THE BUZZ

HOT OFF THE MINDS OF MIDWEST TRAVEL WRITERS: A FRESH LOOK AT WHERE TO EAT, DRINK, PLAY, AND STAY AROUND THE REGION.

- WRITER GARY THOMPSON

WANDAWEGA BUREAU OF TOURISM

CHICAGO

Camp Wandawega, a storied Wisconsin creative retreat built as a hotel by Chicagoans, is celebrating 100 years by adding an outpost in West Town. The combo retail store, showroom, and studio occupies an 1880s building and rocks a vintage lodge vibe, thanks to decor like a taxidermy grizzly bear. Shop for Wandawega-branded camping merchandise and attend classes. wandawega.com/bureau

OX BAR AND HEARTH

CHICAGO

Chef John Asbaty and restaurateur Alain Uy continue their culinary collab with this fiery tribute to quintessential Midwest neighborhood spots. Its name recalls the Golden Ox, a beloved German eatery that occupied the Lincoln Park location for 80 years. A wood-burning hearth yields small plates like smoked whitefish dip, charred cabbage, and coffee-roasted carrots, plus entrees such as grilled walleye and slow-cooked pork collar. oxbarchicago.com

CANTINA ROSA

CHICAGO

The mighty agave plant powers a new Hyde Park cocktail bar from James Beard winner Erick Williams, known for his Southern fare at Virtue (two doors down). The mixology team's menu references even lower latitudes with south-of-the-border spirits tequila, mezcal, raicilla, and sotol—and staple Mexican flavors gardenia, prickly pear, chile, tamarind, and corn. cantinarosa.com

NOVEL PIZZA CAFE

CHICAGO

This year-old spot in Pilsen gets creative with coffee and Chicago-style tavern pizza—thin, crispy, and square-cut. The owners mix morsels of their Filipino and Mexican heritages into the culinary culture: Order a matcha latte with ube or a pie topped with longanisa, a Filipino sausage. novelpizzacafe.com

AFTERNOON TEA AT SERLIANA

INDIANAPOLIS