Duchamp does Bucktown next week

So the guys behind Lumen and Michael Taus (Zealous) have settled on an opening date for their American-French-Asian-influenced eatery called Duchamp.

It's set to open next Thursday, according to one of the partners, and if you were in this Bucktown location when it was Meritage, you probably won't recognize it. They've totally gutted the interior and changed the patio into a feng shui wonderland complete with communal seating and a lovely garden vibe.

Taus, who was once the chef at the legendary, yet short-lived night spot China Club, is going back to his cool roots with an exotic menu that's very neighborhood friendly. What we're particularly looking forward to is his version of bouillabaisse that uses a Thai coconut curry sauce in lieu of the classic one.

Food fest attracts culinary elite

"Top Chef" winner Stephanie Izard, with "Top Chef" runner-up Dale Levinski in the background, cooked at "Green City Chefs' BBQ Festival." (Photo: Suzy McMillen)


Intern extraordinaire Suzy McMillen checked out the Green City Market Chefs' BBQ Festival last week, hung out with "Top Chef" elite and wrote about it for UR Chicago.

*&^%$#@!@!?% Starbucks

I'm sorry, Phil Vettel, I love you like a brother, but I just cannot get down with your plea for saving Starbucks. Instead, here's what I recommend people do.

A Twist-er of fate

Let's just loosen up today with an offbeat event:

Happening Edgewater wine bar/restaurant Broadway Cellars pays homage to the famous cycling competition with 20 Wines 20 Dollars: Tour de France Wine Tasting. You'll get snacks paired with selections from regions and cities featured on the tour, including Burgundy, Bordeaux, Languedoc and the Rhone Valley. 7pm. $20.

Can you handle Tough Love Wednesdays, the weekly rotating party featuring a dope lineup of local deejays?! It's happening this time at Par-Lounge with Bear Who? and NewLife, who'll be thumping out a mixture of hip-hop, house, '80s, rock, R&B, Dancehall and Brazilian beats. 10pm-2am. No cover.

It's time for Twisted Keys, an outrageous Twister competition on the largest Twister board in the world. Held at Uncle Fatty's Rum Resort, the event happens 7-9pm, with a dueling piano party (with two pianists going to war with your fave songs) immediately following. And because you cannot do Twister sober, Uncle Fatty's is offering a bunch of drink specials, including $6 30 oz. fish bowls, $5 Malibu frozen drinks, $5 bombs and $12 Miller Light buckets. 7pm-midnight. No cover.

Guests just can't seem to get enough of Steve Chiappetti's Viand's Gourmet Burger Bar. Monday through Friday, between 4-6pm, all burgers are $2 at Viand. Guests choose from a number of fine Wisconsin cheeses as toppings.

Michael Jackson . . .

. . . will likely not be in the house when The Joynt and Lip Service Productions throw an ultra-private bash for his dad Joe Jackson's 80th birthday Thursday. But that's OK because if nothing else his kids will all be there in spirit as the deejay is guaranteed to drop old-school stuff from Janet, Michael and the Jackson Five all night. It would be absolutely bananas if that nutty LaToya decided to show her face.

UPDATE: Turns out Joe Jackson's in town taping his new reality series, "Meet Joe Jackson," which chronicles his quest to reunite his sons. It also follows him as he develops new artists for his Chicago-based company, Chi-Coast Entertainment, with local business partner Rick Neville. The party will definitely be taped as part of that new series.

One night only for 'One Night Stand'

John Huntington brings his "One Night Stand" touring rock 'n' roll party to Spybar tonight.


"Inked" star/creator John Huntington takes over Spybar tonight with his wildly popular One Night Stand touring rock 'n' roll party.

He'll spin rock in the hot new deejay booth, and will also accompany locally acclaimed Mario Ink as they airbrush on body paint to guests feeling inspired by the evening’s offbeat fête. Other kookiness going on includes bikes from Criminal Customs lining the red carpet and specialty Patrón cocktails. Party kicks off at 10pm. No cover.

In a New York state of mind . . .

New York's legendary Pastis restaurant in the Meatpacking District is similar to Chicago's Marche in the West Loop.


I love New York almost as much as I love Chicago.

So on my recent trip to the 212, I couldn't help but compare every cool spot I checked out to my favorites back home:

Dylan's Candy Bar, on the Upper East Side, is one sweet spot. You name it, they've got it, from tarty treats to erotic chocolate shower bars for you and a sig other. While Candyality in Lakeview doesn't offer a naughty nook, you'll find just about everything else you'll need in this cheery space.

Simply put, there's absolutely nothing in the world like Gold Bar, a funky little lounge in Little Italy. Thousands of miniature gold-sprayed skulls line the walls and an oversized painting of sexy blond conjoined twins stares down at the hipster and celebrity guests who dance on the sofas to old-school sounds. Just about anything goes down at Gold Bar, so Danny's Tavern and Sonotheque—known for cranking out their own brand of offbeat grooves—are the only things that come close.

HighBar (251 W. 48th St., 212-956-1300) in the Theater District has only been open for a few months, similar to Zed451 in River North. But the New York spot offers a Speakeasy vibe, as you have to snake down a sketchy narrow passageway and take a rickety elevator to get to the rooftop lounge. Upstairs, it's a burst of color, accents and beautiful people screaming over the music. Zed451's got that too, minus the accents.

Speaking of accents, at the Meatpacking District's famed Pastis, you'll hear them all at the sleek French eatery and lounge as financial guys and models belly up to the bar. Over at our Marche it's not quite the same scene, but it's still a classy crowd nevertheless.

Pop Burger's also in the Meatpacking District, but gets an entirely different demo, ranging from hip-hoppers to A-List stars for its White Castle-style burgers and fries. Deejays spin retro hip-hop and cool rock as the stylish set hangs out in the futuristic rear lounge that's guarded by a doorman. Lincoln Park's Minnies, with its 1950s soda fountain front, gets the kiddies during the day, but nighttime brings out the hungry, hungry bar-hoppers for miniature burgers, shakes, fries and more.

For a sexy, quiet dinner head to the tiny and very Euro Upstairs at Bouley in TriBeCa for wallet-friendly entrees of steak frites and sushi. You can't get reservations there like on the upper level of Le Colonial, but the dim lighting, French-focused menu and sensuous sounds are certainly interchangeable.

The Bristol set to open in Bucktown

Former Tru sous chef Chris Pandel created something called an ELT (broiled eel with lettuce, tomato and spicy aïoli) for the menu at The Bristol, set to open Sept. 9 in Bucktown.

His roasted organic chicken with cornbread stuffing and a grilled flat-iron steak with blue cheese ravioli should also be a hit on this rustic Midwestern menu with Mediterranean roots. Other offerings will include brunch, bar snacks (we want the Monkey bread with dill and sea salt!), and a rotating chalkboard menu featuring salumi and charcuterie.