Billy Corgan Keeps Giant Sign; This Week's Tastings

RIVER NORTH— The Ice Bar is back at Vertigo Sky, Racked Chicago reports. The city's only ice bar is back with lots of good stuff: flaming shots, cloaks, and ice sculpture demos. [~RCHI~]

HIGHLAND PARK— Smashing Pumpkins frontman and restaurateur Billy Corgan has been granted permission to keep his controversial neon signage at Madame Zuzu's Tea Shop. The sign in question is actually five times bigger than allowed by the zoning ordinance, but after Corgan's letter saying it was not distracting to drivers and crucial to attracting customers, city officials didn't really care. [Chicago Tribune]

EVENTWIRE— The Chicago Sun-Time rounds up some of the tasting events and special dinners going on this week around town. [CST]

TRENDWATCHING— Did you know that oysters are a trend now? Apparently they are. Read all about "Chicago's slurping surge" in Michigan Avenue. [MA]