Chicago's $7 Billion Project

BEST DATE NEWS

Feb. 20, 2025: Best Date News Volume #114

Welcome to Best Date News, your favorite Chicago weekly newsletter! In this week’s newsletter you will read about the latest updates on the 1901 Project, Chicago’s rotund beaver that is quickly gaining popularity, MJ’s mansion now being up for rent and more!

Feb. 20: National Holidays

• National Muffin Day

• National Love Your Pet Day

• National Cherry Pie Day

• National Leadership Day

• National Comfy Day

Sponsored by our friends at Eataly Chicago

Alpina Winter Pop-Up

• Eataly Chicago: Introducing Alpina at Eataly Chicago! Named after the iconic landscape of the Italian Alps, Alpina is Eataly’s cute, new winter pop-up experience that runs through March.

• Alpina has multiple exciting components including an Alpine menu with Northern Italian classics like warm cheese fondue and delicious polenta boards. Plus, they have a week-day happy hour from 4-6 p.m. at their center bar with $6 beer, $8 wine, $10 cocktails and $8 bites.

• They also have Après Ski Nights every Friday through March 21 from 6-9 p.m. with live music from DJ Matt Roan, shot skis and Après Ski dress code encouraged.

• Learn all about the new Alpina pop-up at Eataly Chicago where you can enjoy indulgent Alpine cuisine, warming cocktails, happy hours, hands-on classes, events and more!

Chicago News

• The 1901 Project: The $7 billion 1901 Project, that will rezone and redevelop the land around the United Center, was officially approved by Chicago’s City Council yesterday. ICYMI, the owners of the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks are looking to completely transform the 55 acres surrounding the United Center with retail spaces, hotels, residential housing, parks, a music hall and more. It’s being called “the largest ever private investment on Chicago’s West Side.” This approval gets them one step closer to breaking ground on the project as soon as this year.

• Chicago Beaver: Move over Chance the Snapper, it’s Lori Heavyfoot’s time to shine. In slightly less serious, but still real, Chicago news, an “especially plump” beaver on Chicago’s Southwest Side has gotten people talking on social media this week. A group called Urban Rivers have set up cameras to track the possibly pregnant female beaver causing all the commotion. A naming contest for the beaver has been started and contenders include Lori Heavyfoot, Southside Large Marge and Dam Ryan among others.

• Weekend Plans: As the weather finally starts to warm up a little bit this weekend, with temperatures above the teens at least, you may be looking for something fun to do! There are a variety of unique things happening around Chicago this weekend like Polar Adventure Days, MagicCon, Andersonville Restaurant Week and more.

• Six Flags: Did you know that back in 1981, the world’s fastest roller coaster, at the time, debuted at Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois? The roller coaster still stands today and has just been named an American Coaster Enthusiasts Roller Coaster Landmark. It’s now one of only 50 coasters in the U.S. with this special designation and will be honored at Coaster Con 47 this summer. Do you know which one it is?! Answer.

• Northbook Court: From one northern Chicago suburb to another, but this time the news isn’t as optimistic. Apple has announced that it will soon be leaving Northbrook Court after nearly 20 years. This appears to be yet another big blow for the struggling mall as many of the store fronts and restaurants sit vacant.

Just For Fun

• MJ’s Mansion: Remember how Michael Jordan’s Highland Park mansion finally sold back in December after sitting on the market for over a decade? Well, it looks like the new owner has some interesting plans for it, including making it available for rent on a monthly basis. And while you will likely assume that it costs more than your rent, you will never guess how much it’s listed for…

• Restaurant Week Round 2: While the citywide Chicago Restaurant Week has ended, Chicago Black Restaurant Week is still running through this weekend (ends Feb. 23) with over 40 businesses participating. Additionally, Andersonville Restaurant Week kicks off tomorrow and runs through March 2. There will be 15 different restaurants participating.

• Chicago’s Best Ramen: How does a warm bowl of ramen sound right now?! Eater Chicago put together a list of what they consider to be the best ramen restaurants in both Chicago and the Chicago suburbs.

Poll Question of the Week

Last Newsletter's Poll Results

Poll Results: Last newsletter we asked if you were going out or staying in for Valentine’s Day this year and 62% of you said that you were staying in.

Sunrise & Sunset in Chicago

Here is today’s outlook in Chicago (compared to last week):

• Sunrise: 6:38 a.m. (10 minutes earlier)

• Sunset: 5:30 p.m. (9 minutes later)

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