News Thu Aug 28 2008
Mmm, Midweek Links
• Is the Diner Grill closed for good, or just for repairs after a fire? We'll have to wait and see.
• Meanwhile, Dish tips us off that Sweet Occasions in Andersonville has closed (end of column). The branch under the Damen Brown Line stop shuttered soon after that station closed for repairs, and the long promised Bryn Mawr location never opened.
• I tried to stay away from the ruckus currently being raised by an off-handed comment from ABC7's Steve Dolinsky on ChuffPo, but the drama was too great. Dolinksy's dig on publications that publish first-day/week reviews of restaurants got him in hot water with Time Out's David Tamarkin and MenuPages. The 312 Dining Diva came to his defense a little, then said Tamarkin's just jealous.
• While Tamarkin's at it, he takes on New York Magazine, too.
• Geno Bahena isn't Michael Phelps, he's Mike Tyson.
• This Chicago Gluttons review of San Soo Gap San is hilarious, because it's true.
• Smoque is held up as an exception to the rule that novices shouldn't open restaurants. [via]
• I love Chicago MenuPages' snarky synopses of Tribune and Sun-Times food section articles.
• Dejamo's Distracted, but can still show us the proper way to cut corn off the cob.
• Mmm, brisket. Too bad it's in Texas.
• Fresh Squeeze reminds us that City Farm sells direct to the public, not just high-end restaurants, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
• "Top Chef: The Tour" will be at the Green City Market next week.
• Chicago Bites gives Schwa a double 10.
• Centerstage has a list of Labor Day Weekend deals for you.
- Andrew Huff
anne Thu Aug 28 2008, 9:49AM +
Metromix in the Red Eye this morning (Bite Size sidebar, p. 17) says that while the Andersonville location for Sweet Occasions is closed, the Edgewater and Damen locations are open (I haven't seen either with my own eyes, so I'm not sure). It's a good shop, with great stuff. I'm purplexed at the closing of the very popular Andersonville shop.
Andrew Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:17AM +
Hmm, I don't know where the Red Eye got their info, but the phone numbers for the Damen and Bryn Mawr stores listed on the Sweet Occasions website are both disconnected, and both stores were dark during business hours the last time I passed them (both in the past week -- I work within walking distance of the Damen shop). I'll check again at lunch today.
Confused Thu Aug 28 2008, 11:46AM +
I think you kind of misrepresent 312 Dining Diva, or at least your use of pronouns is confusing. She defends Dolinksy and then says Tamarkin is jealous.
Andrew Thu Aug 28 2008, 1:42PM +
You're right, Confused. I've fixed it.
jen Thu Aug 28 2008, 4:13PM +
Fresh Squeeze is wrong -- City Farm sells on Sundays at the Logan Square farmers market as well.
Carrie Wed Sep 17 2008, 11:52AM +
I'm very sad about Sweet Occasions' sudden closure. The new Edgewater location looked fairly close to opening too...tables, chairs, and coolers already in place. I'm very curious what happened, as the Andersonville location always seemed busy, if not packed.