Brenda Mak

We love taking photos on our phones as much as everyone else, but won't be using selfie sticks the next time we want a group shot. Good news: some of the best bars in Chicago still have photo booths and for just a couple bucks, you'll have a strip of photos commemorating your evening out to tack to the fridge. From Logan Square to Uptown, here's where to find them.

It's been a year and a half since I moved to Chicago from Malaysia, and it hasn't been easy getting my Malaysian food fix...probably because there are no Malaysian restaurants in the city. The closest spot I’ve found, Penang Malaysian Cuisine, is in Arlington Heights—an hour-and-a-half train and bus ride away. I've become so desperate I've turned to Skype for cooking sessions with Mum. Chicagoans are really missing out. Malaysian food is incredibly diverse: It’s influenced by various cultures, mainly Malay, Chinese and Indian, and derives from different styles of cooking. Some say it has similarities to Thai food and Indonesian dishes, but the numerous herbs, leaves and spices, along with typical ingredients like coconut milk, chili and shrimp paste, combine for a distinctive taste that can be really, really spicy. Here’s where I go when I want a taste of my home country. The real deal:Penang Malaysian Cuisine (1720 W Algonquin Rd, Arlington Heights) This is the only place to find the most authentic Malaysian dishes in the state. The restaurant is owned and run by Malaysians, and Penang, a state in Malaysia, is a food haven among locals. Exploring the menu here may be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time, so here are my recommendations: Start with the roti canai (buttered flat bread) and satay (chicken or beef skewers served alongside peanut sauce.) Then move on to the mains—for rice, try the nasi lemak (coconut rice) with beef or chicken rendang (coconut milk slo

Ever wanted more than popcorn and hotdogs while watching a movie? (Aside from your couch, that is.) The Food Film Festival, originally from New York, is returning to Chicago's Kendall College for its fifth year. The four-day-long event will feature a multi-sensory experience, showcasing some of the world's favorite food on and off-screen. There are alternating themes each night, so here's a quick agenda sum-up: Wednesday, Nov 19: The Great Chicken Wing Hunt & Edzo Dreams of CheeseburgersTaste the best wings in the country, as chosen in the award-winning The Great Chicken Wing Hunt film. Every dish seen on screen will be served. Plus, there will be cheeseburgers and milkshakes by Edzo's Burger Shop and Hoosier Mama pies. Thursday, Nov 20: Edible Adventures #012: Sriracha and More!Love Sriracha on all things—or everything? Watch the infinite things you could devour with Sriracha, then taste them at the after-party. Think Sriracha tacos, shots, pastas and jam. Friday, Nov 21: Night AquaticLearn about squid chips while eating squid chips then feast on all-you-can-eat oysters, sea urchin, squid, crab and sushi. Ramen burger creator Keiza Shimamoto of New York will be debuting his rendition of seafood ramen exclusively at the festival. Saturday, Nov 21: #ILoveBeerBeer and sausages. Need we say more? Craft brews include Begyle, Half Acre, Lagunitas and Two Brothers. Saturday, Nov 21: The Food Porn Party"Food porn star" Larry Cauldwell returns to host and screen his new short film Ba