Not long ago, I read an opinion about how the newspaper features editor — a title I held for much of my career — has become obsolete, because, with the World Wide Web at their disposal, the public no longer needs to turn to newspapers (or online news sites) for the lifestyle and human-interest stories that make up the typical features section. Instead, another writer suggested, what’s needed are “Web curators,” to help readers find the best of what’s out there.
My opinion falls somewhere in between. Even on the Web, we still need people to assemble new and unique material about interesting local people, places and events. Yet Web curators are sorely needed, because there’s so much online that no one can possibly follow it all.
When it comes to information about food, restaurants, shopping and nightlife, there are vast resources on the web. Sorting through it all takes more effort than all but the truly obsessed can give it.
Just in Chicago alone, there are scores of food blogs, forums and review sites, as well as thousands of restaurants, bars, shops and entertainment venues — most of which have their own websites, Facebook pages, blogs and Twitter updates, too. Even for people whose every waking thought revolves around what they’re going to eat next, that’s a big mouthful to chew.
For those who are connoisseurs without being fanatics, winnowing the wheat from the chaff can be overwhelming. You want to go out and enjoy Chicago, not spend all your time reading about it online.
So our aim here is to showcase a careful selection of news and views that — in our informed opinion — are worth your limited time.
Dining Chicago’s new blog editor, veteran journalist Leah A. Zeldes, has been covering Chicago’s food, dining and entertainment scene for two decades.
