Joe Boston’s Italian Beef Isn’t Closing Yet

—After serving Italian beef and more for 68 years, what’s another 18 days? That’s what’s happening until June 3 at Chicago and Grand avenues, as Joe Boston’s Italian Beef, the Chicago street food stalwart for nearly 70 years, announced over the weekend that it will stay open more than two additional weeks. The family ownership, who previously announced on May 10 that they would close this past Saturday, told NBC5 that "we’re actually just sort of tired and so we’re just ready to say goodbye." Longtime customers have been flocking there for one last beef before it closes — causing the restaurant to run out of food daily — so people have a little more time now to head over before it’s gone.

—SPOILER ALERT: if you didn’t catch last night’s episode of "Iron Chef Gauntlet," read on at your own risk. If you want to know what happened: two acclaimed Chicago female chefs — Stephanie Izard and Sarah Grueneberg — faced off in the show’s final elimination challenge for a chance to cook against Bobby Flay, Masaharu Morimoto and Michael Symon to become the next Iron Chef. Izard won and heads to Sunday’s finale; read an exit interview with her here as well as one with Grueneberg here.

—Breakfast isn’t the only news at The Purple Pig. The Eater 38 restaurant on the Mag Mile also a new beverage director/sommelier: Alan Beasey, a longtime local industry talent who previously worked at Boka, NoMi Kitchen, and Cru Cafe. He was also the sales manager at Tenzing Wine and Spirits before joining the pig in 2012, and now gets this promotion.

Ashley Hutchinson

—WGN’s video of a security guard getting attacked outside a residential building at 630 N. Franklin St. in River North early Sunday morning is going viral. The guard, Zoa Stigler, was trying to help a sick man, who reciprocated that concern by punching her in the face and walking away — and the incident was seen by three witnesses who did nothing to help. A police report has been filed but no arrests have been made yet. Spy Bar nightclub is next door and the reporter notes that "we have seen for ourselves this morning that things get kind of rowdy and people loiter when the club lets out."

UPDATE: River North's Ald. Brendan Reilly (42nd) had plenty to say about this incident in a newsletter today: "We expect all liquor license holders along this corridor of Franklin Street to preserve all video footage (inside and out) from this past Saturday night / early Sunday morning - to determine whether or not any of the local establishments were responsible for over-serving the attacker in this incident. Due to an increasing number of late night disturbances related to late-hour liquor licenses in River North, I have requested a meeting with the Dept. of Business Affairs & Licensing, Police Department and City Liquor Commissioner to discuss this growing problem and a map-out and action plan to crackdown on bars that are over-serving already-drunk patrons in the early morning hours. Liquor establishments that continue to operate irresponsibly are degrading the quality of life in downtown neighborhoods and placing public safety at risk. Those problem bars will forfeit their privilege to hold a liquor license in Chicago."

—And finally, The Field Museum is launching a popup bar series with guest bartenders named Base Camp on June 6, the Tribune reports. The themed events, which will pair with scientists and include museum specimens, cost $45 also include a notebook and admission to current exhibits. Nandini Khaund of Cindy’s will helm the first popup; its other dates are the whole first week of July as well as Aug. 1 and Sept. 5. Info and tickets for the first event are available here.