City Portrait

A Tour of Chicago’s Southern Soul

From rib joints to honky-tonks to temples of Lowcountry cuisine, discover the Windy City's Southern side
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Downtown Chicago skyline.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Chicago’s riverfront walkway stretches east from Michigan Avenue.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

A half slab of ribs at Honey 1 BBQ.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Arkansas native Robert Adams, Sr. runs the restaurant with his son.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Slow-cooked spare ribs in Honey 1 BBQ’s wood-fired aquarium tank smoker.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Artist Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate (aka “the Bean”) in Millennium Park.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

The Green Mill Jazz Club which offers an authentically retro forties vibe.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Green Mill spotlights jazz musicians and performers every night.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Live jazz fills the air at the Green Mill.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Larry Vodak, shopkeeper at Scout, revives antiques with a distinctly urban edge.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

A sampling of Chicago’s iconic architecture along North Michigan Avenue.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Soulful fried chicken dinner and sides at Big Jones.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Fried chicken and biscuits at Big Jones.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Big Jones fries chicken Edna Lewis-style with lard, butter and ham hock in a cast iron kettle.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Srimp and grits at Big Jones.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

The Southern which boasts “Kickass Bar + Comfort Good”.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

A maple bacon Manhattan at the Southern.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Pimento slathered cheeseburger at the Southern.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Window-shopping at Haberdash.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Lifestyle editor Tom Gavin at Haberdash men’s shop.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Expertly curated menswear at Haberdash’s two Chicago locations.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

A sampling of Optimo hat company’s finest.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Hatmaker Graham Thompson and his handiwork.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Step up to the Art Institute of Chicago and its 300,000-piece permanent collection.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Executive chef of the Bedford, Mark Steuer.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Above the Carriage House bar hangs a photo of the view behind chef Mark Steuer’s childhood home in South Carolina.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Rising star Caroline Neff.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Rev. Al Sampson: A man on a mission.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Josh Cooley takes a quick break at the Belmont Barbershop.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki

Expect clean cuts, close shaves and no frills at the Belmont Barbershop.

Photo: Kevin J. Miyazaki