Brian Kolb

Third baseman Brian Kolb is entering his fourth season in a RailCats uniform. He was picked up by the Gary team out of Wheaton College in 2010 and played in 81 of the team's 100 games last season.

Steve Liddle

RailCats infielder Steve Liddle is congratulated after a two-run home run in the first inning of Monday's exhibition game against Schaumburg. Liddle won a spot as the RailCats starting first baseman and has the most experience of any player in the young infield.

Chase Tucker

The RailCats Chase Tucker makes an out at second against the Boomers Chad Mozingo during the final spring training game at U.S. Steel Yard. Tucker "may have been the best guy in camp," manager Greg Tagert said after the rookie Tucker won the starting job at second base.

Aljay Davis

RailCats center fielder Aljay Davis makes a catch against the Schaumburg Boomers during a spring training game at U.S. Steel Yard.

Matt Kuna

Schaumburg Boomers pitcher and Griffith grad Matt Kuna throws against the RailCats during Monday's spring training game at U.S. Steel Yard.

Steve Liddle

RailCats infielder Steve Liddle is congratulated after a two-run home run in the first inning of Monday's exhibition game against Schaumburg.

Steve Liddle

RailCats infielder Steve Liddle, right, is congratulated after a two-run home run in the first inning of Monday's exhibition game against Schaumburg at U.S. Steel Yard.

Owners say ferrets are pets, officials say pest

The difference between owning a ferret in Hawaii and one in Pennsylvania can be up to three years in jail and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.

Tokio Pub BBQ Dishes

BBQ Ribs (upper left), chicken meatballs (middle) and strip steak and scallion skewers (lower left) are among the menu highlights at Tokio Pub, one of the latest restaurant concepts in Chicagoland from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises.

Tokio Pub's "In Bloom Asian Martini"

Tokio Pub is a new restaurant concept by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises with a tapas menu and based in Schaumburg, featuring menu highlights like the "In Bloom Asian Martini" and "Lobster and Crispy Rice Appetizers."

Tokio Pub's Crispy Calamari with a Yuzu Drop Asian Martini

Exotic small plate menu offerings, like a sushi-inspired "crispy calamari" appetizer paired with the Yuzu Drop Asian Martini with a salted sugar-rim garnish are among the tasteful highlights at the new Tokio Pub in Schaumburg, Ill.

Tokio Pub Tacos

An array of tiny Japanese-transformed taco varieties flood taste buds with flavor at Tokio Pub, the latest tapas concept restaurant in Chicagoland from Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises. Braised pork (top tray) and "angry chicken" (bottom left) and grilled steak (lower right) rank as dining …

Tokio Pub's Signature Sake Sangria

Illuminated with a light and refreshing blend of sake sweetened with natural juices and floating fresh fruit, Sake Sangria has become a cocktail menu signature toast at Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises' new Tokio Pub in Schaumburg, Ill.

OFFBEAT: Lettuce Entertain You's latest restaurant opening, Tokio Pub, low-key but memorable

Phil Potempa's daily entertainment news column.

Building convention centers is no easy task

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are multimillion-dollar municipal convention centers that can inject millions of dollars in visitor spending into local restaurants, hotels and businesses. NWI leaders say the effort takes political will, a supportive business community and some form o…

Building convention centers is no easy task

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are multimillion-dollar municipal convention centers that can inject millions of dollars in visitor spending into local restaurants, hotels and businesses.

Building convention centers is no easy task

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither are multimillion-dollar municipal convention centers that can inject millions of dollars in visitor spending into local restaurants, hotels and businesses.

Packers mania splits brothers formerly of Highland

Growing up in Highland, brothers Kevin, John, Paul and Mark Connelly were Bears fans. They went to games. They played football with neighborhood kids on the weekends. Paul even had a Bears Super Bowl Shuffle poster in his room.