Jerry Suqi back with new West Town concept

The original home for the Bleeding Heart Bakery at 2018 W. Chicago Ave. has found a new tenant in Jerry Suqi. Remember him?!

He's the guy who brought us Narcisse, La Pomme Rouge, The Filthy Libertine and numerous other cool projects combining dining and nightlife. It'll be interesting to see what he does with this West Town property that was once a bakery.

For now, we're hearing that the working name of this Middle Eastern-focused eatery will be Chick Pea, and knowing Suqi, this will not be your run-of-the-mill restaurant. To assure that, he's brought on designer Frank Adorno, who was also responsible for the looks of Narcisse, The Filthy Libertine and La Pomme Rouge. They're looking to open in about two months. Developing . . .

Time Out Chicago doesn't respect bloggers

So I received this interesting email from the "food & drink" editor Heather Shouse of Time Out Chicago about my claim that they were one week late on The Bristol scoop:

"I noticed in your post yesterday entitled 'Uhm, sorry Time Out...' that you claim we were one week late. You might want to read our post a bit more carefully. What we said was that we got the scoop on THE LOCATION of the Bristol and the fact that Il Covo was closing, and even pointed out that you and many other blogs basically gave the general info that it was going to be in Bucktown because your 'reporting' involved reading the RIA site. The Chicago Restaurant site did not involve the exact address when you first posted on it and linked to it. The address was just added since you reposted.

While we're 'talking,' I'm not sure that I completely understand the method of calling out established publications when you run a blog. Aren't you a 'freelance writer'? Wouldn't you benefit more from actually selling your information and, I don't know, writing articles as opposed to throwing rocks at the very few media outlets out there that could possibly give you work? Just a thought."

My little blog must've struck a nerve with such an established publication as Time Out because they didn't get the "scoop" first on their blog. Or, if they had the scoop, they didn't print it first. Hey, you can't win them all, right?!

DJ Jazzy Jeff to spin at BlackBerry VIP party

The BlackBerry Luxe Club Series makes a stop in Chicago on Thursday, and yes you're invited if you RSVP here.

Party happens at Lumen, featuring true "celebrity" deejay Jazzy Jeff, who'll be spinning old-school hip-hop, rock and R&B from 11pm-1am. You'll also get comped specialty cocktails if you arrive between 9pm-midnight. Doors open at 9pm. Free admission with that RSVP.

Poptails, Snozberries and Grape Coolade . . . Oh Yeah!

Get the "Willy Wonka"-inspired The Snozberries taste like Snozberries martini at Plan B Bar + Kitchen. (Photo: Plan B Bar + Kitchen)


Let's not take life too seriously today and indulge in cocktails that bring back good memories of childhood:

Put a little pep in your popsicle at DeLaCosta, which has created a refreshing summertime sipper. Their Persephone Poptail includes a mini pomegranate popsicle with the orange puree, Grey Goose L’Orange, Pama liquor and sparkling Shiraz setting it off.

The Kool-Aid guy won't burst through Empire Liquors' walls to deliver your drink, but you'll still be able to order the Grape Coolade, flavored with Three Olives Grape vodka, concord grape syrup, sour and soda water. Oh yeah.

And over at Fat Cat, you won't have to chase down the ice-cream man for this adult version of the Bomb Pop. The Uptown retro lounge has concocted a mix of Van Gough raspberry vodka and Sprite with a dash of sweet and sour mix and layered with Island Punch Pucker and cherry.

Enjoy a Cold Chocolate with your pastry at Hot Chocolate. This specialty cocktail combines Stoli Vanil, Kahlua, Baileys and homemade chocolate milk, shaken and served in a martini glass. You can also bring back childhood memories with their version of the Creamsicle that's made with Stoli Vanil, fresh orange juice and half & half, shaken to a froth and served over ice in a high ball glass.

Kitsch’n on Roscoe offers retro décor and retro cocktails, including the infamous Tang-tini that will have you flyin' high with real Tang, spiked with Skyy Vodka and a touch of triple sec, served in a martini glass with an orange wedge.



DeLaCosta's "PopTails." (Photo: DeLaCosta)


"Willy Wonka" gets a shout out at Plan B Bar + Kitchen for The Snozberries taste like Snozberries cocktail. It’s made with Skyy Berry vodka, Skyy Citrus vodka, cranberry and pineapple juice and garnished with a Gummie Bear. The perfect answer to the question, “Who ever heard of a snozberry?!”

Indulge in a sweet Honeycomb Margarita at Sepia. They use their own house-made honeycomb tequila liquor to create this mix with partida blanco tequila and fresh lime juice.

And Timothy O’Toole’s goes old school with the Pink Panther, which mixes X-Rated vodka, X-Rated Fusion Liqueur, DeKuyper Watermelon Schnapps and DeKeyper Peach Schnapps.—Additional reporting by Suzy McMillen