The Chicago Traveler

In college, I earned my degree in English, and now I appreciate anything with an interesting literature twist. I was intrigued by the opening of Purgatory Pizza, and I thoroughly enjoy the performances by the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. But one of my favorite places to visit by far is the Bourgeois Pig.
You might be a bit disoriented upon first entering ‘the Pig.’ The coffeehouse is cluttered with an array of trinkets and charms: crystal chandeliers, hanging washboards, gas lamps, an old sewing machine, etc. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to the various accoutrements, yet they all fit …read more

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With crazy gas prices and now high sales taxes, Chicagoans and visitors are looking to save money where they can. But don’t let your budget prevent you from going out to enjoy a good meal. Here are eight of the best restaurants (courtesy of Citysearch and Yelp) where you can get a big meal for a small price.

8. Red Apple. This Polish buffet just keeps on going and going and going…
7. Reza’s Restaurant. As if the extensive Mediterranean menu wasn’t enough, the Sunday brunch buffet offers an incredible number of options.
6. Mr. Greek Gyros. Everything from hot dogs to pork …read more

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If you’re familiar with the cartoon dog Scooby-Doo, then you know that he likes his sandwiches piled sky-high with more ingredients than two pieces of bread could ever actually handle. At Manny’s Coffee Shop & Deli, the sandwiches aren’t too far from those animated towers of meat and cheese, and they’ll satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.
This cafeteria-style diner in the South Loop is the palace of pastrami, serving a mixed clientele of white-collar executives, blue-collar workforce, and elderly regulars from the neighborhood. On your first visit, you may find yourself overwhelmed by the wall full of daily specials. Manny’s …read more

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When you go out for a cup of coffee, you want to be comfortable, right? But too many coffee places expect you to sit on an itty bitty chair at an itty bitty table with no space to relax. Fortunately, that’s not the case with Intelligentsia Coffee.
This Lakeview coffee shop (around the corner from Cupcakes) is full of big plush couches and chairs as well as big wooden tables that you and all your friends can gather around. Low-key music, soft-colored walls, and an exposed ceiling contribute to the soothing atmosphere. Grab a stool at the front windows or even …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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Today’s blog post is coming to you On Location! As I type, I am currently sitting in Edgewater’s newest coffee shop, The Coffee Studio, enjoying the “clean lines” furniture, exposed brick walls, and handsome natural wood.
This cozy café was scheduled to open months ago, but unfortunately, the owners kept running into obstacles getting their utilities up and running. But finally, the door has opened, much to the delight of many snow-traversing Chicagoans. What better way is there to warm up than with a hot cup o’ joe and a tasty pastry on the side?
Now, I know, there are hundreds …read more

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Chicago guides are a dime a dozen. Go to any bookstore in town, and you’ll find entire aisles dedicated to Chicago travel and dining. But many tourists don’t have the time to read through every book, filtering through the thousands of restaurants and bars listed to find the one they want. And just who’s writing those reviews anyway? Have they even been to Chicago?
Glove Box Guides is here to help. They’ve sat down with dozens of Chicagoans from all walks of life—administrative assistants, programmers, accountants, lawyers, students, bartenders, artists, web designers, teachers, and more—to compile a list of local, affordable …read more

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Our International Tour takes us to Africa. A large African population can be found in the northern parts of the city, including Uptown, Edgewater, and Rogers Park. There is no one type of African food. From Nigerian to Ghanaian, from Ethiopian to Moroccan, this huge continent has something for everyone.
Our first stop is on Clark St in Wicker Park for some Algerian food. The Crepe & Coffee Palace, down the block from Pocket Puppies, specializes in North African and Mediterranean cuisine, made with fresh organic ingredients. If you sense a Parisian vibe from the place, that’s because several African nations …read more

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Do I seem jittery to you? Or maybe a little too energetic? I don’t think I’m really that energetic at all, just the right amount of energy because if you have too much energy that can be really bad for you because you’d crash and burn before the day was really over but then again you’d probably get a lot done and your house could end up cleaner faster than usual and typing faster would definitely come in handy I think especially for me anyway because of all the typing I have to do in a day typing up various …read more

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