Y’all, I’m so excited for this cabaret.
Herb Lentz and Wynter Spears are two teriffic singers and lovely people, and they’re teaming up for a show at Davenports Piano Bar in Chicago – And I’m totally going on the 23rd.
Everyone should come. I promise great singing, lots of laughs, and the wonderful drink selections always in rotation at Davenports.
Thursday, September 16th and 23rd – 8pm. $10 and a 2 drink minimum.
Visit Davenports for more information and reservations.
YUM.
OMG, just – YUM!
After last night, I can say I’ve tasted Hawaiian cuisine, and that I am now probably a life-long fan.
Last night, after seeing “Scott Pilgrim vs the World” (which was GREAT) a group of ten of us descended upon Aloha Eats, which is a Hawaiian Grill located just south of Wrightwood on Clark in Chicago – which bills itself as “Chicago’s FIRST Hawaiian Mix Plate!” Promptly, we found ourselves in carb-tastic foodie heaven on earth.
(First, however, we faced a mini-drama, as we didn’t realize how tiny the place really was. I’d envisioned a sit-down place, but it’s a tiny storefront place with a few tables. Our group was about to order our food and take it back to our apartment to eat when – happily – a large family got up and we managed to steal their seats.)
Having watched both the Hawaii episodes of No Reservations and Man vs Food, I had a few ideas of things I wanted to see/try on a Hawaiian menu. Aloha Eats did not disappoint.
First and foremost, Eric and I shared a plate of Loco Moco. If you’re not aware, Loco Moco is a bed of white rice, topped with two hamburger patties, gravy, and two fried eggs. (Pictured above.) It’s a heart attack on a plate, but sweet jesus it’s a delight. On the Hawaii episode of Man vs Food, Adam Richman marvels over the dish, and in real life it truly is a marvelous thing.
Next, I had a spectacular bowl of Saimin (essentially ramen soup) with Spam. Yes, Spam. It’s a Hawaii thing. Though my husband despises it, I don’t personally find it to be all that bad – especially fried. The Loco Moco was seriously tasty, but it’s the Saimin I will go back for. I adored it. We also shared a seafood plate, which had fried shrimp, mahi mahi, and scallops, which were also fantastic. It was a lot of fried food, and a heck of a lot of carbs, but it was all really good and I can’t wait to go back. (Anthony Bourdain featured Spam Saimin on the Honolulu episode of No Reservations, which is where I first knew I wanted to try it.)
It’s not a fancy place., and it also won’t break the bank. The food is served in styrofoam containers with plastic silverware, and … it’s perfect. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. The restaurant is BYOB, but they have fountain pop and a variety of canned juices. (Hayley and Scott noted a slight disapointment that the fruit punch on the fountain pop machine wasn’t Hawaiian Punch, which seems like an easy cash in – but alas.)
Loved it. Absolutely loved it. I even “liked” them on facebook.
(Side Note: Aloha Eats is located next to the positively luscious Molly’s Cupcakes. We partook of cupcakes post-dinner, and it was a total win of a dining experience. The Cookie Monster cupcake was grand – with a ball of cookie dough in the center. No wonder they won the Food Network cupcake challenge.)
I write this with a happy heart and memories of a full-to-the-brim stomach.
Around fifty curious folks boarded the Shoreline Architecture Sightseeing cruise with my Dad and Eric and I on Saturday, ready to head down the Chicago river on the top deck of a boat and to get the real story behind some of those buildings we locals see every day. You know, the ones tourists gaze at in wonder and awe.
Not gonna lie – I was a little awestruck during the tour myself.
The sixty minute tour begins from a little nook at Navy Pier, and heads down the Chicago river, going a little way up the north branch before looping back south to the Sears/Willis tower, then heading back the way it came. It’s fast and informative and you get astonishing views of some of these buildings, which makes for great photo ops.
Our tour guide was a young dude who was clearly knowledgeable, but also surprisingly witty. He shared with us a ton of interesting stories and information, such as (did you know?) the Swissotel and the Chicago Federal Prison building where both designed by the same architect? I didn’t either – but now the distinct triangular shape of both buildings makes more sense.
(Also of interest was the rumor/legend that the architect of the Chicago Opera Building designed it in the shape of a throne as a tribute to his daughter, who went to NYC to make it as an opera singer. Unfortunately, she was bad. So the architect decided to build her an opera house, with it’s back turned to NYC. Of course, as the legend sometimes claims it was the architects wife, it’s hard to gauge the accuracy, but still – interesting stuff!)
We also learned about the pollution of the Chicago river, which used to be the dumping ground for all the city’s waste, in particular the remains from the meat packing district. Tasty, huh? Also, on a bright note, the river was upgraded from “toxic” to “very polluted,” which is apparently all you need for people to be able to use it for kayaking/canoeing.
There’s also a full bar on board, which I wasn’t expecting. If you want to enjoy a Bloody Mary while cruising down the river, that’s your prerogative and I won’t blame you at all. I had water, as it was a seriously smoldering sunny day during my trip, but had the weather been a little more overcase, I’m not saying a beer wouldn’t have been awesome.)
Nerd Alert: We also got to ride right under a bridge that was closed to street traffic due to Transformers 3 filming – and many of the extras (in full military gear, even in 80+ degree weather) waved at us as we passed.
My Dad, Eric, and I all agree it was a good time.
Check it out – ShorelineSightseeing.com
Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry (aka, MSI) is running a contest at present – looking for someone to spend a month living 24/7 inside the museum and documenting all their experiences. If I was still in the place I was in when I first moved to Chicago five years ago (free as a bird and temping) I would absolutely apply for it.
MSI is a cool place to spend a day. It’s also a happenin’ place this summer, or at least that’s my assumption from the hordes of people who were in attendance today when I visited with my Dad. We did it up right, getting not only our general admission tickets, but also tickets to the U-505 Submarine tour, as well as the Omnimax film “The Ultimate Wave Tahiti.”
New at MSI is the Science Storm exhibit, which is pretty spectacular. Avalanches, Tornadoes, Tsunamis – you can explore the science behind them as well as try and create your own. The exhibit is apparently permanent, so check it out.
Hands down my favorite thing at MSI is the U-505 Submarine exhibit, which is just massive in scope (both in the sheer size of the room and the epic story of the events surrounding U-505. ) This time, I actually took the twenty minute tour that leads you through the submarine, and it was a really unique and interesting experience. Our tour guide (who I swear said her name was Betsy, but who’s nametag read Sarah..whatev) was wonderful. This girl knew her stuff, was personable, and kept things moving swiftly. The submarine is cramped and hot, but it gives you a great idea of what it must have been like for the 59 guys who lived on it for three months with no escape.
Also cool as can be at the Museum is all the space paraphanelia – including parts of Apollo 8.
(This is my Dad, doing his best astronaut impression.)
“The Ultimate Wave Tahiti” Omnimax film was sort of a crazy experience. MSI’s Omnimax theatre is five stories tall, and just walking into the theatre is overwhelming and disorienting. However, once the film starts, it’s a really unique way to see a movie – especially one that’s educational. In this film, surf champion Kelly Slater travels to Tahiti to surf the “demon wave.” It’s 45 minutes long and filled with great footage (including that of blue whales!) and was really enlightening.
Other things I love about this museum - The focus on transportation (including the 727 that you can walk through) and the Farm tech exhibits. Also, the Museums gift shop is expansive and full of clever things. And there’s a coffeeshop, so… you know I’m there.
MSI rules.
Check it out.
Though – if you don’t like crowds, maybe check it out on a weekday morning/afternoon. Saturday at noon-ish was pure craziness.
Being foodies, and being about two weeks away from our Hawaiian adventure, Eric and I met up with the marvelous Kennedys (fresh back to Chicago after their own adventure at Comic-Con 2010) for an evening of Mai Tais and Polynesian food exploration.
Our research has led us to believe that Chicago really has two “Hawaiian” restaurant options.
The first is the Aloha Grill, which is actually quite near our home and looks like a trip and a half.
However, for this dinner we went to the other option: Trader Vics.
Located in Chicago’s Viagra Triangle area, I was quite surprised to find how empty the restaurant was. Here it was, happy hour, and when Eric and I arrived (early for our reservation) we were immediately seated at our table, and – other than two people at the bar and another couple lounging on the wicker furniture – were the only people in the restaurant.
I wasn’t aware that Trader Vic’s was a chain – but it turns out there are 20-ish restaurants worldwide. (Note: 8 of the locations are clustered in the middle east, leading me to believe that faux-Polynesian-influenced dining is a big thing over in that neck of the woods.)
Apparently, the claim to fame of this establishment is that they invented the Mai Tai. Their cocktail menu is larger than the actual food menu, and we all agreed the drinks we had (including the famous Mai Tais) were delicious. The foamy beverage in the coconut cup in the picture above was especially dreamy.
Though the drinks were perfect, the service was.. spotty. Liz and I both agreed our server was a tool. (The young trainee who was shadowing him, however, was sweet – especially when he awkwardly offered us more spoons in between our courses.) For the restaurant being as empty as it was, there were many times he was nowhere to be found.
Regarding the food, my “Pork Chop Hawaiian” was perfectly cooked, and topped with a slice of grilled pineapple. Eric and Liz both tried the Island Bake, which they raved over, and Mike had the surf and turf (lobster and a cheeseburger) which was a heaping plate of food. We also had appetizer plates and a serving of tasty sushi.
So – overall impressions…
Tasty food and Drinks. Spotty service. Good friends. Great conversation. Quite pricey.
Do I feel like I learned anything about Hawaiian dining? No. It was kind of like a really nice version of Bennigans. With Tiki men everywhere. Still, I’m glad I’ve experienced it.
Up next, we’re reuniting with the Kennedys for a trip to the previously mentioned Aloha Grill.
Personally, I’ve lived in Chicago for five years now, and have always wanted to check out The Green Mill.
Fortunately, I have an amazing husband who still believes we should surprise each other with dates, and so now I can say I’ve officially spent an evening partaking of music at the Chicago institution.
(Truth be told, Eric first surprised me with dinner at King of Thai off the Argyle Red Line stop. I have to give them a shout-out, as their Thai Iced Coffee was simply the best I’ve ever had. I’m still dreaming about it, and woke up this morning wishing I could have another one.)
Its really easy to imagine the Green Mill in its heyday, when the tables were filled with the gangsters of Chicago past. It’s a little run-down inside, but endlessly charming at the same time. It’s a little bit like the bar from that scene in The Corpse Bride where the skeletons sing Victor the saga of the Corpse Bride herself. (You know what I mean. Don’t lie.)
Last night’s act was The Modern Sounds – a jazz/slap-base/rockabilliy trio hailing from right here in the Windy City.
The tattooed bouncer checked our IDs and we went in search of a table from which to watch the show. Fortunately, as we were really early, we got a great table right next to the stage. It’s a really dim place, lit largely by table candles and the neon sign behind the stage that screams “Green Mill” in case you’ve forgotten where you are. We partook of Mad Hatter beer (on draft, thank you) and watched the place fill up as the show grew closer to starting.
The crowd at Green Mill is really interesting. There are young people, many of whom are outfitted in clothes that are throwbacks to the glory days of the bar. There was a girl in full-on flapper mode, several gents in fedoras and vests, and a girl I can only describe as Marilyn-esque. The older folks, however, come as they are – in everything from jean shorts to track suits.
The Modern Sounds are a delight to hear play. The three-piece band (guitar, upright bass, and drums) played several sets, mixing various styles of music from jazz to rockabilly. We wound up buying their two-disc CD, which is now ripped to my ipod and I can’t wait to listen to it next week at work. Many of the bands songs had the crowd up and dancing.
The banter was funny, the music was great, and the crowd was simply adorable.
The waitresses were witty, the drinks were pretty cheap, and I left charmed.
I had a great time during my first visit to The Green Mill, and look forward to going back soon.
Who wants to come with?
Check out The Modern Sounds appearing on WGN.
By all accounts and my own admission, I am not someone who particulary focuses on eating Organic foods. However, I do support the slow food movement and the idea of knowing where your food is coming from. In addition, I think supporting local farmers is a completely valid and valuable cause.
So, with all that said, let’s talk about Chicago’s Green City Market.
Which, in addition to being a complete joy, hits all of the points I mentioned above.
Held on the south end of Lincoln Park on a twice-weekly basis from May to October, it’s the area’s only year-round farmers market. (In winter months, it moves indoors to the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.) Farmers from around the Midwest come to peddle their goods, which range from flowers to cheese to meat to homemade pies. (Pies seem to be a big hit. By the time we got to the Hoosier Mama Pie booth, they were already sold out.)
Eric and I took a jaunt down to Saturday’s market, and wound up coming home with strawberries, snap peas, asparagus, radishes, and peonies from local Midwestern farmers. We also bought steaks from the Heartland Meats people to cook for Memorial Day.
The vendors are all incredibly knowledgeable about their products, being the ones who actually grow/produce them, and the produce is all positively beautiful.
I mean, check out these radishes (which I totally wound up buying.)
The atmosphere is very chill and relaxed, and there doesn’t seem to be much (if any) elbowing people out of the way to get at the merchandise. Visitors to the market seem to be largely young couples with babies and strollers and people with dogs. It’s also a dreamland for foodies; There are samples of everything from cheeses to rhubarb popsicles.
If you’re lucky – like we are – you’ll get to make a new friend. (LOVE this dog.)
It’s a nice way to spend an afternoon. You should go.
Eric took me to Medieval Times to celebrate my birthday a week early, as my bridal shower falls on my actual birthday and that whole weekend is going to already be a whirlwind.
So, after a delightful day of breakfast at M.Henry, book gorging at Half-Price Books, and getting a new phone, we found ourselves in the merry kingdom of Schaumberg, Illinois at the castle-like structure that houses the infamous Medieval Times.
I had a blast.
I could pretend to be too cool and say it was cheesy (which, duh, it was) but it was a truly fun and unforgettable experience.
We were in Royalty seating in the Green section, which meant we got to root for the Green Knight (aka, blatantly the bad guy.) We got souvenier programs, green flags to wave, crowns, and a tasty meal of tomato soup, chicken, ribs, and pie – all of which you eat with your hands, which isn’t nearly as strange as it sounds, I promise.
There’s a loosely-structured plot about the audience being guests at a tournament to celebrate the signing of a peace treaty, but – Gasp – the Prince is kidnapped. There’s sword fighting and jousting and gorgeous horses performing tricks. There’s also a Falconer who shows up and lets his beautiful falcon soar through the crowd (sometimes just breezing over your head.) There’s a King and a Princess and a charismatic announcer/Chancellor. The Knights, though, do most of the hard work. These six guys work their butts off, and the crowd loved them. Other than our beloved bastardy Green Knight, we dug the Red&Yellow Knight too. Funny dude.
What can I say?
At twenty-seven, I had a great time at Medieval Times.
I cannot imagine how amazed I would have been at seven.
(People with kids, seriously. Take them to this.)
Also, like the good American consumers we are, we had beer in collectors holographic glasses and bought silly memorabilia: a light-up sceptre and a wooden battle-ax. Thank you.
If you’re interested, here’s the official Medieval Times website.
Five years ago on this very day, my Dad and I left Lansing, Michigan with his truck and a small U-haul truck loaded with my stuff. After getting to my first-ever Chicago apartment (ironically, in the building Herb lives in now) my Dad helped me unload my stuff, bought me lunch at Horizon cafe as we returned the U-Haul, and then left. I went up to my studio apartment, locked the door behind me, took in the daunting sight of all the boxes, and cried. I was alone in a great big city and was terrified. But, after a few minutes, I bucked up, plugged in my CD player, turned on some music (Matchbox Twenty’s “Mad Season,” if you care) and started unpacking.
I never looked back.
Though I’ve lived in a few more apartments since that day (Cockroaches in Uptown across the street from a meth clinic, anyone?) Chicago immediately became “home.”
It’s my city.
I love it here.
My life changed here. I went from being an overweight, innocent, dreamer to being an adult. I’m getting married, and there was never any question about where the wedding would be. This is home.
Thanks, Chicago – I look forward to the next 5 years.
(I can’t attend, but thought I’d spread the word nonetheless.)
World Aids Day is tomorrow, December 1st, 2009.
So, if you’re not busy tonight and want to listen to some great tunes for a great cause…
Join the Chicago cast of Jersey Boys in a benefit for Test Positive Aware Network.
Monday, November 30 from 6pm-8pm (that’s tonight)
@ Sidetrack (3349 N. Halsted.)
Presented by Sidetrack, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, and Broadway in Chicago.
$15 online at tpan.com
$20 at the door (includes 2 drink tickets)
A newlywed as of 4/24/2010, I live in the amazing city of Chicago with my awesome husband Eric and our two spectacular cats, Magellan and Oz. Though my loves are books, theatre, and travel, I'll write about whatever I'm interested in for the moment. Also, I'm a busybee - I'm a full-time Office Girl, but also in Grad School getting my Masters in Secondary Education with a focus on teaching English.
At present, I'm basking in the afterglow of our recent Hawaiian honeymoon, and beginning fall classes.
“The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart” - Helen Keller
