Some kids play veterinarian. Some kids play doctor. Mark Newman, a proud son of Highland Park, says, "Since I was six years old, I wanted to have a restaurant." Starting in October, or possibly earlier, Newman and his childhood friend from three doors down the block, Josh Kaplan, will have Ballaro (214 Green Bay Rd., Highwood), a 120-seat contemporary Italian restaurant.

Newman lived in Italy for about four months, and during his last month there, he toured Sicily and stopped in at the open-air market in every town. "The one in Palermo was just gorgeous," he says. "You could walk through it for days and not see everything." He named Ballaro after it.

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Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/