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Sweet Home Chicago

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 great things to see and do while in Sin City.

Weekend Events

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 Chicago's finest restaurants, caterers, and chocolatiers. (Nov 29)
Bayside, an alternative rock band from Queens, New York, performs at the House of Blues, while Clay Aiken, the American pop singer of American Idol fame, sings at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. (Nov 29)
Sample some of the …read more

Mas

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 and earth tones in an upscale setting. Exposed brick walls and hanging beaded lanterns give the place an intimate, stylish feel.
Most of the food isn't truly authentic; it's contemporary Latin. The term 'Nuevo Latino' is a phrase that gets thrown around a lot, and, I …read more

Fat Cat

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 in the atmosphere: an elaborate Art Deco interior, dark wooden floors, and soft red-painted ceilings. Old photos of the Uptown neighborhood decorate the walls. As far as drinks go, there are plenty of classic cocktails available along with creative libations, like the Chocolate Peanut Butter …read more

Le Lan

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 alongside a savory bread pudding, and creative pairings include the zucchini-wrapped tilapia with flageolet beans.
This is more than just 'fancy Vietnamese food.' The chefs have put a lot of effort into creating the menu and bringing just the right flavors together. After all, 'unique' doesn't …read more

U.S. Cellular Field

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 determined that the park would not be usable in only a few short years. And so, the hunt was on for a new home.
Like the Bears before them, the White Sox made plans to build a new park in the suburbs. They purchased a 140-acre …read more

North Avenue Bridge

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 of bridge, and the North Avenue connection was one of the oldest in the city. Unfortunately, it suffered from years of decay, and with just one lane in each direction, it wasn't truly capable of handling the amount of traffic that goes through that area …read more

The Needle Shop

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 has worked as a carpenter, decorator, and fashion designer. She can help show you that needles aren't sew scary. In fact, Rachel will help you create works of art through sewing, knitting, crochet, and upholstery. Whether you're a novice or a pro, you can enjoy …read more

Wholly Frijoles

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 offer exceptional flavors, but their meals' costs may be outside the average person's daily budget. What to do? Meet the happy medium: Wholly Frijoles.
If you take anything away from this article, it must be this: call ahead. I'm not kidding. I tried just dropping in …read more

Friday Film: Death Wish

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 success, generating four sequels over the next 20 years.

Death Wish (1974)

Directed by:
Michael Winner

Produced by:
Hal Landers
Bobby Roberts
Dino De Laurentiis

Starring:
Charles Bronson
Hope Lange
Vincent Gardenia
Steven Keats
William Redfield
Stuart Margolin
Stephen Elliott

Distributed by:
Paramount Pictures

All Movie Guide
IMDb
Amazon.com

While Paul Kersey is away from home, three muggers break into his apartment, killing his wife and …read more

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