NY Times tours local beer hot spots

If you're a self-described "beer geek," man, do I have a story for you!

In a New York Times travel piece, local writer Ari Benderski drinks his way through Chicago's new wave of microbrews.

From standbys Hopleaf and Maproom to the hot new shiny things (State and Lake, Bar DeVille), you'll learn all you need to know whether you're a visitor or local.

John Manion on sweet street eats

New to the menu at Goose Island Clybourn is chef John Manion's fancified version of elote, the mayo-slathered, spiced corn-on-the-cob street food popular in Mexican neighborhoods.

About a decade ago, Ashland Avenue in Wicker Park was nicknamed "corn cob alley." Street vendors smeared mayo, chile, lime juice and cheese on the cob and sell to hungry passers-by—including John Manion. Now he's serving his own elote as a bound corn-mayo salad, mixed with shredded cheese, chile and lime and served alongside chile-marinated grilled quail.