The Chicago Traveler

May 16th, 2008

Cinners Goes All the Three-Way

Chicago may be known for its hot dogs, its pizza, and its beef, but other locations offer great items to the national menu also. If you want barbecue you head to Texas, no one can beat New Orleans when it comes to gumbo and jambalaya, and we’re all familiar with the Philly cheesesteak. And when you want great chili, you make your way to Cincinnati. But don’t buy your plane ticket just yet. Now, folks here in Chicago can get a great “five-way” without traveling hundreds of miles. Instead, they can go to a new restaurant in Lincoln Square called Cinners.

Owner Tony Plum comes straight from Ohio and is quite proud of his red-and-black, retro-inspired eatery, and he’ll be sure to tell you all about it if you run into him. Before you even get there, plan ahead. It is very easy to get lost among the one-way streets that surround the restaurant, especially while hunting for sparse parking opportunities, so bring a map.

Vegetarians beware! Just about every item on the menu has chili in or on it. Get a classic “three-way”—spaghetti covered in Cincinnati chili and topped with a huge pile of shredded mild cheddar cheese. Add onions or red beans to make it a “four-way.” Go all the way with a “five-way,” which adds both onions and red beans. Coneys, with or without cheese, are hot dogs smothered in chili. Appetizers and sides include cocktail wieners, chips and dip, fries, muffins, and mac & cheese, all of which include—you guessed it—chili. There are a couple of veggie options, but make no doubt about it: this place is all about the meat.

Cinners offers about a dozen beers, including Little Kings Cream Ale, brewed in Ohio. Or try one of the specialty cocktails, like the Who Dey (rum, vodka, triple sec, orange juice, and cream)—a tribute to the Cincinnati Bengals—or the Red Leggs (amaretto, Crown Royal, Chambord, Southern Comfort, and cranberry juice)—a reference to the Cincinnati Reds’ mascot. The bar/restaurant also offers a line of T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, mugs, and even undergarments.

Service was a bit spotty during their first couple of weeks, but recent reviews indicate that it has improved over time. With enough visits, you too will come to love Pete Rose, hate Cleveland, and find yourself saying “Excuse me?” “Please?”

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex

Cinners ($): 4757 N Talman Ave; 773-654-1624
Daily: 4:00 p.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 81 or Brown Line (Rockwell)
http://www.cinners.net/

By Matt B -- 1 comment

May 15th, 2008

Link Love

We all know that The Chicago Traveler is the best Chicago blog on the ‘net. However, there are plenty of great Chicago sites out there that deserve a peek or two:

• Drive Thru satisfies their sweet tooth with delicious treats from local confectioner Katherine Anne Duncan.

• Time-Out Chicago is sick and tired of hearing about the foie gras ban.

• The Cubs Brickyard reports on how the Chicago Cubs are working on grabbing the game by the… y’know.

• The Chicago City Council can’t seem to get their act together, according to Second City Cop.

• Pull up a floor pillow and listen to the latest podcast of Chicago Bites, as they review Kan Zaman.

• Chicago is littered with taquerias. Centerstage lists a handful of the best.

Photo credit: (c/o SXC) soopahtoe

By Matt B -- 0 comments

May 14th, 2008

High-Tech on the Mag Mile

Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia picked Chicago’s very own Michigan Avenue for its tricked-out flagship store. It was the first in the United States and second in the world, behind Moscow.

The Nokia flagship store offers a few cutting-edge phones before they can be found elsewhere. Of course, calling these mobile devices “phones” doesn’t do them justice. Phones today can do a lot more than just call friends; they can take pictures, surf the Internet, and send text messages. In fact, you can send a text message from one of the demo phones that will display on a giant computer screen inside the tech shop. Within one minute, your message not only shows up on the wall inside the Chicago store, but also in the flagship store in New York City!

While Chicago and New York stores are now open in the United States, flagships have opened (and/or are set to open) in 18 cities worldwide. The stores feel just as hip and modern as the products on display. The lights and music make them feel more like dance clubs than a phone store, and the glass cases reserved for specialty items in the rear are reminiscent of a high-end jewelry boutique. The ultra-high-end Vertu phones in the back of the Chicago location start at $5000! Handmade in the UK, no plastic whatsoever is used in their construction, and the face is made of sapphire crystal, making it nearly impossible to scratch. Finally, a $59,000 model that was in the store during my last visit featured 940 diamonds, adding up to 6.6 karats.

The sleek Apple store is just a couple blocks down the street and is another place where you can check out the latest in technology. This high-tech two-story emporium on the Magnificent Mile opened in the summer of 2003 and continues to attract the famously loyal Apple fanatics devotees for workshops, classes, or the latest Mac or iPod. This interactive mecca allows customers to touch and explore to their hearts’ content. There’s even an internet café where shoppers can relax and check their e-mail. (A word of advice: Remember to always be careful about what kind of information you are sharing on a public computer. Also, make sure you are completely logged out of any e-mail services or networking sites you visit. You wouldn’t want the next user to have access to your personal information!)

Check out some of b5media’s related blogs.

And for everything tech-related, from doodads to operating systems to video games, click on the b5media logo to see our network’s very own Technology Channel.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) krazykritter, *nathan

Nokia Store: 543 N Michigan Ave; 312-670-2607
Mon – Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Sun: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 2, 3, X4, 10, 26, 29, 65, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151, 157
http://www.nokiausa.com/A4411004

Apple Store: 679 N Michigan Ave; 312-981-4104
Mon – Sat: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Sun: 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Street parking difficult
Public trans: Bus # 3, X4, 10, 26, 125, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151
http://www.apple.com/retail/northmichiganavenue/

By Matt B -- 2 comments

May 13th, 2008

Best and Worst of the eL

Recently, the CTA has been asking the opinions of “Mystery Commuters” to tell them all that is good and bad about Chicago’s buses and trains. The Chicago Sun-Times decided to take matters into their own hands and ride all 242 miles (389 km) of subway and eL tracks. They made a list of 10 “bests” and “worsts.”

The “Scariest Platform” goes to the State/Lake station right in the heart of downtown. The intersection of State and Lake is the hub of the Chicago transportation as dozens of buses travel through it or within a couple blocks. The Red Line runs underground, while the five Lines that comprise the Loop (Brown, Purple, Green, Pink, and Orange) all stop at this station. As you can imagine, there is a lot of pedestrian traffic and a lot of riders crowding onto the platform. And yet, at most, it only provides a width of 8 feet (2 m) for all those people to stand on. Depending on where you’re standing, this could definitely be a very scary platform.

While some commuters may have complaints or make jokes about how the stations (and some of the passengers) smell, the Sun-Times gave its “Best-Smelling” award to the Red Line Argyle station. This is due to all the Asian restaurants in the north side neighborhood, offering delicious fragrances to waiting riders. The Pink Line Western stop, serving the city’s Pilsen and Little Village neighborhoods, enjoys the aromas of nearby Mexican eateries and deserves an honorable mention.

My own “Best” and “Worst”? Well, one of the worst bus/train transfers has to be the Red Line Garfield station. In order to make my way from the train station to the eastbound bus (or vice versa), I had to cross ten lanes of traffic. Ten! There is currently a stoplight there that is supposed to help with traffic, but that doesn’t help you when you’re trying to catch that bus that just pulled up to the stop across the street. And the bus driver can’t hear or see you waving from ten lanes away! To make matters worse, there’s no seating or shelter available. I know there are quite a few similar stations which require unfortunate commuters to trek across several lanes of traffic, sometimes without a stoplight.

As far as “Best,” I think the Red and Blue Line stops at Jackson are very interesting for a couple of reasons. The two stations look a lot cleaner and more modern after the city spent an extensive amount of time and money renovating them. There’s always some kind of street performer, though I can’t guarantee how talented he or she will be. The crowd is a fascinating mix of urban teens, tourists with shopping bags, blue-collar workers, and Blackberry-wielding businessmen, making it a perfect people-watching spot. Finally, even though both stations are underground, a block-long tunnel that is even deeper underground connects the two stations, a feature that is unique to these two eL stops.

You can find the article and the complete Sun-Times list here. Do you have any eL recommendations of your own?

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Zesmerelda, zol87, sallycinnaminn, BigFreaky

By Matt B -- 3 comments

May 13th, 2008

MacArthur’s Offers Plenty of Soul

When you’re craving soul food, many would tell you that you have to head down to the South Side to find the best of the best. But for many folks, “the best” is on Chicago’s West Side at MacArthur’s.

Best start loosening your belts now because MacArthur’s doesn’t mess around. The owner’s niece does most of the cooking here, offering classic Southern-style dishes in a cafeteria-style setting. The ambience of the green-walled dining room may be lacking, but the food (and the portions!) more than make up for that.

Lines can get pretty long during the dinner hour and on Sunday afternoons (after religious ceremonies), but most of the customers get their hearty meals to go, leaving plenty of tables and booths where you can enjoy an incredible array of soul food. The menu changes daily, but mainstays include fried chicken, baked chicken, baked catfish, smothered pork chops, meatloaf, pork spare ribs, and beef short ribs. There are more sides than you could hope to imagine: mac & cheese, collard greens, sweet corn, baked beans, mixed veggies, potato salad, black-eyed peas, coleslaw, and so much more. Dinner, which includes a meat selection and two sides, ranges from $7 to $9. Portions are about the size of your head, but if you somehow manage to have room for dessert, you have to try the peach cobbler or banana pudding.

Several celebrities have been through here, including Shaq, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Kanye West. Barack Obama wrote about MacArthur’s in his book, The Audacity of Hope. However, the food is definitely the biggest star here. And I mean big.

Photo credit: polomex (c/o Flickr)

MacArthur’s ($): 5412 W Madison St; 773-261-2316
Daily: 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Free parking lot
Public trans: Bus # 20, X20, 85
http://www.macarthursrestaurant.com/

By Matt B -- 2 comments

May 12th, 2008

"Top Chef: Chicago" Walks Down the Aisle

This season of the Bravo Network’s Top Chef was filmed here in Chicago, exposing competing chefs from all over the country to all the culinary treats the Windy City has to offer.

This week’s Quickfire Challenge divided the contestants into two teams of four and pitted them against each other in a mis en place relay race. (Mis en place is a French phrase literally meaning “put in place” and refers to the process of preparing ingredients usually before the restaurant opens for the day.) Each team had to supreme oranges (remove the skin, pith, membranes, and seeds), prepare artichokes, fillet monkfish, and make mayonnaise from scratch.

Combine racing and great food at Chicago’s 16^th annual Race to Taste next month. Featuring a 5K run and 2-mile (3 km) walk through Grant Park, this race is held in conjunction with the 28^th annual Taste of Chicago. Registration includes a T-shirt and a strip of food/drink tickets.

For the Elimination Challenge, the two teams catered a 250-guest wedding buffet-style, each team responsible for half the guests. The chefs had only 14 hours to prepare, making it necessary for them to stay awake through the night.

Romance shouldn’t end at the wedding. Take that special someone out for some romantic wining and dining:

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) 427, (c/o SXC) Marja Flick-Buijs

By Matt B -- 0 comments

May 12th, 2008

181 West Madison

If you’ve never heard of or seen this building, you aren’t alone. And it really is a shame because 181 West Madison is 50 stories of great design and architecture (kitty-corner from Madison Plaza). Completed in 1990, the structure stands 680 feet (207 m) tall, making it one of the top 20 tallest buildings in Chicago. Viewers’ eyes are drawn higher and higher, and the finials are coated with shining nickel. The “crown” and corners are illuminated white during the evening hours, but other colors have been featured depending on the holiday. Perhaps most stunning of all, the building was completed four months early and 5% under budget! That’s definitely not something Chicago experiences often.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex, fidothe

181 W Madison St
Public trans: Bus # 11, 14, 20, X20, 56, 60, 124, 127, 134, 135, 136, 156, 157
Brown/Purple/Pink/Orange Line train (Washington)
http://www.181madison.com/

By Matt B -- 0 comments

May 11th, 2008

The Chicago Traveler Turns One Year Old

Today is a very special day for all of the mothers in our lives, but it is also a special day for The Chicago Traveler as well.

One year ago today, The Chicago Traveler went live and was available to the public! For a whole year, I’ve had the pleasure of keeping you updated on Chicago news, events, restaurants, bars, attractions, and more. Thanks to this blog, I have learned a lot about my own hometown, and I appreciate it now more than ever. I hope you’ve enjoyed this blog too! I look forward to the future and more Windy City adventures.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) polomex

By Matt B -- 7 comments

May 11th, 2008

Mother’s Day 2008

To all you moms out there, Happy Mother’s Day! Here’s hoping you all get exactly what you want and deserve… more sleep!

(Yes, that is a picture of my mother and me, about 25 years ago.)

• The Music Box Theatre hosts a Joan Crawford look-alike contest before a special Mother’s Day screening of Mommie Dearest. Tickets are available at ticketweb.com.

• To celebrate Mother’s Day Rock & Roll, DJ Kelsey spins chick rock songs in honor of Mom at Delilah’s. Arrive early (6:00 p.m.) for a screening of Count Dracula and His Vampire Brides.

• Moms get a complimentary signature maki, dessert, and sparkling sake at Tsuki.

• Geja’s Café offers a three-course prix-fixe fondue meal, champagne, and mini-massages for mothers.

• Moms eat free all day at Red Ivy.

Photo credit: polomex (c/o Flickr)

By Matt B -- 3 comments

May 10th, 2008

Chicago Concerts

Tickets go on sale this weekend for the following Chicago concerts via Ticketmaster:

Tina Turner United Center Fri, Oct 3, 8:00 p.m. Allstate Arena Mon, Oct 6, 7:30 p.m.

New Kids on the Block Allstate Arena Sat, Oct 4, 8:00 p.m.

Bow Wow House of Blues Thurs, Jul 24, 6:00 p.m.	Ryan Cabrera House of Blues Fri, Jun 20, 6:00 p.m.	Ashlee Simpson House of Blues Mon, Jun 9, 6:00 p.m.
3 Doors Down First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre Sun, Jul 13, 6:30 p.m.

Photo credit: Wikipedia, weebsie, polomex, Austin Tolin, indoloony, alex-lawrence

By Matt B -- 2 comments