Rockit's Big Plan in the New Year?!

Rockit Ranch Productions partners Brad Young (from left), Billy Dec and Arturo Gomez. (Photo: Rockit Ranch Productions)

Last March I wrote about Rockit Ranch Productions' next project—an Asian-themed concept based on the team's New York dining adventures at 14 restaurants in 14 hours.

And now I have more information.

Pop the Cork for a NYE to Remember

It really isn't too late to get on those New Year's Eve plans.

And to get you moving in the right direction, I stopped by The U's You & Me This Morning Tuesday to offer my Top 5 Dining Picks for NYE.

Also, if you're one of those ambitious types who gathers the folks for New Year's Day brunch, Eater Chicago's got you covered with their picks on a nifty map that'll come in handy.

Happy New Year!

Top 10 Communal-Table Dining Spots

Diners enjoying a meal at a communal table at Telegraph. Photo via michiganavemag.com.

If you're looking to close out the year with good friends or family, check out Michigan Avenue's Top 10 list of Best Communal-Table Dining Spots in the city.

It includes the usual suspects, plus 2011 newcomers Grange Hall Burger Bar in the West Loop and hot Logan Square wine bar Telegraph.

Winter Heats Up With Hot, Hot Openings

Chris Nugent's dish of Angus beef, heirloom carrots, goosefoot, cumin and shallot jus, served at Goosefoot. (Photo: Goosefoot)

There's been a lot of chef shuffling lately, from Ryan McCaskey's move to the South Loop with Acadia to former Les Nomades Executive Chef Chris Nugent's Goosefoot in Lincoln Square.

Find out what else is red hot in dining at DiningChicago.com.

Where Too White Crew's Frontman Chows Down

C-Note of Too White Crew (Photo: Too White Crew)

He's a life-long Chicagoan who's performed at the Playboy Mansion as well as a number of college campuses around the country.

Yet, when it comes to good eating, Too White Crew frontman C-Note says there's no place better than home.

His talented band (and dancers better known as the Fly Girls) specializes in old-school hip hop, and they're certain to work up quite an appetite after those energetic shows. So I recently caught up with C-Note to see where he likes to get down and chow down when he's not working.

GQ Honors Aviary, Ignores Other Chicago Bars

Aviary Old Fashioned photo via slowcocktails.squarespace.com.

It's cool that Grant Achatz's The Aviary has garnered props left and right since opening earlier this year.

So, I'm not shocked at all that GQ included the molecular-minded, mixology-focused lounge in its Guide to the Next Wave of Cocktails in the January issue:

Your Xmas Dinner Is Right Here . . .

Not everyone cooks on Christmas, and just in case you're one of those folks, I have got you covered.

From the annual Feast of the Seven Fishes at Osteria via Stato to Kit Kat Lounge & Supper Club's Jingle Bell Brunch featuring a sexy Santa and Hypnotiq martinis, I rap with The U's You & Me This Morning host Jeanne Sparrow about my favorite Xmas Eve and Xmas dining picks around town.

Check it out, then make your reso.

Happy Holidays!

An Awesome Alternative To NYE

For those so over the hectic pace of New Year's Eve, there's always Eve of the Eve, the infamous black-tie charity event happening the night before NYE at Union Station.

It's a bit pricy at $125 a ticket, so for those trying to save $$$ in the New Year, I've stumbled across the perfect party.

McGee's Tavern is known for throwing the party brunch in Lincoln Park, where guests stick around for hours after they've dined. And on New Year's Day, which falls on a Sunday this time around, it is expected to be completely off the hook.