CHICAGO MAGAZINE DEBUTS NEW LOOK, PRESENTS 2007 BEST OF CHICAGO

Refreshed Redesign Coincides with Annual Survey of Where To Eat, Shop and Play

CHICAGO, July 12, 2007 — Chicago magazine, the largest city monthly in the country, sports a new look and feel this month that not only presents a vibrant color scheme and more accessible layout but also reflects a growing and dynamic magazine. The August issue, which features the magazine’s popular 2007 Best of Chicago list, hits newsstands today.

“We think there’s a lot here that readers will enjoy,” said Richard Babcock, Chicago’s editor. “The new design is hip and lively, and plays to the magazine’s strength in helping readers make the most of Chicago. We’ve added some new things and tweaked some others, while keeping the magazine’s core emphasis on producing the region’s top service stories and most compelling nonfiction narratives.”

Jennifer Moore, the magazine’s new art director, expertly led the redesign, including a slight update to magazine’s logo. Earlier this summer the magazine’s website, www.chicagomag.com, got revamped, too, with a cleaner and more visually appealing design, as well as new features and enhancements that improve navigation and functionality.

Inside this month’s issue, more than 130 winners are selected as a part of one of the magazine’s most popular annual features, Best of Chicago, which spotlights the city’s best offerings for eating, fun and shopping. Some of this year’s winners include:

• Best New Bakery: Pasticceria Natalina, 5406 N. Clark St., Chicago
• Best Cheap Sushi: Toro Sushi, 2546 N. Clark St., Chicago
• Best Late-Night Theatre Show: The Game Show Show, Strawdog Theater, 3829 N. Broadway, Chicago
• Best Party Invitations: Andrea Liss of Hanna Handmade
• Best Group Running: Fleet Feet Sports’ Historical Runs

Mary L. Semmer founded Chicago Home & Garden 12 years ago and built a loyal following, primarily in the suburbs. The July/August issue will be the last separate issue. The combined publication will have a paid circulation of 40,000 throughout the Chicago area, a circulation larger than any other in this category.

Elsewhere in the August issue of Chicago:

• Word Star: Sit back and listen in on a Range Rover ride to the West Side with breakout rapper and Renaissance nerd Lupe Fiasco. You’ll get an earful on history, sociology, anthropology, and the artist’s muses, from Tchaikovsky to Noam Chomsky to Ice Cube.
• Cast Away: Four years ago, the Evanston native Jeffrey Lieber wrote the original pilot for what became the hit TV series Lost – and then the suits at ABC kicked him off the island.

Chicago editor Richard Babcock and members of the magazine staff are available for on-air interviews. Contact Michael Dizon, communications manager, at 312-222-3165 to schedule an interview.

About Chicago magazine

Chicago magazine is the largest monthly city magazine in the country, with a circulation of more than 182,000. In addition, the company publishes a number of other titles, including Chicago HOME and Chicago Fashion magazines. Chicago magazine has been honored with many awards, including, in 2004, the most prestigious–the Ellie award for General Excellence in its circulation category, bestowed by the American Society of Magazine Editors.

About Chicago Tribune Company
Chicago Tribune Company publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper with daily readership of about 1.8 million and about 2.6 million on Sunday. The company also operates related print and interactive media serving Chicagoland. Chicago Tribune is the founding publication of Tribune Company, one of the country’s leading media companies, operating businesses in broadcasting, publishing and on the Internet.