Wicker Park Club Closes After Shooting, West Loop’s 1950s Hollywood Concept, More Intel

—After yet another shooting in Chicago, yet another beleaguered nightclub has shut down. On Sunday night a man was shot to death outside Esso, a lounge and club at 1270 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park, prompting Ald. Joe Moreno (1st) to vow to shut it down — and even Esso’s owner vowed to get out of the business and say that "Chicago is nuts right now," according to a DNAinfo report. The club then made the closing official on Tuesday morning with a Facebook post that reads "We appreciate and thankful to all patrons whom celebrated life with us" [sic].

—After teasing that they were "contemporizing a period from the past," the folks behind the new two-floor restaurant and bar that’s taking over the Chromium space at 817 W. Lake St. have revealed the specific period they’re contemporizing. BLVD, which appeared on a liquor license application in August but ownership insisted at the time was just a placeholder name, will focus on 1950s Hollywood glamour, the Tribune reports. No chef has been announced yet but Bar Marta and 2fun Chinese owner Austin Baker is consulting on it but not on the food, Sancerre Hospitality Group revealed in a previous report. It’s slated to open in spring 2017.

—Congratulations to superstar chef Curtis Duffy of three-Michelin-starred Grace, who was inducted into the Escoffier School of Culinary Arts hall of fame this week. Escoffier, which is the first online culinary school in addition to locations in Austin and Boulder, is also implementing a $25,000 Curtis Duffy scholarship program.

—Furious Spoon is doing some good this Thanksgiving when the popular ramen mini-chain will give away free bowls of ramen to anyone who needs them tomorrow from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the original Wicker Park location.

—Head to popular Hopewell Brewing Company in Logan Square tonight from 7 until 9 p.m. for a sneak peek of the Quiote, the highly-anticipated multi-faceted Mexican concept from Salsa Truck owner Dan Salls that’s slated to begin opening next month in Logan. Salls and Co. will serve tacos for $3 each and donate all proceeds to the Chicago Food Depository on Thanksgiving.

—And finally, Giordano’s is turning its pizza boxes into Cubs collectibles following the North Side baseball team’s historic curse-breaking World Series victory. Check out a photo of one below, which will be available starting Nov. 28 at all Illinois locations and a few in Michigan, Indiana, and Minnesota.

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