Chicago is totally <I>US</I>'s new bestie; or, We're not just for Balki anymore!

OMG it's finally happened. Chicago's been bumped up from the B-list of celebrity-tastic cities to A-list status. How do I know this? Because US just told me so, of course!

US was kind enough to honor the City of Big Shoulders with a whole three page feature. TomKat's fave pizza when they're in town, taking a break from their rigorous couch-jumping, cold sore-concealing schedule? Giordano's. Where can you find Bono when he's not out saving the world from, well, everything? I'm not sure, but try NoMI -- he celebrated a birthday there. And where will Nicole Richie fiancé DJ A.M. be spinning on August 18? Reserve, located in our very own meat-packing district.

And why not Chicago? The city's been crawling with the infamous, from Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston (shooting The Break Up) to long-time residents R. Kelly (no comment), Oprah Winfrey (she freakin' lives here, plantation in Hawaii be damned), Liz Phair (who totally defected to LA a few years ago, but I still listen to "Fuck and Run" every time my heart gets broken), and yes, even David Schwimmer (who isn't from Chicago, but he did attend Northwestern and co-founded the city's Lookingglass Theatre). Oh, and of course, Jeremy Piven and John Cusack (who is an original inductee into the Jasmine Secret Celebrity Boyfriend League, along with the male cast members of The West Wing).

I can think of other celebrities who I've seen around town, and for the most parts these are not folks I would not be ashamed to totally chase down (in a non-threatening way, of course) for their autograph. Billy Corgan? Sure. Any member of the Chicago White Sox? Heck yes. Bonnie Hunt? I don't think she's either skanky or crazy enough to be anywhere near US's radar, but I lurve her just the same.

From upscale women's boutique p.45 to hip eatery Japonais, US made a strong argument that Chicago is capable of pandering to the rich and flashy as any other boîte boasting table service in New York, LA, or that fun fair known as Las Vegas. I've always thought of Chicago as being the new Brooklyn (or was gentrified Brooklyn merely the new Chicago?), only not so much smelling of urine and without those pesky anti-smoking ordinances.