The Whistler

Say what you will about The Whistler’s too-cool-for-school clientele. Say what you will about the intricate special drinks. But the bar’s atmosphere and ambiance—cemented with assortments of candles, mood lighting and small-space intimacy—create a wonderful environment for literary engagement. Where on most nights live musicians offer their craft, The Whistler’s stage and sound system provide a perfect setting for readings. Recently we checked out the Orange Alert Reading Series and came away more than pleased. Move over Danny’s, there’s a new sheriff in town.

2421 North Milwaukee
(773)227-3530
whistlerchicago.com

Best of Chicago 2009

Two Way Lounge

Monday nights. Frosted mugs. Beer for a buck. The diversified crowd—young hipsters in Logan Square, bikers, blue-collar Hispanic laborers, white-haired old-timers who’ve taken up residence—shares a single goal and makes a single community. One dollar. Glass of beer. Sometimes impenetrable rock ‘n’ roll blares from the jukebox; other times it’s simply the sound of the football game. Bring up the Bears, and the whole room’s in conversation. One dollar. See you next week.

2928 West Fullerton
(773)227-5676

Best of Chicago 2009

The Whistler

The easy-to-miss, brand-spankin’ new Logan Square exercise in swankery, the modestly sized Whistler features a commendably extensive cocktail and beer list, all reasonably priced (not all craft cocktails have to be $11) and, most importantly, strong. And, the owners understand one of the essential rules of bars constructed for hipsters—always have a two-dollar beer. So, amongst the craft brews and lovely gins, we find the classic $2 can of PBR. A stage at one end of the bar occasionally hosts live music, and when it goes dark, a DJ takes the reins. When we were there, we were privy to a mixture of Nirvana, Yo La Tengo and others, but we heard the bar’s got a kick-ass metal night and we plan to return for sure.

2421 N. Milwaukee
(773)227-3530

Audience choice:
Violet Hour
1520 N. Damen
(773)252-1500

Best of Chicago 2008

L20

L20 is probably what you’d get if you threw Napa Valley’s French Laundry, New York’s sushi dream theater Masa, TRU and Alinea into a blender and poured it out in the old Ambria space in the Belden-Stratford Hotel. Featuring the best fresh-bread service in Chicago, the most exciting sommelier in Chantelle Pabros and Chef Laurent Gras’ super-duper micro-managed attention to kitchen detail, this restaurant will be tough to surpass for some time.

2300 N. Lincoln Park West
(773)868-0002

l2orestaurant.com/

Audience choice:
Urban Belly
3053 N. California
(773)583-0500

Best of Chicago 2008

Drawing Room
Chef Nick Lacasse did what Richard, the faux-hawked Wonka and Lisa, the whiny toque, couldn’t do in the finale of “Top Chef”: he bested Stephanie Izard in a head-to-head cooking competition. One of the dishes he won with: a seared lobe of foie gras over toasted brioche with pickled fennel and kumquat gastrique, a perfect prep of duck liver, featuring a palate-encompassing spectrum of sweet, tangy and salty flavors.
937 N. Rush

(312)266-2694
lepassage.com

Audience choice:
Hot Doug’s
3324 N. California
(773)279-9550

Dilly Lily
Rose petals strewn about the entranceway. The floating music of Bebel Gilberto. “When people walk in, we like to put a smile on their face, to change their outlook for the day,” says Christine Gorman, who has co-owned Lincoln Park’s Dilly Lily flower shop with her sister Melissa for the last eleven years. Arrangements are girlish and whimsical with unexpected accents: a curlicue of fiddlehead fern, a palm-sized burst of escheveria, woodcut gift cards, jewelry crafted by neighborhood artists. Upon leaving this dreamy little shop, customers are sent off with a jovial, “Have a Dilly Lily day!”

742 W. Fullerton
(773)404-0602
dillylily.com

Audience choice: (Tie)
Fleur
3149 W. Logan
(773)395-2770

A New Leaf
1645 N Wells
(312)649-7008

Stems
850 N. Ashland
(312)243-4470

Best of Chicago 2008

Greenmaker Building Supply

With retailers slapping the green label on every fashion accessory, tree ornament and desk lamp money can buy, it’s good to remember that living sustainably usually means curbing consumption habits, not purchasing a lot of crap. That said, the right energy-saving tools really do help. Greenmaker Building Supply specializes in goods to help reduce waste (worm composters, rain cisterns, low-flow water fixtures); eliminate toxins (low-VOC paints, non-toxic cleaning supplies, bug-killers and sealants) and lower energy consumption (electricity monitors, CFL bulbs) around your home. And if you’re planning a rehab, get environmentally friendly building materials like green board, cork tiles and bamboo flooring here.

2500 N. Pulaski
(773)384-7500
greenmakersupply.com

Audience choice
Pivot Boutique
1101 W. Fulton Market
(312)243-4754

Best of Chicago 2008

Southport Lanes

This cozy corner pub in Lakeview scores big nostalgia points. One of the few remaining beer houses that Joseph Schlitz opened in the 1890s to tout his Milwaukee brews, it flourished through prohibition after four bowling lanes were installed as a front in 1922. It’s one of eleven alleys in the U.S. still worked by human pin setters. The house rule: If you see legs and feet at the end of the lane, don’t throw your ball. Pack the finger holes with a few bucks and your score might magically grow. An original wooden phone booth is a nod to the discovery during renovations in 1991 of some fifty cryptic phone lines that presumably once led to flapper-era racing tracks and boxing rings.

3325 N. Southport
(773)472-6600
southportlanes.com

Audience choice:
Diversey River Bowl
2211 W. Diversey
(773)227-5800

Best of Chicago 2008

Lucky Number Grill

Nestled on the busy intersection of Milwaukee and Western, Lucky has gone unnoticed even by in-the-know folks since quietly opening over the summer. There isn’t anything particularly special about the bar except the second-floor party room that offers ample space for dancing and drinking. And since no one is ever there, you can easily party with a hundred of your closest friends without bumping into sweaty strangers. 

1931 N. Milwaukee
(773)235-7761
luckynumbergrill.com

Best of Chicago 2008

South Loop

Three little words: location, location, location. When the going gets tough in the investment world, the world takes flight to quality. And in real estate, quality is virtually synonymous with location. The South Loop may suffer disproportionately in the near term due to its enormous supply of new housing units coming onto the market over the next few years, but you can’t take away its location: along the lakefront, at the hub of all mass transit lines and within walking distance of Grant Park, Museum Campus and the Art Institute, shopping and Soldier Field. Those who can buy on price weakness and hold will do quite well.

Audience Choice
Gold Coast; Logan Square (tie)

Best of Chicago 2007