…or possibly the 14th, or the 16th. But October 15th is the goal Curbed Network has set for its Chicago launch. Heading up Eater, the company’s restaurant and nightlife blog, is former UR editor-in-chief Ari Bendersky (pictured); Curbed, their real estate and neighborhoods blog, will be helmed by blogger Brendan Crain. (I’d never seen Crain’s site before, but I’m already fascinated by it, which bodes well for Curbed Chicago.)

As TOC web editor Scott Smith has pointed out in this space before, earlier this year Chicago’s Internet scene seemed like a wide open field. But like ChuffPo, the addition of Curbed and Eater changes the game. These sites are known for their scoops and lightening-quick reactions, so  journalists (like me) are going to feel Eater’s breath on our necks as we collectively clammer for good stories. Luckily, things for readers (also like me) should get that much more entertaining.