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When settling on a name for their new restaurant, brothers Mike and Pat Sheerin found a moniker that seemed to embody their own life philosophies: Trenchermen. The term describes hearty eaters and drinkers, but, as Pat explains, "We take that a step further to mean a person who lives life fully." It's something both know well. Pat, the older of the two brothers, has an extensive background in fine dining, having worked at such acclaimed Chicago restaurants as Everest, Ambria, Naha, and most recently as the executive chef at The Signature Room. Mike is just as prolific, having spent time in the kitchens of New York hot spots Jean Georges, Vong, Lutèce, and  WD~50, But it was back in Chicago when everyone began to take notice of his work as the chef de cuisine at Blackbird, a post he served until 2010, when he left to pursue Trenchermen. In the process of opening their newest restaurant, (which should hit the Chicago scene this spring), Mike and Pat took time to chat about how they got started cooking, what it’s like to work together, and where they opt to grab a bit after a long night in the kitchen.

As the original pioneers of two of Chicago’s storied nightlife districts past and present--Weed Street and River North--it appears that the gentlemen of Rockit Ranch Productions possess the Midas touch.  With the continuing success of their current venues, The Underground and Rockit Bar & Grill, Billy Dec (CEO/Founder), Arturo Gomez (President), and Brad Young (Chairman/Founder) seem to have perfected that elusive formula for success and longevity (more on that later). Amid a whirlwind lifestyle spent constantly managing, honing, and promoting their venues, their brand, and their city, Dec, Gomez, and Young found time to chat with us about how they all met, what you need to do to create longevity, and why Chicago simply has everything.

"Technology isn't going to make you less of a lazy person."

At 15 years old, Chaz Bundick began making music in his bedroom. The Columbia, South Carolina native has since risen to become one of indie music’s most original voices, under the name Toro y Moi, having already produced two critically acclaimed full-length albums, Causers of This and Underneath the Pine, and an EP, Freaking Out, which was released on September 13. Earlier this summer, we caught up with Bundick backstage at the Pitchfork Music Festival—where Odd Future’s Tyler, the Creator jammed to his set backstage—and got him to share some thoughts on his origins, his success, and his inspiration

"When you're an only child, things just swirl around your head for years."

Odd Future: 1, Protesters: 0

"nothing that I remembered was there"