bowl, and gently toss with the toppings, adding more bacon, sour cream, cheese, and chives…

As a boy, I loved visiting the stationery store, lingering over the dazzling array of luxurious papers and the writing instruments with gold nibs. Later, I took my first child, Elena, to such a shop. She came to know the love of notebooks. As soon as she could write, she had diaries embossed with her name. The stationer’s was more interesting to her than the toy store. Office Depot and the like, along with Amazon, wiped out our original shop and others. During this period of industrial smashing, Elena described our stationer’s shop as “cup filling” and those doing the smashing as “soul killing.” Just as independent book stores have come back, so too have stationery shops. Most recently we discovered Passenger in Evanston (1303 Chicago Ave.). It specializes in…