More openings, updates to keep you in the mix

Popular Edgewater café Pressure Billiards is adding a full-service bar soon.
(Photo: Pressure Billiards)


Here. Are. The. Latest. Updates. OK?!

Café Suron (1146 W. Pratt St., 773-465-6500) in Rogers Park has its last day of business on Monday, Jan. 14, and then it's closing for renovations, according to a manager. It will be turned over to new ownership and closed for four weeks to be transformed into a sleek, Mediterranean eatery and renamed Tas. In its new life, Tas will offer a full-service bar.

And speaking of new liquor licenses, Edgewater fave Pressure Billiards (6318 N. Clark St., 773-743-7665) is a big hit with the neighborhood crowd for its open-mic comedy shows, specialty coffees and pool. Now they're expanding the venue to offer alcoholic beverages, so the vibe will certainly change into a more nightlife-y crowd, but expect it to remain a friendly, neighborhood establishment.

J. Randolph’s and Grill, which closed at the end of 2007 with La Strada, plans to reopen across the street at 150 N. Michigan Ave. in the lower-level space once occupied by the Alumni Club. Look for it in the summer.

A new Southwestern restaurant is scheduled to open this winter in Lincoln Square at 4520 N. Lincoln Ave. No word on the name yet, but of course, 312 Dining Diva is working on that!

And I'm also on the lookout for the name of the new wine and chocolate shop opening on the 2100 block of West Division Street (if someone knows, let me know!) in upcoming months. Customers will be able to enjoy wine on premises as they shop for chocolates.

And also:

BBop Lounge (Sedgwick St., 312-981-1775), a BYOB Korean BBQ joint, has opened in the old Heat space in Old Town.

In Humboldt Park, look for NXXT Restaurant & Bar (2700 W. Chicago Ave., 773-489-6998) to debut in early February with an updated menu of comfort food. Word is that one of the partners was a former chef at Café Ba Ba Reeba! (2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000).

And yet another rock 'n' roll spot, Par-Lounge (1415 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-264-0669), quietly opened in Wicker Park in late December in the ill-fated Sweet Alice space.