Coffee Darlings Dark Matter to Open Mexican Drinking Chocolate-Focused Avondale Location

Dark Matter Coffee to unleash a new Mexican drinking chocolate-focused shop in Avondale

After most recently opening a cold brew bodega in West Town in May, adored local coffee chain Dark Matter’s run of expansion will head to Avondale next. The Dark Matter crew’s newest location, at 2901 W. Belmont Avenue across from the original Kuma’s Corner, will be named Caravanserai and focus on Mexican drinking chocolate, according to an Instagram announcement. The spot will include a pour over bar highlighting its Mexican partner La Rifa Chocolatería, as well as a Leva pull espresso bar, Dark Matter’s spokesperson confirms. Block Club first reported the new location; stay tuned for more information soon.

One of Chicago’s best meat purveyors plans to expand into sandwiches and more

One of Chicago’s oldest and most beloved meat purveyors, Paulina Market in Lakeview, is getting ready to expand. Work on a new “fast service area” is scheduled to begin this month that will offer sandwiches, pasta dishes, and fish, the New Chicagoan reports. Ownership plans to build the addition where the small rear parking lot currently sits, add a few tables and move counters there, and perform some back-of-the-house work. They hope to complete all the work by March 2020.

A “superfans” pop-up bar to join the many pop culture-themed spots in Chicago

The flood of throwback pop culture-themed pop-up bars in Chicago will continue next month with a spot that pays homage to the classic Saturday Night Live sketch known for immortalizing Chicago sports “superfans” and food. Swerski’s is slated to open September 5 at Timothy O’Toole’s pub in Streeterville, which will include decor made to look like the set in the sketch plus a Chicago Bears-themed food and drink menu, according to a news release.

Lettuce Entertain You changes name of popular Lincoln Park seafood restaurant

Lettuce Entertain You’s popular Lincoln Park seafood restaurant Oyster Bah has a new name: Quality Crab and Oyster Bah. The menu mostly remains the same with the addition of burgers, chicken sandwiches, and ribs.

Bill and Hillary Clinton spotted at a Chicagoland piano bar

And finally, if suburbanites were at a piano bar in Arlington Heights on Saturday they might have run into a former president and first lady. Bill and Hillary Clinton hit up a piano bar in the suburb, the Sun-Times reports, after attending a funeral nearby in the morning.