Countdown to Big Star Opening . . .

(Photo: Ellen Malloy)


Looks like Big Star's on sked to open Nov. 9. Here's the first interior shot.

Lookin' good!

Best Italian Cuisine in the Country?!

Spiaggia is one of four Chicago-area restaurants on opentable.com's annual "Top 50 Italian Restaurants of the Year" list. (Photo: Jeff Kauck)


OpenTable diners were asked to pick their favorite Italian restaurants for the annual Top 50 list, and four Chicago-area spots made the cut.

Fine-dining and celeb magnet Spiaggia, Little Italy institution RoSal’s and Lakeview gem Sapori Trattoria all made it from the city, while Glenview's Café Lucci represented the 'burbs.

The list is calculated directly by opentable's dining feedback forms and diner’s choice lists on a national level.

Kelly Clarkson! Kelly Clarkson! Kelly Clarkson!

The original American Idol Kelly Clarkson, who's in town for a performance tonight at Rosemont Theatre (get tickets here), performed during a private concert Monday at HUB 51.

Everyone pretty much kept their cool (you know how folks in River North are), but CelebTV reporter Kelli Zink was also in the house, and filed this interesting Tweet:

"(Bears quarterback) Jay Cutler is sitting next to me- who knew he was a fan!?"

You know, Michael Jordan loved to listen to R&B songstress Anita Baker before big games, so maybe Cutler's inspiration is Clarkson?!