Leisure

Good Times...

The Most Dubious Moments of 2012

It occurs to us that 2012 wasn’t all bacon-topped ice cream sundaes. We mean, it mostly was, but not quite. You can’t have sweet without sour, so here—suck on these: the oddest moments from the year.

JUNE 28

Graham Elliott Dissed Steve Dolinsky

One acclaimed chef. One respected Hungry Hound. Two egos. Only one could survive. Graham Elliot saw to it that food celeb Steve Dolinsky was not served during a visit to G.E.B., payback for Dolinksy live-tweeting barbs about his final meal at Charlie Trotter’s. Speaking of whom...

AUGUST 21

Charlie Trotter’s Had a Bad Year

Rome fell. The Titanic sank. Charlie Trotter’s, after a quarter century, closed. It wasn’t pretty. Expensive wine was reported missing. A reporter was Dolinsky’d from a closing auction. Trotter may have acted—gasp—like a temperamental chef and pushed an auctioneer. Thanks for the memories.

SEPTEMBER 14

Jay Cutler Started Smokin’

We like you, Jay Cutler. We know underneath all that surliness, you’re a good guy. You’re even a decent quarterback. But that mug of yours. That boyish, pouty, spoiled-brat mug of yours. It inspires people to do mean things, like photoshop cigarettes in your mouth. Like we said, mean. Understandable, but mean.

OCTOBER 22

The City Took On Uber

The city council, in a heroic move to keep you safe from riding in comfortable automobiles, proposed an ordinance that would prevent Uber from sending a shiny black town car to pick you up. Next on their agenda: they kick a puppy.

OCTOBER 31

Real Tenochtitlán Covered Up

Finally, we turn to the subject of art, the First Amendment, breasts and enchiladas. Upscale, folk-art-filled Mexican restaurant Real Tenochtitlán in Logan Square covered artwork featuring buxom, bare-chested Aztec warrior women after a prudish patron complained to the city. Yes, we think Larry Flynt is due for some enchiladas.