2nd Chicago Pinkberry to Open Sept. 9th

Delve reported a few week's ago about the Wells St. updates and improvements, and our good news was just confirmed. Pinkberry will be opening its second Chicago location on Sept. 9th next to the new Kamahachi location.

Our only additional ask is that they please, please bring back the salted caramel option.

Fall Restaurant Openings

What do a celeb chef, a hotel guru and the villa where the Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main Street have in common? Each are part of one of five restaurant openings coming to the Windy City this Fall.

Our friends at Pop Sugar are dishing on the openings they can’t wait to try, and we could not agree more.

• Balena – This Italian eatery is backed by teams from BOKA and The Bristol, Chef Chris Pandel is pulling out all the stops
• Pump Room – A 50s Chicago icon reopens at the helm of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten (of New York's ABC Kitchen)
• Nellcôte – this is the one apparently named after the villa where the Rolling Stones recorded Exile on Main St. So that’s cool… Expect housemade pastas and pizza, all whipped up via their in-kitchen flour mill
  
• Tavernita – Chicago loves all-things-Ryan-Poli these days, and Tavernita's Mediterranean and Latin-inspired dishes are no exception
• Bavette's Bar & Boeuf – European steakhouse from the crew behind Gilt Bar, Maude's Liquor Bar and The Doughnut Vault

Which is Delve most excited for? We couldn’t possibly choose.

Photo via Pop Sugar

Fashion Faceoff

Ladies, the world is your runway. Or at least you better act like it is. Fall fashion is here and some of the top celeb stylists are hitting the streets of the Chi for the city's biggest, most stylish events. Don't be a fashion victim; these guys are armed and fabulous.

Carson Kressley: Our favorite "Queer Eye" guy was in town this weekend as part of In-Fashion: The Magnificent Mile Shopping Festival

Robert Verdi: Verdi (sunglasses and all) will be giving fashion advice at The Thompson Center tomorrow, August 30 from 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. as part of the Special K Pop Up Runway

Brad Goreski: Bravo fashion guru and former assistant to the one and only Rachel Zoe will be hosting the 900 N. Michigan Shops Fashion's Night Out event on September 8 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Two words: Work it.

Photo courtsey of TheMagnificentMile.com

Opening Tonight: 25 Degrees

There’s a new burger joint in town, and it’s opening tonight.

25 Degrees, an upscale burger and wine bar hailing from California, is touting a “bordello meets burger bar” appeal. Opening tonight in River North (on Clark, between Chicago and Superior to be exact), 25 Degrees promises a casual, yet upscale dining experience with an old Hollywood ambiance.

So what’s on the menu? 25 Degrees offers up a few signature burgers and a “build your own” menu with the choice of grilled sirloin, turkey or veggie patties. On Delve’s list of must-tries: the Number Two – roasted tomato, burrata, crispy prosciutto and pesto and the Number Four – yellowfin tuna, butter lettuce, crispy fried onions and spicy aioli. While checking out the full menu, also take a moment of silence with the list of cheeses and sauces available. Unreal.

And to drink? Aside from a full bar and a wine list of over 50 selection, 25 Degrees makes adult-inspired (aka spiked) milkshakes and sodas. If that’s not reason enough to pay this new spot a visit, we don’t know what is…

Oh! And trivia question: What’s with the name 25 Degrees?

Answer: It happens to be the temperature difference between a medium rare and well-done burger. Who knew?

Lulu Frost Falls for J. Crew

If you are like us, you can't get enough of high-end meets affordable designer collabs. While this one might not be new, Lulu Frost's fall collection for J.Crew has us ooh'ing and aah'ing over bright colors and art-deco inspired embellishments. Prices range from $65 to $135, so let the bangle stacking begin!



Click on image to enlarge; photos courtesy of J. Crew

Mama DePandi Coming to Chicago

Delve reported back in July that the Melmans were up to something with the revamp of the Ben Pao space, but we didn’t expect, in our wildest dreams, that it would involve a collaboration with two of our fave Chicagoans: Giuliana and Bill.

We knew Mama DePandi had to be behind this the second we heard the news, and it’s looking like we were right. While Chef/Partner Doug Psaltis will be running the kitchen, rumor has it that Giuliana’s beloved mom will be a regular fixture in the new Chicago-based restaurant. The combination of Psaltis (having worked in some of the world’s most lauded kitchens including Alain Ducasse at the Essex House in New York, Ducasses’s three Michelin star restaurant in Monaco, Le Louis XV and Mix in New York, and Thomas Keller’s French Laundry in Napa Valley) and the old school Italian cooking of the DePandi family, already has our mouths watering.

Jerrod Melman says the Lettuce Entertain You crew has been thinking about creating an Italian spot for awhile, and once they got to know the Rancics, the concept “just organically all came together.” With a lineup like this, how could it not?

Think they’ll discuss on tonight's episode of Giuliana & Bill? We’ll be tuned in to find out.

Until then, arrivederci.

Counting Down: Missoni for Target September 13

With dreams of inexpensive yet fabulous knitwear swirling in our heads, we are literally counting down the days until the Missoni for Target launch on September 13. These stylish Italian stripes will grace the women's, men's, kid's, shoe and home accessory lines at our favorite retailer. Prices range from $2.99 - $599.99 (hello, Missoni patio furniture). Would it be inappropriate if we started lining up now?

Taking on Fall

We’re grasping on to every last ounce of warm weather we possibly can, but our fave stores are already throwing in the towel on Summer. With cozy frocks starting to hit shelves, our friends at Refinery 29 are showing readers how to transition your favorite maxis from Summer to Fall.

Check out their full article here on how to help your maxi take on autumn, one tweed blazer at a time.


Photo via Refinery 29

He's Heating Up

Opening a steakhouse in Chicago is no easy task. Lucky for us, the newest one to hit town is in the hands of a certain gentleman who Chicagoans are confident is pretty good under pressure.

Opening tomorrow, Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse is taking over Michigan Avenue, one steak-craving, scotch-drinking man at a time. And with a 38oz, 28-day aged bone-in rib eye on the menu, we advise you show up hungry.

What else can you expect? We have our hearts/stomachs set on a few things: the sweet corn lobster bisque with a lobster and corn hush puppy and vanilla bean aioli, the Alaskan Salmon with Mussels, peperonat, La Quercia prosciutto and lardo crostini and the 23 layer chocolate cake, with chocoloate-coffee ganache and whipped cream. And to drink? We're going with the Le Grande Dame - cognac, mint, lemon and champagne.

What can we say, we’re feeling ambitious.


Clockwise, starting with upper left: 23oz Bone-In Ribeye, Colossal Crab Cake, Key Lime Bombe, Wild Alaskan Salmon, Tomato and Sweet Onion Salad

Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse
505 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611
312.321.8823
Website

Weekend Recos

For those looking to avoid the Air and Water Show crowds pouring into Chicago this weekend, Delve is here to equip you with a few alternatives. From pop-up dinners to side walk sales, here’s your weekend go-to:

• Lucky enough to snag a reservation to Brandon Baltzley's out of the ordinary pop-up dinner tonight? Tweet from dinner at @getCRUXed (#CRUX). Delve dishes on the concept developed by CRUX, a three man team including Baltzley, Emmanuel Cadengo of Longman & Eagle and Jaimee Vitolo of NYC’s 6th St. Kitchen and Cleveland’s Moxie.
  
• Two words: Gelato Fest. Tonight from 6-9 in Little Italy. Need I say more?
• Head to Big Star for the ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ sidewalk sale this Sunday from 12-4 p.m. to pick up unused housewares from your favorite Chicago restaurants and watering holes including Publican, Avec, Big Star, Blackbird and Violet Hour.