Top dogs
Chicago Magazine has released its third annual “The Power 100” – the list of the 100 most influential figures in the city. Some of the names on this year’s installment were Mayor Rahm Emanuel (No. 1), Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle (No. 4), Gov. Pat Quinn (No. 50), state Attorney General Lisa Madigan (No. 52) and Rep. Elaine Nekritz (D-Northbrook) at No. 93. Find the full list over at ChicagoMag.com.
Rahm turns up heat for Polar Plunge challenge
Shia Kapos of Crain’s Chicago Business on Friday reported that Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Jimmy Fallon, host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” are now discussing over the telephone whether Fallon will participate in Special Olympics Chicago’s March 2 Polar Plunge fundraiser.
The idea was originally pitched after Fallon recently said Emanuel could appear on “Tonight” any time he wants. “All he has to do is make a phone call,” Fallon said. “He can host if he wants to. I’m scared of that guy.”
On Wednesday, Emanuel responded to Fallon on Twitter, saying, “Do the Chicago Polar Plunge with me and I’ll join” you on your show.
Secret sandwiches
Entertainment blog Thrillist on Monday published a secret menu for Chicago-based fast-casual chain Potbelly Sandwich Works. Among the 11 sandwiches on the secret menu are: the Wrecking Ball, Potbelly’s Wreck sandwich with the addition of meatballs; the Lucky 7, a combination of the restaurant’s Wreck and Italian sandwiches; and the Sicilian, which is an Italian sandwich with meatballs, marinara sauce, mushrooms, provolone cheese and hot peppers added.
Thrillist’s post apparently created quite the buzz. Steph Axelson, the manager of a Potbelly located at 4709 N. Lincoln Ave. in Ravenswood, told DNAinfo Chicago, “We had a lot of customers come in, kind of confused, asking for these sandwiches” after the post was made.
Watering holes
Following up on the success of it’s Potbelly post earlier in the week, Thrillist in its “Say hello to Chicago’s first CTA bar map” post on Wednesday paired up Chicago Transit Authority “L” stops with popular bars located nearby. Check out the map here, which has the official name of each stop substituted with that of a popular bar located within a 10-minute walk.
-Tom Butala