Chicago mag

Staycation idea No. 7: Live like a spa-to-slots hedonist at Wind Creek Chicago Southland in East Hazel Crest. Start your day upstairs at the spa, end it downstairs at the casino. buff.ly/bAMWo9o

How to Make Hewn’s Jam Sugar Cookies You can choose a different jam, but be sure to scoop the dough rather than rolling it, to maintain fruity pockets.

“We love this cookie because the bright, tart raspberry jam streaks through the buttery dough, creating an incredible flavor,” says Hewn co-owner Julie Matthei. Get the recipe for the bakery's jam sugar cookies:

Five Things to Do: March 6-8 What to do in Chicago this weekend.

Comedy at Park West, a murder-mystery scavenger hunt at the Field Museum, and Holi at Chicago Women’s Park and Gardens. What to do this weekend:

“I love exploring the analog world: compact discs, board game pieces — things you can pick up and ” Come shopping with children's musician Justin Roberts. buff.ly/y8H0rWi

A New Poem for Chicago “When I Say Chicago,” by Nate Marshall

Chicago’s birthday is always a good excuse to revisit my favorite poem. No matter where I go, there’s no place I’d rather be than here ❤️

www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

The Storyteller of the White Sox If you follow the White Sox, you likely know broadcaster Jason Benetti was born with cerebral palsy. But that’s just the start of his story.

Congratulations to Jason Benetti, the fantastic (and still sorely missed) former Chicago White Sox play-by-play announcer on being named lead man for the new NBC Sunday Night Baseball games starting this spring.
For a glimpse into how he got there, this article does him justice.

Staycation idea No. 6: Be on your best British behavior at Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest. It leans into an English country fantasy — Tudor architecture, afternoon tea with proper finger sandwiches. buff.ly/bAMWo9o

A Historian's Guide to Norwood Park Writer and historian Stan “Tex” Banash recommends these four spots.

Writer and historian Stan “Tex” Banash recommends these four spots in his neighborhood, Norwood Park. www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

How Portillo's Choked on Its Expansion The local favorite had ambitious plans to go national. But the restaurant chain’s rapid growth hasn't gone as hoped.

Even in Chicago, Portillo's has had some missteps. (A brief foray into breakfast last year was called off.)

It begs the question: Can you grow without alienating the patrons who made you popular to begin with?

Staycation idea No. 5: Soak in a hot tub while soaking in a river view in the penthouse suite at Hotel Baker in St. Charles. No penthouse? Four spa suites come with their own balcony hot tubs. buff.ly/bAMWo9o

Five Newly Listed Vintage Condos Most of these properties were built before World War II — but we had to throw in something from Marina City, for good measure.

Spend a little time on your lunch hour perusing these vintage condos — even if you're not in the market

Lahmacun flatbread arrives hot and blistered, coated in spiced ground lamb and tomato sauce. The Turkish doner features a generous portion of sliced beef or chicken heaped with raw veggies and white sauce buff.ly/u9Esc6y

Five Things to Do: March 6-8 What to do in Chicago this weekend.

It's time to make your plans for the weekend — check out our five recommended events:

The Storyteller of the White Sox If you follow the White Sox, you likely know broadcaster Jason Benetti was born with cerebral palsy. But that’s just the start of his story.

This morning, NBC Sports announced that Jason Benetti will be the new voice of MLB Sunday Night Baseball on their national broadcasts. If you don't know him, here's a magazine profile I wrote about him from 5 years ago. (Illustration by Mark Ulriksen.)

www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

Staycation idea No. 4: Pretend to own a fancy rural estate at Prairie Grove Ranch in McHenry. Set on seven quiet acres, the house is massive — yet it settles into something surprisingly livable. buff.ly/bAMWo9o

Where a Children's Musician Shops A beloved children’s musician knows where to shop for young ones — and for his inner kid.

Justin Roberts, a beloved children’s musician, knows where to shop for young ones — and for his inner kid. www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

Staycation idea No. 3: Be a kid again while getting back to nature. Order pizza to your very own 'Swiss Family Robinson' situation at the Enchanted Garden Treehouse in Schaumburg. buff.ly/bAMWo9o

Our Favorite New Spot for Doner Kebabs Owner Etibar Maharramli makes the kind of street food loved by people the world over.

Slavic shawarma, anyone? This variant on the classic sandwich involves cabbage, cucumbers, and creamy, tangy garlic sauce. It’s one of many ways to enjoy the excellent kebab at Turkish Doner

A rocky foray into Texas has forced Portillo's management to rethink its game plan. Sales there started strong, but the company’s marketing failed to raise brand awareness enough to attract new diners. buff.ly/tNLOItM

Bar Bambi Is Now Open in West Town Katie Renshaw’s whimsical new bar features twists on classics and upscale bar food.

Katie Renshaw’s whimsical new Bar Bambi features twists on classics and upscale bar food.

Welcome to the PCA Show Cubs fan favorite Pete Crow-Armstrong is one of baseball’s most exciting young talents — and his own biggest critic.

Incredible read. PCA seems like a pretty solid dude in a sea of chuds, at least publicly. www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

Staycation idea No. 2: Spend the night in a private art museum. Stay at the Woodsman’s Gallery in River West, an actual gallery you happen to sleep in. Artwork rotates in and out of the condo regularly. buff.ly/bAMWo9o

David Byrne’s Fever Dream The musical mastermind wants to expand your consciousness with his immersive Goodman production.

Don’t expect a musical or a concert-theater hybrid, like Byrne’s two Broadway outings. Rather, this is a site-specific show wherein an actor escorts audience members, 16 at a time, through a series of 10 rooms.

How to Make Hewn’s Jam Sugar Cookies You can choose a different jam, but be sure to scoop the dough rather than rolling it, to maintain fruity pockets.

You can choose a different jam, but be sure to scoop the dough rather than rolling it, to maintain fruity pockets in these sugar cookies. www.chicagomag.com/chicago-maga...

Staycation idea No. 1: Want to live an HGTV Fantasy? Stay at the Carriage House on Kenmore in Lincoln Park., where it feels less like booking a rental and more like borrowing a designer’s spare keys. buff.ly/bAMWo9o

Five Newly Listed Vintage Condos Most of these properties were built before World War II — but we had to throw in something from Marina City, for good measure.

These five vintage condos — in Oak Park, Evanston, and Chicago — are sure to be snapped up quickly

“We found it so fascinating — how our mind works, how it doesn’t work. We wondered: How can we bring this to the public? We ended up with a theater piece.”

Our exclusive interview with David Byrne on his Goodman production buff.ly/AJB8HhK

Our Favorite New Spot for Doner Kebabs Owner Etibar Maharramli makes the kind of street food loved by people the world over.

At Turkish Doner in Uptown, owner Etibar Maharramli makes the kind of street food loved by people the world over.

“Portillo’s is a hometown hero,” says Sharon Zackfia, an industry analyst at William Blair. “But ‘iconic’ is a dangerous term to use outside of the Chicago area.”

How the chain fumbled an expansion: buff.ly/tNLOItM

How to Vacation Without Leaving Town These seven Chicago-area staycation spots will have you feeling like you’ve gotten away — minus the travel costs and headaches.

These seven Chicago-area staycation spots will have you feeling like you’ve gotten away — minus the travel costs and headaches.