Along with his wife Allison, they’ve created one of the most soulful BYOB places around. Matsumoto at Restaurants This restaurant closed over three years ago, but only because it was ahead of it’s time. Maybe it was the chilled monkfish liver or sea zeroes 2000-2009 urchin with quail egg yolk, but Chicago just wasn’t ready for Chef Seijero Matsumoto’s exquisite, authentic, seasonal Japanese kaiseki end By Michael Nagrant experience. Drop Matsumoto in Manhattan with the right investor and he’d have a go at Masa Takayama. The good news is he’s back at Mizu Yakitori in Old Town and will prepare kaiseki for Since 2000, Chicago has gone from being a Avenues The temptation is to go with Spring, the first a minimum of six people with five days advance Rat Pack-worthy steak-and-potato-slinging of Shawn McClain and Sue and Peter reservations. So grab your friends and don’t stereotype to a destination for international Drohomyrecky’s restaurants (also Custom miss out in the next decade. culinary travelers. Chicago’s affordability, its House) and where Top Chef Stephanie Izard Mercat a la Planxa diners’ willingness to suspend disbelief and its once worked. But, until Jill Barron’s Mana proximity to the sublime bounty of the Midwest opened, Green Zebra was really the only restau- all play a role in that transformation. Most rant of its kind, a meat-substitute-eschewing important to the renaissance are the places vegetable-focused gourmet restaurant that that put everything together to inspire our col- delighted carnivores and vegans alike. lective culinary imagination, the best restau- L20 rants that opened in Chicago this decade. Iron Chef Jose Garces may live in Philly, but the Chicago native can be a culinary carpetbag- You probably don’t remember Gerhard Doll ger anytime he wants. Though places like Ba Ba or David Hayden, the chef-stewards who drove Reeba, Emilio’s and Café Iberico serve decent the good ship Avenues through a successful food, this was the first tapas spot I wasn’t seafood-driven era, but there’s no doubt you depending in some part on syrupy sangria and won’t forget the Pop Rock and foie-lollipop fan- the comfort of a big group of friends to make Photography by Lara Kastner tasia, the convenience-store chic of Graham the night unforgettable. Honorable mention in Courtesy of Alineabook.com Elliot Bowles. Without Bowles’ whimsical, the Spanish arena would go to Del Toro, though

The history of cuisine was written in the accessible style, the emotional roller coaster of it’s now closed and wasn’t really a tapas spot, feature kitchens of millions of chefs, but we only ’s cooking and the theater at as much as it was a deep-fried chickpea-serv- 3 remember a few by name, guys like Escoffier, Homaro Cantu’s Moto likely wouldn’t have quite ing, house-cured blood-sausage-and-bacon- Careme and Robuchon. There are probably only captured the nation’s imagination, nor garnered curing proving ground for top chefs Andrew three Chicago chefs, as of now, who have a shot Chicago cuisine the countless magazine fea- Zimmerman (Sepia) and Rob Levitt. at making that list: Jean Banchet, Charlie tures it received mid-decade. Today, Curtis Chef Laurent Gras reminds me of “Rocky IV” Moto newcity Trotter and Grant Achatz. Though Achatz start- Duffy, the culinary love child of Achatz, Thomas villain Ivan Drago. He’s ruthless, a tireless With chefs as waiters, laser-burned vanilla ed making a name for himself at Trio, Alinea Keller and Alice Waters, is executing some of worker and insanely precise. After recovering beans and edible menus, this was the first was the game changer, the restaurant where the most exciting cuisine Chicago has to offer. from a bicycle accident that shattered a bunch

place to successfully execute dinner as edible 12.24.09 every aspect of dining from menus and silver- Chilpancingo of bones and punctured a lung last year, he’s performance art. Homaro Cantu and his part- ware to the wine service and emotional content In 2000, most people thought mole was that also seemingly indestructible. However his ner-in-crime pastry chef Ben Roche make their of the food was reimagined. cute mark on Cindy Crawford’s face, not the lay- robotic technical prowess and attention to hero Salvador Dali proud. Dali was famous for Avec ered earthy Oaxacan traditional sauces that detail yields some of the most breathtaking saying “The only difference between me and a Geno Bahena introduced a whole generation to innovative seafood dishes anywhere, including madman is that I am not mad.” I’m still not sure at this River West spot. Sadly, because he sells those found at seafood superpower Le the same can be said for Cantu and Roche. his name to every new Mexican spot in town as Bernadin. Naha a consultant, you can’t really count on the Mado Bahena name anymore. But, thanks to the road he paved, you can score great mole at a lot of local spots today including his brother-in-law’s Sol de Mexico. Green Zebra

Credit: Doug Fogelson/DRFP

Love it or hate it, this was ground zero for what is now today’s communal table free-for- all. More importantly, Avec was the place that Head-to-tail dishes are all the rage, but the launched a thousand salumi, the fringe of truth is most places serve maybe one or two Chicago’s now-burgeoning charcuterie move- courses of the stuff. Who can blame ‘em? You ment. Koren Grieveson’s restrained soulful gotta stay in business, and though the dining style is still the late-night hang of choice for public is more accepting, it’s not quite chucking chefs. back bull’s testicles like popcorn, yet. Chef Rob Chef Carrie Nahabedian’s neighbor across Levitt somehow didn’t get the memo and so he Clark street, Rick Bayless, demonstrated that serves whatever odd parts he damn feels like. you could successfully reintroduce diners to an authentic luxury version of once marginalized ly the best neighborhood Italian restaurant in offers is local, artisanal and/or consciously The Rest: Cafecito, Cemitas Puebla, Double and diluted ethnic cuisine. However, we all had the city. grown. His volume and his dedication to local Li, fRedhots and Fries, Hoosier Momma Pie tacos as a reference point, while merging Schwa farms created jobs and a market for well-raised Company, Katy’s Dumpling House (Westmont), southern California sensibility with pre-commu- In his own parlance, chef Michael Carlson is food that didn’t exist before 1990. The quality Kuma’s Corner, Lagniappe, Pasticceria Natalina, nist Armenian culinary history was a little trick- one talented cat. He’s also operates like the of the bread alone (though we sure don’t mind Smoque, Spaccanapoli, Uncle John’s BBQ and ier. Eight years later, it’s still one of the few love child of Johnny Rotten and Ferran Adria, the wood-fired in-house-butchered achiote- Violet Hour also deserve a mention. Places like places in the city I could eat at every night. and is probably the most idiosyncratic restaura- rubbed suckling pig that comes with it) is worth Hot Doug’s, Kahn BBQ and Sun Wah BBQ which NoMI teur on the planet (Jerry Kleiner, who I once the price of the sandwich. re-opened or remodeled spots in the last ten This was one of the first spots outside of interviewed while he wore a sweatsuit and years, but were open prior to the beginning of Charlie Trotter’s that didn’t define luxury as old- white snakeskin boots, is a very close second). the decade were not considered for this list. school French or lobster tails as big as a whale. Carlson closes when he wants, answers the Opening chef Sandro Gamba offered a reservation line when he wants, and might just Michelin-star level of quality that attracted swap out your bottle of BYO wine for another European foodies. The tradition continues bottle in his private restaurant stash to provide at zeroes end today under Christophe David and sommelier a more suitable pairing with your course. He’s Fernando Beteta. also the only dude who makes sea urchin ice Opera cream in pine-flavored ice-cream cones that will blow your mind. Vie Dance in Chicago 2000-2009 By Brian Hieggelke I hesitate to include this spot, because it really doesn’t stand the test of time, but when Paul Wildermuth was at the helm this was my With his commitment to canning, preserving Dance exploded in the zeroes, fueled on by 2003. In 2007, company co-founder and long- favorite jewel in the Jerry Kleiner empire. While and sausage making, Chef Paul Virant is the successful transitions at major establishments time artistic director Gerald Arpino retired (he it never really reached the ideal of celebrating modern manifestation of Ma and Pa Ingalls and the opening of significant new venues. Any died soon after), to be succeeded by Ashley authentic regional Chinese food, it was one of from the Little House books. No word on consideration of dance in Chicago starts with Wheater. A year later, the company moved into the most successful interesting upscale ver- whether he makes his own candles or soap, but our world-renowned homegrown company, the Joffrey Tower at the edge of the downtown sions of Chinese food in the city. one thing’s for sure, this is probably the only feature Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC), which theater district, establishing the Joffrey 4 Publican suburban fine-dining restaurant most people commenced the decade with the transition in its Academy of Dance at the beginning of this year. Though this is not a best-beer-lists-of-the- leave the city to eat at. artistic leadership from Lou Conte, who’d found- The bottom line? Joffrey Executive Director decade piece, the Publican is the most impor- West Town Tavern ed the group in 1977 and built it into one of the Christopher Clinton Conway says this decade’s tant beer spot to open in the city since Hopleaf This is the Ferrari of neighborhood restau- city’s leading cultural exports, to Jim Vincent. shown growth by 33 percent, both in budget back in 1992. The Publican also boasts the rants, a friendly high-quality value-conscious Vincent didn’t miss a beat, building on Conte’s and audience. newcity city’s first beer sommelier in Michael McAvena hang from talented restaurant folks opened in a foundation, and greatly expanding the compa- The opening of the at and his stewardship has been impeccable. time when very few places like this existed. It’s ny’s formerly rather limited performance pres- Millennium Park, the city’s first new multi-use Likewise Brian Huston’s cuisine, including the precursor for spots like The Bristol, Mado ence in its hometown by expanding to quarter- arts theater since 1929, was designed specifi- 12.24.09 cider-glazed pork rinds or foie gras-topped and David Carrier’s promising new spot in ly Chicago engagements, thanks in part to the cially to meet the needs of Chicago’s itinerant deep-fried French toast, is precisely the kind of Lincoln Park, Kith and Kin. Chef Susan Goss opening of the perfectly sized Harris Theater for emerging and medium-sized dance and music thing you’d like to eat at three in the morning whips up heartwarming classics like crispy Music and Dance in November 2003. By 2008, presenters. In addition to HSDC, it hosts the when you’re raving drunk and you have access duck confit and beer cheese, while her hus- HSDC had grown to a seven-million-dollar oper- likes of Muntu Dance, Luna Negra, River North to a top chef. band, Drew Goss operates one of the best ating budget and Vincent himself was moving Chicago Dance, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, Riccardo Trattoria affordable by-the-glass wine programs in the on, returning to the Nederlands Dans Theater, Chicago Human Rhythm Project and select tour- city. where he’d spent much of his career as a per- ing companies that it books in its own subscrip- Xoco former, passing the artistic reins at HSDC to his tion series. former associate, Glenn Edgerton. Further south along Michigan Avenue, anoth- Meanwhile, Chicago’s national reputation as er major force in Chicago dance was going a dance center was being augmented by its through its own transitions at the turn of the resuscitation of the esteemed , century. The Dance Center of Columbia College which, in a state of financial crisis in the mid- founder and longtime director Shirley Mordine nineties, had thrown something of a Hail Mary stepped down in 1999 (her own company, still pass by departing the nation’s cultural capital going strong, celebrated its fortieth birthday in of New York to see if it could make it in Chicago the spring of 2008), giving way to Bonnie (it had long been extremely successful here on Brooks, and the Dance Center opened its own its tours, a tradition mirrored today by Alvin space in the South Loop, connecting its campus Lots of chefs say they’re focused on serving Ailey American Dance Theater, which sold a with its performances. Newly charged, The There may be a red-sauce joint on every cor- seasonal and local inputs, but what they really whopping 14,416 tickets to its annual engage- Dance Center played a critical role in the growth ner, but half of them are slinging lesser fare mean is they buy one box of greens at the ment at the in 2009). Make of the city’s dance culture by programming a than the Olive Garden and relying on fake sto- farmer’s market and mix that with stuff from it here it did, and by the dawn of this decade, it series that was both contemporary and global ries about Nonna or Momma’s recipes. And cer- commercial vendors. Bayless serves 750 or so had established itself as a pillar of Chicago’s in its nature, while cultivating rewarding rela- tainly none of them are ballsy enough to ser- people a day at this, his new street-food out- cultural community, even becoming the subject tionships with the likes of now-deceased dance vice tripe (veal stomach) Florentine. This is like- post, and almost every single ingredient he of a Robert Altman film, “The Company,” in legend Merce Cunningham. With a similar sized and similarly new facility, the performance One other major initiative of the decade was niques like modern, ballet or jazz,” Hackman breakers, it seems like it’s an approach that’s series at the Museum of Contemporary Art The Excellence of Dance Initiative, created by says. “Our generation is getting established only going to gain popularity into the 2000- brought a comparable quality of curated tour- the Chicago Community Trust in 2001, which led enough to start producing our own work and all teens and well beyond that.” ing dance; where the Dance Center’s focus was to the launch of SeeChicagoDance.com in 2006 these new TV shows and movies have hit this What better coda for an extraordinary global, the MCA’s was experimental, as befit- as a nonprofit hub for this burgeoning dance decade that have ballerinas onstage with decade: even better, on the horizon? ting its home at the art museum. Out on the scene. At decade’s end, we count 107 Chicago dance/performance frontier, Links Hall recently dance companies listed in the directory on Luna Negra celebrated its thirtieth birthday as the city’s SeeChicagoDance.com. Sure, some might be sandbox for cutting-edge, experimental work. irregular and some in limbo, but 107 Chicago If the larger forces give the medium its foun- dance companies! dation, the smaller and mid-sized companies With so many companies now fomenting a offer its soul, and the decade was marked by a meaningful dance culture in Chicago, what new stability for dance companies, as the afore- now? What sets Chicago apart? With all due mentioned Mordine & Co. and Muntu Dance are respect to the accomplishments of the Joffrey both into their forties now as companies. Jan and other touring classical ballet companies, Bartoszek’s Hedwig Dances notches 25 years in Chicago is a contemporary/modern dance 2010, Zephyr Dance and River North Chicago town, infused with a multicultural essence Dance just turned 20, Chicago Human Rhythm befitting the diversity of its residents. Chicago Project has launched its 20th season, Thodos dance is not diverse as a mission statement, it’s Dance Chicago turned 15 in 2007, Molly diverse at its core. Some, like Chicago Dance Shanahan Mad Shak turned 15 in 2009. On the Crash founder Mark Hackman, see the fusion of cutting edge, Breakbone Dance Co. and Same contemporary dance with the multicultural Planet Different World both started in 1997 but styles derived from the street as a uniquely really came into their own in the zeroes, as did Chicago thing. “More often than not, this con- Lucky Plush Productions, which debuted in temporary view is usually taking street styles 1999. This decade might not have seen as many (house, breaking, waving, hip-hop, krumping) noteworthy debuts, but Chicago Dance Crash and putting them in a theater with concert tech- Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Seldoms have quickly emerged among the very best, artistically, in town. Few success stories in the decade compare to that of Luna Negra, though, which was founded by Eduardo Vilaro in 1999 and was packing in crowds at the Harris within the decade. Ironically, Vilaro left the company he founded in 2009 for the helm of Ballet Hispanico in New York, replaced by feature Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. And then there are the festivals. Dance 5 Chicago ended the decade with the fifteenth version of its sprawling extravaganza, outliving its co-founder, Fred Solari, whose untimely passing in 2006 led some to believe the festival newcity too would see its finale. And the Other Dance Festival created a showcase for emerging com-

panies to show their work in intimate environs. 12.24.09 But the Chicago Dancing Festival really made its name in a hurry, by showing world-class dance companies, many from outside of

Chicago, in a free festival in Millennium Park. Chicago Dance Crash

Joffrey Ballet 12.24.09 newcity 6 feature uine contact. melancholy, stillstraining foramomentofgen- older, oft-disappointed,yet despiteunderlying their one-nightstand,are different peoplenow, ple thatnever was,withdreamy memoriesof moments. smallest ofshared, skittery This cou- camera forthemostdynamiceffect. science, heknewprecisely where toplacethe strangely befittinghisbackground incomputer ofanovel.multigenerational epicworthy And, three hours,thelate Taiwanese mastermadea lovingly detailedsoapopera; atjustunder seems sosimple,easy, sonatural. Family as Unconsummated romance =cinema. glances. Looks ofdesire, clouds,rain. Linklater, 2004 Kar-Wai, 2000 4. “Once,”JohnCarney, 2006 Linklater knows there’s grandeur inthe 3. “Before Sunset,”Richard Perfection. It’s takenforgranted becauseit 2. “Yi Yi,” Edward Yang, 2000 Repetition, proximity, music,exchange of 1. “IntheMoodforLove,” Wong By Ray Pride 2000-2009 Best Films end zeroes at Deneuve… and… Tres belle. Devos, Mathieu AmalricandCatherine mances hegetsfrom thelikesofEmmanuelle reward re-viewing. You withperfor- couldstart past decade,andhisdeceptively richtapestries fat: Desplechinisamajormaximalist ofthe Jouissance? It’s thelifeforce. complex edifices.9/11never happened. innocence, yet never invokes thefateofPetit’s Nyman’s music,captures romance, daring, Marsh’s film,propelled ofMichael byalibrary Tomorrow.” Wes Andersonwept. to The Kinks’scene ataparty Time “This “Regular Lovers” alsoboastsagreat dance Less mirror thanemotionalkaleidoscope, ofGarrel’sportrait own experienceofParis ‘68. ing anachronistic masculinerituals. the routines ofthesesinewySisyphuses,enact- men work,strain, sweat; we are immersedin are dousedinmoodandinchoatemyth.The culine conflicts,whetherviolentorhomoerotic, sunofDjibouti.Inevitablemas- blinding desert French Foreign Legionnaires lingerunderthe sketchily, onHermanMelville’s “BillyBudd,” tening toRammstein onyour waytoheaven. beautifulfilmofthis?Bylis- heartwrenching, all shewantstodoisdie.How doyou makea In fallenRussia, she’s prey. She’s exploitedand face,innocent,stillachild. has aheartbreaking world. As16-year-old Lilja,OksanaAkinshina on ourresponsibilities tothechildren ofthe delights. ofpoignant World” glossary isaheartfelt them all.Onrushinglikeariver, New “The world, aswell. Nature andnaiveté surround come toJamestown, thenatives discover anew ly intothatfearfulday:bleak,jangly, necessary. nightmare. Greengrass hopestoplungedirect- weren’t gimcrack whirligigsthatescaped screen, aweariness setintomovies that takes moodtoseepfrom streets tothemovie Fair play. gularity. Let’s makemusictogether, allright? shittiest-looking great movies, “Once” isasin- Desplechin, 2008 2008 réguliers) PhillippeGarrel, 2004 2000 Moodysson, 2002 Malick, 2005 2006 Christmas iscomingandthebuffetgetting 11. “A Christmas Tale,” Arnaud Philippe Petit isagingertrickster, and 10. “Manon Wire,” JamesMarsh, A three-hour, black-and-white,full-screen 9. “Regular Lovers,” (Les amants Man’s fateasellipticaldancemusical:based, 8. “Beau Travail,” Claire Denis, Moodysson beganasapoetandhisfilmsfix 7. “Lilja4-Ever,” Lukas And whatfresh worldisthis?AstheBritish New World,”6. “The Terrence In theyears after9/11,withthemonthsit 5. “United93,”Paul Greengrass, Were we talkingaboutromance? Oneofthe been initstime. its timeas“ShootthePianoPlayer” musthave girls andmadness,intercedes.Asaudaciousin want successasnovelists. Life,intheformof trait oftwowritersintheirearlytwenties who zling formaldisplay, butitworksbestasapor- mer Norwegian skateboarding champ, isadaz- ADD-est,“Reprise,”twentieth-century byafor- from Romania. “New Wave,”light ofthe2000smoststartling compassionately leadhimonhisway. Aleading less, butthewomen-neighbors,EMTs, doctors- slow expiration. Alongtheway, menare hap- healthcare afternearlythree hoursofaman’s descent intothelowest circlesofBucharest form. It’s thefinalframes ofPuiu’s three-hour Godspeed, lavinghisancient,overstuffed, nude romance. dreamy, hypnoticforminthislanguorous neon ture andwide-eyed actress ShuQicometo Hou’s fixationsonyouth culture, gangstercul- years ago,around theturnofcentury…” Why sodelirious? Heath Ledger’s Jokercan’t matchitsgleam. Fewnight from things:even theskyinIMAX? Fielding. Years later, hefollows up. Soonafter, year-old ballofconfusion namedStevie “Hoop Dreams” director Jamesmentored a10- graduate schoolatSouthernIllinois,future wafer thatraises thecurtain. savor “HotelChevalier,” theJamesSalter-like ing ofexoticworldsbeyond theirreach. Plus, their punyfollies,haplessmisunderstand- lying critiqueandsimultaneousembrace of brothers traveling Indiaresonates withunder- like guilt.Afilmaboutthree jerkAmerican holes?” changesaworldweighted byliberal- destruction. ofself-deceptionandself- canic portrait Turkish woman(SibelKekilli) makes foravol- Turkish-German whogetsinvolved witha Birol Unel’s performanceasamiddle-aged ows, knows intimately, cannever know. heshad- spy diagrams theintriguesofartists scenarist ortheaterdirector, hisEastGerman is oneofthedecade’s great listeners.Likea Cristi Puiu,2005 Hsiao-hsien, 2001 Christopher Nolan,2008 Anderson, 2007 Henckel von Donnersmarck,2006 With visualstyletooutstrip Tykwer athis 15. “Reprise,” Joachim Trier, 2006 Man goestoheaven. Anangelwisheshim DeathofMr.14. “The Lazarescu,” tookplaceten A druggierdelirium:“This 13. “MillenniumMambo,”Hou But what’s more maximalthanChicagoby DarkKnight,” 12. “The Through theBigBrother program whilein 19. “Stevie,”Steve James,2002 A tossed-off“Would you lookatthoseass- Darjeeling Limited,” Wes18. “The But there isroom forGermanmaximalism: 17. “Head-On,”Fatih Akin,2004 A manlistens.Camera watches.UlrichMühe Lives ofOthers,”Florian 16. “The dence. lonely,” amomentofradiance, even transcen- onwhy“nobody shouldbe words, particularly sions ofitstragedy, there are stillhopeful man hecannothelp. Faulknerian inthedimen- hoping tounderstandtheboy whobecamethe visit himforfouryears ashiscaseprogresses, Stevie commitsacrime.Jamescontinuesto ema. Love,” he milks your migraine. There willbecin- drinks your milkshake.Andwith“Punch-Drunk vision andnonsequitur. Paul Thomas Anderson studio system:ahowling anomalyofsound, are best. “Summer Hours,”are fine,buthisfreak-outs on anicynight…Assayas’ gentlerfilms,suchas shared byadozen European satellitechannels lust.Oradream chilly greed andcold-hearted itself: ajangleofwarringnarratives fueledby of anADDledteenagedboy butoftheinternet while never quitecomingtolucidity. even self-pity andself-formationentertains into thebedroom. Kelly’s puzzle-box ofteen withtheairplaneenginecrashing just starting “Avatar.” few years after“Collapse,”afewyears before through whatcomesafternext,a world, however, gleams,animaginative hurtle only absurdity seriously. the movie thatout-Apatows Apatow, taking “Talladega Nights,”but“Anchorman” maybe Watts’ career. ofNaomi mance andtheastonishingbirth Hollywood backdrop: themadnessofperfor- self thatcannever bewholeagainsta Thomas Anderson,2007 Assayas, 2002 Kelly, 2001 Cuaron, 2006 Ron Burgundy,” AdamMcKay, 2004 Lynch, 2001 The heightanddeathofauteurcinemainthe 25. “There Will BeBlood,”Paul A movie thatadoptstheperspective notonly 24. “Demonlover,” Olivier What amovie toopenintheweeks after9/11, 23. “DonnieDarko,”Richard 2027 isabitofwreck: Cuaron’s dystopic 22. “Children ofMen,”Alfonso “I love carpet.Ilove lamp. 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From 5:30pm-7pm, allofN9NE’s The early-bird soearly specialdoesn’t start N9NE Steakhouse&Ghostbar (312)266-1944. the penthouse).632N.Dearborn, VIP as $99packagebutyou also getaccessto rooms)access toprivate to$125(same party (premium openbarfrom 8pm-12amand 11pm andbuffetfrom 7pm-9:30pm)to$99 and cashbar)to$59(openbarfrom 7pm- packages range from $40(basicadmission choose how muchyou’re willingtospendas dia countdown to2010.Betteryet, you can be three hugeballoondrops andamultime- Late NightintheCabaret.”Comedy There will and retro hitsaswell astheBadBoys ofLIVE tainment rooms playingdance,hiphop, pop Ring intheNew Year at Vision withfive enter- Vision Nightclub Michigan, (312)787-9596. 1am. Cocktailacquire isrequired. 875N. gourmet buffetandanopenbarfrom 8pm- bash. The $200perpersonticketincludesa and SODA willperformatthisNew Year’s The NewInvaders, The Tony Calderisi Trio Signature Room atthe95th 5704. to shellout$120.2109S. Wabash, (312)753- champagne andspecialseating,you’ll have tus, whichincludesexpress entry, abottle of midnight champagnetoast. To gain sta- VIP Guests canenjoy foodallnightaswell asa ning allnightandplayingmusicvideos. DJs MarkFullaflava and331/3willbespin- The Shrine N. Milwaukee,(773)227-9339. steakanddarkchocolatesorbet.1560 skirt lops withsaffron orzo, bluecheese-crusted course dinnerofMediterranean salad,scal- favors. For $40more, you canenjoy afour- achampagnetoastandparty entertainment, People’s $60packageincludesopenbar, DJ People Lounge Hubbard, (312)329-9960. Buy ticketsatwww.newyears.com.116 W. favors. atmidnightandtonsofparty dessert open bar, horsd’oeuvres, champagneand Penthouse Lounge. You’ll receive apremium Celebrate New Year’s Eve withclassatNV NV Penthouse Lounge 839 W. Fulton Market,(312)733-2222. and craps. Justhope thecopsdon’t show up. will performallnightasyou playblackjack and buffet.DJLilMikeyalive brass band es orsuitsandaccessafive-hour openbar night. Throw onyour bestflapper-style dress- Lumen transforms intoaspeakeasyforthe Go backintimetotheRoaring Twenties as Lumen toast. 3534 W. Belmont,(773)267-5283. favors andamidnightchampagne party bash. Admissionisjust$10andgetsyou New Wave classicsuntil 4amatLateBar’s Dave andKristienHenglwillspin Roberts RESTAURANTS son. 1401 W. Devon, (773)465-9801. rather stopby later, it’ll costyou $75perper- cial holidaymenufor$60perperson.Ifyou’d and betreated toChefBrianMillman’s spe- Early birds canbeseatedat5pmor5:30pm evening fordinersatUncommonGround. The Fatum JazzQuintetwillbeperformingall Uncommon Ground onDevon more. 1400 W. Randolph, (312)850-0303. fron linguini,seared Sonomafoiegras and chilled Floridastonecrab, house-madesaf- course menu.For $75perperson,indulgein Fill uponChefMichaelMcDonald’s richfive- one sixtyblue able. 800N.Michigan,(312)239-4030. tional $80perpersonwinepairingsare avail- round outthemenu.Foras desserts anaddi- A cheese,nutsandchocolatecourseaswell Bordelaise, orbutter-poached Mainelobster. trump, roasted marrow andsauce bonara, primebeeftenderloin withblack foie gras andpuffpastry; andpastacar- smoked caviar;truffledbeefconsomméwith Alaskan KingCrab with sunchoke,celeryand Creations includesushi andsashimior fancy andpricedaccordingly at$195. Executive ChefChristopheDavidissuper A five-course tastingmenucomposedby NoMI best light, from the feud with artist best light,fromTrevor thefeudwithartist public, whichdidn’t exactlypainttheminthe Ethan Kath andAliceGlassdidwasmade light. Unfortunately, italsomeantanything official release pushedthemintothespot- form oronsold-outseven-inches, but this floating around foryears, eitherindemo titled debutLP. Manyofthetracks hadbeen Castles released theirhighlyanticipatedself- In 2008, Toronto electro-punk duoCrystal Castles Crystal events, visitnewcity.com Assembled by Kelley Hecker. For more NYE (312)302-9977. cials lastuntil2am.358 W. Ontario, a champagneortequilatoast.Drinksspe- begins.ADJwillspin,andthere willbe party treated tolive music,andat11:30pmthe cheese. Dinersatthesecondseatingwillbe masa crepes withsquashblossomsand from crispyconfitducklegstosweet corn cava. The hugemenufeatures everything a four-course mealalongwithaglassof and 9pm.For $45,patrons willbetreated to hosting seatingsthisNew Year’s Eve at7pm MexicanrestaurantThis River willbe North Zocalo Chicago, (312)666-6175. sauce. Wine pairingsare available. 1329 W. kin-spice doughnutholeswithrumcustard toasted walnutsandfriedsage;pump- ter vegetable risottowithpoachedapricots, cherries andorange-honey vinaigrette; win- with tangerines,marcona almonds,dried ta, sageandpreserved lemon;baby spinach wrapped inBenton’s countryhamwithpolen- cheese; pan-roasted porksaltimbocca at thespecials:Lobster macaroni and menu willalsobeavailable, buthere’s apeek Year’s Eve festivitiesthisyear. The regular menufor Westcarte Town Tavern’s New Chef SusanGosshasplannedaspecialla West Town Tavern Randolph, (312)575-9900. [email protected]. 440 W. contact Tricia G.at call (312)575-9900tobookyour table,or tions mustbeprepaid withacredit card, so the New Year. Keep inmindthatallreserva- $20.10. After11pm,thetunescontinueuntil of champagneandadancefloorDJfor with horsd’oeuvres, acomplimentaryglass Ghostbar hostsitsown styleofcelebrations MUSIC (773)525-2501. 9pm.$20($25atthedoor). Hecker) LincolnHall,2424N.Lincoln, leave you satisfied.Ifnot,skipit.(Kelley you’re abigfan,thisshow willmostlikely people totakeinlarge doses,meincluded.If schizophrenic stylecanbehard forsome between songs.Still, thisband’s wordy, show where fanscanactuallydifferentiate been playingamore straightforward rock into onelongjamsession,butlatelythey’ve would rearrange songsandturntheirsets unlistenable forothers.Inthepast,pair Sarantos haspassed,butitwascompletely Friedbergers tomake,especially now that I’m sure itwasmeaningfulforthe Olga Sarantos tellingstoriesaboutherlife. an albumthatfeatured theirgrandmother later thatyear with“,” down easily. Ofcourse,theyfollowed thatup loved: focusedpopsongsthatwent short, through. 2005’s “EP,” ontheotherhand,I and Ifounditnearlyimpossibletosit “”wastooscattered forme to-digest FieryFurnaces way. 2004’s vastly different yet quirkyinthatoftenhard- one ortwoalbumsayear since,eachofthem his sisterEleanorhave continuedtorelease “Gallowsbird’s Bark,”in2003,Matthewand venue. Afterreleasing itsdebutalbum, ring intheNew Year atthecity’s newest otic feudswithRadiohead andBecktohelp Furnaces, idi- istakingabreak from starting via-Oak Park indie-rock duo The Fiery Matthew Friedberger, halfoftheBrooklyn- FurnacesThe Fiery 9:30pm. $35. Theater, 2135N.Milwaukee,(773)276-3600. to bemissed.(Kelley Hecker)Congress takingplaceinthecity thisNYEandnot party This iswithoutadoubtthewildestdance about onthesweat-drenched dancefloor. stage whileotherswildlyflailtheirlimbs and strangers. Dozens ofpeopleswarmthe drunk anddancingyour ass off withfriends acclaim. Girl Talk shows are all aboutgetting Animals,” wasreleased andmetwithequal follow-up to“NightRipper,” “Feed the performer. Lastyear Gillis’ highlyanticipated more andbuildhisreputation asamust-see on music,amove thatallowed himtotour in Pittsburgh. Hequitthatin2007tofocus continued toworkadayjobasanengineer from blogsandmusicmagazinesalikeashe national attention,earninghimrave reviews third LP, 2006’s “NightRipper,” brought Gillis knows how tothrow akillerdanceparty. His endary foronesimplereason: theman top, yet Girl Talk shows have becomeleg- mances consistofhimhunchedover alap- Mash-up masterGregg Gillis’ live perfor- Girl Talk Kedzie, (773)252-6179.8:30pm.$50. Hecker) Logan Square Auditorium,2539N. don’t goifyou’re prone toseizures. (Kelley interesting, albeitslightly creepy, show. Just take your eyes offher. This’ll definitelybean can orplayingwithstrobe lights,you can’t ing intothecrowd, climbingwhatever she shit crazy. Whether writhingonthefloor, div- completely unpredictable andseeminglybat- 21-year-old vocalist Glassistheentertainer, Though Kath isthebrains behindtheband, and foundittobeanintenseexperience. of2008.Isawthebandlive in2007 “Crystal Castles”wasoneofmyfavorite pricks. Ifallintotheformercategoryand enjoy themusicorthinkthey’re talentless izing pair. You eitherputtheirshitasideand sound sucked.Pointis:they’re apretty polar- ty atBarcelona’s SonarFestival becausethe ing thestageandthrowing apunchatsecuri- April, accusingthemoftheft,toGlasstrash- band offtheirtourin VEGA ing supporting staff tocalltheduo“pre-madonnas,” tokick- Dallas’ Granada Theater thisyear, whichled Brown tothelast-minutecancelationat Urge Overkill @HOBBack Porch Stage Married Men.@Reggie’s Rock Club Tossers, Yakuza, Teen Idols,ScottLucas, the Todd Hembrook & The Hemispheres @ Nellie’sSmoking Popes@Durty Bar Sassmouth, BaldE.,NateManic@Smart Santiago, theHoodInternet,JohnPatterson, Pretty Lights@ Vic Theatre Pegboy @BeatKitchen Model Stranger @ElboRoom Sweet Orange @Subterranean Margot &the NuclearSoandSo’s, Wild Door Local H,ElectricSix, White Mystery @Double Jens Lekman @EmptyBottle Town SchoolofFolk Music Infamous Stringdusters, UncleEarl@Old Future Rock @KineticPlayground Crystal Method@Green DolphinStreet Clarke @Schubas Bobby Bare Jr., David Vandervelde, Ben Black Keys, Kurt Vile and The Violators @ Big Head Todd andtheMonsters@ Houseof Center @ River EastArts Airborne ToxicEvent, TheVirgins,Drums The Beck’s MarkRonson, MusicExport: The OTHER SHOWS: 9500. $65. Prefuse 73),1106 West Lawrence, (773)561- Aragon Ballroom (with (Ernest Barteldes) skills, whichintheircasecomesspades. also showcasing theband’s improvisational elements from theoriginalrecordings while The Who’s “BabaO’ Riley”withrecognizable sion of The Beatles’ “IAm The Walrus” and setlist—favorites includeguitar-heavy ver- They never stoppedincludingcovers ontheir plished group withincredible musicalchops. careers thebandhasevolved intoanaccom- Well over adecadeintotheir their sets. among thehandfulofcovers includedon Vince Guaraldi’s iconic“LinusandLucy” jazz. Anexampleofthisistheinclusion more progressive sounds,1960srock and Phish copycats, theyseemtoborrow from ent place—insteadofsimplybeingDeador make clearlycomesfrom asomewhatdiffer- lists, open-tapingpolicies),themusicthey the jam-bandcommunity(ever-changing set much incommonwithothergroups within Though Umphrey’sBallroom. McGeehave Aragon The Vicand The Theatre jam duringathree-day Chicagoresidence at home fortheirannualyear-end hometown local bandhastheirs,onceagainheading People havethis traditions, andcertainly Umphrey’s McGee N. Clark,(773)549-0203,10pm.$51-$61. Disappears opens.(Tom Lynch) Metro, 3730 blood. Andalittlebitofstage-diving. this stupid,fuck-allnightentails,expect power-housing. OnNew Years Eve, withall is surely themostviolent, unrelenting and Pavement (yay!)—TheJesusLizard foursome days—Pixies, My Bloody Valentine andnow of theeightiesandninetiesreuniting these piss andvinegar. Ofalltheclassicrock bands played thenextnightwithequalamountsof the hospital. Trooper thatheis,theband ground, arideinan ambulance andavisitto the-crowd anticscosthimafalltothe Metro over Thanksgiving weekend, Yow’s in- night oftheband’s two-evening stintat over theyears, considerthis:duringthefirst psychotic frontman David Yow haslostastep For anyone concernedthat The JesusLizard’s The JesusLizard

12.24.09 newcity 7 feature