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‘River Domes’ Are Coming Back to the Riverwalk and More Intel

Plus, Ruxbin’s last weekend means another sad shutter

A plastic dome that looks like an igloo for two people to gather near the Chicago River.
City Winery’s “River Domes”
Provided

— Happy Friday. An outdoor viral attraction from early spring is coming back in the fall: “River Domes” at City Winery on the Chicago Riverwalk. The uber-popular climate-controlled outdoor bubbles will again give wine drinkers and eaters the downtown views and drinks without the possible chill when they launch for the season from Sept. 18 until Nov. 27. The domes, which patrons can open or close depending on weather, can be reserved for 2.5 hour blocks for $25, plus $60 food and drink minimum per person.

— Another sad day comes tomorrow to Chicago’s upscale and creative dining communities when Ruxbin closes its doors on Ashland Avenue. Although ownership termed the closure a sabbatical, there’s no word if or when the praise-showered seven-year-old Noble Square restaurant — or a different concept — might reopen in the space. Adding this to the recent news of the Tru, Intro Chicago, Vera and MK closures makes the Chicago dining experience a little less richer.

— A spot that was formerly on Eater Chicago’s recently-refreshed iconic pizzeria map, Pizzeria Da Nella, has vacated its Lincoln Park location — it was open for five years at 1443 W. Fullerton Ave. — for its forthcoming Hyde Park spot, DNAinfo reports. Da Nella’s Hyde Park restaurant was previously reported to be an expansion but is now effectively a relocation. This could be a gain for Hyde Park.

— FYI: A shortage is resulting in soaring prices for guacamole and any other dishes made with avocado, according to a report in the Tribune. Some restaurants are reportedly even considering pulling avocado from menus altogether.

— And finally, longtime Lincoln Park neighborhood bar Wrightwood Tap is under new ownership and rebranded as Tavern 57, new owner Richard Honquest writes. And although the 75-year-old corner bar still has no kitchen, he’ll bring in a rotating lineup of food trucks every Sunday and a pizza vendor on Saturday beginning this weekend. Confirmed trucks are listed here.

Ruxbin

851 N Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60622 (312) 624-8509 Visit Website

City Winery

1200 West Randolph Street, , IL 60607 (312) 733-9463 Visit Website

Wrightwood Tap

1059 W Wrightwood Ave, Chicago, IL 60614 (312) 549-4949