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Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Rush Lead Pack Of Great Artists Coming To Chicago in 2012

Chicago is the place to be if you love live music. Several big time acts have scheduled tour stops in the Windy City for 2012. Fans will have the chance to buy concert tickets to see an iconic band from the 1960s, the Queen of Pop, The Boss, and a legendary prog rock trio from a strange, faraway land called “Canada.” With a little luck, Chicagoans will also get another chance to see the city’s own Wilco (their September is fairly much wide open). Below, ChicagoSmarts looks at seven of the biggest tours scheduled to stop in ChiTown in the coming months. We suggest you make plans to see all of the following Chicago concerts.

The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys are celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2012 with a tour of North America (and probably a new album). Founding member Brain Wilson is back in the fray and scheduled to be at all 64 shows—he hasn’t played with the band since 1996. The Beach Boys will hang ten at the Chicago Theatre on May 21 & 22.

Brad Paisley
Country music fans in the Windy City need to circle June 9 on their calendars. That’s when Brad Paisley comes to Chicago to perform at Wrigley Field. It will be the second country music concert ever held at the National League’s oldest ballpark. Opening for Paisley will be a small army of great performers: Miranda Lambert, Jerrod Niemann, Chris Young, and The Band Perry.

Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow was supposed to play three nights at the Chicago Theatre back in early February but he wasn’t “hip enough” (Get it? He was still recovering from hip surgery). The dates have been rescheduled for July 12, 13, & 14. Manilow is still supporting his latest album, 15 Minutes, which dropped in June of 2011.

Bruce Springsteen
The second leg of Springsteen’s “Wrecking Ball Tour” kicks off Aug. 18 in Boston and ends Sept. 22 in New Jersey (10 stops total). Chicago welcomes Bruce Springsteen to Wrigley Field for a highly anticipated two-night stand beginning Sept. 7. Originally, just one show was scheduled, but he added another (Sept. after the first one sold out in less than an hour.

Rush
This fall, progressive rock pioneers Rush are touring behind their 20th original album, Clockwork Angels. The band has already played two tracks from their new opus in concert. During their 2010-2011 “Time Machine Tour,” the trio performed “Caravan” and “BU2B.” Rush’s show at Chicago’s United Center on Sept. 15 is the 5th of 30 scheduled dates.

Madonna
Chicago collects Madonna tickets at the United Center on Sept. 19 & 20. The stops are part of her massive “MDNA World Tour.” The Madge is still riding high from her Super Bowl halftime show. More than 114 million people tuned in to see the Material Girl perform. It’s the most watched event in American TV history.

Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood is touring behind her fourth original album, Blown Away. The current “Queen of Country Music” begins her 2012 trek on Sept. 14 in Manchester, New Hampshire. It ends more than 50 dates later on Dec. 22 in Sunrise, Florida. Carrie Underwood, and her opening act Hunter Hayes, visit Chicago and the United Center on Dec. 12.

There’s pretty much always something great happening in Chicago, especially when it comes to concerts. Touring artists rarely fail to add the Windy City to their itineraries.

Here are some upcoming shows worthy of consideration:

Megadeth plays the Aragon Ballroom this Friday, February 10, as part of the Gigantour with Motorhead, Lacuna Coil, and Volbeat. And they will rock every face in the house. When TH1RT3EN dropped last year, it did so with a bang, entering the Billboard 200 at number 11 and garnering two Grammy nominations. Megadeth’s Dave Ellefson noted of the upcoming gig, “Chicago has always been a strong market for metal … There are a few surprises in the set that I think the fans will enjoy hearing.”

Van Halen, complete with David Lee Roth, rocks the United Center on February 24. For the first time in quite a few years, the original Van Halen line-up has issued a new record (A Different Kind of Truth) and hit the road. Sure, Sammy Hagar had his fans, but Diamond Dave can’t be beat. He’ll surely bring all of his swagger – along with a truckload of hits – so expect to have a rockin’ good time.

The Black Keys make their way to the United Center on March 16 after wrapping up a few weeks in Europe supporting their latest CD, El Camino. By most accounts, this new effort is an impressive musical feat. Symbolic logic would lead one to conclude, then, that the tour will also be a worthy investment of time, energy, and cash.

For a taste of what’s to come, check out the band’s new video for “Gold on the Ceiling,” which was shot largely at a live show this past December at Webster Hall in New York City.

Snow Patrol hits the Aragon Ballroom on April 21 in support of their new release, The End. Seeing this fantastic alt-pop band in a place like Aragon is the way to go because Gary Lightbody’s charisma will wash over every one of the 4,500 fans in the room. (Back at home in the UK, they have a three-night stand at London’s 20,000-capacity O2 Arena!) As one reviewer who caught a Birmingham show note, “The effortless confidence he demonstrates on the massive stage with a phenomenal lightshow and special effects is fitting for a man whose band have risen to the top slowly and earnestly and who plan to stay there.”

Roger Waters storms Wrigley Field on June 8 with his epic opus, The Wall. So far, the production has only been mounted about 150 times since its debut in 1980. In 2012, though, Waters has about 70 more dates on the boards spanning from Australia to Argentina, New Zealand to North America. And Chicago drew one of the lucky numbers.

Neil Diamond plays the United Center on July 6 having recently received the Kennedy Center Honors. And that was after issuing The Very Best of Neil Diamond: The Original Studio Recordings and appearing at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for the first time ever. Oh, and he just turned 71 in late January. Still, the pop legend is raring to go on the road, tweeting, “Look out USA and Canada, here we come again! See you in Summer 2012, this is going to be the big one!” Take his word for it.

Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw bring their Brothers of the Sun Tour to Soldier Field Stadium on July 7. Reports say that the trek has already sold more than a half million tickets, so don’t dally if you want to catch the Chicago stop. Also on the bill are Jake Owen and Grace Potter + the Nocturnals.

Coldplay lands at United Center on August 7 as part of their summer tour behind Mylo Xyloto. What’s admirable, balanced, and different about the band’s itinerary this year is that 10 days per month are reserved for the members to spend with their respective families. (Gwyneth and the kids must be thrilled!)

As the primaries in the Republican presidential race begin, the whole world watches on to see who will eventually be tasked with facing President Barack Obama in the November general election. The Iowa caucuses — always first on the schedule — have proven to be a three-way battle between Mitt Romney, Ron Paul, and Rick Santorum.

Good money is still on Romney to be the last man standing come July’s nominating time. Still, New Hampshire (January 10), South Carolina (January 21), and, of course, Super Tuesday (March 6) will all be solid markers as to whether that assumption will hold steady.

For his part, Obama has set up his reelection headquarters at home in Chicago with fun things like ping pong and air hockey tables peppering the space. According to Newsweek’s Andrew Romano, those lighter touches served a point: “Obama’s minions are very serious about lots of things, including the business of reminding themselves not to be so serious.”

Of course, these Chicago-based “minions” have every reason to be serious considering the considerable job that lies ahead. As Romano noted, “With 10 months to go before Election Day, the president’s job-approval rating is loitering around 46 percent, which is a problem, because the incumbent party has lost the last five times its president started Election Year below 49 percent.”

And so the fate of the nation … the world, really … lies in the hands of just over 200 staffers in the Windy City. Among the leaders are campaign manager Jim Messina and chief political strategist David Axelrod. Together with the Democratic National Committee, the Chicago team has raised nearly $200 million toward Obama’s reelection with eyes aimed at $1 billion by November.

Two big pieces of their strategic Get Out the Vote puzzle are manpower and technology. Messina promised, “Our efforts on the ground and on technology, will make 2008 look prehistoric.” Facebook, Twitter, MyBarackObama.com, SMS, YouTube, and the like will all play parts in helping Obama and his Chicago team reach people. And, despite the fact that technology is involved, the goal is to reach them with a personal touch that is both “ integrated and intelligent.”

Obama’s chief integration and innovation officer Michael Slaby framed the approach this way: “The voters … the donors … and the supporters and volunteers we’re trying to activate — they’re all the same group of people.”

So, Obama’s Chicago crew is listening hard, tuning into the needs and concerns of those people in order to meet them where they are by relying on incredibly targeted data mining and collation. The example Romano gave: “In 2012 the Obama campaign won’t send its backers a video and say, ‘Share this with everyone you know’; it will say, ‘Share this with your four Facebook friends in Pennsylvania’s crucial Lehigh Valley swing district who are worried about the president’s tax policies.’”

With their eyes on the prized 270 electoral votes — and only 10 months to go — Obama and his industrious Chicago team have their work more than cut out for them. If they fail, the Windy City, at least, will get one of their favorite sons back.

Chicago Blackhawks Heading To Another Stanley Cup Finals

Everyone at ChicagoSmarts is a huge puck fan and of course our favorite team (without exception) is the Chicago Blackhawks. The 2011-2012 NHL season is only a quarter of the way thorough but we are already excited about our team’s prospects to win their second Stanley Cup in three years. After 20 games, the Hawks have 27 points, they sit atop the Central Division, and are one of the top scoring teams in the league.

Unfortunately, not everyone agrees with us. Apparently, we’re more confident about Patrick Kane, Jonathan Towes, Marian Hossa, and company than a lot of other hockey fans. It seems Blackhawk naysayers are well represented and exist all over hockey-dom. Wanting to set the record straight, we’ve consolidated their main arguments against the Blackhawks down to three and then we’ve repudiated each one. If, after reading our logical and well-thought out rebuttals you still think the Blackhawks will come up short this year then we have only one thing to say: you must be a Detroit Red Wings fan.

1. Big Losses Against Bad Teams
On Nov. 19, the Blackhawks were pummeled by the Calgary Flames, 5-2. Earlier in the month they were blanked by the St. Louis Blues, 3-0. Then in late October they were blanked by the Carolina Hurricane, 3-0. All those teams are either at, or near, the bottom of the standings. While the Edmonton Oilers are a solid team, they are nowhere near as good as their 9-2 victory over the Hawks. Good teams, teams that win Stanley Cups, take care of business in the regular season when facing the league’s lesser opponents.

Rebuttal:
Championships aren’t won in October or November. Besides, who thinks the Flames, Blues, or Hurricanes can defeat the Blackhawks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs (provided they qualify) or even the Oilers? Over the course of a season all good teams drop a few games to bad clubs. Nonetheless, the Blackhawks do have quality wins at the Florida Panthers and at the Vancouver Canucks.

2. Defense Struggles In Own Zone
Ever since winning the 2010 Stanley Cup, the Blackhawks have had one glaring weakness: defending around the net. It’s why bad teams are able to defeat them and it’s why they are destined for a short playoff run. To be kind, we won’t even mention the fact that they are the second worst team in the league when it comes to killing penalties. Fans are betting on the team acquiring a top-notch defender before the trade deadline (the franchise has even alluded to it) but blue-liners are extremely hard to acquire. Blackhawks supporters shouldn’t hold their breath.

Rebuttal:
Yes, the Blackhawks have trouble down-low, but it’s not as bad as you think. The team has four good defensemen, including Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook, but unfortunately they don’t have a legitimate number-one blue-liner. Their defense can score however. In fact, the entire team can find the back of the net. Heading into December, Chicago is one of the NHL’s top scoring teams. In their first 20 games they’ve scored five or more goals, seven times. Their offense can, and will, bail out their “D.”

3. Lack Of Quality Goaltending
The Blackhawks goaltenders, Corey Crawford and Ray Emery, don’t do enough to bail out the porous defenders playing in front of them. Additionally, both Chicago net minders let in far too many weak goals. It’s true that a hot goaltender can carry just about any team to the Stanley Cup Finals but do Blackhawk fans really want to pin their hopes on the off chance that Crawford or Emery will magically catch fire come April and May?

Rebuttal:
Can’t argue with the easy ones Crawford and Emery have let through nor can you say much about the team being in the bottom third of the NHL in save percentage. You have to keep in mind that the Blackhawks are not the Minnesota Wild or Los Angeles Kings. They don’t win by keeping their opponents off the scoreboard, they win by lighting up the scoreboard—they are the Toronto Maple Leafs of the Western Conference. Chicago’s goalies don’t need to stop everything they just need to be better than what they’ve been playing. That is definitely something that can, and will, improve come playoff time.

Conclusion
The Chicago Blackhawks aren’t a complete team like the Boston Bruins or the Florida Panthers but they are still a very good team (despite the naysayers). They may have a few holes here and there but it’s not even January. Everything that’s wrong with this club can be fixed before the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If general manager Stan Bowman trades for a quality blue-liner—especially one that can kill penalties—then the Western Conference better watch out. The Blackhawks would be the odds on favorites to reach the Stanley Cup Finals. Maybe that will silence their critics.

The year 1943 was significant in the history of Chicago. That was the year that deep-dish pizza, a style that has now become synonymous with the Windy City, made its first appearance. Although disputes exist as to whether it was restaurant owner Ike Sewell or pizza chef Rudy Malnati who created the original recipe, deep-dish pizza owes its existence to Pizzeria Uno.

Deep-dish pies are a far cry from Italian-style pizza. A thick layer of dough is laid out in a deep, round pan that has been well-oiled to create a bit of a crunch on the outer crust. After being pulled up the sides of the pan, the dough is parbaked a little before toppings are added. Chunky tomato sauce, slices of mozzarella, and a variety of other toppings – both vegetables and meat – are layered to just above the top edge of the dough and then baked to its full scrumptious glory.

According to Yelp users, the top five deep-dish pizza joints in Chicago are:
Lou Malnati’s
six locations
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, Lawndale, Wicker Park, Gold Coast, River North, South Loop
A descendant of the Pizzeria Uno lineage, Lou Malnati’s has grown to some 33 locations all around the area with six in Chicago proper. Although Lou passed on in 1978, his wife and sons have kept the family business alive. One of the secrets to success is using mozzarella from a small dairy that has supplied the restaurant for over 40 years.

Collectively, the six pizzerias have tallied more than 1,400 reviews and a solid 4-star rating that is echoed in the reviews: “I can say that I officially now get the appeal of deep dish. From the butter crust, to the sausage disc, to the 15 pounds of cheese, to the tangy, chunky tomato sauce. The total is far superior to the summation of its parts.”

Pequod’s Pizzeria
2207 N Clybourn Ave
Chicago, IL 60614
Neighborhood: DePaul
Rounding out the top three deep-dish pizza places in Chicago, Pequod’s can thank the nearly 1,000 Yelpers for their 4-star rating. Putting their own twist on the recipe has helped put Pequod’s on the map. One of the reviewers spills the beans: “The secret is the seasoned pans they use for the pizzas – they line each pan with parmesan cheese so when you get the pizza out, there’s a delicious ring of semi-burnt cheese around the outside of the crust. Absolutely amazing.”

Pizzeria Uno
29 E Ohio St
Chicago, IL 60611
Neighborhood: Near North Side
The original Pizzeria Uno still makes pies in Chicago and 400 Yelp reviewers have come together to rate them at 3.5 stars. A quick scour of the more negative accounts will find that most of the complaints are due to the long wait time for a table. One user raved strictly of the pizza, “When it arrives, expect a monster of a pizza that will quickly assault your stomach with insane amounts of cheese, tomatoes, and crust. If you’ve decided to add meat to then good on you, pizza needs meat.”

The Art of Pizza
3033 N Ashland Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
More than 600 Yelpers love the Art of Pizza enough to render it with a 4-star rating. One of them couldn’t help but rave, “Absolutely, hands down, without a doubt the best pizza by the slice place in the entire city of Chicago! Try it and you will see what I mean.”

Pizano’s Pizza
864 N State St
Chicago, IL 60610
Neighborhood: Near North Side
This pie joint is Oprah’s pick and nearly 300 Yelp users agree with her, landing it a 4-star ranking with reviews like, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhzomg best deep dish ever. Well, the best this traveling Canadian has ever come across. The crust and the cheese rendered me stupid. The sausage? Gah. Order sausage and mushrooms. Do it.”

Roger Waters: The Wall Live Returning To North America, Chicago In 2012

Pink Floyd’s The Wall is a great album but its best heard live in concert.

Yet, before 2010 The Wall had only been performed live 32 times—31 of those performances came during the band’s 1980-1981 tour and the 32nd came in 1990 to celebrate the fall of the Berlin Wall.

That all changed last year in mid-September when Roger Waters, the creative force behind the studio album, launched a massive world tour called The Wall Live.

It’s an ambitious undertaking; the tour is said to cost $60 million. It’s a visual and technical marvel that uses the latest visual, audio, and lighting technology. It’s also making money hand over fist. In 2010, The Wall Live tickets sold so well that it was North America’s second highest grossing tour.

The Wall Live began in Toronto and stayed on the continent for another 56 concerts. Then it was off to Europe for 64 more shows. After that, Waters took The Wall to Oceania and South America. When it was all said and done The Wall Live was one of the world’s top live events.

During an appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Pink Floyd’s legendary bassist confirmed that he’s returning to North America in 2012 for another leg of The Wall tour.

The logic behind next year’s route is to visit markets missed the first time around and to play Saturday night shows at baseball stadiums. Hitherto, The Wall Live has been played indoors in theaters.

Waters has told reporters that the outdoor version of The Wall will feature a screen that’s 1,500 pixels wide. Waters has done test projections at several light-polluted baseball stadiums and discovered the technique will work outside. He conducted trials at Wrigley Field, Fenway Park, and Yankee Stadium.

Even though Waters hasn’t released an itinerary for his 2012 North American leg, it’s pretty obvious that he’ll be selling Roger Waters Chicago tickets for a show at Wrigley.

Fans should also count on Roger Waters Boston tickets and Roger Waters New York tickets.

When Waters wraps his second North American leg he will have been on the road with The Wall for two years. Promoters want Waters to go back to Europe but he doesn’t think he’ll have energy.

Furthermore, Waters thinks this will be his last big outing. He doesn’t want to go back out on the road for a “greatest hits” trek so any touring he does after The Wall Live wraps will likely be theatrical rock shows in a small arenas.

If Waters does launch another tour, look for him at The Chicago Theatre, not Soldier Field.

As mentioned earlier, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon scheduled an entire week’s worth of performances dedicated to the music of Pink Floyd (Sept. 26 – 30). The week also included interviews with Nick Mason (Monday) and Roger Waters (Tuesday). The highlight of the series was Waters performing “In the Flesh” with Foo Fighters.

The week-long extravaganza coincided with the (marketing) campaign “Why Pink Floyd?” That’s the name given to the remastering of Pink Floyd’s 14 studio albums. The collection dropped Sept. 27.

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon “Pink Floyd Tribute Week”
Monday
The Shins — “Breathe” from The Dark Side of the Moon

Tuesday
Foo Fighters & Roger Waters — “In the Flesh” from The Wall

Wednesday
MGMT — “Lucifer Sam” from The Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Thursday
Dierks Bentley — “Wish You Were” from Wish You Were Here

Friday
Pearl Jam — “Mother” from The Wall

New urbanism is a movement that’s taking global cities by storm, and Chicago is not immune. In fact, the Congress for New Urbanism calls the Windy City home. With an endorsement like that, no doubt some cool projects are popping up all across town.

When it comes down to it, new urbanism is about making cities more livable. Some of the basic tenets behind the thinking are walkable, human-scaled neighborhoods as the basis for sustainable communities; shared, public gathering spaces that incorporate connection, character, and culture; environmentally friendly building practices that utilize infrastructure and resources wisely and sustainably; and the transformation of blighted and deteriorating areas into revitalized communities.

The first point is one of the main new urbanism projects anywhere: making buzzing metropolises more walkable and, thereby, more community-centric. As the CNU notes, “Traditional Main Streets, with their vibrant mix of commerce and culture — where mom-and-pop shops line the sidewalks, cars and trucks slow down to share the road with pedestrians and bikes, and people congregate in great gathering spaces — are the most outward expression of the strength of communal ties. As the structure of our streets help pave the way in which our communities connect on a physical, social, and economic level, designing livable, walkable urban thoroughfares is one of the utmost priorities for any city or town.”

On the whole, Chicago ranks pretty high in terms of walkable cities coming in fourth behind New York City, San Francisco, and Boston. Some of its most walkable neighborhoods include Printers Row, Near North, Sheridan Park, Old Town, Dearborn Park, Gold Coast, River North, Noble Square, Lincoln Square, and Park West. However, some aren’t, and that includes Harbour Point Estates, Trumbull Park, Eden Green, Cottage Grove Heights, and Golden Gate.

This summer, Chicago set into motion a plan its first comprehensive pedestrian plan, aptly titled the Chicago Pedestrian Plan. Although the move is re-active instead of pro-active, the results will go far to help the city’s residents get around on foot. In 2009, more than 3,000 pedestrian-versus-vehicle accidents occurred, resulting in 34 deaths – 40 percent of which were caused by hit-and-run drivers and 80 percent of which happen in a crosswalk.

Some of the proposed elements are curb bump-outs and medians to shorten crosswalks and countdown timers on crosswalk signals. A law passed last year in Chicago also requires drivers to stop, rather than simply yield, for pedestrians.

Changes and improvements to the infrastructure and physical plant of a city is great, but as Ron Burke, executive director of the Active Transportation Alliance, explains, a mental shift needs to happen to because “pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users have almost become second-class citizens.

“Pedestrians deserve precedence when it comes to designing our streets and neighborhoods because they are the most vulnerable users. Conceptually, we’d all like to see neighborhoods where the streets really act as the front porch, where children can play and not worry about being hit by cars.”

Top Ten Best Restaurants Near Soldier Field

The Chicago Bears are the NFL’s third oldest franchise and they play at Soldier Field, the league’s oldest football stadium. The venerated venue opened on Oct. 9, 1924 as Municipal Grant Park Stadium but it changed its name to “Soldier Field” a little more than a year later. As of 2011, the stadium has hosted four NFC Championship Games—the Bears have won two of them.

Soldier Field is located in an area of the Windy City known as the South Side. The stadium butts up against Lake Shore Drive although its official address is 1410 South Museum Campus Drive. East of the arena is Northerly Island Park while directly north is the famous Field Museum. McCormick Place, an exposition and convention facility, resides to the south.

To the west of Soldier Field are several great restaurants; these are perfect places to go before Bears game. To help you choose from the myriad of dining options, ChicagoSmarts has compiled a list of the ten best restaurants near Soldier Field. Our top ten list can’t ensure a Bears victory but it can guarantee a great meal before kickoff.

Bongo Room
1152 S. Wabash Ave.
773-489-0690
Distance From Soldier Field: 1 mile
You really can’t go to the Bongo Room after the Bears game, or when they play on Sunday or Monday nights, because the restaurant closes at 2:30pm. However, if you want a great breakfast, brunch, or lunch before the Bears take the field then run—don’t walk—to the Bongo Room. Besides great early-day victuals the Bongo Room also serves terrific morning cocktails.

Yolk
1120 S. Michigan Ave.
312-789-9655
Distance From Soldier Field: 1 mile

Voted Chicago’s top breakfast restaurant, Yolk is the perfect place for fans to begin game day. One of the Loop’s top eating destinations regardless of the time of day, Yolk prides itself on its “creative” breakfast dishes. Their menu includes a variety of omelets, skillets, and frittatas as well as freshly squeezed strawberry-orange juice. Yolk is famous for its eggs Benedict.

The Chicago Firehouse
1401 S. Michigan Ave.
312-786-1401
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles

The historic Chicago Firehouse is located in an actual firehouse that was built in 1905. This upscale restaurant offers delicious American cuisine like New York strip, pork chops, and boneless rib eye. Other tasty treats on the menu include soup, salad, and pastas. As for cocktails, we recommend the Moscow Mule, the Southloop Sidecar, and/or their patented Firehouse 75.

Eleven City Diner
1112 S. Wabash Ave.
312-212-1112
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles

The Eleven City Diner pays homage to the family dining room and to Jewish delicatessens. Besides a delectable corned beef sandwich, the Eleven City Diner also provides soda jerk, pie, and cake services. While magically whisking visitors away to New York City, the Eleven City Diner gives Bears fan a chance to enjoy a scrumptious meal at relatively inexpensive prices.

Flo & Santos
1310 South Wabash Avenue
312-566-9817
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles
Flo and Santos delight Bears supporters with “tavern style” pizza, potato pancakes, kielbasa, and its Chicagoland-famous pierogies. Patrons and critics all rave about Flo & Santos appetizers. You can make a meal out of their Asian ribs and waffle fries. When the Bears are on the road, visit Flo & Santos to watch the game on their eight flat screen televisions and their gigantic 90-inch HD projection screen.

Gioco
1312 S. Wabash Ave.
312-939-3870
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles
Encompassing two adjacent buildings in Chicago’s South Loop, Gioco offers some of the best Italian food in the city. Delectable dishes on Gioco’s menu include wood-fired thin crust pizzas, homemade pastas, and osso bucco. Inside Gioco you’ll find a walk-in safe built directly into the wall. It was once used by Chicagoland gangsters Al Capone and George “Bugs” Moran.

Zapatista Cuisines of Mexico
1307 S. Wabash Ave.
312-435-1307
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.1 miles
Enjoy some delicious Mexican food before the Monsters of the Midway make mincemeat out of their opponents. Situated on South Wabash Avenue, Zapatista serves patrons both traditional and modern Mexican dishes. Widely regarded as one of the Windy City’s best Mexican restaurants, Zapatista specializes in made-to-order guacamole and fajitas.

Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
805 S. State St.
312-786-1000
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.3 miles
There are more than 30 Lou Malnati’s Pizzerias in the greater-Chicago area but the restaurant on South State Street is the closest one to Soldier Field. The Bears are a quintessential part of Chicago and so is deep-dish pizza. That dish is exactly what Malnati’s is famous for serving. In addition to delicious Chicago-Style pizza, Malnati’s also prepares awesome thin-crust pizza and chicken sandwiches.

Weather Mark Tavern
1503 S. Michigan Ave.
312-588-0230
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.3 miles
Despite the name, the Weather Mark Tavern is fun for the whole family. At this establishment’s Sunday brunch kids eat free. The Weather Mark Tavern also has some of the best buffalo and chicken wings in the city. This restaurant is completely decked out in a nautical theme with charming exposed brick and inviting lush hardwoods. After 10:30pm WMT becomes a 21-and-over establishment.

M Lounge
1520 S. Wabash Ave.
312-447-0201
Distance From Soldier Field: 1.4 miles
Before heading over to the excitement and energy of Soldier Field experience the coolness of M Lounge. Furnished with plush couches and low-slung chairs, M Lounge features a handsome 28-foot long walnut bar. Often featuring live jazz music, M Lounge serves a plethora of specialty martinis, non-alcoholic cocktails, and Italian coffees.

Chicago Bears: 2011 NFL Season Preview

The 2011 NFL offseason has been all about big acquisitions.

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha. The Arizona Cardinals traded for Kevin Kolb. The New England Patriots landed two superstars in Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco.

For the Chicago Bears, the offseason has been all about one big loss. The team released the heart and soul of their offense, center Olin Kreutz.

With the six-time Pro Bowler gone (he’s now in New Orleans), Roberto Garza will move from right guard to center. Can he make the proper reads like the 34-year-old Kreutz? The Bears’ brass sure hopes he can.

With Garza now at center, 305-pound Lance Louis gets reinstated as the team’s right guard. He played that position for four games last season before being replaced by Edwin Williams. Playing next to him at right tackle will be rookie Gabe Carimi. He’s the Bears’ 2011 first round draft choice.

When Carimi was drafted out of Wisconsin he was probably looking forward to playing alongside Kreutz and Garza. Unfortunately for him, the Bears have taken that luxury away.

At left guard is another first round draft selection (2008), Chris Williams. He’ll be the only Bear playing the same position on the offensive line as the year before. Manning the all important left tackle spot is J’Marcus Webb. He played right tackle in 2011 and benefited greatly from being next to the dynamic duo of Kreutz and Garza.

Obviously, the Bears are entering the 2011 season with a revamped O-line—a unit that was fairly consistent throughout the 2010 season. So why did the Bears jettison that consistency by getting rid of Kreutz, a 14-year veteran? Certainly money was a factor (the Bears are notorious for being cheap), but more than likely it was because the franchise believes in offensive line coach, Mike Tice.

During his five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, Tice saw five of his offensive linemen go to 10 Pro Bowls—four of those behemoths went to Hawaii for the first time in their careers. Super Bowl winning coach Brian Billick said Tice’s coaching job with the Bears last season was one of the greatest he’s ever seen.

‘‘I have five guys in there starting,’’ barked Tice. ‘‘Unless they falter, that’s who’s opening the season against Atlanta. Right now I’m not seeing that falter. What I’m seeing right now is ¬improvement every day. That’s what I’m looking for.

‘‘Now if something happens in the game against Buffalo [Saturday at Soldier Field]—somebody doesn’t step up to the plate because of the added pressure of the game, then we have to create something. But right now I don’t see that. I don’t feel that either.’’

To recap, working from left to right tackle, the Bears starting O-line is Webb, Williams, Garza, Louis, and Carimi.

The Bears did make some additions to their roster. They signed three former Dallas Cowboys: running back Marion Barber and wide receivers Roy Williams and Sam Hurd. The team also acquired tight end Matt Spaeth.

All the comings and goings mean besieged quarterback Jay Cutler will have a lot of new faces to deal with as he tries to wash the taste out of everyone’s mouth of his performance in last season’s NFC Championship game (he threw three interceptions before being “knocked out” of the contest).

Cutler may have earned a reputation for quitting, and being inconsistent, but he does work hard and he does have one of the best football minds in the game coaching him, offensive coordinator Mike Martz. Clearly, he can win in the league it’s just a matter of can he win the big one.

Last season, the Monsters of the Midway ended their campaign with a humiliating loss to the eventual Super Bowl Champions Green Bay Packers. So far in the 2011 offseason, at least on paper, the franchise has done nothing to increase their chances of making it all the way to the “Big Game.”

Since Lovie Smith has taken over as head coach, the Bears, with their stout defense and solid special teams, are always a couple of return touchdowns away from going 11-5 and winning their division. This season is no different.

Generally speaking, the attention of men is fairly easy to occupy. Let them watch sports – either at a stadium or a bar – and all is well, for the most part. Women, however, are a bit more finicky though a fair number will be awfully pleased to spend a day being pampered at a spa or sipping a nice cup of joe.

To appease those ladies and others, here’s a list of the best Chicago has to offer in a number of categories.

Best Day Spa – The helpful reviewers on Yelp put Temilla’s Skin Care and Spa at the top of the list here with a 5-star rating for their offerings of facials, peels, massages, and waxing. One woman echoed the sentiments of many when she wrote, “This is not your beautiful, upscale, downtown salon, but the service you get here is better than any salon. I have tried them all. If you are looking for an excellent skin treatment (extractions and all) along with a very relaxing experience, this is your place.”

Best Tea & Coffee House – More than 200 Yelp votes add up to 4.5 stars for, well, the Star Lounge Cafe in Humboldt Park. The free street parking, free wifi, and house-roasted beans just can’t be topped, at least not in Chicago. One review proclaimed, “Star Lounge is my favorite coffee house in Chicago. They roast their own beans, so their coffee tastes extremely fresh. Every drink they serve is amazing! The ambiance is very relaxed. They do have a fair amount of noise, but if you’re looking for a quieter location, don’t worry – there is a patio out back that is very quiet and peaceful.”

Best Brunch – With over 300 Yelpers tallying up to a 4.5-star rating, Birchwood Kitchen in Wicker Park seems to have the best brunch in the Windy City. The fresh local ingredients and a friendly staff make a winning combination. Reviewers consistently cite both factors: “I am in love with everything about this place. The staff is amazingly welcoming and accommodating. As for the food — eat it, all of it. I’ve been here a number of times and it’s perfectly consistent and delicious!!”

Best Pilates & Yoga Center – A one-stop shop that offers classes in both Pilates and yoga, Lakeview’s Spring Wellness Center comes in with a 4.5-star sum from more than 40 votes. Their down-to-earth presentation and knowledgable approach wins over new and returning visitors. They even offer a Groupon deal. As one Yelper noted, “Spring Wellness Center gives me a centering experience without being so hippie-dippy. They play a mix of more contemporary music (that still matches the flow of yoga), but don’t just play the default flute over a babbling brook type of CD. The instructors seem very passionate about yoga, Pilates, health, and wellness and not about having the cutest yoga outfit or the perkiest pony tail.”

Best Bookstore – In Lincoln Square, the independent Book Cellar may well be the perfect blend of all good things which is why some 150 Yelp users give it 4.5 stars. Not only is the book selection wonderful, but the helpful, friendly staff can also serve you beer, wine, tea, coffee, and snacks at the cafe. You might never leave… which may well be the point! Here’s what a Yelp reviewer posted: “There’s something whimsical and romantic about the place. … You really get the small-town coziness at the BC – everyone that works there is friendly and helpful. There’s a good selection of books, although there has been a time they didn’t have a book I was looking for. I love to come here on a rainy day to cozy up with a book. Truly a gem.”