Steve Santagati is one of the best sexperts in the biz (he was the inspiration behind Gerard Butler’s character in “The Ugly Truth”). His kick-ass point of view offers insight as to what men think, but translated so that we females can understand their foreign language. With Valentine’s Day coming upon us, I thought I would get some tips from the best of the best!

Jenny: What is the best way to attract a guy?

Steve: The best way to attract a man is to dress appropriately provocative and have a running monologue (a monologue you can feel) in your head of how hot you look. Appropriately provocative means six inches outside of your comfort zone; you should feel a tiny bit naughty. It doesn’t matter if you want a dork, a dude or a doctor; all men like sexy. And, by sexy I mean a man’s slightly slutty version of sexy. Making quick eye contact helps as well.

Jenny: What’s the biggest mistake women make?

Steve: They care too much about what other women think of them and they want more from a man then they themselves are capable of offering. All human beings are guilty of both the former and the latter. We forget how truly short life is. We forget that we’ll be happiest not worrying what anyone thinks. We’ll be happiest by being honest with ourselves.

Jenny: If a woman has condoms on her, is she a slut or smart?

Steve: Depends what size they are. Honestly, most men would be “unnerved” by discovering a woman has condoms on her person; they’d be intimidated at her modern mentality toward sex. But, ultimately, most mature guys would be happy about it once they got to know her.

Jenny: What should a girl buy a guy on Valentine’s Day if they only just started dating a few weeks ago?

Steve: This is tricky because I don’t have much to go on, i.e., are they infatuated with one another? Let’s assume it’s a normal, “I like you, you like me” situation, but neither is shopping for a wedding band just yet. The best thing she can do is get him something very small but something that shows she’s been listening to the subtle things he says. For example: He mentions he loves a girl who can bake. She could get him a wooden spoon and an apron and then have him slap her ass with the spoon while she’s only wearing the apron – win win. Even if she baked him some cookies, that would be amazing.

Jenny: Can a girl dress up in lingerie as a Valentine’s Day gift or is that lame?

Steve: It’s kind of lame because it’s hackneyed unless it’s part of a string of little things. What I mean is: Wearing the lingerie can’t be the end game. Maybe you’re playing the drinking game version of Operation in your underwear … then it’s great. The best is when she is subtle about it. Like they’re just normal undies and she doesn’t make a big deal about it.

Jenny: If you are single on Valentine’s Day, do you go out or hide in your bedroom and gorge on ice cream?

Steve: No need to hide. You look to the sky and say: Thank you! Never lament about being single and never let any holiday or institution decide how you see your world. If you want to have some fun you can walk into a romantic restaurant and stand at some couple’s table and just start crying loudly.

Note: When you see a couple together it doesn’t mean they’re happy or that their relationship will last so don’t think, “They’re happy, I’m miserable. I want what they have.” Being single is amazing sometimes! And if by chance you do see a happy couple, wish them well in your head. Positive energy will attract a great mate. If you can’t wish them well then scream, “I banged him last week!” and run away quickly.

Jenny: How soon is too soon to say I love you?

Steve: Under normal circumstances any time before the three-month stage is a bit early. However, falling in love can happen fast and if you feel it, just look into her eyes and tell her, “I’m in love with you, Jenny.” The best way to say “I love you” is by sneaking into it. For example: Start by saying, “I love the way you do this…” or “I love that about you.”

Jenny: Why do girls like bad boys?

Steve: Who cares? It’s working. Women love bad boys and men love bad girls for two very simple reasons 1. Bad boys represent the modern-day alpha male and women are genetically programmed to desire a strong guy. 2. Bad boys aren’t afraid to live life to its fullest. We’re unapologetic about being male but are good at making women feel important. Bad boys help women feel safe being the naughty girl they wished they could always be.

Jenny: How should you tell the guy you are dating his clothes are awful?

Steve: First you have to tell him how handsome he is to you and how great he would look in a certain style of clothes. You’re not saying his clothes suck, you’re saying he’ll also look good in this. You take him shopping and have him try on clothes so he can see how he looks. Show him his sports heroes or men he admires who are dressed the way you like. Later, you can tell him he had horrible taste.

Jenny: Thank you for your honest sexpert-ness steve. You are smart and not bad on the eyes.

Steve: Ha. Thanks.
Visit Steve’s web site Badboysfinishfirst.com and read his books including the recently published “Code of Honor,” available here.

Any bride can tell you that planning even the simplest wedding can be overwhelming. Planning a big day that stands out from the crowd? Now that’s a Herculean challenge. But in a city as eclectic as Chicago, brides-to-be have a wealth of resources with which to create a unique union. Thanks to some innovative local vendors, we have six tips that will ensure your big day is one of a kind.

Choose an ‘entertaining’ venue

If you want your venue to wow, consider a space that offers your guests a new experience. Planner Katie Jackson-Meara of So Dressed Up often directs her brides to Chicago’s many museums. “If you have a wedding at the Chicago History Museum or the Field Museum, your guests get the added experience of dining and dancing next to a room full or artifacts or underneath a dinosaur,” she says. “The Museum of Contemporary Art is a blank canvas that really allows you to be creative, and the Shedd Aquarium has a gorgeous view of the city.” Catherine Lamb of wedding and event planning company Birch Design Studio also recommends the Chicago Lyric Opera as a wedding venue. “You can host part of your wedding on the actual stage, looking out over the house. It’s a stunning and rare view,” she says.

Ditch the standard save-the-date

“When guests receive an interactive and fun save the date, it gets them excited for the wedding,” Lamb says. “It should give a taste of what’s to come, but it can also be more lighthearted, even experimental, than the wedding invitation.” For one fashion-forward couple, the Birch Design Studio team sent out silk scarves with the wedding information subtly incorporated into the pattern. “It became a wearable memento of the wedding,” she says. If custom scarves aren’t in the budget, consider a video save the date. For her own wedding, Jackson-Meara enlisted the help of wedding photographers and videographers Studio This Is to create a clever short film of the betrothed couple painting a giant red heart and their wedding date. “I’ve seen so many grip-and-grin photos,” Jackson-Meara says of save the dates. “As a planner, I knew I had to do something different.”

Don an unusual gown

Rather than spend tons of money on a wedding dress that any other bride could buy, check out the vintage selection at Lulu’s at the Belle Kay (3862 N. Lincoln, Lulusbellekay.com) or Bucktown’s Silver Moon (1721 W. North, Silvermoonvintage.com), where owner Liz Myer stocks the largest collection of authentic vintage bridal gowns in the country (they start at $550). She also designs her own custom vintage-inspired gowns. “But my favorite thing to do is heirloom redesign, taking someone’s mom’s or grandma’s dress and making it her own,” Myer says. “It’s amazing to see the before and after. Those dresses tell stories.”

• If vintage isn’t your style, consider a stop at BHLDN (8 E. Walton), which has a laid-back approach to bridal gown shopping and a host of gorgeous dresses that ring in around $1,000. “The whole atmosphere clicked with my personality,” says Chicago bride Erin Kucka, who will say her “I dos” next December. “There was no cheesy conversation, no one was layering me with glittery pieces and I never felt pressured to try on certain dresses.”

Raise your floral budget — literally

No one does unique blooms better than Epoch Floral’s Mike Hines, who launched floral experience company Mike Hines Signature (Mikehinessignature.com) earlier this year; he believes flowers should be part of a wedding’s entertainment. “I’m bored of centerpieces,” Hines says. “Why not do nothing on the tables, but have your guests walk through a floral installation on the way into the reception? Or hang hundreds of birch beams in a stream overhead? Then you’ve spent your money on one big-impact piece that every person is going to remember and take a picture of. You have that ‘wow’ factor.”

Find a new way to groove

Let’s face it: Music can make or break the reception dance party. To impress your guests, and keep them on the floor all night, DJ Megan Taylor of Fig Media (Figgy.net) suggests hiring a DJ who can incorporate a live drummer or electric violinist. “I can layer the music on top of my music, and the live element adds a lot of energy,” says Taylor (shown above during a gig with live musicians). “People dance more when there’s a drummer.”

• For ceremony and cocktail hour tunes, Lamb suggests creating musical interludes that feel personal to the couple. “We usually recommend that couples incorporate music that reflects them, their families and their shared experiences,” she says. “We used a calypso band at the cocktail hour for a Caribbean family, and we had a Balinese gamelan play at the dinner of a couple who fell in love on a trip to Bali. Be creative, keeping in mind that it’s a good idea to increase the energy of the music [and usually the volume] as the night progresses.”

Deliver your food on wheels

If you want to make a lasting impression, consider jumping aboard one of the city’s hottest trends: the food truck. Nida Rodriguez of The Slide Ride (Theslideride.com) has catered more than 30 weddings since taking her slider truck on the road in June 2011. “We’ve done some casual backyard weddings, or we show up around 11 or 12 as a late-night food option,” Rodriguez says. “People have been drinking and haven’t eaten in a few hours, so they’re usually pretty excited to see the slider truck.” And while cupcakes have already seen their wedding heyday, they seem brand new when they arrive on the Flirty Cupcakes (Flirtycupcakes.com) van alongside mini pies, hot chocolate and cider. “We’ve served desserts as people leave the church, outside receptions and we were able to drive right into one hall in the city,” says owner Tiffany Kurtz. “That was cool.”

Story by Kate Stahl

In-demand wedding planner Marina Birch of Birch Design Studio shares tips for a timeless celebration.

Avoid winter weather by setting up a home in these well-connected buildings.

During the frigid Chicago winters, it’s best to have “inside connections” — in other words, a residence in a building that also plays host to restaurants, shops, entertainment options and other essentials. “Plenty of buildings have those options in a wide range of price points and locations,” says Rick Druker, managing broker of Baird & Warner’s Michigan Avenue office. He lists Olympia Centre, Aqua, Lake Point Tower, the Hancock and Marina City as examples. “Or [look to] hotels with indulgent services and spas that are attached to condos, like Trump International Hotel & Tower and the Waldorf Astoria,” says Druker.

But if you’re looking for a one-stop residence, Druker says that the real stars are the complexes that are attached to luxury hotels and world-class malls, offering an abundance of shopping and services. That makes Water Tower Place and 900 N. Michigan, which both house bustling vertical malls, five-star hotels (the Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons, respectively) and posh apartments, the hottest “insider” residences in town.

Prices usually top $1 million for these condos, but right now there are a few listings on the market under that benchmark. At Water Tower Place (180 E. Pearson), unit 4402, a 1,775-square-foot, two-bed two-bath is up for $895,000 (Baird & Warner broker Daphne McDougall, 312-981-2362, Daphne.Mcdougall@bairdwarner.com) and unit 6501, a 2,754-square-foot, three-bed three-bath is going for $950,000 (contact Koenig & Strey broker Marie Campbell, 312-893-1347, Mcampbell@koenigstrey.com). Over at 132 E. Delaware, the residence attached to the 900 building, unit 5105 (below), a 1,470-square-foot, two-bed two-bath is on the market for $795,000 (contact Koenig & Strey broker Helen Jaeger Roth, 312-893-3541, Hjaegerroth@koenigstrey.com).

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505. Michigan Unit 6202

Lake Point Tower and the Hancock Center are two other buildings with available abodes that are virtually cities in their own right. At the former (505 N. Lake Shore), unit 807, a 1,100-square-foot, one-bedroom one-bathroom, is $329,900 and unit 6202 (above), a 1,800-square-foot, three-bed two-bath, is $995,000 (for both contact @properties broker Jean Ward, 312-315-6116). At the latter (175 E. Delaware), you’ll find unit 5306, a 590-square-foot studio for $229,000, and unit 6607, a 1,460-square-foot, two-bed two-bath going for $595,000 (for both contact Baird & Warner broker Pat Cohen, 312-415-8000).

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Diamonds may be forever, but international color authority Pantone has proclaimed emerald the 2013 color of the year. Watch for the verdant hue on everything from decor to furnishings to floor coverings, and get a quick burst with an affordable print from art site 20×200.com. Our picks? “Eroded in the Silence” by Chikara Umihara ($60) and “Shadowscape” by Michelle Marie Murphy ($24 or $60, left).

Story by Lisa Skolnik

Forget Wicker Park and Logan Square — Avondale is the hot new West Side neighborhood.

With hip heavyweight ‘hoods next door, close proximity to the highway, lots of shopping and reasonably priced housing, Avondale — recently named “Neighborhood of the Year” by Curbed.com — has the best of all worlds. The boot-shaped, on-the-rise area is bordered by the North Branch of the Chicago River, Addison Street, Pulaski Road, the Union Pacific/Northwest rail line and Diversey Avenue. “You can head a few blocks south or east to the well-established shops, eateries and watering holes in Logan Square and Roscoe Village, get downtown in 10 minutes and properties average about 25 to 30 percent less here,” notes longtime resident and @properties broker Patrick Schell (773-960-6940). Thanks to those stats, good properties sell fast: last fall, Schell’s listing for a three-bedroom, one-bathroom 1890s charmer got multiple offers and sold in 24 hours for $5,000 more than the list price. The area is rich with vintage houses, walkups and new-construction developments, but “the best values are the single-family houses, both new and old,” says Schell. Especially those he calls “box houses” — the ultra-modern, new construction, open-plan smart-tech houses that are the specialty of a handful of builders. “The sustainable houses are attainable here,” says Schell. One example is 3120 N. Sacramento (shown above), a 2,400-square-foot, four-bedroom 2.5-bathroom. It’s Energy Star-rated, with tankless H2O, LOBA-sealed oak floors, no-VOC paint, LEED finishes, European cabinetry and a stunning floating staircase to boot for $424,000 (contact North Clybourn Group broker Karen Biazar, 773-645-7900; Karen@northclybourngroup.com).

If you like what you’ve seen so far, you’ll love the ultra-modern number going up at 3101 N. Bernard. The new-construction four-bedroom, 3.5-bath single-family has 3,000 square feet and will feature a chef’s kitchen upon completion (contact Prudential Rubloff agent Jeremy Scott Fisher, 312-268-0644; Jfisher@rubloff.com). For a sweet 2,000-square-foot, three-bed, two-bath town house, consider 3651 W. Cornelia, unit D, shown above (contact Century 21 United broker Glen Tomlinson, 773-807-1109; Gtomillion@gmail.com). And 3240 N. California, unit 2N, a 1,050-square-foot, two-bed, two-bath condo, is a great value at $197,500 (contact @properties broker Blair Thrush Lele, 847-363-5436; Blair@atproperties.com).

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Cottage Industry’s Big Bloom vase uses lightweight Fresnel lenses (think traffic lights, televisions, projectors and more) to turn a single stem into a major statement ($54.95 at the Museum of Contemporary Art Store, 220 E. Chicago, Mcachicagostore.org).

Story by Lisa Skolnik

Got the flu, no rest in sight, need some TLC. (Insert boyfriend here.)

Gimme your best tips to heal the flu naturally.

It’s not fair that celebs are the only ones who get to see what top makeup artists use as their beauty “must haves,” so I asked three top Hollywood makeup artists to spill the beans on their favorite products and secrets they can share with real people. Here’s what they had to say:

Joanne McCarthy (my sister): Make up artist for Dancing with The Stars
Twitter: @makeupjojo
Facebook: Jojo McCarthy

JENNY: Alright Jojo, spill it.

JOJO: The one question I get the most is: How do I cover my dark under-eye circles? What concealer is the best? I swear by this concealer called Amazing Concealer by Amazing Cosmetics. There are 10 colors — a shade for everyone!!

JENNY: How do we know which color to buy?

JOJO: Choose a color that is one shade lighter than your foundation.

JENNY: How do I apply the concealer?

JOJO: Squirt a few drops of concealer on the back of your hand to warm it up then apply with either your ring finger or a synthetic makeup brush starting at the inner corner of your eye, and follow it on top of any discoloration.

JENNY: Tell us your secret tip!

JOJO: If you do not have dark circles and you want to use this concealer as a highlight, mix a little concealer with your foundation (either cream or liquid foundation); it will add just the right amount of glow and light to your face!

JENNY: I would have to agree that highlighting under your eyes not only makes you look younger but also adds dimension to your face. It helps my cheeks pop out more.

JOJO: Bingo!

Debra Macki, celebrity makeup artist
Facebook: Debra Macki
Twitter: @debramacki

There are amazing prep products available that help make women look better when used in conjunction with great makeup application. These steps are secrets top makeup artists use and just as important as the makeup itself. Below are my top three:

Eye Dews
One of the biggest problems I have to combat as a makeup artist is the under-eye area. From dark circles to dehydration to puffiness to wrinkles, women of all ages complain about this area the most. I found a product called Eye Dews that I am obsessed with that eliminates puffiness and rejuvenates the under eye area quickly, so it’s perfect for me to use at photo shoots and on set. Puffiness can’t be hidden with makeup so this product is a lifesaver! I recommend it to my clients for home use and they can’t stop thanking me.

The Clarisonic
If your skin is properly exfoliated, your foundation will sit more smoothly and not look cake-y. Most women don’t realize how important this step is to having their makeup look younger and fresher. The very best product available that exfoliates without irritating your skin is the Clarisonic. It’s amazing!

Urban Decay Primers
Using a primer under your foundation will make you look younger and your foundation will last longer. Urban Decay has an array of primers from pore minimizing to oil-control that will give your makeup a more polished, long-lasting look. My favorites!

Julie Ribordy, commercial and print makeup artist
Twitter: @makeupbyJulie
Facebook: MakeupbyJulie

JENNY: Alright Julie, spill the beans!

JULIE: When choosing mascara, look at the wand. If it’s big and bushy, that’s how your lashes will end up. If it’s long and spiky, you’ll lengthen and separate. An arched wand will lift and curl the lashes better than a straight brush. To get the look you want, you have to choose the right applicator.

JENNY: What is your favorite “must have” product?

JULIE: Stila #33 One-Step Complexion Brush, a dual-ended foundation and concealer brush that allows for blending liquid and powder products. The small tapered end is perfect for getting in those hard-to-reach areas and can also be used to blend shadow. It’s designed with endless applications in mind and is my “can’t-live-without” brush!

This week, we raise our classes to Jackson Miranda and Jordan Stemer, Laurie Davis and Wild Belle.

Snaps to newly engaged couple Jackson Miranda and Jordan Stemer (above, sister of Splash’s Zak Stemer). He popped the question with Champagne and flowers at Market, where the two met at an event last year.

Take a bow! Congrats to Lulu’s at the Belle Kay owner Laurie Davis (left), who dressed 10 local women in her store’s one-of-a-kind vintage pieces for the Inaugural Ball in Washington D.C.

Cheers to Natalie and Elliot Bergman of brother-sister indie band Wild Belle. The Chicago natives (and friends-of-Splash) were featured in the January issue of Vogue.

Send us your cheers at Splash@suntimes.com.

The Dana Hotel (660 N. State) cranked up the heat on Jan. 18, when nearly 600 guests turned up to celebrate the return of the Vertigo Sky Lounge’s seasonal ice bar. Perched 26 floors above the city, revelers stayed warm by sipping Svedka cocktails from the frozen bar, mingling inside or gathering around the fire pit on the outdoor balcony. Throughout the Splash-sponsored event, Kristen Amato’s K. Amato spring 2013 jewelry collection was on display for partygoers to admire.

The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Ramzi Dreessen

Dear Jenny:

I am a 63-year-old woman and have been in a relationship with a great guy for the past year. We get along extremely well — so well that he moved in with me about six months ago. We’re planning to retire to Arizona together at the end of this year. We’re both financially independent, and I am very happy to be with him.

Our only stumbling block has been my concerns about his previous relationship with a younger woman. He broke up with her about two weeks prior to the day we met. He lived with her for about two years before that, and I believe he got along very well with her. He tells me that they broke up because of her unruly kids, but I believe he is still not completely over her.

I recently found a stack of photos of the two of them and her kids looking very happy. I know these pictures were taken before he and I got together. I stated that I was uncomfortable with him holding onto those photos. He said he also has photos of his two ex-wives and I should not be concerned because he is very happy now with me. But he eventually said that I could shred those photos, and I did. I know he is a sentimental guy, but this is making me very uncomfortable. Jenny, should I be concerned about his feelings for her?

— Chloe in Illinois

Jenny says:

I’m so happy you reached out!

First of all, it’s wonderful that you found someone you care about — but I am concerned that your fears might be interfering with your happiness. Why are you sabotaging it? Shredding his pictures was a selfish and insecure thing to do. Every experience that this man has had in his life has helped shaped him into who he is. They’ve molded him into the person that you are currently in love with. Maybe these prior relationships taught him how to love the right way, and now he has met you to perfect it.

Who would really want to be with a person that has led a miserable life, anyway? A few weeks ago, I blogged about how I taught Evan to stay in the present moment because it is a gift. That’s why it is called “the present.” Your ego is the one who is worrying about the past and about what is going to happen in the future. You must be very careful, because by thinking about these things, you are giving your ego power — you will manifest your own worst fears. Instead, try being grateful for having found a man who knows how to love. Also, have confidence in the knowledge that he finds you just as attractive and desirable as a younger woman.

You can shred his photos, but you can’t shred his memories, so don’t even try. Stay in the now, and love yourself so you are able to love him AND his past.

On Jan. 17, chef Ryan Poli, Mercadito Hospitality partners Alfredo and Felipe Sandoval and “Tippling Bros.” Paul Tanguay and Tad Carducci celebrated the grand opening of their Gold Coast restaurant, Little Market Brasserie (10 E. Delaware). Nearly 200 guests flocked to the 150-seat restaurant nestled inside the Talbott Hotel and surrounded by a 125-seat outdoor sidewalk café. Attendees like Steve Dolinsky, Andrew and Jonathan Landan and April Francis sipped on charged cocktails (homemade soda blends mixed with a choice of spirits) and snacked on samples from the menu, including deviled eggs with mushrooms and grilled cheese stuffed with fried egg, cheddar, bacon and avocado.

Story by Talia Beechick | Photos by James Atkins

Ballplayers became bartenders on Jan. 18 at Woody’s Winter Warm-Up, a fund-raiser hosted by retired Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and his wife Sarah. More than 450 guests turned out at Harry Caray’s Tavern Navy Pier (600 E. Grand) for the second annual event featuring an all-star lineup — Matt Garza, Jeff Samardzija, Tony Campana and more — who served drinks and competed for tips donated to the Wood Family Foundation. The party raised more than $100,000 for the foundation, which works to improve the lives of kids in Chicago.

The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Ramzi Dreessen and Kenny Kim

On Jan. 17, Cubs players past and present swapped the field for the runway as outfielder David DeJesus and wife Kim welcomed almost 300 guests to the Strike a Pose Celebrity Fashion Show. With the goal of raising funds for the David DeJesus Family Foundation — established by the couple to help families in need — players such as Shawn Camp, Brett Jackson and Anthony Rizzo strutted down the catwalk and Kerry Wood, Darwin Barney, Michael Bowden and Ian Stewart were joined by their wives on the runway at the River East Art Center (435 E. Illinois), all sporting glam looks courtesy of the 900 North Michigan Shops. The event, which included a VIP reception, silent auction and cocktail hour, raised close to $200,000 for the fight against ALS.

Photos by John Nunu Zomot and Hallie Duesenberg

Spring may be months away, but winter florals have blossomed on Chicago’s party circuit. Radiating femininity, a brightly colored flower pattern can add a playful twist to typical cocktail attire. The perfect petal-printed dress hugs the waistline, accentuating an hourglass figure and maximizing flirtation. Let the flower power flourish — keep jewelry minimal and accessorize with a simple belt, elegant handbag and a killer pair of pumps.

If you recall noticing an in-love couple get kicked out of City Hall just over a year ago, chances are it was Zach Gilford and Kiele Sanchez.

“I proposed at City Hall because it was the first place I ever saw her,” says Gilford, 30, who met his actor wife while filming a TV movie in Chicago — a romantic meeting point for the couple, who both hail from here (Gilford is from Evanston, Sanchez grew up in Carol Stream).

“But after I proposed, we were hugging each other, telling each other ‘I love you,’ and the security guard came over and said, ‘I don’t know what you guys are doing, but you can’t do it here. Take it somewhere else.’ ” Despite the rocky start to their engagement, the wedding went off without a hitch: The couple tied the knot on Dec. 29 in Northern California, and after a two-week honeymoon in Asia and 36 hours at their home in Los Angeles, they’re currently residing in Miami, where Sanchez is filming the A&E series, “The Glades.”

With Gabrielle Union, John Slattery and Jena Malone in 2012’s “In Our Nature.”

It was a fitting end to a whirlwind year for Gilford: He starred in two indie dramas, “Crazy Kind of Love” with Virginia Madsen and “In Our Nature” with John Slattery, had a leading role on the Fox show “The Mob Doctor” (which ended in December) and this month, he’ll appear in his first big-budget movie, “The Last Stand,” alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and Johnny Knoxville. “I got to be a bit goofier, so that was fun,” he says of his role as a small-town deputy. While he’s always chosen his projects with care, opting to take on work that inspires him, there’s another layer to his decision-making process now that he’s a husband.

“When I first started working and I would meet actors who had relationships that worked, every single one of them said to impose a two-week limit. Don’t go two weeks without seeing each other,” says Gilford. “So when it comes to jobs, you have to weigh it and ask, ‘Is it worth being apart?’ ”

Zach Gilford as Matt Saracen in the acclaimed “Friday Night Lights.”

It’s a philosophy that rings especially true for Gilford, whose various roles have taken him to Portland, Ore., Philadelphia, Miami, Hawaii and most recently home to Chicago, where he filmed “The Mob Doctor.” But it was the four and a half years he spent in Austin, playing sensitive quarterback Matt Saracen on the critically-acclaimed NBC series “Friday Night Lights,” that thrust Gilford into the spotlight. “It was the best job ever,” says Gilford. “It’s rare on big network TV to do something so good. Everybody got along and was respectful. And since we were removed from L.A., it wasn’t like people were rushing off to events, or caught at a club getting drunk. It kept us all normal.”

“Normal” is an apt description for Gilford’s upbringing. He grew up in Evanston, attending Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University. After securing a manager and agent, thanks to a Northwestern senior showcase, he made the move to New York City and soon scored his first professional gig: a role on “Law & Order: SVU.” Since then, Gilford has appeared in a wide range of projects, from television shows to independent films. When it comes to finding the right part, Gilford tries to pick good projects and avoid falling into the good-guy trap. “Since ‘Friday Night Lights,’ people sometimes think of me as the ‘nice guy,’ ” he says.

A proud 2000 Evanston Township High School grad, Gilford poses with Wildkit cheerleaders after he stopped by a Wildkit game against Maine West in 2008. | joel lerner

“The nice guy is fun, but I want to do something else. But if it’s an amazing movie with this director or this actor signed on, I’ll play whatever part it is.”

Despite the allure of Hollywood, Gilford remains a down-to-earth Chicagoan. He travels home often to visit his parents, who still live in the house where he grew up. When he’s in town, he runs along the lake and takes in the city’s native fare, including deep dish pizza from Carmen’s in Rogers Park or The Art of Pizza. His Chicago allegiance is most obvious on the back of his calf, however, where he boasts a tattoo that says “Pip 33.” “When I was 13, my buddy and I tattooed each other,” he laughs. (He and Sanchez also have a dog named Pippen.) When in town, Gilford and Sanchez also hit up their favorite restaurant, Girl & the Goat.

“When I was filming ‘The Mob Doctor,’ I lived down the street and we ended up becoming friends with the servers,” he says. “So it was like, ‘What should we get? Let’s just go to Girl & the Goat.’ It was so good, but not the most economical. Thank god the show ended because we were going to go broke.”

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Wedded Bliss

“It was so amazing,” says Gilford of his Dec. 29 nuptials to Kiele Sanchez, an actor who has appeared in “Lost” and the movie “A Perfect Getaway.” “We did it on this organic farm in Northern California with only 75 people, and we didn’t invite anyone out of obligation. It was just close family and close friends. Ultimately it made it so you’re not spending half of your night talking to people you barely know.”

Wedding teamwork

“The wedding was great, but planning it was a difficult experience. Because we were both very active in it, we learned a lot about how we work together.” says Gilford. “It’s so cool that you’re learning all of these things while planning the wedding, which is the thing that’s making you a unit that is going to have to work together forever.”

The night before

“I think the reason they don’t want brides to see the groom the night before the wedding, and vice versa, is so you don’t get in a fight. I mean, it’s all super stressful and you’re at the rehearsal dinner and everyone is drinking — it’s a powder keg for a fight. Then when you don’t see each other, it’s like ‘I miss you! I love you! I can’t wait to see you!’ You’re stoked.”

Story by Molly Each

A reporter once asked me if I thought my date-night checklist was much different from a married girl’s date night checklist. So, I asked a married friend who I felt was somewhat similar to me to answer these questions. Her name is @SurferWife and she has been happily married for eight years.

Jenny, this is your first date with a hot guy. SurferWife, this is your monthly date night with your husband. Please answer the following questions as truthfully as possible:

What is your immediate reaction to being asked out on a date?

@SurferWife: Shock and then a tinge of sadness that I can’t wear my favorite yoga pants for 72 straight hours.

@JennyMcCarthy: I hope he’s interesting and smart so I don’t have to hide in the bathroom all night … again.

Do you have specific grooming habits?

@SurferWife: Heck, yes! This is a big night, so I’m shaving up to my knees, folks! Oh, but wait. If I shave that might mean I have to take a legit shower and do more than just freshen my ‘pits with wet wipes. Let me get back to you after I think this question through more carefully.

@JennyMcCarthy: I have to make a choice: shave or don’t let him see the goods. Depends on the alcohol and the ovulation schedule.

What does your outfit consist of?

@SurferWife: After I find the one bra that will keep my ta-ta’s off of my belly button, I also search for the one top without food stains. Which I don’t actually own. So, I usually choose the one with the applesauce smudge on the shoulder because my husband says it brings out my eyes.

@JennyMcCarthy: Is this guy worth a dry cleaning shirt?

Tell me about your heels:

@SurferWife: Oh. Was I supposed to remember how to walk in those?

@JennyMcCarthy: A higher heel makes it look like you care.

How long do you spend on your hair?

@SurferWife: Um, a ponytail takes me about 45 seconds. Why, how long does a ponytail take you?

@JennyMcCarthy: Sadly, a freaking hour.

What about makeup?

@SurferWife: Ok, look: I need to keep my man interested, so I am curling my eyelashes, ditching the Blistex for something stickier and applying bronzer to my face. He has this weird thing about wanting me to ‘look more feminine.’

@JennyMcCarthy: Sadly another hour. Part of the deception package.

Where do you hope he’ll take you?

@SurferWife: Hell, it can be Taco Bell if it means I don’t have to cook.

@JennyMcCarthy: Anywhere that sells oysters (except Red Lobster). I’ll take as much aphrodisiac help as I can get.

How do you expect this night to end?

@SurferWife: Hmmm, probably with a solid romp through the sheets. And by romp, I mean loud snoring and air biscuits.

@JennyMcCarthy: If he’s hot, a make-out session. If he’s lucky, first base. If he’s neither of those things … I’m crawling out the restaurant bathroom window … again.

Where to be and what to see this week: New openings at Lookingglass Theatre and American Theatre Company, ‘Cocktails & Cacti’ at the Goodman and the Hamburg Ballet at Harris Theater, a fundraiser at the MCA, an appearance by architect Jeanne Gang and a fun family event at the Cultural Center.

‘Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo’

Jan. 30-March 17: Leave it to Lookingglass Theatre to take on a show of such peculiar proportions. Rajiv Joseph’s Pulitzer-nominated play riffs on a real-life incident that became a metaphor for the U.S. presence in Iraq: An American soldier loses part of his arm when he offers a tiger a kebab. Joseph imagines the ghost of that tiger (killed after the incident) wandering Baghdad, a wisecracking witness to the zoo the city has become. Tickets: $34-$70. Water Tower Water Works, 821 N. Michigan. Call (312) 337-0665 or visit Lookingglasstheatre.org.

‘Cocktails & Cacti’

Jan. 31: The Goodman Theatre’s Scenemakers Board invites theatergoers to get up close and personal with the cast of its current dysfunctional family dramedy, “Other Desert Cities” (pictured above). Enjoy cactus-infused cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and a meet and greet with director Henry Wishcamper. After a performance of the play, mingle with the cast and crew at a reception. It’s a sweet opportunity to learn what makes a show — and its performers — tick. Tickets: $60. 170 N. Dearborn. Use promo code CACTI for tickets at Goodmantheatre.org or call (312) 443-3800.

‘Juicebox’

Feb. 1: Heard “The Wheels on the Bus” one too many times? Turn your child onto something different (and give your ears a break) at Juicebox, the new music and performance series for pre-kindergarteners. Taking place every other Friday at 10 a.m. at the Cultural Center, the program kicks off this week with the Spektral Quartet, acclaimed for bringing a fresh approach to serious music and engaging audiences of all ages. Free. 78 E. Washington. Visit Cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca.html for more information.

Spektral Quartet

Hamburg Ballet

Feb. 1-2: One of the world’s most respected dance companies, the Hamburg Ballet launches its American tour at the Harris Theater. Led for 40 years by Milwaukee-born John Neumeier, the troupe performs his dynamically dramatic “Nijinsky,” which explores the talented and troubled 20th century Russian dancer/choreographer whose highly-charged sexuality and compositional innovations shocked audiences and injected modernism into classical ballet. Tickets: $30-$75. 205 E. Randolph. Call (312) 334-7777 or visit Harristheaterchicago.org.

Hamburg Ballet

‘Columbinus’

Feb. 1-March 10: In the wake of the Sandy Hook tragedy, American Theater Company revisits the event that launched the national dialogue on gun violence: the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colo. Conceived and directed by Artistic Director PJ Paparelli, “Columbinus” draws from interviews with teens across the country (including survivors of the attack) and incorporates never-before-released information on the shooters and their families. Tickets: $33 through Feb 5; $38-$43 thereafter. 1909 W. Byron. Call (773) 409-4125 or visit Atcweb.org.

ArtEdge at the MCA

Feb. 2: The Museum of Contemporary Art presents some of the most challenging work out there, so it’s not surprising that it takes an avant-garde approach when it comes to fundraisers. Set in the MCA’s warehouse, this annual benefit uses industry as its theme, with supporters sipping cocktails in settings such as the Chain Link Room and Automation Room. After dinner (which arrives via conveyor belt), guests will groove to indie rock band Fitz and the Tantrums. Tickets: $1,000 for entire evening; $150 for dessert reception and concert. 1747 W. Hubbard. Call (312) 397-3868 or visit Mcachicago.org/artedge.

‘Archi-Salon: Inside Studio Gang Architects’

Feb. 2: As Jeanne Gang has demonstrated — and as the Art Institute’s current exhibition of her work illustrates — architecture is much more than four walls and a roof. The brains behind the Aqua Tower, Gang takes an unconventional approach to how buildings relate to the landscape. Check out the exhibit, located in the Modern Wing, then hear more from Gang as she engages in a discussion with her peers, led by architect and University of Illinois professor Clare Lyster. Free with museum admission. 159 E. Monroe. Call (312) 443-3600 or visit Artic.edu.

Kaohsiung Maritime Museum and Popular Music Center, designed by Studio Gang

—Story by Thomas Connors

Thanks to the undying support of its avid fan base, NBC’s cult hit “Community” is finally returning to network television. And Chicago native Danny Pudi — who plays socially awkward student Abed Nadir — is thrilled to be back. “It’s the fourth season of a show that I don’t think anyone expected to last four seasons,” he jokes.

The pop culture reference-packed comedy, now gearing up for its Feb. 7 premiere after an almost yearlong hiatus, follows the shenanigans of an idiosyncratic seven-person study group at Greendale Community College. “The core of our show is a bunch of people doing really absurd things,” says Pudi, whose character is possibly the most absurd of them all (imagine an Indian Rain Man with a sense of humor and compulsion to make every moment cinematic). This season, the gang will enter their senior year at the not-so-elite educational institution, dealing with new levels of craziness as they head toward graduation and, possibly, the end of the study group.

The similarities Pudi shares with his on-camera character are eerie. “For Abed, these people have become his family. He has real and deep relationships with them, and he has to deal with the reality that he might not be able to see them as often.” On set, the cast has become as tightknit as they are on screen — and they all know that this season might be the last. “We’re all used to the ‘Community’ ride,” says Pudi. “It’s full of ‘Are we coming back? Are we not coming back? Are we going to finish this episode? Woo! We finished this episode!’ ”

Luckily, graduation isn’t a looming disaster for Pudi. He’s got a handful of side projects in the works, including a sports documentary that he’s directing and an untitled slapstick comedy movie. And as a new dad to twins, Pudi’s got his plate full. “It’s the wildest thing I’ve ever seen in my life,” he says of fatherhood. “I’ve never seen kids react so strongly one way or another to milk. You introduce such a simple thing to the ecosystem and the whole world changes.” Fortunately, Pudi has plenty of help from his wife, whom he credits as the parenting expert. “I feel most comfortable when I’m being directed, whether it’s by my wife or by my children,” he says.

Here, the actor and comic plays out his ideal fair-weather day in his hometown.

“Community” airs Thursdays at 7 p.m. on NBC.

~

10 a.m. When Pudi and his wife lived in Wrigleyville, Julius Meinl (4363 N. Lincoln) was their go-to coffee joint, and he still craves it.

11 A.M. “I love riding trains,” says Pudi. “The Brown Line is probably the slowest, so if you’re looking to take in the city, it’s great.”

11:30 A.M. Pudi takes a quick walk around Old Town and Lincoln Square to burn off breakfast and do some people watching — a favorite hobby.
1 p.m. Pudi’s mom whips up her stellar kolaczki in her North Side home.

3 p.m. An avid marathon runner, Pudi jogs along the lakefront. “When you feel everything in your body burning and think it’s going to disintegrate, it’s nice to look at the water and trick yourself into being soothed.”

4 p.m. It’s time to sit back by a fire, watch a sports game — Bonnell loves the Bears and Bulls — and play cards with her family.

8 p.m. Pudi attends a laugh-out-loud improv show at iO Theater (3541 N. Clark) or Second City (1616 N. Wells).

10 p.m. The evening ends with a stop by Nightwood restaurant (2119 S. Halsted) — chef Jason Vincent is a friend.

Story by Zak Stemer

As the team behind River North hot spots Mercadito and Tavernita, Alfredo, Felipe and Patricio Sandoval know how to produce a restaurant that combines gourmet food with a see-and-be-seen vibe. But for Little Market Brasserie, its third Chicago restaurant — and the second with chef/partner Ryan Poli at the helm — the group took a more low-key approach. “We wanted a casual neighborhood restaurant that wasn’t a scene, but was still bustling,” says Poli. “So we thought a lot about what people look for when they go to a place two or three times a week.”

For Poli, the answer was comfort food, served at a reasonable price point in a laid-back environment and Little Market is doing all of the above from inside the Talbott Hotel. The space evokes a Parisian brasserie, with subway tiles covering the walls, big wooden banquettes and a checkered floor. To find the right blend of French and American food to match, Poli and Alfredo traveled to nearly a dozen cities for research, including Austin, Texas; Montreal; New York; and New Orleans. “It’s casual, simple, recognizable cuisine,” says Poli. “You can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there, but each meal feels cool.”

Little Market interior

For breakfast, which starts at 6:30 a.m., Poli serves classics like biscuits and gravy ($12.50); his lunch and dinner fare includes roast chicken with couscous and dried fruits ($18.50), risotto ($14.50), a NY strip (market price) and sides such as mac and cheese and french fries. But Poli didn’t just pay homage to classic brasserie food when crafting the menu — he mixed in some of his personal favorites. “The pasta puttanesca is a sauce I learned early in my career, and the grilled cheese is one that I make myself at home,” he says. And then there’s the Big Baby, a simple two-patty cheeseburger inspired by the one offered at Nicky’s, a greasy spoon on the Southwest Side where Poli grew up. The eclectic fare pairs perfectly with Little Market’s charged cocktails — custom pairings of gourmet sodas (think hibiscus vanilla and Meyer lemon) and spirits created by the Tippling Bros.

Ryan Poli

The menu is a welcome departure for Poli, who crafts authentic Spanish cuisine at Tavernita. “It’s a challenge to cook with butter and cream again,” he laughs. “But it’s great to get back to familiar ingredients.”

The Talbott Hotel, 10 E. Delaware, (312) 640-8141, Littlemarketbrasserie.com

Twins Henry and Lily Block always have been close, but the pair forged a deeper bond after facing an important milestone together: their b’nai mitzvah. The 13-year-old siblings held their ceremony during the holiday of Sukkot at Anshe Emet Synagogue (3751 N. Broadway), where they jointly led the traditional service and read from the Torah and Haftorah in Hebrew. Both spoke at length about their Torah portion, relating it to their lives and to their “mitzvah” projects, or charitable causes they championed: Lily worked with Sit Stay Read, an organization that uses dogs to improve child literacy, and Henry helped lead bingo games in a nursing home. “Bar and bat mitzvahs are first and foremost religious ceremonies,” says their mother, Julie Nerenberg Block. “Therefore, to me and my family, the service was the most meaningful part.” But with the twins’ hard work came cause for celebration. After the ceremony, family and friends joined Henry and Lily at Maggiano’s (516 N. Clark), where furniture was swapped out for a dance floor. The kids partied to the sounds of DJ Chicken Wang, snacked on sweet treats from the candy table and cotton candy machine and called it a night comfortably — each of the 240 guests left with a pair of personalized sweats.

Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Lee Ross Photography