Chag urim sameach! (Translation: Happy festival of lights!) Between working from home, a tense presidential election, and on-going COVID anxiety, 2020 has been exhausting. So this holiday season, let someone else do the cooking. Check out these Chicago restaurants offering traditional Hanukkah eats for takeout and delivery. 

Bistronomic

840 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

Spin your Dreidels while enjoying a sophisticated meal. This modern French restaurant offers artisanal smoked salmon salad, carrot veloute, braised short ribs, roasted Amish chicken, and pear financier. $45 per person. Order on Tock for pickup, now through December 18th.  

Prime & Provisions

222 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60601

Looking for the classics? Prime & Provisions’ has your holiday covered. The downtown steakhouse created a exclusive menu that includes matzo ball soup, cucumber and dill salad, potato latkes, braised beef brisket, noodle kugel and strawberry sufganiyot. Order through Tock for $45 per person.

RPM Steak

66 W Kinzie St., Chicago, IL 60654

Feast your eyes on RPM Steak’s multi-course holiday offerings featuring slow-cooked beef brisket, challah, latkes, matzo ball soup, and vanilla sugar doughnuts stuffed with strawberry jam. Available for pickup on Thursday, December 10th-Sunday, December, 13th from 3:00pm to 8:30pm. Place your order on Tock.

Aba

302 N Green St 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60607

Available for all eight nights, Aba’s mouthwatering menu features a twist on traditional favorites like smoky garlic hummus, village salad, matzo ball soup, latkes, roasted brisket with pine nut gremolata, thyme roasted carrots and labneh and rugelach. Order take-out or delivery on Tock starting at $48.95 per person.

Beatrix

673 N St Clair St, Chicago, IL 60611

Celebrate the Festival of Lights with matzo ball soup, challah bread, potato pancakes, slow-braised short rib, raspberry macaroons and chocolate chip coffee cake, courtesy of Beatrix. The menu feeds two people for $79.95 via Tock. Order by 5PM the day prior for pick-up between 4-7:30pm now through December 18th. 

The Peninsula Chicago

108 East Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60611

The Peninsula’s Executive Chef curated a special menu featuring: cheese blintzes, salmon and bagel plate, matzah ball soup, slow roasted Angus beef with pastrami rub, whole roasted organic chicken, traditional latkes or sweet potato latkes, and tzimmes. Sweet treats include sufganiyah and rugelach. $75 per person, order on Tock.

Goddess and Grocer

Various locations

Light the Menorah and dig into traditional items like chicken matzo ball soup, chopped chicken liver, braised brisket, classic noodle kugel, Sufganiyot and more. Tack on a fun cookie decorating kit filled with dreidels, menorahs, and a Star of David. Order directly on their website.

Publican Quality Meats

825 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

Chef Paul Kahan wants to spoil you with his favorite recipes. Get your hands on his mentor Erwin Drecshler’s braised brisket and Grandma Minnie’s noodle kugel. Don’t forget the potato latkes, roasted honeynut squash, and a flourless chocolate torte. $45 to $75 per person, order via Tock.

Hanukkah Takeout Featured Image Credit: Pixabay

The post 8 Best Restaurants to Get Takeout During Hanukkah appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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Since Christmas this year promises to be different from any other, why not do something different when it comes to your Christmas toys shopping in Chicago? It’s easy enough to order fun games, plush toys, and more from Amazon, but more than ever, local businesses need our support; in the spirit of shopping local— and at establishments that specialize in fun and games— check out these toys to find the best Christmas toys in Chicago.

Timeless Toys

4749 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60625

Opened in Lincoln Square in 1993, Timeless Toys has changed hands along the way but continues to fulfill Harry and Martha Burrows’ vision of serving as “an urban oasis for children and their families.”

Toys et Cetera

1502 E 55th St, Chicago IL 60615

This Hyde Park toy store has been helping Chicago kids play, create, and learn since the ‘70s. They have over 10,000 toys in the store which cater to the imaginations of little scientists, musicians, story-tellers, and all other sorts of children.

Building Blocks Toy Store

2071 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago IL 60614

3306 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60657

2130 W Division St, Chicago IL 60622

Since 1996, the folks at Building Blocks (the self-described “champions of play”) have been carefully choosing a wide variety of toys that suit many budgets, many learning styles, and all kinds of fun.

Cat & Mouse Games

1112 W Madison St, Chicago IL 60607

Cat & Mouse opened in 2008, and continues to be family-run. Games and puzzles are at the heart of this store’s mission, but they also carry books, arts and crafts, science activities, and more.

*play

3109 W Logan Blvd, Chicago IL 60647

2462 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL 60614

5311 N Clark St, Chicago IL 60640

Chock-full of toys and books for kids of all ages, this store has three Chicago locations to cater to your playtime needs. With the help of *play, kids can build structures, solve puzzles, make music, and follow their imaginations wherever they may lead.

SMASH Toys and Collectibles

7222 W Touhy Ave, Chicago IL 60631

A toy store of a different vein, SMASH carries lots of new, used, and vintage toys and collectibles, including action figures, Lego sets, and plenty of decades-old toys and memorabilia.

Christmas Toys Chicago Featured Image Credit: *play Toys Chicago

The post Best Places to Find Christmas Toys in Chicago appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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It’s easy to get bummed out about all of the Christmas festivities that aren’t happening this year— many of us are separated from family and friends, and winters can start to feel pretty long in Chicago. Luckily, Chicagoans are tough, and can handle a little outdoor, well-ventilated merriment; even if it gets a little too frosty for you, there’s a wide variety of events and activities in which you can participate from the warmth and safety of your own home.

Christmas Market Pop Up at DMen Tap

Through December 24

2849 W Belmont Ave, Chicago IL 60618

Now through Christmas Eve, visit the Dönermen Food Truck just outside DMen Tap, where you’ll be able to purchase all sorts of hot foods and drinks ordinarily available during Chicago’s beloved Christkindlmarket. You can even buy a vintage Christkindlmarket mug!

Lookingglass Theatre’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier

Through December 27

Stream Lookingglass’s acclaimed 2019 production of the Hans Christian Andersen tale The Steadfast Tin Soldier. The online event even features a “virtual behind-the-scenes lobby experience” before showtime!

Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol

Through December 31

This much-loved annual Goodman adaptation of Charles Dickens’ story has been reimagined and modified to stream as an audio play, which is available for free listening through the end of the year on the Goodman’s website.

Holly Jolly Drive-In

Through December 24

2833 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago IL 60657

Along with a Christmassy drive-in movie, attendees will see some North Pole VIPs— Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus, elves, and a whole host of other characters will make appearances at the drive-in, located in the lot next to Replay Lincoln Park. Admission is charged per vehicle, so it’s up to you how many people can safely ride in your car.

Ballet Chicago’s The Nutcracker

Through December 30

The Nutcracker, another long-adored staple of the holiday season, can be streamed online this year. Over 100 Ballet Chicago dancers perform in the dance company’s archival presentations of the Christmas classic.

Christmas Chicago Featured Image: Replay Lincoln Park on Facebook

The post Safe Ways to Celebrate Christmas in Chicago in 2020 appeared first on UrbanMatter.

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Chicago Bears: 2021 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Rose Bowl by Usayd Koshul

The Chicago Cubs have traded Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres in an awful deal for them.

The Chicago Cubs were rumored to trade Yu Darvish to the San Diego Padres all day long and we even came up with some trade packages that would make sense. However, the Cubs made such a bad trade that it made the trade packages we made not even close. They didn’t even land one of San Diego’s top five prospects in exchange for Darvish which is crazy. Darvish’s personal catcher, Victor Caratini, also is in the deal with San Diego.

It was a big day for the Padre because this came less than 24 hours after they acquired Blake Snell from the Tampa Bay Rays. This is clearly a team that is trying to win the whole thing in 2021 and even beyond that. With the depth that they are accumulating, they are becoming a problem for the National League.

Yu Darvish was magnificent in 2020. People went in with low expectations for him so he just went out there and played amazing. He was the runner-up for the National League Cy Young because he was so good. Without him, it is hard to see the Cubs winning the NL Central in 2020. He will be missed as their rotation took a big hit with him leaving.

For Darvish and Caratini, the Padres sent five players back to Chicago. As mentioned before, not a single top-five prospect is headed the Cubs way in exchange for the Cy Young runner up. It was nothing short of a salary dump for the Cubs. With all of the talent that they still have on the roster, it is hard to watch them start a rebuild but it appears that is what’s happening.

Zach Davies is the only MLB player that the Cubs are getting. The four prospects coming with Davies are Owen Caissie, Reggie Preciado, Ismael Mena, and Yeison Santana. Santana is the oldest prospect at 20 and the rest are all in their teens.

Related Story: Five best destinations for Kyle Schwarber

Even with Darvish’s salary, it is bad that they didn’t get a higher level of return. He was so good in 2020 and you had to think that his trade value would be as high as it has ever been. Now, Yu gets to go to warm San Diego and play for a good team while the Cubs look to be lost in the middle of nowhere.

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Over the first three games, the Chicago Bulls have had a tough start to the season. It has not been an easy first week for the Chicago Bulls. Going 0-3 to start the 2020-2021 season, the Bulls may seem to be right back where they were at the end of last year. Even though the […]

Chicago Bulls: Positives from first 3 games of the season – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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Who are some 2021 NFL Draft Prospects that the Chicago Bears should keep an eye on in the Rose Bowl? While the Chicago Bears are clearly focused on finishing out the 2020 season, we also know that the Bears, like any other franchise, are looking ahead to the 2021 NFL Draft and the talent that […]

Chicago Bears: 2021 NFL Draft prospects to watch in Rose Bowl – Da Windy City – Da Windy City – A Chicago Sports Site – Bears, Bulls, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Fighting Illini & More

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Columbus police officer Adam Coy was fired hours after a hearing was held to determine his employment, Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. said in a statement.

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A white Ohio police officer was fired Monday after bodycam footage showed him fatally shooting 47-year-old Andre Hill — a Black man who was holding a cellphone — and refusing to administer first aid for several minutes.

Columbus police officer Adam Coy was fired hours after a hearing was held to determine his employment, Columbus Public Safety Director Ned Pettus Jr. said in a statement.

“The actions of Adam Coy do not live up to the oath of a Columbus Police officer, or the standards we, and the community, demand of our officers,” the statement read. “The shooting of Andre Hill is a tragedy for all who loved him in addition to the community and our Division of Police.”

Coy remains under criminal investigation for last week’s shooting.

The decision came after Pettus concluded a hearing to determine whether the actions taken by Coy in the moments before and after the fatal shooting of Hill on Tuesday were justified. The public safety director upheld the recommendation of Police Chief Thomas Quinlan, who made a video statement Christmas Eve, saying he had seen enough to recommend Coy be terminated.

Quinlan expedited the investigation and bypassed procedure to file two departmental charges alleging critical misconduct against Coy in the death of Hill.

“This is what accountability looks like. The evidence provided solid rationale for termination,” Quinlan said after Coy’s termination Monday afternoon. “Mr. Coy will now have to answer to the state investigators for the death of Andre Hill.”

Members of the local Fraternal Order of Police attended the hearing on behalf of Coy, who was not in attendance, according to a statement from Pettus’ office.

“Officer Coy was given the opportunity today to come and participate,” Brian Steel, vice president of the police union, told reporters Monday. He elected not to participate. I do not know why … I would have liked to have him here, but it’s his decision.”

Coy and another officer responded to a neighbor’s nonemergency call after 1 a.m. Tuesday about a car in front of his house in the city’s northwest side that had been running, then shut off, then turned back on, according to a copy of the call released Wednesday.

Mayor Andrew Ginther said it remains unclear if that car had anything to do with Hill.

Police bodycam footage showed Hill emerging from a garage and holding up a cellphone in his left hand seconds before he was fatally shot by Coy. There is no audio because the officer hadn’t activated the body camera; an automatic “look back” feature captured the shooting without audio.

An investigation is also being conducted into the other officers who responded to the call that ended in Hill being shot, who Quinlan said also appear to have either failed to activate their body cameras or to render Hill aid. He said any others who violated department protocols will be held accountable.

Officers must activate their body cameras as soon as they are dispatched to a major incident such as a shooting, robbery or burglary, under departmental policy. Although Coy was dispatched on a nonemergency call, the call became an enforcement action when the officer interacted with Hill because that was separate from the original call, said police department spokesperson Sgt. James Fuqua.

In addition to an internal police investigation, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost was appointed a special prosecutor in the death of Hill on Thursday.

“We will do our duty based on the facts and the law,” Yost said in a tweet. “Whatever the outcome, someone will be angry — but the decision will be objective.”

There is also an investigation under the state’s criminal investigations unit, under Yost, with assistance from the U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI’s Civil Rights Division.

Coy, a 17-year member of the force, was relieved of duty, ordered to turn in his gun and badge, and stripped of police powers last week.

The killing of Hill at the hands of Columbus police follows the fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr. on Dec. 4 by a white Franklin County Sheriff’s deputy. The two back-to-back shootings have resulted in an outpour of criticism from advocates and the Black community in Columbus for wider and more comprehensive police reform.

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Farnoush Amiri is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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