Puppy Mill Accusations, Smoke Daddy, Flood Waters Make Week's Top 5

In Chicago, news happens fast, making it easy to miss something.

That's why we're giving you a refresher regarding the North Side's top stories during the past week or so. Look for this new feature on Patch every Saturday. 

While one North Side pet store is publically putting its foot down to puppy mill breeders, another in Lake View still denies they ever purchased dogs from one in the first place.

Puppies R Us, located at 3404 N. Ashland Ave., was listed in a 2012 investigation by the Humane Society of the United States saying the store obtained its pets from Indiana puppy mills with serious violations of the federal Animal Welfare Act. They were one of five North Side pet stores last year identified in the report.

• Read the full story on North Center-Roscoe Village Patch. 

Smoke Daddy has officially doubled in size and although workers were still putting the finishing touches on the new area Thursday afternoon, the space opened for business.

The barbecue hotspot at 1804 W. Division St. now seats about 80 to 100 people, the restaurant's manager, Carlo Carani, said. Staff were blowing up balloons around noon in preparation for its 5 p.m. grand opening, which showcased the new digs.

• See the full story on Bucktown-Wicker Park Patch.

Torrential overnight rain has left some in Lincoln Park wading through puddles, others scooping out their lower levels and others still, late for work.

Chicago had received 3.77 inches of rain as of 9:45 a.m. That's compared with 6.69 inches—the most in metropolitan area, which fell in Oak Brook. A flood watch claiming "widespread flooding is likely" remains in effect for Chicago through Friday morning, said National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Seeley.

• See a photo gallery of the area (and a video of a geyser in the street) on Lincoln Park Patch.

Chicago Flooding: Where to Avoid in Lincoln Square

Lincoln Square didn't suffer from sinkholes like on the South Side or from floodwaters overtaking cars at the Belmont underpass in Downer’s Grove, but issues still affected local residents when almost four inches of rain fell in Chicago. 

Chicago had received 3.77 inches of rain as of 9:45 a.m. Thursday. That's compared with 6.69 inches—the most in metropolitan area, which fell in Oak Brook.

• Read the full story on Lincoln Square Patch.

Intelligentsia Grand Opening Celebrates New Space on Broadway

Coffee and cafe lovers packed Intelligentsia’s Broadway Coffeebar in East Lake View Wednesday night to honor the cafe's new face lift.

The storefront at 3123 N. Broadway St. closed in late March when owners announced they'd be upgrading their flagship store after opening it 18 years ago. 

• Read the full story on Lake View Patch.

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