The Shady Lady Takes Over Garrett Ripley's

Garrett Ripley's closes Wednesday to make way for punk-rock bar The Shady Lady.


Just got a tip that rowdy Irish tavern Garrett Ripley's last day is Wednesday—on St. Patrick's Day.

The owners have decided to transform it into punk-rock bar The Shady Lady, which is scheduled to open April 1.

We cannot wait to see what that fun decor will look like!

Little Balls of Delight in Your Mouth!

The tangy beef and pork meatballs from Salute. (Photo: Salute)


It's Meatball Mondays, so you know what that means: time to introduce you to yet another cool spot where you can dig into some little balls of pleasure.

This week's highlight is Salute Wine Bar & Café, in the Gold Coast. The tiny Italian wine bar is an unassuming place to unwind after shopping at nearby upscale retail boutiques and department stores.

And He Didn't Cuss Out Anyone!

Gordon Ramsay with Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat outside of BOKA Sunday. (Photo: Kevin Boehm)


Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who was in town introducing his small kitchen appliance lines at the International Housewares Show Sunday, made the local restaurant rounds as well.

Le Passage general manager Joel Barnes excitedly tweeted Saturday that the "Hell's Kitchen" star dined drama free at the bar's adjacent The Drawing Room:

Way to Represent Your Former Team, Man!

Sooooooo, a former Bears player went all faux Julius Peppers over the weekend at Underground, only to flake out when the bill arrived.

A source tells 312DD that this unidentified ex-baller racked up thousands of dollars in bottle service, however, when the bill came he vehemently disputed it until some of the charges were dropped.

But it doesn't end there.

Some Tricks Beyond Their Trades . . .

Double A's general manager Victor DeLeon (Photo: Victor DeLeon)


Chefs Rick Gresh (David Burke's Primehouse) and Graham Elliot Bowles (graham elliot) have been known to play a mean guitar. The Drawing Room's award-winning master mixologist Charles Joly used to gig in a drunk punk band.

You'd be surprised how much talent runs deep in Chicago's kitchens and bars that goes beyond chosen professions.

Down in Double A, the dapper Victor DeLeon holds down the fort of the city's sexiest tequila lounge. The native New Yorker runs this spot on the level of any well-heeled Manhattan watering hole, but it's his personal style and presence that really got our attention.

Chances are, if DeLeon's decked out in suit, tie and shirt, he's wearing custom-made threads from his line, Niformis (soon to be changed to Victor DeLeon). For eight years, he's dressed New York's movers and shakers, and he would love to do the same for Chicago.

Though Double A doesn't enforce a strict dress code, he'd like to see male patrons step up their wardrobe game.

"Women's fashion in Chicago is on par with New York and Europe, but the men are a few years away," he says. "It looks a little off when women come into Double A well dressed and the guys with them are wearing sneakers or (ill-fitting) jeans."

Niformis' ties start at $125; shirts $350 and suits $2,400.

Do You Have the Luck of the Irish?!

Your St. Paddy's Day partying starts Thursday night when She-Nannigan’s House of Beer joins forces with WXRT-FM to host a lively affair.

Division Street bars are known to kick it up a notch St. Patrick's Day weekend, and this particular bar gets to choose one lucky person who will dye the Chicago River green!

All you have to do to qualify is register early at WXRT-FM or in person at the bar by 9pm. The party also includes live music from the Big Shoulders Brass Band and drink specials ($3.50 Miller Lite drafts and Green draft beers). 9-11pm Thursday. No cover.

Everyone's Irish all weekend long all over town:

Who's Gonna Be Top Chef Master?!

Bravo's second season of "Top Chef Master" doesn't jump off until April 10, but our buds at Dining Chicago want to get everyone excited about the hometown heroes participating in it now.

The Chicago Chef Contest pits the five local contestants (technically three because two only own restos here) against one another. And if you pick the correct winner, you have a chance of winning some really cool prizes yourself.

The local boys are:

* Graham Elliot Bowles of Graham Elliot in River North.

* David Burke of David Burke's Primehouse in River North. (He's also a New Yorker.)

* Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia on the Magnificent Mile.

* Marcus Samuelsson of C-House in Streeterville. (He's also a New Yorker.)

* Rick Tramonto of Tru in Streeterville.

The grand prize winner of the Chicago Chef Contest will host a segment on Dining Chicago TV. Runners-up get gift certificates to some of the city's hottest restaurants, including Angelina's Ristorante, Cafe des Architectes, Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse and Sepia.

'One Sassy Piece of Theater . . .'

Maggie Graham in "The Legend of Ginger Bred; A Story of Sex, Salvation and Baked Goods" at Gorilla Tango Theatre. (Photo: Cock & Bull Theatre)


Cock & Bull Theatre's first-ever production, The Legend of Ginger Bred; A Story of Sex, Salvation and Baked Goods, didn't make this week's STAGE BITES because we only found out about it through Bill Daley's writeup on The Stew.

But we couldn't possibly pass up what he's calling "one sassy piece of theater" as it combines burlesque, baked goods, a full bar and a band called The Sunday Brunch.

The limited-run show debuts at 9:30pm Thursday. Performances are also at 10pm March 12, 13, 18 (at 9:30pm), 19, 20. Get tickets here.

It's a bit risque—the protagonist is a porn star—so you've got to be at least 18 to attend.