What’s New

6 Places to Get the Best Irish Food in Chicago This Yearon March 15, 2021 at 8:36 pm

What’s St.Patricks Day without some traditional Irish food in Chicago, right? If you’re celebrating this week, make sure to head to some of Chicago’s Irish pubs and restaurants to enjoy the Irish cuisine. These six restaurants and pubs mentioned here will not disappoint and will become your favorite go to places for Celtic cuisine. And if drinking is more your bag, try these Irish pubs for a refreshing pint this week! 

661 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

The Kerryman’s location was once a notorious gangster hangout known as the McGovern Saloon. In 1978 the location became home to one of the “original” punk clubs and was considered to be the zenith of the original Chicago punk movement. Now known as Chicago’s liveliest Irish bar, located in the heart of downtown Chicago’s River North Neighborhood, The Kerryman is a little piece of Ireland.  The 3 owners all hail from Co. Kerry Ireland and the Head Chef Damo Moloney from Co. Limerick, Ireland who creates an upscale authentic Irish menu. The menu includes staples like Shepards Pie, corned beef and cabbage, and of course some Irish beer to feed your soul. 

Advertisement

3905 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

Advertisement

In the heart of Chicago’s North Center neighborhood, Mrs. Murphy’s has been serving up scratch made Irish pub favorites, complemented by a thoughtful assortment of craft beers, a friendly wine list and a deep selection of Irish whiskey for more than 14 years. The best part of it though? You can shop right at the restaurant for groceries so you can have a piece of Ireland at home! From the traditional corned beef to beef & Guinness stew, it has something for everyone! 

2442 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614

Known for their Irish hospitality, Celtic cuisine, and the best draft list in Lincoln Park, Galway Arms is a must if you’re indulging yourself in St.Patrick’s Day. Irish sausage rolls, Galway salad, shepards pie, and corned beef & cabbage are just a few of the items you’d find on their menu. Along with their extensive Cetlic cuisine, you can enjoy Irish beer from their extensive list of alcoholic beverages. 

3471 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

Since 1999, Chief O’Neill’s has had the privilege of serving Chicagoland as well as many people from around the world. If you’re planning on coming here for St.Patrick’s Day, they have a dedicated menu so you can enjoy their Celtic Cuisine. The menu consists of all the traditional Irish food. They also have an extensive beer and wine list to compliment your meal. 

1367 W Erie St, Chicago, IL 60642

From real Guinness battered fish & chips to our juicy custom blend chuck & brisket burgers, to gluten free & vegetarian options- The Irish Nobleman has something everyone can enjoy. The Chicago pub boasts a casual yet classy atmosphere with rustic details straight from Ireland. A vintage rich dark hardwood bar is the centerpiece you’ll first notice, and then perhaps the classic exposed Chicago brick, antique stained glass accents imported from Ireland, and a cozy fireplace in the main dining room. 

5260 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

Located in Andersonville, Lady Gregory’s is also a must to add to your Irish cuisine list. Since St. Patrick’s Day festivities are going on, they have a menu specifically for that. Their mains consist of Irish hush puppies, corned beef & cabbage (duh), bangers and mash, and drunken bacon burgers. And of course what’s a meal without a drink right? They’ve got plenty to choose from. From ciders to stouts to whiskey, you’ll be able to choose from many Irish and Irish inspired alcoholic beverages.

Irish Food Chicago Featured Image Credit: Hogans Irish Cottages

Read More

6 Places to Get the Best Irish Food in Chicago This Yearon March 15, 2021 at 8:36 pm Read More »

How to Help Your Employees With Financial Planningon March 15, 2021 at 4:37 pm

Small Business Blog

How to Help Your Employees With Financial Planning

©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

How to Help Your Employees With Financial Planningon March 15, 2021 at 4:37 pm Read More »

Spring Up Your Beauty Routineon March 15, 2021 at 5:27 pm

Just N

Spring Up Your Beauty Routine

©2021 CTMG – A Chicago Tribune website –
Crafted by the News Apps team

Read More

Spring Up Your Beauty Routineon March 15, 2021 at 5:27 pm Read More »

Breathe and Bloomon March 15, 2021 at 6:04 pm

Grounded Healing

Breathe and Bloom

Read More

Breathe and Bloomon March 15, 2021 at 6:04 pm Read More »

How Julie DiCaro is Fighting Sexism in Sports Mediaon March 15, 2021 at 6:04 pm

Sidelined is both a memoir and a reported look at the mistreatment of women in sports media — from fans, coworkers, and athletes. What surprised you while working on it?

I put out a call on Twitter that was like, “Hey, if you’ve been harassed or if you’ve had #MeToo experiences and you work in sports media …” The number of higher-profile women who reached out to me was surprising. A lot of times we look at the women we see on TV or hear on the radio, and we think, “I bet nobody messes with that person — look at her walking in there like a boss.” What I found out is that it doesn’t matter.

The online harassment you’ve faced is not just mean. It’s scary. Why was it important to you to detail it so explicitly?

I don’t know that people necessarily know what we’re talking about when we say “online harassment.” Like, “Your opinion is stupid” — I don’t care about that. You can call me dumb all day long. It’s public record searches to see what they can figure out about where I live or what school district my kids are in. It’s violent, graphic images that will send you to a therapist. There’s been a bunch of studies showing that women and men are harassed in very different ways. Men get, “You suck at your job,” while women get, “I’m gonna kill you and rape your corpse in front of your kids.” And it’s not OK.

You’ve said that on-the-job abuse is amplified in sports media. Why is that?

There are very few women; there are very few people of color. It’s a breeding ground for misogyny and sexism and homophobia and racism. It seems like in other forms of media, people take diversity and equity and inclusion more seriously. Otherwise, you wouldn’t see [sports outlets] that have no women on staff. Sports media should reflect the fan base. And it just doesn’t.

You repeatedly note that NFL fans are 50 percent women. Why is that an important stat?

No matter what sports radio station you’re at, they’ll say, “Our demographic are guys 18 to 54.” But then everyone’s also talking about, “How do we grow our audience?” What about all the women out there who don’t listen to sports talk radio because they don’t feel welcome? It just seems like a huge disconnect to me. I would think that if you look at Chicago, you would want to put a lineup on that reflects, demographically, that fan base. It’s not just a few women who like to hang out with the guys and do fantasy football.

Read More

How Julie DiCaro is Fighting Sexism in Sports Mediaon March 15, 2021 at 6:04 pm Read More »

DePaul fires men’s basketball coach Dave Leitaoon March 15, 2021 at 5:36 pm

DePaul has fired men’s basketball coach Dave Leitao, according to multiple reports.

Leitao, 60, has led the Blue Demons to five straight last-place finishes in the Big East.

Leitao, who was in his second stint as DePaul coach, was re-hired in 2015 by former athletic director Jean Lenti Ponsetto in a controversial move. In his first go around with DePaul from 2002-2005, he compiled a 58-34 record in three seasons, with one NCAA appearance before leaving in 2015 to coach Virginia.

His return lasted six seasons, with a 69-113 record and zero NCAA appearances. In 2018-19, the team finished with its only winning record (19-17) — its first in 12 years — in Leitao’s recent tenure. The Blue Demons were runners-up in the College Basketball Invitational.

The Blue Demons began the following season 12-1, its most promising start to a season in years, including a 65-60 overtime win against the reigning national finalist No. 12 Texas Tech. However the team stumbled down the stretch with a 3-15 conference record.

Leitao finished 124-147 overall at DePaul, with a 21-85 record in Big East play.

Athletic director Dwayne Peevy, who started in September, will make his first high-profile hire of his tenure. Peevy came to DePaul after 12 years at Kentucky where he served deputy athletic director and oversaw the Wildcats’ men’s basketball program.

He has spoken of high expectations and the need to resurrect the Blue Demons moribund men’s basketball program.

“I was brought here for a reason,” Peevy told the Sun-Times earlier this month, ”to fix [men’s basketball]. … “I didn’t come here to be last, We’re last again.”

Among the names that Peevy could target: Loyola coach Porter Moser, former Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne, who is now an assistant coach with the Knicks, or Duke assistant and former Glenbrook North standout Jon Scheyer.

Read More

DePaul fires men’s basketball coach Dave Leitaoon March 15, 2021 at 5:36 pm Read More »

Get ready for football: Explaining the nuts and bolts of the upcoming seasonon March 15, 2021 at 3:00 pm

There will be prep football in Illinois this school year.

For months, as the state’s COVID-19 fortunes ebbed and flowed, no one knew if we’d get to this point.

But teams began practice in early March, and the first games of a delayed, abbreviated season are scheduled for this weekend.

Here’s a few questions and answers to get you up to speed for the strangest high school football season in state history.

How did we get here?

As with most questions during the past year, the short answer is: the pandemic.

Last year’s boys basketball playoffs were abruptly canceled on the eve of the small-school state tournaments and during the big-school sectionals as the gravity of COVID-19 became apparent.

From March till August, there were no high school sports in Illinois, with the entire spring 2020 season canceled.

Last fall, state health officials gave the green light to lower-risk fall sports to compete: boys and girls cross country, boys and girls golf, girls swimming and girls tennis.

Other traditional fall sports like football, boys soccer and girls volleyball were punted to the spring in hopes the pandemic would be on the wane by then. Then, IHSA officials projected a Feb. 15 start date for practice with games to begin March 5.

That didn’t happen, and a good thing too, in light of the 1-2 punch of extreme cold and heavy snow most of Illinois experienced through much of February.

A late fall COVID surge again put all prep sports on hold. That led to rallies and at least one failed lawsuit as athletes and parents pushed the IHSA and state officials to allow a return to play.

Finally, in late January, state officials announced sports could resume, first with an abbreviated basketball season followed by a similarly shortened football schedule with games starting in mid-March.

So how long is the season?

It’s six weeks, beginning the weekend of March 19-20. The last day for games will be Saturday, April 24.

As it did for basketball, the Public League will start a week later. But while the IHSA granted Public League basketball teams an extra week of play after the rest of the state wraps up, it did not grant the same exemption for football.

That means CPS football teams will play a five-game schedule.

Will there be state playoffs?

No. That’s been the standard so far this school year, though traditional spring sports such as baseball, softball and track and field will have state series including state finals.

Is every football team participating in the spring season?

Not quite, but almost all are. Joliet Herald-News sports editor Steve Soucie, who has been tracking schedules, says only six schools have opted out: Back of the Yards, Christ the King, Urban Prep Englewood, Litchfield, Pinckneyville and Rockford Christian.

Some schools have elected not to play a full schedule for a variety of reasons, including concern about stretching athletes too thin during the transitions from basketball to football and from football to spring sports.

What will schedules look like? Will we have any of the marquee nonconference games that traditionally highlight the first two weeks of the season?

Almost all teams will play exclusively within their conference, or crossing over with opponents in other divisions of their conference.

There are a few nonconference matchups. Some are the result of leagues like the Southland having an odd number of schools, and some are the result of schools needing a new opponent after the original one opted not to play a full schedule.

One of the more interesting nonconference games will be on March 27 when Marian Catholic hosts Crete-Monee in a matchup of returning playoff qualifiers.

Without playoffs, what is there to play for?

Different conferences are attacking this question in different ways.

Some like the Central Suburban, Mid-Suburban and Fox Valley are playing five conference games, with Week 6 reserved for crossovers between division champs, runners-up, third-place finishers and so on.

DuPage Valley teams will play five league games followed by final week matchups pitting the No. 1 and 2 teams, the No. 3 and 4 teams and the No. 5 and 6 teams.

Then there is the DuKane, which will play three conference games followed by a three-week, bracketed tournament.

It’s not like the usual five weeks of playoffs culminating in a weekend of state finals in Champaign or DeKalb. But in a pandemic year, football teams — and fans — will take what they can get.

Read More

Get ready for football: Explaining the nuts and bolts of the upcoming seasonon March 15, 2021 at 3:00 pm Read More »