Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Farewell Dinner: Perfection
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Lollapalooza, in pictures (from a disposable camera)
Some long-awaited pics
Some Thoughts on Reading, and one Great (Chicago-related) Book in Particular
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Thanks Tom!
Even though I was feeling a little out of sorts (please don't be swine flu), I'm very glad we went. We started in the Modern Wing, but after one exhibit (which, I would describe as pleasant to look at but unimpressive as far as artistic skill goes) we opted for the classics.
A few favorites: from an interesting special exhibit on wine in art, one in particular stood out; the impressionists, as always, delighted, especially Monet's haystack series, of which this one was particularly beautiful; this giant piece gives the sense that the people are going to walk right off the canvas; and this, which I had never seen before, made me want to go to the circus. Hopper's Nighthawks made me nostalgic for a favorite quirky professor. The large crowd surrounding it, staring at it intently, made me wonder aloud to Marie whether famous pieces like this are actually better than those that we skim over, or whether we simply see them as brilliant because we have been told they are.
We checked off another long neglected item on our to-do list Thursday night: eat at Frontera restaurant. Since our first visit to the grocery store, we have been buying the made-for-stores salsa from this hot-spot Chicago eatery. Rick Bayless, the chef behind Frontera and its two neighboring restaurants Topolobampo and XOCO, is somewhat of a celebrity figure, having recently starred on (and won) Top Chef Masters.
Buying into the buzz behind Bayless and his restaurants, with the bar set high by the salsas (they really are that good), and with Marie's stepdad's generous blessing to go out for a good dinner (see blog title), we perched ourselves at the crowded bar and ordered up a couple of margaritas.
Unfortunately, I have to say I'm going to be sticking to jarred salsa by Bayless, and I might even go so far as to offer my services as guacamole chef for his restaurants. The guac was bland, in need of salt and lime, and the lame excuse for a bowl of salsa was neither wide nor deep enough to give a chip a good dunk. The chips were the saving grace, not too greasy, and good and thick and crispy. Desperately wanting Frontera to live up to our expectations, we ordered another appetizer, sopes rancheros--"crispy corn masa boats with savory shredded beef, roasted tomatoes, avocado and homemade fresh cheese"--which were tasty but nothing special. Though I had hoped for more behind this so-called master chef, I'm glad we checked it out, because I would have always wondered about the restaurant behind all the hype--and the phenomenal jarred salsa.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Google can Cook!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Lincoln Park Art Faire
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Bugs and Butterflies with my Babysitting
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Review I wrote for Gapers Block
Monday, September 7, 2009
Give me some Downward Dog, I'll Keep my Dollars
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Hmmm
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Mom and a Move
Monday, August 24, 2009
A Lovely Pair
French Food Update
Home Smelly Home
I’d like to share a story from one of the less enjoyable aspects of my weekend: the apartment search. Alas, we must leave dear 520 W. Melrose a week from tomorrow, and have found ourselves scrambling to find a new place. Given the up-in-the-air nature of our current situation, we are back to looking for the elusive sublet, in the abyss that is Craigslist.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Julie & Julia: Angel Food Cake on Screen
Last night, I made the last minute decision to see Julie & Julia. Literally…Marie and I were in line at the box office, the teller had already droned, “Next!,” and we were still up-in-the-air over what to see. The options ran the gamut from the feel-good frivolity of the above-mentioned flick, to the complex sci-fi drama, The Time Traveler’s Wife, to the shoot-em-up crime thriller Public Enemies. All on my running list of things to see.
1. Hungry
2. Dying to visit France
3. Wishing I knew French
4. Brainstorming ways I could live in France
5. Curious about Julia Child, whom I had never heard of before the buzz about this film began, but whose memoir I had purchased several weeks ago in the picked-over O’hare Airport bookstore. (I started it last night before bed)
6. Wishing I had internet at my apartment so that I could check out the real Julie’s actual blog site
7. Last but not least, feeling as I am absolutely sure the film intended, content with the world and in general good spirits. Bottom line: if you’re in need of a serious mood booster see this movie.
Some others' thoughts:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/julie_and_julia/
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/movies/07julie.html
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Monday, August 17, 2009
Bring on the Madness: Season 3 Premiere
After having watched the majority of Season Two on my iPod on the elliptical at the gym last semester, it was nice to enjoy Mad Men in a social atmosphere once again; it merits a little bit of festivity. Luckily, since I don’t have cable, I have some new friends in Chicago who are just as enthusiastic about the addictive combination of classy and scandalous that is Mad Men. And, the screening soiree I attended last night was surely fitting to get back in action with the hard-hitters and harder-partiers of Madison Ave.
Here's what some others thought (careful! some contain spoilers):
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Grant Park Sings a Different Tune
All summer long, Grant Park has offered free outdoor classical music concerts each weekend at Pritzker Pavilion. Don’t ask me why, but I made it down for the first time on Friday, just in time for the last weekend of the festival. By way of a grand finale, this weekend’s selection was Beethoven’s Ninth, which, even to someone as shamefully unfamiliar with classical music as I am, is recognizable. Well, recognizable in the loose sense of the word; I spent the entire time I was listening to the piece trying to place it, finally settling upon all those Sundays mornings spent at mass.
Friday, August 14, 2009
Buena Vista, Buenisima Comida
Reading List: Something Old and Something New
This summer I’ve been on a re-reading kick. Earlier in July, I revisited Robert Penn Warren’s, All the King’s Men, which had been a summer reading assignment going into my junior year of high school. At that time, it had quickly risen to the top of my, then relatively short, list of favorites. First of all, I couldn’t help but be attracted to Warren’s language and style—almost unfeasibly long, descriptive sentences and unexpected metaphors. It’s certainly not for everyone though, and even I’ll admit that there are sections of this 400-plus pager that you can’t help but skim. What I remember from my first read though is being impressed, even astounded, by the spider-web effect that Warren achieves, weaving all of the plots and characters together by the end into a (melo) dramatic climax. Once again, not for everyone, but if you have a taste for the gritty political underworld and lyric prose, it suits that contradictory bill.
UPDATE: Looks like To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite beach read. Who'da thought? I wonder what Harper Lee would think about that. I was expecting fluffier picks, more in the vein of Emily Giffin or Jennifer Weiner, but I'm not complaining!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Blades of the Glorious Past
Though I think California may have picked it up back in the 80s, rollerblading screams 90s to me. I have this distinct memory: summertime, I was about eleven, blading around the cul-de-sac of my suburban neighborhood with the girl next door, peforming (for who, I don't know) some kind of choreographed dance to Hootie and the Blowfish's "Hold My Hand" and "Only Wanna be with You." Dance might be an overstatement; I'm pretty sure we were just blading at various tempos and with assorted arm gestures around and around the circle.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Lolla Lovin
Lollapalooza, like New Years,’ or Homecoming, or any big birthday, is an event surrounded by a lot of hype. And, in my experience, these types of things—which friends come in town for, that are looked forward to for weeks, and usually over planned—have a tendency towards mishap. That’s why I was so pleasantly surprised that my Lollapalooza weekend went off without a hitch, in spite of the extreme weather.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Perry's Techno Tent at Lollapalooza
This weekend at Lollapalooza I became a fan of techno. I never would have thought it possible. I realized though, that I just have to be in the right setting to enjoy it. In the past, when played, for example, in a friend's car, the repetitive robotic sounding noises of techno always gave me a headache. But on Friday and Sunday night, under the glowing spider-web-esque tent of Perry's Stage, the music of spin masters like Crookers, Kid Cudi, Boys Noize, and MSTRKRFT, only made me want to dance. The pulsating beats and unexpected mixing of sounds created an energy amongst the crowd that was unparalleled at the other concert stages. I'm not yet at the level where I could listen to it all night, but I might be trading in my go-to low key bars for a bumping club come next Friday.
Water and Steel
Chicago has a lot of tourist activities, but only one of them has been recommended to me by more than one city native: The Architecture Foundation River Cruise. Having tried to go once earlier in the summer only to arrive to sold out tickets, this time I planned ahead (a little bit). I snagged nine of the last ten tickets available for the time that we wanted, and our group proved just as lucky with the weather.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Pleasant Pedaling
All summer I’ve been meaning to bike the lake path. I’ve really wanted to buy a bike, and after renting one for a few hours last week, I’m more convinced than ever that this will be my next big purchase. First of all, so much is within perfect biking distance from where I live. Second, after how my hip has been acting up recently when I run, it’s looking like I’m going to have to switch my form of exercise.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Who needs Broadway?
Chicago is a competitive city. It seems especially concerned with proving itself equal to New York. Take, for example, its theater offerings, “Broadway in Chicago.” How much more blatant can it get?
Five Star Encounter
I just got these pictures and had to post them right away. Last Saturday night, while dining with some out-of-town guests at Phil Stefani's restaurant downtown, I had an exciting celebrity sighting. I've mentioned my obsession with Bravo's reality cooking show, Top Chef, before, and who walks in to the restaurant but my absolute favorite contestant, Fabio. He was every bit as charming in person as on the show (and displayed the same friendly bias towards the ladies--he somehow finagled his way out of taking a picture with the men in my party). He was in town promoting his book, which I'm sure will not only be full of great recipes, but show the chef's own charismatic personality as well.
Two Sides of the Same Glacier
I have an explanation for how MIA I have been the past week or so. And I promise that the things that have been keeping me from my computer and Caribou Coffee (my internet hotspot) will make up for it, once I get around to writing about them.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Music in the Parks
Having promised a friend I'd do Lincoln at night so as to see Sugar Ray (throwback!), I headed to Milwaukee Ave around 2 pm. Per fest fashion, the street was blocked off, forcing attendees to enter by way of a gate, inevitably being guilted in to the $10 donation (or is it an admission fee? It's all very hazy with these things). Once inside, I had the run of overstock bins set outside on the sidewalk outside the bigger stores, and perused the many craft stalls. We stumbled upon the techno stage where a mid afternoon dance party raged, complete with close-eyed dancing, head banging, and reverberating pavement.
Taste of Lincoln Ave certainly had its own dance party, though something tells me it was (unlike Wicker Park's) helped along by the fall of darkness. The bands at this fest were of the theatrical variety, from the 80s cover band (bedecked in full face paint, wigs, and black pleather), to the Too White Crew with its obviously ironic renditions of rap/hip hop classics like "Baby Got Back."
Sugar Ray was the cherry on top of this entertaining convection. His countless thank yous and reminders of his age complimented his 5 Red Bulls deep energy level nicely, moving even the most skeptical listeners to bop along to his summer-lovin lyrics.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Books
The library was impressive in itself, the kind of place books deserve to be housed. (Think historic- gilded banisters, marble floors, and vaulted ceilings.)
Because I went on Sunday, the inventory was thoroughly picked over. There wasn't much left in the way of current fiction, and the nonfiction titles remaining were mostly cheesy looking and obscure.
Luckily for me, the average used booksale peruser must not be especially interested in the authors of the "lost generation." I was able to scrounge up a biography a piece on Fitzgerald, Pound, and Mencken.
In the end, I didn't buy anything- even though all titles were half off in an attempt to clear out on the last day. For whatever reason I couldn't imagine myself reading the books I had picked up, and at the last minute I placed them on the reshelving table. As much as I like to think of myself as someone into used and old books, in truth, I guess I feel the same way about someone else's old books as I do about someone else's old clothes- not quite as appealing as new ones. Or maybe its that, at this point in my life it's neither practical nor afforable for me to collect books- for display, bragging rights, or other purposes. So, I stick to buying books that I REALLY want to read, not just the best that's left.