The Chicago Traveler

November 30th, 2007

Sweet Home Chicago

I arrived home Wednesday from an 8-day long trip to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. I just wanted to take a moment to say what a great time I had there and to thank all my friends for making my visit so much fun.
Also, be sure to check out The Las Vegas Adventurer for some […]

By Matt B -- 6 comments

November 29th, 2007

Weekend Events

Celebrate the reopening of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in its new facility at the Grand Opening Gala Benefit, including cocktails, dinner, and entertainment. (Nov 29)
The annual World of Chocolate benefit for the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is held in commemoration of World AIDS Day. Guests will sample scrumptious chocolate creations from many of […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

November 29th, 2007

Mas

When co-owner Hubie Greenwald and Executive Chef John Manion first conceptualized Mas, they thought about restaurants that were fun and lively. So they put together a place (just west of the Ruby Room) that had a fun atmosphere but didn’t sacrifice the quality of the food or service. Patrons enjoy Latin-influenced dishes amidst dim lighting […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

November 28th, 2007

Fat Cat

Chicago is (in)famous for its ‘30s and ‘40s notoriety. Prohibition brought out “celebrities” like Al Capone and Bugs Moran. Now you too can step back in time and feel like a big wig at Fat Cat.
Just one block south of Thai Pastry, you can slip into one of the wrap-around leather booths and take […]

By Matt B -- 4 comments

November 27th, 2007

Le Lan

Le Lan—“Le” meaning “the” in French and “Lan” meaning “orchid” in Vietnamese—serves a delicate array of French-Vietnamese fare in an elegant, upscale atmosphere. The chefs use classical preparations and techniques along with Asian accents and elements to highlight the dishes and create new flavor combinations that you never would’ve imagined. Tea-smoked duck breast is served […]

By Matt B -- 4 comments

November 27th, 2007

U.S. Cellular Field

The relationship between the White Sox, the city of Chicago, and U.S. Cellular Field has just as much of a rocky history as that of the Chicago Bears.

By the 1980s, Comiskey Park was the oldest park in baseball and was slowly falling apart. Even with a new video board and luxury suites, several structural engineers […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

November 26th, 2007

North Avenue Bridge

Today’s post actually isn’t about a current architectural marvel, but rather, one that no longer exists. The North Avenue Bridge was a bascule bridge constructed in 1907. It was 273 feet long (83 m) and had a roadway width of 36 feet (11 m). Chicago played an important role in the development of this type […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments

November 25th, 2007

The Needle Shop

Spiders? No problem. Speaking in front of large crowds? I’ve got it covered. Small, confined spaces? Uncomfortable, but I can handle it. But I’m a big wuss when it comes to needles. *shiver*
Maybe I could use the help of Rachel Epperson of The Needle Shop. This Jill-of-all-trades has been sewing for 25 years and […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments

November 24th, 2007

Wholly Frijoles

You can find a Mexican restaurant in Chicago on almost every other block. Tiny storefront taquerias with brightly-colored walls and a loud jukebox almost always make me happy. But no matter how good the food is, even I can admit it’s not unique. Most taquerias’ cuisines taste like any other. The excellent Latin restaurants downtown […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments

November 23rd, 2007

Friday Film: Death Wish

Directed by Michael Winner, Death Wish is a 1974 film based on the novel by Brian Garfield. Charles Bronson stars as Paul Kersey, a New York City liberal architect who takes the law into his own hands. While controversial and condemned by many critics for its heroic depiction of vigilantism, the film was a major […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments