More Than $700k Raised for The Aviary's Porthole In Less Than One Month

The Porthole by Martin Kastner of Crucial Detail. (Photo: Crucial Detail)

How do I achieve balance with all the crazy, off-the-chart goings-on in today's dining scene?!

I tell my mother everything.

When I first told her that The Aviary designer Martin Kastner had raised more than $20,000 in less than 15 minutes for a Kickstarter campaign for mass production of an infusion vessel called the Porthole, she thought people had gone mad.

"What if this guy can't finish those things in time?" she asked, with much doubt in her voice. "People are not going to be very happy!"

Celebrate Mexican Independence Day With Latin Dishes & More at Annual 'Buen Provecho! Pilsen'

Crave-worthy mussels with chipotle truffle tomato broth from May Street Cafe, which is participating in the annual "Buen Provecho! Pilsen." (Photo: May Street Cafe)

If you haven't checked out Pilsen's vibrant dining scene lately, here's your chance to get a bountiful taste . . . in one day.

The Historic Pilsen Community hosts its annual Buen Provecho! Pilsen 2-7pm Sept. 16 to commemorate Mexican Independence Day. They'll showcase more than 26 of the area's restaurants, and participants will get to sample signature dishes and desserts from the restaurants, cafes and bakeries along the 18th Street strip.

Critical Observation: Reviewers Should 'Avoid Woman-Shaming In Restaurants'

Chicagoist food editor Anthony Todd makes this interesting observation about restaurant critics attempting to inject humor in their reviews at women's expense:

"Just once, I'd like to see a major restaurant critic entirely avoid woman-shaming in restaurants. Prostitution references seem to be an unavoidable fallback. From today's NYT, on Nougatine: 'There are women whose dresses and heels make you wonder exactly how long ago they met their dates.'"