It’s a tie! Mindy Rose Schwartz and Heidi Norton

We should be so lucky. On one hand we had Mindy Rose Schwartz’ odd pottery, large vintage credenzas and ceramic water fountains occupying the whole of Threewalls, and on the other Heidi Norton’s impressive fossilized plants, encrusted in heavy glass plates, proved that it was time for Ebersmoore to aim higher and move into a bigger space where they can show off their stable. Between these two artists there’s so much sculptural dexterity to melt the surface of the earth. It’s time to include them in the next Whitney Biennial by any means possible.

Threewalls (Mindy Rose Schwartz)
119 North Peoria #2c
(312)432-3972
three-walls.org

Ebersmoore Gallery (Heidi Norton)
350 North Ogden, Suite 100
(312)772-3021
ebersmoore.com

Best of Chicago 2011

West Loop

Although the EPA demanded reduced emissions from the Blommer Chocolate processing plant, its sickly sweet cocoa aroma sugarcoats the West Loop industrial corridor like a welcoming cup of hot chocolate. If you can’t follow your nose to the factory shop during normal business hours, Blommer’s has opened a pop-up shop called The Candy Gallery on the 5400 block of North Clark.

Blommer Chocolate Company
600 West Kinzie
(312)226-7700
blommer.com

Best of Chicago 2011

Artopolis

Situated in the heart of Halsted’s Greektown, this clean, well-lit place doesn’t look much like your standard-issue Greek restaurant. For one, it has an airy, postmodern look about it. For another, it combines in one cozy space a full Greek bakery, a steam-table cafeteria and full bar. But for our money, what makes it stand out is the menu, a mixture of trad Greek fare (like Spanakopita and stuffed grape leaves) and items you won’t find in many Greek restaurants—for example, the Norwegian Crest sandwich: smoked salmon, watercress, capers, onions and fennel cream sauce on a caraway dark rye bread.

Artopolis
306 South Halsted
(312)559-9000
artopolischicago.com

Audience choice:
Greek Islands
200 South Halsted
(312)782-9855
greekislands.net

Best of Chicago 2011

Ria

We didn’t agree with many of the Michelin Guide’s new ratings, but the two stars they awarded to Ria were pretty spot on. Impeccable service, one of Chicago’s best sommeliers Dan Pilkey, and inspired dishes like lobster with a chestnut sabayon, fennel and orange make this the best Chicago restaurant opening since L20.

11 East Walton at the Elysian Hotel
(312)880-4400
riarestaurantchicago.com

Audience choice:

Girl and the Goat
809 West Randolph
(312)492-6262
girlandthegoat.com

Op La at Saigon Sisters

The Op La from Saigon Sisters features more pork than the United States House of Representatives. Add in a runny poached egg and a few dashes of MSG-laden Maggi sauce and a nest of caramelized onion and you’ll be ready to do another night of bad tequila shots.

567 West Lake
(312)496-0090
saigonsisters.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Bitchpork Fest

Pitchfork Fest is a local treasure, presenting a smorgasbord of rock, electronica, hip-hop and more in a friendly, affordable setting. It’s certainly a great alternative to the expensive mob scene that is Lollapalooza. But after witnessing a particularly overblown set at Pitchfork, it was refreshing to head down to a Little Village warehouse for Bitchpork Fest, the three-day, totally illegal extravaganza that’s an alternative to the alternative. With more than sixty acts, Bitchpork featured more bands than its namesake, including more local musicians and louder, edgier sounds. We’ll take Chicago garage duo White Mystery’s red Afro-ed headbanging over James Murphy’s caterwauling any day.

2106 South Kedzie

Audience choice:

Lollapalooza
lollapalooza.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Wishbone

Dolly the Standing Poodle has passed away, but her iconic image lives on. Catch a candid shot of the owner’s beloved pet, reproduced on a black or white t-shirt. The gnarling Dolly, priced at $10, comes in S, M, L or XL. Don’t forget the $12 red-trimmed fitted girl’s black top or the light blue Mt. Rushmore t-shirt. The chiseled presidents are Washington, Roosevelt, Lincoln…and Dolly. So why is her lip curled upwards? “She was looking at a lemon when the photo was taken,” says Wishbone’s hostess.

1001 West Washington
(312)850-2663

3300 North Lincoln
(773)549-2663
wishbonechicago.com

Best of Chicago 2010

Spudnik Press

Printmaking isn’t really a kitchen table sort of enterprise; it often requires heavy machinery and training. But that’s exactly why there’s Spudnik Press. Angee Lennard directs this West Loop print studio, where novices can take classes and printers can sign up for the open studios. They’re set up for etchings, relief printing and screenprinting, plus they hold regular exhibitions by the artists who print there.

1821 West Hubbard
(312)532-0304
spudnikpress.com

ThreeWalls’ “You Oughta Be In Fangs”

Who needs “Twilight” when there’s a vampiric speakeasy around? This past May, ThreeWalls, a non-profit gallery space and artist residency in the West Loop, hosted its annual spring fundraiser at the Museum of Surgical Science. The theme was an idiosyncratic combination of vampire fantasy and Gatsbyesque dinner party complete with plenty of booze, fake blood and plastic canines.

Best of Chicago 2009

The Publican

Not usually in the fine-dining repertoire but more in the realm of unusual cold cuts that remind us of that van scene in “Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” head cheese is actually pretty damn good if prepared properly. Count on Blackbird and Avec owner Paul Kahan to serve up some delicious mystery meat at his latest critically acclaimed hot spot, The Publican. Served as a part of the charcuterie plate alongside pork pie, country terrine, Morteau sausage, pickles and mustards, the thinly sliced creation tastes smooth and smoky, nicely complemented by a piece of grilled artisan bread.

845 West Fulton Market
(312)733-9555
thepublicanrestaurant.com

Best of Chicago 2009