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Second City Alumni Return To Chi-Town For 50th Anniversary Par-Tay

Almost every famous hilarious comic got his or her start at Chicago's Second City, a training center, theater and overall jokester factory. Its alumni includes John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, John Candy, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Chris Farley, Rachel Dratch. The list goes on forever because this marks the company's 50th year in the funny business. Of course, Second City has to throw itself a big birthday party to celebrate.

The company's illustrious alums will come back for a weekend-long bday party, December 11 to 13. Although it's only three days, there are a ton of events. Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, Martin Short and other cast members from the cult hit television show SCTV will return for two special reunion performances December 11. There will be a panel on the Colbert Report on December 12, and a Saturday Night Live panel with former players Tim Kazurinsky, Horatio Sanz and Rachel Dratch as well as current staff writer John Lutz will be December 13.

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Tags: Brunch / Chicago / Food Travel / → All Tags

Chicago Has Your 'Heart Attack French Toast'

There's only two more days until Sunday brunch! Hallelujah, we love us some eggs benedict and bellinis. Not to taunt your growing cravings for the same, but you may want to consider switching to a french toast diet after feasting at Chicago's hotspot Toast.

Although their original Lincoln Park location is crowded with strollers and hungover yuppies throughout the weekend, sinking your fork into sumptuous spreads like the artery-clogging "mascarpone stuffed french toast orgy" and the pesto scramble is worth the risk of rubbing elbows with parents of DePaul University students.

What sets this snug spot apart from other brunches in the city is its decidedly Chicago atmosphere; the shelves are covered with vintage toasters, Julius Meinl coffee is on the menu, and the windowsill seats are considered prime. If Lincoln Park just isn't your bag, there's still no excuse as they've got a second location (aptly named Toast 2) in the trendier Bucktown neighborhood, and this one is BYOB. Finally, it's one of the few recession-friendly brunches around, averaging $8 for a meal and an extra $2.50 for the gourmet grounds. We don't leave Chicago without it.

Got a brunch spot to share? Pass it over.

Related Stories:
· Toast Reviews [Yelp]
· Toast 2 Reviews [Yelp]
· Brunch Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: Fuchsia Foot]