The Chicago Traveler

As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I make a monthly trip to visit family in southwestern Michigan. The trip usually takes about three hours, and I pass through several small towns along the way. In fact, in that rural area, it is not uncommon for us to visit one town to go grocery shopping, another town for dining out, and yet another to go see a movie! Of course, all the towns are within a few minutes of each other, so driving from town to town is much like driving to different neighborhoods here in Chicago.

One road that we …read more

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No matter what your beliefs, politics can be a nasty business. Max and Benny’s in Northbrook is featuring the sweet side of the Presidential race.
The suburban bakery is selling cookies bearing the faces of Barack Obama, Joe Biden, John McCain, and Sarah Palin. You can show your support by featuring these tasty treats at your next get-together. Or take out your frustrations with the other political party by taking a fierce (and delicious) bite into the opponent’s head.
Each cookie is just under $3, and you can order them in person, by phone, or online. And if you’d rather get someone …read more

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Ah, family. There is a saying that goes… “Families are like fudge – mostly sweet with a few nuts.” We here at the Travel & Culture Channel are celebrating our nutty families this month. And while my own family may seem especially eccentric at times, I still love them nonetheless.
For several years, my paternal family would gather for breakfast every Sunday at Orbit Restaurant and Lounge (2954 N Milwaukee Ave). I think my grandparents liked it mostly because it served a primarily Polish cuisine… and because they had “clean bathrooms.” I remember this is where my affinity for eating lemons …read more

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If you’ve seen one cupcake, you’ve seen them all, right? Think again.
Cupcakes puts together their namesake like no one else. Using the finest ingredients, these chefs bake the mini-masterpieces in small batches and frost each one by hand. The tasty treats have been featured on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and the Food Network’s The Secret Life of… series. With references like those, you know they have to be good.
You can even make sure the cupcakes are as unique and perfect as you are. Cupcakes specializes in customizations. Have a favorite color, flavor, logo, or picture in mind? Want them to …read more

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Back to our International Tour, it’s time for Asia. While many may be familiar with Chicago’s Chinatown down on the South Side, there is also a New Chinatown developing and growing near the intersection of Argyle St and Broadway Ave. It’s a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian, and Thai shops and restaurants. Because Asia is the largest continent, there are plenty of cuisines to choose from. Sushi places and Chinese food are so common though, so let’s focus on some of the lesser-known tastes of Asia.
Zen Noodles in Wicker Park (around the corner from People Lounge) does offer sushi, …read more

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Pumpkin spice cupcakes, sweet potato pie, chocolate chip cookies, raspberry almond tea cakes… served in a homey, Southern kitchen setting… by charming bakers donning kerchiefs and aprons… wouldn’t it be lovely?
It is Lovely. This little bake shop on Milwaukee Ave (just down the street from Evil Olive) is a small piece of comfy country right here in the city. Twenty-somethings come to lounge in the rocking chairs and mixed furniture, taking full advantage of the free wifi and delicious muffins. A general store setup offers merchandise like kitchen towels, aprons, fruit jams, teapots, marmalades, and even gift baskets. The …read more

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When you’ve had a rough day, you need a great place to blow off some steam. Pressure Billiards & Café in Edgewater is a chill place where you can play a little pool, have a few laughs, and even grab a few bites.
Wahib Merchant, owner and avid pool player, opened this neighborhood favorite back in 2005. This pool hall may be a bit upscale, but the atmosphere is friendly and inviting. I love to play pool, and even though I’m not very good at it, I never feel intimidated or out of place when I’m there. The hall has about …read more

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Moist, chocolate deliciousness… who doesn’t love a brownie? One of the accounts of the brownie’s origin takes place right here in Chicago at the Palmer House Hilton Hotel. When Chicago hosted the World’s Fair in 1893, Bertha Palmer assigned her chef to create a dessert that was unique but that wouldn’t get her guests’ hands dirty. As the saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and so, the brownie was born. The Palmer House still serves up that original recipe to this day.

Bored with the traditional brownie? Thirty different varieties of brownies are served at Athena’s Silverland Desserts in …read more

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Just a few blocks away from my home, I can’t help but notice the Angel Food Bakery every time I pass it. Cute, retro, and with a bright green sign, this corner delight is awfully tempting. It’s filled with lime-green walls, custom-made cakes, and wide-eyed, drooling customers.
Pastry chef Stephanie Samuels is a self-taught artist, and her sweet masterpieces have been featured on the Food Network. Her cakes feature popular combinations like orange with caramel buttercream filling and white buttercream icing, lemon with lemon curd and spiky meringue, and carrot with orange-ginger buttercream. Feeling silly? Try a piece of the Spring …read more

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