Best Restaurants Near The Auto Show

By Mark G. McLaughlin

The Chicago Auto Show is open 12 hours a day, from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., which means that most people who come to the show are going to want lunch or dinner or both. While there is fast food to be had without leaving the building, there are nearly 450 restaurants nearby that offer diverse and delectable alternatives. While the culinary choices are dizzying and range from places that serve traditional Chicago deep dish pizza to fresh oysters and everything in between, here are just five of the best restaurants near the 2018 Chicago Auto Show.

2018 Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place
2301 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
(630) 495-2282

Date: February 10 – 19
Time: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day except the last (8 p.m. on Feb. 19)
www.chicagoautoshow.com 

Cafe Bionda
1924 State St.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-9800
www.biondasouthloop.com

About two-thirds of a mile from McCormick Place there is a restaurant that serves the most amazing lobster fettuccine and pork chop Calabrese imaginable. Cafe Bionda is cozy, cheerful and surprisingly affordable, especially for an inner city restaurant. Almost everything on the menu is under $30, and many entrees can be had for as low as $20. The cuisine is classic Italian, with dozens of pasta, meat and fish dishes.

Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta
2106 S. Indiana Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 842-0777
www.pizanoschicago.com

Chicago is famous for its deep dish pizza, and one of the best restaurants to enjoy it is a mere third of a mile from McCormick Place. Pizano’s Pizza and Pasta is a favorite not just of visitors, but also to those who work, shop and live in this part of the city. The thin crust pizza is also great – so great that it is Oprah’s favorite! Still run by the family that opened the first restaurant in 1943, there is probably no better place in the Windy City for a traditional Chicago-style pizza, deep dish, thin crust or otherwise. Even better, the S. Indiana Avenue location near McCormick Place is open until 2 a.m.!

Tapas Valencia
1530 S. State St.
Chicago, IL
(312) 842-4444
www.tapasvalencia.com

For those show-goers who want to linger over light fare and a nice drink, or make a meal by sharing a variety of small plates, Tapas Valencia on South State Street is a great choice and is within a mile of McCormick Place. This place, however, serves more than just tapas and pitchers of sangria; it also has a signature “Taste of Spain” fixed price feast that is astounding. For $40 per person ($65 with wine pairings chosen by the staff), diners are treated to three courses of traditional Spanish cuisine, plus dessert.

Chicago Oyster House
1933 S. Indiana Ave.
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-8833
www.chicagooysterhouse.com

After a long day visiting the auto show, it is nice to sit somewhere that is calm, comfortable and classy to enjoy a meal. Although Chicago is rightly famed for its pizza and brats, there is at least one place in town that has made its reputation by serving fresh seafood. As the name indicates, the Chicago Oyster House is the place to go for oysters and other delights from the seas. Diners can work their way through a dizzying variety of types of oysters from around the world and can have them raw or cooked and prepared in many ways. The Chicago Oyster House has a lot more than oysters, as its lengthy and tempting seafood menu attests. It is less than half a mile away from the show, and well worth the stroll.

Weather Mark Tavern
1503 Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 588-0230
weathermarktavern.com

While the number of restaurant choices narrows after the Chicago Auto Show closes at 10 p.m., just over three-quarters of a mile away is the Weather Mark Tavern, a restaurant and bar that is open until 2 a.m. The Weather Mark menu is what anyone would expect from the name, but this place is about much more than pizza, burgers or similar pub grub. They do the basics well, but there are a number of unique signature choices to try, such as the chicken risotto soup, the Guinness meatball sandwich and the Italian beef, with home-made giardiniera.

 

 

 

 

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2rVArHG

Most Road-Trip Worthy Cars At The 2018 Chicago Auto Show

By Mark G. McLaughlin

The great American road trip means different things to different people, but regardless of the reason, sitting in a vehicle for hours on end is going to tax even the most committed driver. The ordeal of such a journey can be greatly eased and even relatively enjoyable if done in a vehicle that is properly designed for just such an odyssey. Here are just five of the most road-trip worthy cars that will be on display at the Chicago Auto Show.

2018 Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place
2301 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
(630) 495-2282

Date: February 10 – 19
Time: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day except the last (8 p.m. on Feb. 19)
www.chicagoautoshow.com 

Honda CR-V Compact SUV

The Honda CR-V is one of the best compact SUVs for a road trip. It seats five and has ample passenger leg room and a spacious cargo area, as well as advanced safety features. The Honda CR-V gets up to an economical 34 mpg on the open road. There are also a lot of entertainment options available and it offers a very comfortable ride, especially for a compact SUV.

Mazda MX-5 Miata Convertible

The Mazda MX-5 Miata may not be well-suited for a family road trip, but for one or two people it is a great car to drive over long distances. It is sporty looking and fun to drive, and the soft top or retractable hard top (RF) versions of this convertible are especially well-suited to those who want to feel the wind in their hair as they travel along the highways and byways. The Mazda is also economical, as it gets up to 36 mpg on the highway, and comfortable, at least for two, making it ideal for a romantic getaway.

Ford Fusion Hybrid

Road trips do not have to be excessively expensive—especially not in the Ford Fusion Hybrid, which gets over 40 mpg both in the city and on the highway. It has a good-size trunk and a comfortable and well-appointed interior and handles well on tight turns and twisty back roads. 

Jeep Grand Cherokee

The Jeep Grand Cherokee not only offers a smooth, comfortable and quiet ride, but also has a lot of cargo space, especially with the back seat down. Even with the back seat up, however, the Grand Cherokee offers a lot of room to pack suitcases or camping gear, and it can tow up to 7,400 pounds. The full or part-time four-wheel drive is well-suited for those whose road trip is going off the main roads, and its sturdy construction and excellent safety features make it a vehicle anyone or their family can ride in with confidence.

GMC Yukon

With room for up to seven, the GMC Yukon is perfect for big families or a group of friends heading out for a long road trip. It is roomy and comfortable and has a lot of cargo space (and even more if needed as it has detachable seats). Its V8 engine is powerful with up to 420 HP with the 6.2 liter version (355 HP with the 5.3 liter engine), and its infotainment and navigation systems will come in very handy on a long road trip into the great unknown.

 

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2GzLBVQ

Safest Cars At The 2018 Chicago Auto Show

By Mark G. McLaughlin

There are many different things people look for when buying a car, but the one thing everyone can agree on is that when it comes to cars, safety is definitely first. Automakers understand this, and they design and equip their cars with safety in mind. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety in particular sets high standards for safety, and has come out with its annual list of the safest vehicles on the road. All 15 cars on that list will be in the exhibit hall at McCormick Place at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show.

2018 Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place
2301 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
(630) 495-2282

Date: February 10 – 19
Time: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day except the last (8 p.m. on Feb. 19)
www.chicagoautoshow.com 

Safest Small Sedan: Kia Forte

The Kia Forte is rated as one of the four safest small sedans by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The other three so honored are the Kia Soul, Subaru Impreza and Subaru WRX, all of which can also be seen on the floor of the Chicago Auto Show. That is no small accomplishment, especially this year, as the IIHS has raised the bar on what they require to deem a car “safe,” let alone among the safest in its class. The Kia Forte’s new driver assistance technology, blind spot detection and forward collision warning systems get particularly high marks, and helped the Kia Forte earn its rating as one of the safest small sedans on the road today.

Safest Midsize Car: Subaru Legacy

The Subaru Legacy also surpassed the new, tougher standards for safety set by the IIHS. They put it among the top three safest midsize cars of the year (The Subaru Outback and Toyota Camry are the other two). The pre-collision warning, lane departure warning and reverse automatic braking are among the key features that earned the Legacy its high rating. U.S. News and World Report concurred with the IIHS, and went so far as to give the legacy a 10 out of 10 rating for safety. 

Safest Large Luxury Car: Lincoln Continental

The storied Lincoln Continental has always done well in safety tests, and this year the IIHS named it as one of the five safest luxury cars. Only 15 cars out of more than 1,000 made it to this top rank, and five of those were luxury cars. Lincoln shared that spot with the BMW 5, the Mercedes Benz E-Class and two vehicles from Genesis (G80 and G90), all of which can be found at the Chicago Auto Show. The Continental got exceptional marks for its rear cross-traffic direction, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning and blind spot monitoring systems. It also won recognition for having not only dual front, front-side and side-curtain airbags, but also for its front-knee airbag protection.

Safest Mid-Size SUVs: Hyundai Santa Fe

Only two mid-size SUVs made it into the IIHS’s top 15 safest vehicles, and both of them are Hyundai Santa Fe models. The Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport have the same basic safety systems, and IIHS could not decide on awarding its top rating in that class to one over the other, so it gave it to them both. This crossover has most of the safety features found in more expensive cars, including driver’s knee and side-curtain airbags, but also has stability and traction control systems as well as “smart” cruise control to help maintain a safe distance from other cars on the road.

Safest Mid-Size Luxury SUV: Mercedes-Benz GLC

The last of the 15 vehicles rated the safest on the road by IIHS is the Mercedes-Benz GLC. Unlike in the other categories, the Mercedes stands alone and does not have to share this honor for safety in its class. This luxury mid-size SUV has the standard suite of airbags and other safe driving technology, but gets especially high marks for its blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems.

 

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2rTlKoF

Most Practical Options At The Auto Show

By Mark G. McLaughlin

Smart drivers know that a car that gets good mileage, performs well, and does the job it is purchased for is the best kind of car. Such cars are often dismissed by sports car enthusiasts, luxury sedan owners, and truck drivers as “practical” cars, but those are the kind of cars that most people, especially those on a budget, are looking for. Here are just five of the most practical cars that practical people will find at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show.

2018 Chicago Auto Show
McCormick Place
2301 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
(630) 495-2282

Date: February 10 – 19
Time: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. every day except the last (8 p.m. on Feb. 19)
www.chicagoautoshow.com 

Ford Fiesta

With a base sticker price just over $14,000, the Ford Fiesta remains, as always, one of if not the least expensive new cars on the market. It is a small car, a true subcompact, and as such it does take nine seconds to get from zero to 60, but for stop-and-go city driving, it is hard to beat. It is an ideal car for a single driver or couple, and its six-speed dual clutch automatic performs very well. The Fiesta is also very easy on the gasoline, as it gets up to 37 mpg highway (and 26 mpg city).

Subaru Impreza

The Subaru Impreza is a dandy little car.  This all-wheel-drive vehicle has just over 20 cubic feet of storage (and over 50 cubic feet with the back seats down) and gets a very respectful 24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway (up to 38 in certain models). Its continuously variable automatic transmission is especially frugal on gas, it handles well, fits into tight city parking spaces easily and, new this year, its headlights come on when the windshield wipers are turned on. At just under $20,000, it remains a very good buy for the buck.

Chevrolet Bolt EV

Chevrolet built its reputation on good cars that made good sense to buy and drive, and the Chevrolet Bolt is just that kind of car. The electric engine Bolt goes an astounding 238 miles on a single charge and with 200 HP, it can hold its own on the highway. The Bolt seats five, comes with 10 airbags and earned a 5 out of 5 from Car and Driver magazine. While a tad pricey at $36,000, what the buyer pays in car payments they will make up for by saving on gas.

Toyota Avalon

Toyota bills its Avalon as an “entry level” luxury car. That means buyers get just enough bells and whistles to make them feel like they are driving a luxury sedan, but for a much more sensible price. The Avalon in that sense is a bargain, especially in the hybrid engine configuration. It has a roomy interior, seats four comfortably, has 16 cubic feet of trunk space and gets up to 30 mpg (40 for the hybrid version). For those who want a car that is practical yet still offers a taste of luxury, the Avalon at around $38,000 is a solid choice.

Honda Civic

The Honda Civic has a long reputation for being one of the most practical cars on the road. Since the 1970s, it has been the go-to car for those concerned about price, gas mileage, maneuverability in town and all of the other things that went into the design of this sub-compact line. The little car that could, however, has grown up a bit. While still comparatively compact, it is significantly larger than its predecessors and is now a mid-size car (if barely). Even in its beefed-up state, it is still noted for its fuel economy (up to 40 mpg on the highway) and its ease of handling and parking. The Civic comes with two engine options and body options, hatchback or coupe, and although there are six levels of trim and extras available, the base model is perfectly practical and starts at under $19,000.

 

 

 

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2GzLtpk

Patriots Opponent Profile: Eagles Are Team Of Mystery And Pure Talent

By Danny Cox

Super Bowl LII is set to pit the two best teams in the NFL against one another, and it really does seem as if things aligned perfectly this year. The New England Patriots are ready to take on the best team from the NFC in the Philadelphia Eagles, and they’re doing it after so many thought they wouldn’t be able to. Some injuries and mishaps along the way didn’t stop the Eagles from playing well, but it added a touch of mystery to the fact that they’re doing even better.

Philadelphia Eagles Season Record: 13-3 regular season, 2-0 postseason

During the regular season, the Eagles lost a mere three games. One was to the Kansas City Chiefs when they seemed like the team to beat in the AFC. The other two were in the second half of the season, first to the Seahawks and then to Dallas in a rather meaningless season finale.

Since then, the Eagles squeaked by with a win against the Atlanta Falcons in the Divisional Round and absolutely decimated the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game.

Eagles on Offense

When Carson Wentz went down with an injury in early December, everyone assumed the magical season of the Eagles was officially over. The team came out a bit sluggish in the final few games of the season and then barely made it past Atlanta in the Divisional Round. Then, they came out and destroyed Minnesota thanks to the arm of Nick Foles and the legs of Jay Ajayi.

This offense is centered around virtually everything and that is what makes them so scary. There is not a lot of tape to watch on Foles, but he’s playing as if he’s been on the field the entire season. He has numerous targets in Zach Ertz, Alshon Jeffrey, and Nelson Agholor, who all know how to find the end zone—and how to find it often

Throw in Ajayi and former Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount and the Eagles are a well-rounded offense that merits a lot of attention.

Eagles on Defense

Defensively, the Eagles have a strong secondary that will force Tom Brady to be on top of his game in the decision-making department. Malcolm Jenkins, Patrick Robinson, Rodney McCleod, and Jalen Mills had 12 interceptions between them in the regular season and they are a crop of huge ballhawks.

Philly doesn’t have a massive pass rush, which could work in favor of the Patriots if they can get Dion Lewis going early in the ground game.

Eagles Players To Watch: QB Nick Foles and DE Brandon Graham

Nick Foles hasn’t played a lot since re-joining the Eagles, but he has played well. He has three touchdowns in the playoffs and has thrown just two interceptions in seven games this season. If there was any doubt that Foles could play at a high-level in the big games, all you’d have to do is watch his performance against the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game. It’s hard to know just how to defend against a quarterback when no one has seen everything he can do.

While the Eagles don’t have a huge pass rush, Brandon Graham is one of the brights spots of the Eagles’ front seven. During the regular season, he had a career-high of 9.5 sacks and seems to get better with age. Graham is a strong force on the defensive line of the Eagles, and he will likely require some double-teams on Sunday.

Outlook

Defeating the Philadelphia Eagles and capturing another Super Bowl title is not going to be an easy task for the New England Patriots. Philly has a lot of veteran leadership on both sides of the ball and they have talent that is willing to listen and do what needs to be done. Adding in a touch of mystery and the unknown with the Eagles’ current offense is frightening, but the Pats have what it takes to defeat anyone that stands before them. Every single member of the New England roster just needs to play a solid 60 minutes of their best football and the Lombardi Trophy will belong to the Patriots.

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2DQ5VAD

670 The Score Named The Bulls’ New Flagship Station

(670 The Score) Bulls fans will soon hear all of their favorite’s team’s games on Chicago’s longest running all-sports radio station.

Entercom’s WSCR-AM 670 The Score has been named the new flagship radio home of the Chicago Bulls. The partnership will begin with its first broadcast Saturday, when the Bulls face the Clippers in a road contest that tips off at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Bulls pregame will start 15 minutes before tip-off, and postgame will last for 30 minutes after the game.

Bulls games will also be streamed live online at 670thescore.com/listen.

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2DNcEel

Pritzker’s Call With Blagojevich Grist For Dems At Carbondale Debate

From his jail cell in Englewood, Colorado, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich cast a huge shadow over Democratic front-runner J.B. Pritzker in the only primary debate to feature all six of the Democrats running for governor in 2018.

Pritzker says there was nothing sinister or illegal about the wiretapped phone call he made to Blagojevich about a job nine years ago.

The long-forgotten phone call, one of many recorded in late 2008 as federal agents closed in on Blagojevich, resurfaced with a sinister spin earlier this month as an attack ad aired by Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s campaign.

Pritzker argued, during a debate in Carbondale featuring all six of the Democratic candidates for governor, that he was just offering his financial expertise as a public service. But perennial candidate Robert Marshall argued that it makes Pritzker un-electable. Two other candidates, businessman Christopher Kennedy and State Sen. Daniel Biss (D-Evanston), voiced agreement.

Given the chance to respond, Pritzker said Rauner has done nothing to improve schools or the state’s finances, and said if he wins the nomination, he will “take him out.”

Kennedy said Pritzker cannot win the general election, even if the mid-term elections elsewhere across the country “are awash with blue.”

The Carbondale debate is expected to be the only one this primary season to feature all of the Democratic candidates for governor.

All of the candidates, except Marshall, voiced support for a constitutional amendment that would create a graduated income tax in Illinois.

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2E4Zmx8