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Jan. 17, 2014

An unlikely alliance

In a City Council with many aldermen whose support Mayor Rahm Emanuel can count on more often than not, 2nd Ward Alderman Robert Fioretti is something of a reliable foe to the mayor. Fioretti has opposed Emanuel on several issues, including the city budget and the appointment of Deb Mell as 33rd Ward alderman.

But Fioretti sided with the mayor Wednesday on an ordinance banning the use of e-cigarettes in indoor public places. “On several things, the mayor and I don’t always agree, but we do agree on this,” Fioretti said on the council floor.

Emanuel immediately quipped, “I’m going to mark this day down,” then added, “I may begin smoking.”

A tattle tale

As the City Council passed an ordinance Wednesday banning the use of e-cigarettes in most public indoor spaces, Alderman Willie Cochran (20th) called attention to what could be considered the contradictory actions of Alderman Joe Moreno (1st). Both aldermen voted in favor of the ban.

“Alderman Mareno [sic] is chewing tobacco in council while supporting the limit on e-cigs,” Cochran tweeted on Wednesday.

Flush with diamonds

The Heathrow, Fla.-based AAA motor club and travel organization gave five-diamond ratings to Chicago’s Acadia, Alinea, Arun’s, Everest, Grace, Sixteen and Tru restaurants in its 2014 ratings, Crain’s Chicago Business reported on Friday. With seven top-tier restaurants, Chicago has the same number of five-diamond rated eateries as New York City.

Home movies

“Hacked Circuit”, a 15-minute documentary from University of Illinois at Chicago moving film and sound design instructor Deborah Stratman, is slated to be shown at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival, which begins Saturday. According to DNAinfo Chicago, the documentary provides insight on sound production techniques used in the film industry.

This year’s Sundance appearance will not be the first for Stratman. Her film “In Order Not to Be Here” was shown in 2003, and the instructor’s film “O’er the Land” played during the festival in 2009.

-Tom Butala and Matthew Blake