The Chicago Traveler

' These are the last few days to take part in the Chicago Originals Restaurant Week Celebration. A select number of restaurants offer two- or three-course dinners specially priced at $20.08 in honor of the New Year. For a list of participating businesses, head to http://www.chicagooriginals.com/ (ends Feb 3)
' Brrrr' It's cold out there, which is perfect weather for Chicago's newest attraction, Paintings Below Zero. A brilliantly colored ice wall that is nearly 100 feet long (30 m) and over 10 feet tall (3 m) is the largest and perhaps most stunning work from Canadian artist Gordon Halloran. (Feb 1-29)
' …read more

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Your precious pooch is your best friend. You wish you could take him everywhere, don't you? But something tells me your fellow office workers wouldn't look too kindly on a cubicle 'accident' or chewed up files. The grocery store is enough of a zoo with all those screaming kids. And we won't even talk about airport security.
What you need is a portable pup. Perhaps in plush.
Time to call Jessica Drewry. Send her a photo and a personality description of your beloved pet. In about a month, you'll have your very own Fido-to-Go.
And don't forget about your model mutt. Jessica and …read more

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Upon first walking into Caf' Trinidad, you might assume it's a Jamaican restaurant. However, Trinidad offers a West Indian cuisine that is much subtler than its Caribbean counterpart. This can be attributed to Trinidad and Tobago's geographies, exposing them to African, Indian, and even British influences.
One main ingredient found in many of the entr'es is the roti'a soft flat bread cooked over a flat iron griddle. It is similar to the Latin American tortilla. Customers can fill this with everything from beef to veggies to goat. Fried chicken wings look deceptively familiar but are seasoned with regional spices. Tobago, …read more

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It's nearly February, and it may be a little late for a 2007 round-up, but I'll risk it.
Chicago is well-known for its pizza, but who has the best? Trust me, this question has long been debated by Chicagoans and an agreement won't be reached any time soon. Here is a list of Chicago's ten best pizza places (according to Citysearch). And remember, it's all subjective, so if you don't agree, let's hear it! Who do you think has the best?

10. Pizzeria Uno. The one, the only, the original. Loosen your belts now.
9. Aurelio's Pizza. This huge restaurant has been full …read more

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The Wheel of Fortune is coming to Chicago! Pat and Vanna will be taping three weeks' worth of shows this March, but you have to act FAST if you want to be a part of the live studio audience.Shows will be taped March 7, 8, and 9 at Navy Pier. The scheduled theme weeks include Family Style, College Week, and Going to the Game.
These episodes will be aired nationally in May. Click here for more information. Ticket request forms must be postmarked by February 2, 2008. Don't miss out!

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If you want a hot dog that packs a punch, head to Wiener and Still Champion in Evanston, where the cartoon wiener over the door is sporting a pair of boxing gloves. Anyone who's been here will be sure to tell you that these franks are champs indeed.
Inside this simple storefront, patrons of all ages come to enjoy the Chicago-style dogs, along with fresh-cut fries that have been raved about since the place opened in 1975. Wiener also offers honest-to-goodness corndogs. It's amazing how something so simple can hit the spot so perfectly. And they're only a buck with any …read more

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The Chicago Athletic Association Building and Annex are excellent examples of early-20th-century progressive architectural trends. They housed the city's upscale athletic, dining, and social club. Founded in 1890 by Marshall Field, Henry Ives Cobb, Cyrus McCormick, A. G. Spalding, and others, the CAA was a not-for-profit organization providing a setting for athletic, business, and social endeavors. In 1915, when member William Wrigley bought the Chicago Cubs, the team adopted the CAA logo.
Update (2008-06-17): I gathered the above information about the Cubs’ and CAA logo from their own website. However, evidence has been presented which contradicts this information. According to …read more

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Located at 600 S Michigan Ave, the Alexandroff Campus Center is the main building of the Columbia College Chicago and was the institution's first structure. It was built in 1906-1907 by Christian A. Eckstorm, an architect popular for his industrial and warehouse designs.
The Center is a classic example of Chicago's trademark 'tall building' design. It was a modern skyscraper of its period, built with a steel skeleton, high-speed elevators, electric light, the most advanced mechanical systems available, and a floor plan designed to maximize natural light for all its interior office spaces. It is predominantly neoclassical, and the Commission on …read more

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I know nothing about shoes, except that I can never find them in my size. However, if you ladies know your shoes better than you know your friends, check out the new boutique on Damen Avenue, just north of Hot Chocolate: Grace.
Heels, flats, boots, pumps, wedges: shop owner Kristi Ryan has ditched the stale office work and collected all these and more at her splendid shoe store in Bucktown. Peruse among names like Anya Hindmarch, Missoni, London Sole, Jean-Michel Cazabat, and Luciano Padovan. Ryan has made it a priority to find shoes that are high-quality but little-known, so you may …read more

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Golf is popular simply because it is the best
game in the world at which to be bad.
–A. A. Milne
Golf can be a wonderful game to play. However, with all the rules about who can play, where they can play, and how much it will cost them, the game can be quite inaccessible. But many folks are changing that, showing how golf can be played by anyone, anywhere.
A citified version of the 500-year-old Scottish sport has been spreading across the country. First in San Francisco, then in New York City, and now in Chicago. These golf enthusiasts don't use fairways and …read more

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