Old Town School of Folk Music
Since the unfortunate demise of Hothouse a few years ago, Chicago has been without a venue that programs world music at its core. And that’s a cultural shame as well as a market void if the massive crowds at the city’s World Music Festival this past September were any indication. Fortunately, a number of venues are producing world music shows on a consistent basis, from stalwarts like Martyrs’, Evanston Space and Jazz Showcase to relative newcomers like Mayne Stage, City Winery and The Shrine, to name a few. Arguably that diffusion of venues is a good thing, representing a maturity of the marketplace for world music here. In any case, Old Town School, with its comfortable auditorium, good acoustics and most consistent flow of world-music acts stands out from the pack. Especially noteworthy is the regular nature of its commitment, as Old Town School offers three regular showcases: World Music Wednesday, Global Dance Party Friday nights and the pan-Latino Pueblo Latino Chicago.

Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544-45 North Lincoln, (773)728-6000, oldtownschool.org

Audience choice: Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 North Lincoln, (773728-6000, oldtownschool.org

Best of Chicago 2012

Instituto Cervantes
Foreign cultural centers are under-appreciated assets of a city like Chicago. Often established by the governments of various nations, they serve as a sort of home away from home for the various expats and émigrés who are now living in Chicago. But their offerings to the rest of us risk getting lost in the noise of the city’s larger cultural entities, and that’s unfortunate. In addition to offering classes in the native tongues of whatever nation they serve, they often produce and promote singular cultural activities, from cinema, to literary, to academic forums to visual arts and dance. Instituto Cervantes, which opened a beautiful new space in River North a few years back, has an art gallery that offers a regular rotation of high-quality exhibitions, along with a spacious auditorium in constant use. We’ve caught flamenco performances, classical music, a panel on Spanish graphic novelists and appearances by Granta’s Best of Young Spanish-Language Novelists in the space, for example, along with an appearance of Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia at the space’s inauguration in 2009. What’s especially compelling about Cervantes is that, though it is founded and funded by the government of Spain, its mission is the promotion of its language, which means it features the cultures of all Spanish-speaking peoples, including most of Latin America. In a country where the Latino minority is becoming a major part of its identity, Cervantes offers Americans an easy path to increased knowledge and appreciation.

Instituto Cervantes, 31 West Ohio, (312)335-1996, chicago.cervantes.es

Audience Choice: DANK-Haus, 4740 North Western, (773)561-9181, dankhaus.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Chicago International Film Festival
The forty-eighth annual Chicago International Film Festival brought out the Hollywood heavyweights this year: Guests included Al Pacino, Christopher Walken and even Jon Bon Jovi. Those lucky enough to possess a pass not only felt star power on the silver screen; they were rubbing elbows with it!

Audience choice: Gibson’s, 1028 North Rush, (312)266-8999, gibsonssteakhouse.com

Best of Chicago 2012

The Seldoms
In dance, “best” can mean a lot of things; it can mean technical excellence and versatility, it can mean critical and/or national acclaim, it can mean popularity with audiences and community engagement, it can mean stylistic innovation or masterful preservation, pristine formalism or courageous vulnerability. Chicago is home to growing ranks of companies that fit all these descriptions; we are a city of “bests” in dance, making the selection of just one company exceedingly tough. The 2012 choice is based both on timeliness of subject and singularity of vision. This year, The Seldoms presented “Exit Disclaimer,” third in a series of intelligent, engaging dance theater pieces around the most pressing subjects of our age: consumption, economic recession and climate change. In these meticulously researched and thoughtfully crafted pieces, Artistic Director Carrie Hanson does not hold forth a political agenda, but looks instead at how these towering issues reflect back upon our humanity. Touches of humor—physical and verbal—leaven weighty subject matters, as does deeply felt, beautifully crafted dancing that draws heavily from the familiar periphery of the psyche. The Seldoms have brought us touching and thought-provoking reflections on we human creatures, capable of great destruction, great foolishness and great beauty.

The Seldoms, theseldoms.org

Audience choice: Joffrey Ballet, joffrey.com

Best of Chicago 2012

L210
Only open for a few months and not open to the public, Nike’s invite-only, ultra-exclusive hang suite in the West Loop was a non-ground level, exposed brick sanctuary that was the city’s best-kept secret that kept the sporting events, videogames competitions, global music and drinks going non-stop. Well, while it was open.

Audience Choice: Scofflaw, 3201 West Armitage, (773)252-9700, scofflawchicago.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Acadia
It’s L20, Alinea or Tru quality at affordable a la carte prices. There’s pre-fixe too if you’re so inclined. Whichever way you go, chef Ryan McCaskey (formerly suburban Courtright’s) is a star and so is his faux risotto (where creamy bits of Yukon gold ape the usual Carnaroli or Arborio rice) and his foie gras custard.

Acadia, 1639 South Wabash, (312)360-9500, acadiachicago.com

Audience choice: Telegraph, 2601 North Milwaukee, (773)292-9463, telegraphchicago.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Publican Quality Meats
Everything Paul Kahan touches usually turns to dripping delicious fatty pork, but here, it’s the lamb meatball sandwich (since replaced with lamb and, yep, pork belly sausage) and the battleship-sized tuna muffaletta that win the day. A hearty honorable mention to JP Graziano for its Italian subs, including the truffle mustard balsamic vinaigrette-soaked Mr. G sub.

Publican Quality Meats, 825 West Fulton Market, (312)445-8977, publicanqualitymeats.com

Audience choice: Bari, 1120 West Grand, (312)666-0730, bariitaliansubs.com

Best of Chicago 2012

“The Iceman Cometh,” Goodman Theatre
Sure, the NATO thing was a big deal. But only a few blocks away, another event of enormous international significance was going down. The Goodman Theatre’s  pummeling production of Eugene O’Neill’s “The Iceman Cometh,” revelatory in its newfound sense of ensemble, saw audience members from eight countries and forty-six states, and became the most successful production in the Goodman’s eighty-seven-year history. Featuring an all-star team of Chicago talent—Marc Grapey, John Judd, Patrick Andrews—theatergoers were also too thrilled to welcome back old friend Brian Dennehy (with all his craggy brilliance), acquaintance Nathan Lane, and new pal Stephen Ouimette (who ripped our hearts out) onto the Albert stage. On Kevin Depinet’s set right out of a postmodern opera, Robert Falls directed a freakin’ five-hour play with a completely sold-out run. Only in Chicago.

Audience Choice: TIE: “Black Watch”/National Theater of Scotland/Chicago Shakespeare, “Death and Harry Houdini”/The House Theatre, “Follies”/Chicago Shakespeare, “The Hunchback Variations Opera”/Theater Oobleck, “The Jackie Wilson Story”/Black Ensemble Theater, “Jitney”/Court Theatre, “Sweet Bird of Youth”/Goodman and  ”Jersey Boys,” “Kinky Boots” and “Wicked,” all Broadway In Chicago

Best of Chicago 2012

Glazed & Infused
With doughnut shops springing up like Republican debate obfuscations, there’s an embarrassment of riches found at Doughnut Vault, Do-Rite, and old-school spots like Old Fashioned Donuts and Dat Donut, but with red-velvet-cake doughnuts dripping in cream cheese and maple-glazed long johns covered in thick sticks of bacon, Glazed & Infused gets the nod.

Glazed & Infused, 813 West Fulton Market, (312)226-5556, goglazed.com

Audience choice: Glazed & Infused, 813 West Fulton Market, (312)226-5556, goglazed.com

Best of Chicago 2012

Sable Kitchen & Bar
It’s tempting to go with Aviary, the liquid outpost from the Alinea team, but with the changing of guard to Charles Joly from Craig Schoettler, it’s still too early to tell what change will bring. At Sable though, head bartender Mike Ryan (Violet Hour, Otom vet) has been steadfast. He trained as a chef and handcrafts bitters, tinctures and infusions with balance and nuance. While he can improvise anything behind the stick, the long and well-curated cocktail list ensures you’ll never be stumped or left wanting when you’re thirsty.

505 North State, (312)755-9704, sablechicago.com

Audience choice: Violet Hour, 1520 North Damen, (773)252-1500, theviolethour.com

Best of Chicago 2012