Rick West
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Shaken, not stirred: Espresso martinis take center stage during bartender competitionFeb 20, 2025 9:15 am - Bartenders from the city and suburbs competed Monday in Oak Brook to make four espresso martinis as fast as possible and as cleanly as possible, hoping to land a spot in the “Good, Clean Fun” competition finals with a chance to win a trip to Sweden.
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‘It’s been a passion’: Retired police officer brings love for barbecue to Hoffman Estates with I Smell BaconFeb 19, 2025 12:46 pm - When retired Hoffman Estates police lieutenant Mark Mueller decided to open a restaurant, he couldn’t help himself when it came to the name — I Smell Bacon BBQ and Pub, where he serves fresh-smoked meats and signature sides made from scratch daily.
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Dining out: National Margarita Day and suburban restaurant weeksFeb 18, 2025 3:06 pm - The snow outside may suggest otherwise, but Saturday is National Margarita Day and we’ve got specials. There are also restaurant weeks starting in Glen Ellyn and Woodridge.
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Pastor brings passion to help as new director of PADS of ElginFeb 16, 2025 9:00 pm - Pastor Katie Shaw Thompson of Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren has been named the new executive director of PADS of Elgin.
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Two Ohio men charged with robbing Lombard jewelry storeFeb 14, 2025 1:58 pm - Two Ohio men are facing criminal charges in connection with the theft of more than $135,000 in merchandise from a jewelry store at Yorktown Center in Lombard.
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Hanover Park man found guilty of attempted murder in 2022 road rage shootingFeb 13, 2025 1:23 pm - A Hanover Park man has been found guilty of attempted murder after a road rage shooting in the summer of 2022.
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Elgin moves to ban sale of THC productsFeb 13, 2025 1:10 pm - Saying they couldn’t wait any longer for the state to provide guidance, Elgin City Council members on Wednesday granted preliminary approval of a citywide ban on sales of synthetically derived THC products.
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Finding its Niche: Taste hard-to-find pours during Buffalo Trace bourbon pairing dinnerFeb 12, 2025 2:18 pm - When it comes to whiskey dinners, Niche Restaurant in Geneva is literally filling a niche. “Not a lot of people do these dinners. It’s kind of special to us,” partner Vince Balistreri says of the upcoming Buffalo Trace pairing dinner Feb. 26.
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Dining out: Valentine’s Day dining specials that extend beyond FridayFeb 12, 2025 9:04 am - It’s getting late in the game to find reservations for Valentine’s Day. Fortunately, many suburban restaurants have Valentine’s specials that start now and run past Feb. 14.
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Teen's adoption of shelter dog helps manage debilitating seizures, wins $25K for Anderson HumaneFeb 10, 2025 4:56 pm - East Dundee teen's adoption story of a shelter dog that helps her debilitating seizures wins a $25,000 prize for Anderson Humane from Petco Love.