Samantha Ronson shakes up local scene

Last week we had cougar drama and an earthquake. Now how can we possibly top that excitement?!

THURSDAY

Sexy new boutique Hotel Sax (333 N. Dearborn St., 312-245-0333) celebrates getting props on Conde Nast Traveler's 12th annual Hot List with a complimentary champagne event from 7-9pm. Immediately following, rock star deejay Samantha Ronson cranks out the hits during her monthly residency at hot hotel lounge Crimson. 9pm-2am. No cover.

Today is the 15th anniversary of Dining Out for Life in Chicago, the single largest HIV/AIDS benefit in America with 43 restaurants in the United States and Canada participating. Il Covo Restaurant & Lounge (2152 N. Damen Ave., 773-862-5555) does its part with an appearance by WGN's Dean Richards. Proceeds from dinner and drink sales benefit the organization.

Scotch lovers should RSVP immediately to Andy@jameshotels.com for tonight's single malt scotch whiskey tasting at J Bar (610 N. Rush St., 312-660-7200). The VIP complimentary tasting occurs 9-10pm, featuring The Glenrothes Scotch Whisky. Immediately following, you'll be able to chill out to deejay Jesse de la Pena, who's accompanied by a percussionist or saxophonist. 10pm-2am. No cover; RSVP necessary.

There's a lot of well-deserved hype surrounding Kid Sister, a local-bred artist who's made a name for herself by touring with Kanye West and also performing at Lollapalooza, Pitchfork Music Festival, Coachella and South by Southwest. She'll do a live, late-night set at Underground (56 W. Illinois St., 312-644-7600) with Flosstradamus, a DJ duo with a solid Chicago following. 10pm-4am. $20.

FRIDAY

After Dark, the Art Institute's (111 S. Michigan Ave., 312-575-8000) popular after-work series, returns with a photography exhibition by the West Coast's Ed Ruscha. Also included in the event are live performance stylings by Collaboraction, appetizers, cash bar and DJ Daisy O'Dell (also from LA). Hosted by my pals over at UR Chicago magazine. 6-10pm. $15 for Art Institute members; $20 general admission.

The Bowler Hat Art Party, the official opening night party of Artropolis/Art Chicago, is hosted by Factio Magazine. Guests will get to view multimedia works by local art royalty like JC Steinbrunner, Christine Scott, M5 and Neftali Centeno as they mingle with cocktails and appetizers. Taking place at En-Vent, 344 N. Ogden Ave. RSVP to hat@factio-magazine.com. 8-10:30pm. No cover, but RSVP necessary.

The HotHouse (3111 N. Western Ave., 312-957-6073) continues to burn up every weekend in its new home. They're hosting an African and Latin dance party featuring popular seven-piece Brazilian band Chicago Samba for a special performance. Wherever Chicago Samba plays always sells out, and for this event, during intermission, Edilson Lima will give samba dance lessons. 10pm. $10.

New entertainment show "24/7: Secrets of the City" tapes an episode at Plan-B (1635 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773-252-2680), and if you've got TV dreams, you'll want to make it. Complimentary cocktail reception 9-10pm, and the party goes on until 2am. "24/7" airs every week on NBC-5 right after "Saturday Night Live." No cover.

SATURDAY

Can't wait for Kentucky Derby Day next week?! Mouthpiecesports.com hosts Illinois Champions Day, a daytime party featuring local celebrity athletes, including former Bears star Shaun Gayle, Blackhawks head coach Denis Savard, and former Bulls coach/announcer Johnny Red Kerr. Benefiting the Special Olympics, the event includes a buffet, three-hour open bar and six $100,000 stake races for Illinois-bred horses. The party takes place in the Turf Club at Hawthorne Race Course (3501 Laramie Ave., Cicero, 708-780-3770). Starts at 12:30pm. $40.

The Junior Board of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls hosts Have Mercy! Spring Gala, its annual cocktail party that includes an open bar, appetizers, karaoke, dancing and silent auction. The party occurs at The James (55 E. Ontario St.) 8pm-midnight. Purchase tickets at mercyhome.org/havemercy for $85-$125.

SUNDAY

A host of local culinary stars will be on hand for Charlie's Angels, an event hosted by Common Ground to support underprivileged children. Bill Kim (Le Lan), Mindy Segal (Hot Chocolate), Graham Elliott Bowles (Graham Elliott), Elizabeth Dahl (Boka) and Giuseppe Tentori (Boka) are all Charlie Trotter's alumni and will showcase their skills for a six-course dinner paired with wines. Kendall College Dining Room, 900 N. Branch St., 312-752-2692. 6pm. $125.

A first look at C-House, C-View

Marcus Samuelsson (right), shown here with David Burke's Primehouse executive chef Rick Gresh, is the chef/partner of C-House. (Photo: 312 Dining Diva)


It sucks that I have no pictures to share from my sneak preview tour of C-House and C-View, two of Chicago's hottest new spots going into new boutique hotel Affinia (166 E. Superior St., 787-6000) in mid-May. They're still under construction, but when this seafood-and-steak small plates venue opens on the first floor of the hotel, it's certain to be a prime destination. Not to mention that star chef Marcus Samuelsson (of NYC's award-winning Aquavit) is at the helm.

Zebra wood is the main design element throughout both venues, giving them a warm, chilled-out vibe as guests settle into the various banquettes, tables and barstools. You'll also find one communal table situated in the middle of each spot, where you won't miss a thing going on around you.

And when you head to the 28th floor, the doors open to C-View—the city's only rooftop lounge. I've been here all my life and didn't realize that we've never had a rooftop lounge. How could that happen?! Offering spectacular views of the city, C-View at night will be truly unbelievable with all the lights from surrounding buildings setting it off. A limited small-plates menu from C-House will also be offered here, but of course you'll get to indulge in a full-service bar.

Japan's #1 spirit arrives in Lakeview

Two shochu-infused cocktails are shown here at the hot new lounge/eatery of the same name in Lakeview. (Photo: Shochu)


Shochu (3313 N. Clark St., 773-348-3313), which opens today in Lakeview, is the first-ever "shochu" lounge in the United States. But what is shochu, you ask?! It's the #1 Japanese distilled spirit that is made from rice, barley, sweet potatoes and black sugar. Husband-and-wife duo Lynne Wallack and John Handler—who are also behind the popular Lakeview brunch fave Deleece (4004 N. Southport Ave., 773-325-1710)—are pairing signature cocktails with small plates.

The cocktail menu offers a large collection of shochu-based cocktails, like Black Dragon (mixing shochu with muddled blackberries and simple syrup) and Iwo Oyama (a mixture of shochu with pear and green tea). The menu offers moderately priced fare with an Asian edge, including a number of maki rolls, marinated grilled steak wrapped in butter lettuce and eggplant maitake sesame tempura.

Also happening tonight:

Landmark Grill + Lounge (1633 N. Halsted St., 312-587-1600) heads in a completely different direction with its music tonight for the Beatles Wine Tasting. Yes, that's right. They're pairing classic Beatles tunes with vino, but it'll be interesting to see what they pair with “Helter Skelter!” 7pm. $30.

Catch the next episode of Bravo's "Top Chef" at Paramount Room (415 N. Milwaukee Ave., 312-829-6300), which is showing the series on LCD screens on both levels. You'll get a chance to sink your teeth into their specialty Amish fried chicken, which is only served on Wednesdays.

And country music continues to burn up the charts as evidenced by hot Capitol recording artists Lady Antebellum, with their hit "Love Don't Live Here." You will be able to say, "We saw them when...." and you get a free CD. Joe's (940 W. Weed St., 312-337-3486) 8pm. $10.

This pub's got no name, but the chef's got game . . .

Brian Huston, chef de cuisine, chills out at yet-unnamed Warehouse District gastropub. (Photo: Anthony Tahlier)


Brian Huston, chef de cuisine of the Blackbird team's no-named restaurant at 845 W. Fulton Market, sounds off in this recent interview by Restaurant Intelligence Agency:

Is there anything you won't eat?
I'll try anything once.

If you could travel (just for the food and money wasn't an object) where would you go and why?
Southeast Asia for the street food.

What is the best restaurant we've probably never heard of?
Sun Wah Bar-B-Q Restaurant on Argyle St. in Chicago. Go for the Hong Kong-style pork.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received and who gave it to you?
Jimmy Bannos (of Heaven on Seven) told me that cooking was a great hobby.

Describe a perfect Sunday.
75 and sunny, a Bears win followed by barbecuing out back with my girlfriend.

What profession would you try if you could?
Professional basketball player.

Do you take any vacations that have nothing to do with food; if so, what was your last one?
Recently my vacations have been spent coming home to Chicago to be with my family but some might consider my last six years in Colorado a vacation.

Five Chicago properties make Conde Nast Traveler's annual Hot List

Chicago, stand up!

Several local red-hot properties get props in Conde Nast Traveler's 12th annual Hot List, which comes out in May. It's considered the insider's guide to the newest, hottest, sexiest hotels, restaurants, spas and nightclubs opened all over the world in the past year.

Chicago hotels:

Hotel Sax: 333 N. Dearborn St., 312-245-0333

Trump International Hotel & Tower: 401 N. Wabash Ave., 877-458-7867


Chicago restaurants:

Aigre Doux: 230 W. Kinzie St., 312-329-9400

Brasserie Ruhlman: 500 W. Superior St., 312-475-9112

Sepia: 123 N. Jefferson St., 312-441-1920

A toast to TreeTinis, eco-friendly fashions

All TreeTinis sold at Whiskey Bars will help save America's trees. (Photo: Gerber Group)


I'm not going to get all preachy about Earth Day—which fetes its 38th anniversary today—but there are some pretty cool things going on around town where you can have your usual fun while helping the environment:

At hip, Euro-style Lumen (839 W. Fulton Market, 312-733-2222), you'll get an eco-friendly fashion show hosted by Wicker Park's Funkshion (2121 W. Division St., 773-697-4119) and Image magazine. As always, drink specials, and a sophisticated industry crowd. 9pm-2am. No cover.

All three of Rande Gerber's Whiskey Bars get in on the action with a special on the TreeTini. Tonight only they're $6 (regularly $14), and for each one sold, a tree is being donated to a place in dire need of forestation and ecological improvement. The TreeTini was created by Live It Green, an Illinois-based sustainability company, and it's available for the special price at Whiskey Blue (172 W. Adams St., 312-782-4933), Whiskey Sky (644 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-255-4463) and The Whiskey Bar/MEXX Kitchen (1015 N. Rush St., 312-475-0300).

Make your way to the fourth-annual Get Trashed on Earth Day at Mahoney’s Pub & Grille (551 N. Ogden Ave., 312-733-2121). The idea is for this event to be a chill-out opportunity for those who've spent the day cleaning up trash in the local neighborhoods. They’ll be serving up three special Earth Day cocktails: a Mud-tini (a creamy chocolate martini), Ocean Blue (a blue, citrus vodka cocktail) and Greenie-Tini (melon and green apple martini). Fifty percent of the profits of the cocktails benefit Keep Chicago Beautiful, a non-profit organization that works with the business community, schools, neighborhoods and government agencies to improve our environment through education, public awareness and community involvement.

And ZED451 (739 N. Clark St., 312-932-1100) finally debuts today. The contemporary steakhouse designed by renowned architect Chris Smith (Buddakan, Philadelphia and New York; Grayz, New York; and OLA, Miami) is very heavy on wood throughout the interior and much of it is reclaimed. One of my fave highlights of this sexy newcomer is its rooftop lounge, which features real grass, a fireplace and no reservations to sit down. Seasonally driven cocktails include the Cucumber Sage Martini (fresh cucumber and sage mixed with lemon and Hendrick’s gin), Gingered Bourbon Lemonade (composed of citrus infused Woodford Reserve Small Batch Bourbon with freshly squeezed lemonade and a zesty ginger kick) and the Kiwi Strawberry Martini (with fresh kiwi and strawberries blended with Reyka vodka and housemade sour mix).

More props for Alinea

Grant Achatz's Alinea continues to collect accolades. (Photo: Alinea)


S. Pellegrino's World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2008 list includes Alinea (1723 N. Halsted St., 312-867-0110) ranking in the 21st position—a 15 position jump from 2007’s list. The highest-seeded Chicago restaurant, Alinea debuted on the list last year as the Highest New Entry at 36. The entire list is here.

The S. Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards, now in its seventh year, has established itself internationally as the most credible guide to the best places to eat on earth. A restaurant’s ranking is decided purely on the votes of a large panel of well-respected international judges collectively called The Nespresso World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. The Academy comprises of 700 chefs, restaurateurs, food writers and restaurant critics.

Get out . . .

. . . tonight and enjoy the amazing weather at:

Bistrot Margot (1437 N. Wells St., 312-587-3660) on the relaxing sidewalk cafe for half price on all bottles of wine. The unassuming French bistro is a favorite for chilled-out evenings with a sig other or friends.

Chaise Lounge (1840 W. North Ave., 773-342-1840) for industry night. Grab seats in the outdoor cafe or on the rooftop for cabana action. It's $4 for most premium cocktails on the menu.

La Vita (1359 W. Taylor St., 312-491-1414) for half-price wine bottles. On Monday and Tuesday, any wine this family-style Italian eatery sells by the glass you'll also get by the bottle. Their rooftop deck, which seats about 30 guests, should be open tonight.

Sheffield's Wine & Beer (3258 N. Sheffield Ave., 773-281-4989), in Lakeview, for $3.50 pint specials and $2 cans of "bad beer" of the month. The sprawling beer garden attracts a healthy number of the area's young professionals.