Just opened

Move over, wendy You won’t need to ask Where’s the beef? at Hamburger Mary’s, because the beef (or beefcake, at least) will be all around you. This gay hamburger chain (you read that right) started in San Francisco in 1972 and has taken its sweet time making its way to the Windy City. But now that it’s here, gay guys, lesbians—and, who knows, maybe even some straight people—will finally be able to get their hands on Mary’s famous lineup of burgers. The “classy-kitsch” space—decked out with photographs of all the great Marys (Tyler Moore and the Virgin included)—will function as both dining room and bar, so you can wash down your “Buffy the Hamburger Slayer” (“stabbed” with garlic and doused in red wine) with a “Dolly Parton Martini” (two types of melon in each glass). And as if the place weren’t already dramatic enough, some servers come equipped with performing-arts skills, like magic tricks and singing. 5400 N Clark St at Balmoral Ave (773-784-6969).—David Tamarkin

Out of the shadows “People are just waiting for something different to open up on this corner,” owner Cheryl Kujawinski says about her new tavern, Four Shadows. If she’s right, the neighborhood won’t be disappointed with what she and partner Alex Zupancic have done with the place (formerly Lee’s). After undergoing a complete gut rehab, only the tin ceilings remain. The bar has been replaced with a curvier version, flatscreens have been installed, and big, new windows will open up to the street and let in some much-needed air. In July, Kujawinski hopes to bring the kitchen, which hasn’t been used in three years, back to life, serving a menu of burgers, wings and wraps, and satiating the neighborhood’s hunger for change. 2758 N Ashland Ave at Diversey Ave (773-248-9160).—David Tamarkin

Picture perfect Only a pair of Art Institute grads would name a bar after a 1930s photographer known for bloody shots of crime scenes. But while Weegee’s Lounge owners Alex Huebner and Lynne Marrs have a thing for photography (they plan to decorate with work from a rotating cast of photographers), their real inspiration was Weegee’s era. The 1930s influence every inch of the place, from the cocktail list (which focuses on classics such as Grasshoppers and Sidecars) to the antique Brunswick bar. There’s also a selection of craft beers, bocce ball in the garden and a black-and-white photo booth so you can capture some grisly scenes of your own. 3659 W Armitage Ave at Lawndale Ave (773-834-0707).—David Tamarkin