Here are some recent restaurant/bar openings and closings.

OPEN:
The Ledge – This new Wicker Park neighborhood hang has two things going for it already: $2 Miller drafts all day, every day; and an outdoor patio out back. Not a bad start.

Smash Cakes – Are the Bleeding Heart Bakery folks planning to take over the entire Chicago dessert scene? Sure seems like it. Bake on!

Moon Palace – The popular Chinatown spot is back after temporarily closing for renovations. It doesn’t take much to make us happy. A huge plate of dumplings and a full bar pretty much does the trick. Welcome back!

CLOSED:
Rick’s Café – Looks like it’s the end of the road for this European-themed café that was pretty much the opposite of most anything in Wrigleyville (preppy sports hangouts) or anything else on Sheridan (run-down dive bars). The menu was French, Mediterranean and Spanish influenced, which made it a sort of United Nations of Lakeview dining. And now it appears closed for good. We blame Ban Ki-moon.

Check back here every Tuesday with more openings and closings (and snarky comments, of course). And be sure to check out Centerstage Chicago's list of new restaurants and bars.