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The traditional mission of a Best Of is—let’s be frank—largely to suggest places to spend your money. But if you’re among those of us who didn’t just get a million-dollar bonus from your government-bailed-out employer, you’ll find plenty of ways to spend less of it in our 2009 Best of Chicago. Sink your teeth into a real burger (with organic greens!) for just a buck. Stretch the time between beers with free Ping-Pong. Feast on Peking duck and steamed buns for under $10. Find great vintage duds, buy used books, collect art from tomorrow’s stars today. And take pleasure in the simple things—like a smoke on the stoop, a cocktail that tastes like spring, or a heavenly cardamom-scented latte. Oh—and don’t you need something to read while you sip?
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Mercedes at 7:17 PM on 3/25/2009
How about the Best of Chicago little shops??
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peter tono at 11:28 AM on 3/26/2009
Wooooo! Chicago! So much better than Berwyn!
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jeff f., east village at 7:43 PM on 3/26/2009
I picked up your 2009 Best Of edition and thought what I've thought every year when Best Of comes around. Why are the Reader's picks (and accompanying write-ups) listed first, and the collective opinions of readers stuck underneath as an afterthought with no accompanying insight? You encourage us to fill out the survey and comment, you take the time to set up Best Of ballot boxes around town, and when the issue arrives in the honor boxes, the presence of the People is barely there.
Is it too huge of a logistical ass-pain to tally the votes and create the write-up based on what the readers have to say? I know that sometimes that collective voice, for whatever reason, can lean towards uninspired (Best Blues? Buddy Guy. Best Band Name? Poi dog) In these cases, take the liberty to feature the thing that Readership might be less familiar with, a Theo Huff or a Maggot Twat. But you guys are the Reader. You already have thick dossiers on 24-hour doughnut shops or record shop-slash-tacquerias. Pull from those as the votes pour in, or use representative reader comments. The Reader does the talking all year, and this is your chance to let us do the lifting. Take advantage.
jeff f.
east village
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Sandy- Westown at 7:30 PM on 3/27/2009
Chimming in from BEST LATE NIGHT EATS- PIE-EYED PIZZERIA. Since the READER doesn't give up any voter comments, I thought you should know what we are all about. We serve up between 700-1000 customers weekly.
We make our own dough and sauce daily, slice our own cheese and vegetables. Use trans fat free oil..
Offer fast friendly service at all times. Our mission is to offer a fresh product for an affordable price. Our restaurant may be small but we have a huge cult-like following consisting of our regulars, commuters, theatre goers, the club crowd, students, teachers, professionals, cops, cabbies, city workers and lots of travelers who walk up from the blue line. We suppport the community and other local small business in the area. We are honored that so many of our customers took the time to vote us in, and many thanks to them all!
Sandy
Pie-Eyed Pizzeria
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GDC at 11:39 AM on 3/28/2009
This is the most useless "best of" list ever conceived. Also, who designed that cover?
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TC at 6:27 PM on 3/28/2009
I agree with Jeff F. THE READER spouts all year round about what their critics like. The readers tell you what they like and you can't take the time to write something about their picks? Lazy and insulting to the readers.
Why did you bother doing the poll?
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cs at 10:01 AM on 3/29/2009
The reader should stick to art and theatre and stay away from the fashion section. The fashion picks and comments are horrific
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Iggy at 10:30 PM on 3/29/2009
I didn't think it was possible, but your "best of" issue makes me think Chicago is a boring, shallow place. In the words of another Chicagoan: Say it ain't so, Joe.
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P C at 8:47 AM on 3/30/2009
You have totally ignored one of your bigger advertising groups by removing RETAIL STORES from your best of list. As an advertiser I feel totally screwed. Don't you need the business of small retail establishments? You really blew it. I will think twice about advertising with you again, as will the other shop owners i talked to.
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sparagi at 7:59 PM on 4/2/2009
Love your site, but it's slooooow.
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dennis at 5:18 PM on 4/3/2009
it would be nice if your critics actually were qualified to review, rather than write about things that they are clueless about. Sorry a very disappointing best of chicago, next time let your readers decide, that way it wont be so unprofessional and insulting to your readers.
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re dennis at 5:33 PM on 4/3/2009
ax to grind much?
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Rob at 5:54 PM on 4/8/2009
I get why the Reader doesn't do complete write ups of the voters' winners....most of them (most, not all) were lazy, generic, and uninspired. Not that this wasn't obvious...I'm just saying it because The Reader can't.
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Mercedes P at 9:01 AM on 4/12/2009
I want to vote for the Scared Art Store, can anyone help?
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Kiki at 10:21 AM on 4/13/2009
Mercedes P: voting ended February 26.
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Walter887 at 9:53 AM on 4/26/2009
Looked for Remote-Control PC Repair, but didn't find a link to my tech. I wanted to recommend him for the work he did overnight. PC is running like NEW!
He's on the web at: http://www.siokonline.com or can be reached at: (773) 631-4270 from 10am-10pm x 7.
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