The Chicago Traveler

June 15th, 2008

Father’s Day 2008

To all you dads out there, Happy Father’s Day! Kick your feet up and channel-surf your way through the day.
• At Viet Bistro, dads get a complimentary martini and dessert. Dad’s guests can get a free appetizer with purchase of a bottle of wine and $5 select martinis.
• Dad not interested in dressing up? Try […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

June 3rd, 2008

"Top Chef: Chicago" Has Much at Steak

This season of the Bravo Network’s Top Chef was filmed here in Chicago, exposing competing chefs from all over the country to all the culinary treats the Windy City has to offer.
The last Quickfire Challenge tested the five remaining contestants’ butchering skills. Each chef was given 20 minutes to cut and clean seven “tomahawk” […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

April 29th, 2008

I Scream for Free Ice Cream

I love ice cream. Which is probably obvious from these love handles of mine. But I love it even more when it’s free!
Ben & Jerry’s has been holding its promotional Free Cone Day for a few years now as a way of thanking their customers. This year, the ice cream gurus are celebrating their 30th […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

April 8th, 2008

Chicago’s Eight Best Italian Beefs

The Italian Beef is a simple sandwich that is unique to Chicago, and there are several places in the city to find this great dish. Of course, just as is the case with pizza and hot dogs, Chicagoans can debate for hours on who has the best. I’ve tried to be as fair as possible […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

March 27th, 2008

Seven Wonders of Illinois

The Illinois Bureau of Tourism asked the state’s residents and visitors to nominate their favorite destinations in Illinois. In May of 2007, seven of these were selected as the Seven Wonders of Illinois.

• Chicago: Wrigley Field. The atmosphere, neighborhood, and fans put this stadium in a league of its own. It’s not just a ballpark; […]

By Matt B -- 4 comments

March 20th, 2008

Buona Beef

As I’ve said before, I’m not usually one to write up chain restaurants or businesses. They seem to do well enough of their own advertising. But some places, like Buona Beef, are located only in the Chicago area and draw in plenty of locals and visitors.
Buona Beef is a hit with many Chicago suburbanites. Each […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

March 17th, 2008

Seniors Ride Free

People 65 years old or over can ride free on Chicago’s public transportation starting today. The free ride programs include the CTA, Metra, and Pace systems which serve Chicago and its surrounding counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will).
Back in January, legislators agreed to a sales and real-estate-transfer tax hike to help bail out the […]

By Matt B -- 7 comments

March 6th, 2008

Kreative Kreations

Your little princess deserves to be treated like one, right? So for her next birthday, check out the great food, good fun, and luxurious accommodations at Kreative Kreations in Glen Ellyn. This is the perfect venue for kids to get hands-on and create their own fun.
Little ladies can start their celebration by designing their own […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

February 28th, 2008

Leap Weekend

• Sip on specially-priced $29 bottles of wine from past leap years (2000 and 2004) at the Leap Year Dinner at Café Matou. (Feb 29)
• Shane Salois of Cream Wine Company and sommelier Rashed Islam lead a tasting of more than 12 champagnes with appetizer pairings at the Leap Year Champagne Seminar at Viet Bistro. […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

February 28th, 2008

Little Vaudeville

The technology of entertainment is moving swiftly along. CDs, mp3s, mpegs, DVDs, high-def… It seems as though the moment we imagine the next step, it already exists. However, there was a time when none of this existed. Before television, before radio, there was Vaudeville. And amidst all the gadgets and doodads of today’s society, vaudeville […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments