Secret Source: Enrique Mazzola

Lyric Opera of Chicago music director Enrique Mazzola unveils his go-to Windy City spots.

WHO

Music director, Lyric Opera of Chicago (20 N. Wacker Drive)

HOME ’HOOD

“My neighborhood is the Magnificent Mile/Gold Coast, and it’s certainly one of the most vibrant and spectacular spots in the city. You have everything you expect to have in a major world city: shops, restaurants, bars, beaches, culture and fun.”

See Also: Secret Source: René Morales

GO-TO SPOT

“When I come back to Chicago after some months in Europe, I have my very own food rituals, which include: a mandatory burger at Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse (1028 N. Rush St.), the best place to find a real American burger after months of pale European copies; Le Colonial (57 E. Oak St.) for a beautiful dinner with friends and a warm, nice place with magnificent Asian food; and a cappuccino at Espresso and Milk (20 N. Wacker Drive) on Wacker Drive: Not only is it Lyric Opera’s nearest coffee shop, but it’s also one of the best in Chicago.”

LOOKING FORWARD TO MOST

“As music director of Lyric Opera, my attentions for fall go entirely to the opening of our season, September 23, with a spectacular opera: The Flying Dutchman. After another European journey in December, I will be back for the new year to enjoy the beautiful Chicagoan winter. A lot of work, but also the perfect period for indoor activities—like museums and shopping.”

CURRENT OBSESSION

“Finding shops for secondhand records, and actually it’s possible to find many of them in Chicago. What I love is that these shops are in many different neighborhoods, so every visit to a record shop is also a moment of discovery of unexplored (for me) areas of Chicago.”