Where Hillary Clinton Ate In Chicago Yesterday

— Former Democratic Presidential nominee and Chicago-area native Hillary Clinton was in town yesterday — and ate lunch at Tuscany on Taylor Street. There’s no word on what the former Secretary of State ate, as Gina Stefani is mum on the details, only writing that “it was great to see Secretary Clinton and her friends while she was in town (yesterday). My family has had the pleasure to serve both the Secretary and President over the years when they are in Chicago.” That relationship dates back several years. Phil Stefani catered Clinton’s 50th birthday party in 1998.

— The tragic late-night car crash in River North where the passenger died and the driver later committed suicide has multiple ties to the local nightlife scene. Most notably, the couple was at controversial clubstaurant Bottled Blonde and other nearby bars before their crash, the Sun-Times reports. Also, the driver, Anthony Milder, worked at Underground; while the passenger, Alejandra Damian, had worked at Vertigo Sky Lounge and Cerise, the rooftop lounge at the Virgin Hotel.

— DMK Restaurants is the first major local restaurant group to ban plastic drinking straws. All 14 of the group’s establishments, including multiple DMK Burger Bar locations, Fish Bar, Ada Street, and Henry’s no longer use straws “in order to protect our environment,” according to a news release and Crain’s. Multiple restaurants in California, New York City, New Jersey, Florida, and other countries have already banned straws, according to a Washington Post report. However, a writer in Forbes is skeptical about the motivation of some restaurants to ban straws and urges DMK and others to provide alternatives. The Shedd Aquarium urged restaurants in April to “Shedd the Straw” during an Earth Day campaign.

— In more DMK news, County Barbecue is slated to reopen in August, Crain’s reports. The group’s restaurant on Taylor Street has been closed since a fire in August 2016.

— Residents living near 150 North Riverside in The Loop recently received mailed notices regarding the liquor application for Porter Kitchen & Deck. That’s a new restaurant Four Corners Tavern Group (Federales, Brickhouse Tavern) is working on with an assist from Hogsalt Hospitality. Residents have until July 26 to share any concerns with the city’s business affairs department.

— And finally, Hero’s, the more than half-century-old sandwich shop at Western Avenue and Addison Street, has been sold to new owners. Today is its last day under original ownership and new owners will take over on Friday. The change has caused such a stir in its customer base that it ran out of bread yesterday.