Restaurants with Rooftop Dining in Chicago

It happens to be one of my many summertime goals to sample the exquisite cuisine atop each and every rooftop restaurant in the city. Carpe diem Chicago's fleeting sunshine, I say, and enjoy the ultimate 'see and be seen eating' SCENE! I'm not talking beer gardens here - - I'm talking dining areas above street level, preferably with a spectacular view (either of the city or of fellow patrons)! Please feel free to add more if I negligently omitted one of your faves!

• Sixteen ~ Trump Tower: 401 N. Wabash, 16th Floor ~ 312.588.8030 ~ Chef Brunacci
• Fred's Chicago ~ Barney's New York: 15 E. Oak Street, 6th Floor Penthouse ~ 312.596.1111 ~ Chef Marc Strausman
• Vertigo Sky Lounge ~ Dana Hotel: 660 N. State (or 2 W. Erie), 26th Floor ~ 312.202.6060
• Market ~ 1113 W. Randolph ~ 312.929.4787 ~ Chef Joe Rosetti
• Shanghai Terrace ~ The Peninsula Chicago: 108 E. Superior, 4th Floor ~ 312.573.6744 ~ Chef Calvin Soh
• Chaise Lounge ~ 1840 W. North Ave ~ 773.342.1840 ~ Chef Cary Taylor
• NoMI ~ Park Hyatt Chicago: 800 N. Michigan Ave, 7th Floor ~ 312.239.4030 ~ Chef Christophe David
• C-View ~ Hotel Affinia: 166 E. Superior, 29th Floor ~ 312.523.0923 ~ Chef Marcus Samuelsson
• ROOF ~ The Wit Hotel: 201 N. State, 27th Floor ~ 312.239.9501 ~ Chef Todd Stein (of MK)
• The Terrace at the Conrad ~ Conrad Chicago Hotel: 521 N. Rush, 5th Floor ~ 312.645.1500 ~ Chef Zafar ~ feat. "Movies on the Terrace" every Sunday at dusk
• Zed451 ~ 739 N. Clark ~ 312.266.6691
• Terzo Piano ~ Art Institute of Chicago: 159 E. Monroe, 3rd Floor ~ 312.443.8650 ~ Chef Tony Mantuano (of Spiaggia)
• Citizen Bar ~ 354 W. Erie ~ 312.640.1156
• Taxim ~ 1558 N. Milwaukee ~ 773.252.1558 ~ Chef Jan Rickerl & Chef/Owner David Schneider

What else?

Restaurant Card: Blackbird

Review: Inspired by my recent jaunt through the Taste of Randolph Street - - Chicago's highly acclaimed foodie fest where the gastronomical genius of the warehouse district come out to show off - - I promptly decided that my upcoming birthday dinner should be spent enjoying the expanded version of these tasty samplers. Intrigued by the uber-trendy exterior of Blackbird, this became my choice local. There was a fresh, clean vibe immediately upon entering the front door. We quickly noticed that most of the servers were not sporting the usual pressed white shirt and apron, but rather were strutting confidently through the restaurant in suits and ties. Because I don't drink alcohol, I often find it difficult to find something to excitedly wet my whistle. I left my drink decision up to the discretion of Blackbird's mixologist, Kyle Fountaine, who didn't dissappoint with a light, fruity and herbal tea mixture in a martini glass. I always applaud liquor-less cocktail creativity! From the amuse-bouche to the dessert, we happily enjoyed the nicely portioned plates and their aesthetically pleasing appearance. My quail appetizer was small but magically chalk full of very different and unique flavors. Pleased to find my latest food fascination on the menu, I thoroughly enjoyed the pork belly as my main course! And then what's a birthday without a dark chocolate cake topped with dried apricots? Overall, I found the meal to be wonderful, the atmosphere to be chic and lively, and the service to be comfortably attentive. Next time, I will try to sit on their patio because when dining in such a hot little west loop mecca, one might as well seat themself in the best people-watching position possible, right? Yum!

Search Words: Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph, Chicago, Chef Paul Kahan, James Beard Foundations Award for Best Chef Midwest 2004, Outstanding Chef 2007 Nominee, Pastry Chef Tara Lane, Seasonal Contemporary American & Game, Best Fine Dining 2006, Best Restaurant Design and Best Restaurant Design Graphics 2004, Gourmet Magazine 2004 One of Country's 50 Best Restaurants, Hyper-trendy!

**PRINTING INSTRUCTIONS: Click on the Restaurant Card. Feed a 4x6 index card into your printer then go into your Print Properties and switch the Orientation to “Landscape” and the Paper Size to “Photo”. Please let me know if you experience any difficulties printing!**

May 2009 Newsletter

re savvy
May 2009 E-Newsletter

EVENTS IN MAY
-Cinco de Mayo Parade 5/3 12pm ~ Cermak Road from Wood to Zedzie
-30th Anniversary of the Chicago Farmers Markets ~ chicagofarmersmarkets.us
-Mother’s Day 5/10
-Third Annual Chicagoland Great American Mutt Show 5/16 10am-5pm ~ Promoting no-kill animal shelters; Morton West High School, 2400 Home Ave, Berwyn
-Memorial Day Parade 5/23 noon ~ State Street from Lake to Van Buren
-8th Annual Bike the Drive 5/24 5:30am-10:30am ~ Starting in Grant Park; sign up at www.bikethedrive.org
-Mayfest Chicago 5/28-31 ~ Lincoln & Leland; visit mayfestchicago.com for live entertainment and times
-Do-Division: Street Fest & Sidewalk Sale 5/30-31 12pm-10pm ~ 10 city blocks from Ashland to Leavitt featuring food, art, and spirits vendors; visit www.do-divisionstreetfest.com
-Belmont-Sheffield Music Festival 5/30-31 noon-9pm ~ The hottest national, regional, and local musical entertainment
-First Fridays 6pm-10pm ~ Every 1st Friday of the month, have your happy hour at the Museum of Contemporary Art; admission ticket includes cash bar and free Wolfgang Puck apps! 220 E Chicago Ave, www.mcachicago.org
-‘Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!’ Thursdays 7:30pm-9:30pm ~ Attend a living taping of NPR’s humorous news quiz show with host Peter Sagal; Chase Auditorium, 10 S Dearborn

ARTICLE: BAIT IS ENOUGH
Seller sweeten real-estate deals with cash, cars… even canoes
By Jake Malooley, TimeOut Chicago

As pressure to sell! sell! sell! mounts in this paralyzed housing market, Chicago Realtors and by-owner sellers are offering creative incentives to entice home shoppers to open their padlocked wallets. A quick glance at local real-estate ads shows property baited with everything from a two-year buy-back guarantee to plasma-screen TVs. “Everyone is looking for some bonus to buy right now,” says Jaime Smith, a sales agent with the Kopley Group, which is advertising $20,000 toward furniture or a new four-door Suzuki car for those who sign a contract before April 30 on loft units in North Center. Smith says Kopley’s summer 2008 promotion at the lame location – a free Vespa with purchase – was an effective attention getter, but most buyers took the purchase-price discount instead of the scooter. According to Realtor Eric Rojas – a Rubloff Residential Properties agent who’s listing a Rogers Park condo that includes a free canoe at closing – sellers often overrate incentives. However, “in an apples-to-apples situation,” he allows, a pot-sweetener can be the deciding factor. Rojas recalls a recent example when the seller of a townhome extended $40,000 toward the purchase of a compact car to an interested shopper who complained the garage was too small. “Talk about sign of the times,” Rojas chuckles.

SCRUMPTIOUS SELECTION: SUNDA
Outlet for my Opinionated Tatste Bud

Sushi… my nemesis, my weakness, my obsession. Given this blunt confession, you can imagine my response when I was recently invited to sample some taste bud ticklers at the newest Asian comfort food hot spot. The founding fathers of Rockit Bar & Grill and The Underground opened their latest brainchild eatery in March, which has already inspired write-ups in CS Magazine and Michigan Avenue Magazine. The restaurant is a large open expanse with plenty of seating option—tables for two, picnic style tables with stools for your group, sushi bar seating, cocktail lounge, a private party room, and patio seating for 30. And the food? Definitely something to boast about. We’re not talking just another sushi bar. No, Executive Chef Rodelio Aglibot creates contemporary interpretations of dishes from Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Phillippines, Thailand and beyond. A bit more on the experimental side, I sampled the Adobo Braised Black Pork Belly, the Food Buddha’s Classic Crispy Rise with Kobe Beef Tartare, Crab Cake Crusted Ahi Tuna Sashimi, and the Sunda Rainbow Roll. For the diverse selection, the ambiance and the location, I felt the whole meal was worth the escalated River North prices. Check it out!
Where: 110 W. Illinois (LaSalle & Illinois)
Call for Rezzies: 312-644-0500

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February 2009 Newsletter

If you would like to be added to my e-newsletter list, please send your email address to Lindsey.Grebitus@reSavvy.com!

December 2008 Newsletter