2014 Best of Chicago

CHICAGO, July 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The August issue of Chicago magazine, on newsstands Thursday, features 91 of the best people, places, and things the city has to offer in the annual Best of Chicago list. Discover the funniest comedy nights, shops that deserve a stop, local rapper to know about, Instagrammers to follow, top restaurants and bars in the hottest neighborhoods, and much more. Plus: The 52 winners of Chicago's biggest-ever Readers' Choice poll are revealed, including the Best Thai Food, Best Florist and Best Shoe Repair.

In Transit of Tomorrow, Chicago delves into seven ideas proposed by Chicago urban planners, architects, and transportation advocates to dramatically reshape how people in the city get around. Discover what a typical commute in Chicago could look like in 20 years, complete with expanded el lines, bus-only lanes, a landing pad at the end of Navy Pier and the resurrection of the streetcar. With the major dip in funding the city's transit system has experienced in recent years, some of these plans are realistic, while others more idealistic. Chicago also highlights several plans in the city's transit history that never quite got off the ground.

With Illinois expected to finalize its marijuana rules this summer, the state will soon start accepting applications for those interested in getting into the pot-selling business. With a limited number of licenses available, 21 cultivation and 60 dispensary (36 of those 60 are allocated for the six-county Chicago area), the process will not be an easy one. In So You Want to Be A Ganjapreneur, Chicago outlines what you need to know to get into the business and offers advice that will help land you a license.

Also in the August issue of Chicago:

• Politics: Toni Vs. Goliath – In a recent poll, only 29 percent of Chicagoans said they would vote for Mayor Emanuel if the election were held today, compared to the 70 percent approval ratings he received shortly after taking office. Chicago takes a closer look at the one potential candidate, Cook County Board of Commissioners President Toni Preckwinkle, that could give Emmanuel a run for his money when he goes up for reelection on February 2015.
• Real Estate: Reality Bites – With the increased inventory of houses on the market today, sale prices appear to be leveling off. The same goes for $5 million-plus, ultra-luxury homes, whose owners are continuously having to lower prices like the rest of the population. And when price cuts still don't work, some are offering brokers bonuses of $250,000 as an incentive.
• Dining: Pop-Tarts – Whether you are looking for vegan, savory or refined and seasonal, this list tells you where to go to try out the latest dining trend.

Chicago magazine's editor-in-chief Elizabeth Fenner and other members of the magazine staff are available for on-air interviews about stories in the August issue. For more information on Chicago magazine, visit chicagomag.com

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About Chicago magazine
Chicago magazine, the nation's largest city monthly, launched in 1970 and has been owned by Tribune Company since 2002. Together with its website, chicagomag.com, Chicago spurs intelligent conversation about the city's influencers, zeitgeist-defining trends, and civic controversies through award-winning, in-depth journalism.  Just as important, it helps readers live better by producing the area's most authoritative coverage of the best in food, art, and urban life. Always insightful, at times provocative, Chicago magazine is as dynamic as the city that inspires it.

About Chicago Tribune Media Group
Chicago Tribune Media Group publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune as well as related print and interactive media serving Chicagoland such as RedEye, Hoy, Triblocal, TheMash, Naperville magazine, chicagotribune.com, triblocal.com and metromix.com.

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