On Our Radar: Chicago

Sometimes, a city is so great we have to share as much as we can about it. And Chicago is definitely our kind of town! Easy to get to from nearly all major cities in Canada. Even more appetizing, the first 10 days of February in Chi-town are restaurant week (obviously 7 days is just not enough to take in all the delicious action!). You never know who is going to show up – at last fall’s outdoor gourmet food fair, Mayor Rahm Emanuel was spotted snacking on sliders. To wet your whistle, here are five great things to do in Chicago now (we threw in one more for good luck, hello St. Patrick’s Day!). Plus, look for Vivian Vassos’s story in one of our spring issues of Zoomer magazine for more!  (www.choosechicago.com)

1. Little Goat
Rock star chef Stephanie Izzard of Girl and the Goat fame just opened a 50s style diner in the West Loop, which will features a pulled pork sandwich served on a pork fat doughnut. (www.littlegoatchicago.com)

2.La Bohème
1/21–3/28
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Golden melodies transport you to Paris’ Latin Quarter, where young artists struggle to make ends meet in icy cold garrets. Yearning, ecstasy, and despair — you hear it all in the music.
3. Chicago Restaurant Week
2/1–10
Ten days. More than 200 restaurants. Prix-fixe prices starting at $22. This is your once-a-year chance to sample the incredible cuisine at Chicago’s world-class restaurants without breaking your food budget. Kick off the week with the First Bites Bash… a not to miss feast featuring over 50 chefs under one roof. www.eati­tupchicago.com

4. Picasso and Chicago
2/19–5/12
Art Institute of Chicago
Marvel at more than 250 of the finest examples of the museum’s collection of Picasso’s paintings, sculptures, prints and drawings, as well as major loans from private collections.

5. Grace
Chris Duffy opened his much anticipated restaurant in the West Loop’s food haven of Randolph Street. Duffy took a month-long sabbatical to recharge his creative batteries and conceptualized a dish every day for four weeks. www.grace-restaurant.com