Finally....Brooklyn

So, the big move went fine. Actually, cross your fingers. Our stuff's not here yet. But the actual packing seemed to go off without a hitch. Of course, a couple drinking glasses became casualties in the process. But broken items are fair game when three guys are packing up your entire apartment and loading a truck in the span of one day.

We got to Brooklyn on Wednesday and immediately checked out the new 'hood, walking up the main drags of 5th and 7th Avenues. We ended up having dinner at Bogota, a Latin Bistro. It was good overall - it didn't blow us away but was tasty nevertheless. My wife had the Chipotle Corn Crusted Salmon with Cilantro Mashed Potatoes and Shredded Kale. I opted for the Plantain Crusted Chicken with Cilantro Mashed Potatoes and Red Beans as my sides. However, I will say we were disappointed with the Coconut Shrimp as the appetizer as it was overcooked.

Bogota was good enough to make us want to come back for another visit....

Paying Homage

It's just a matter of days now.... It's a bit odd - we've known about this move for a while now. We've certainly been preparing for it for months. And now we are doing all the things necessary - selling items, making arrangements, saying goodbyes. I don't think it will really set in until we are on an airplane or sitting in an empty apartment in NYC. Almost eight years were spent in The Windy City and yet in many ways, it doesn't seem that long at all.

I've had many friends leave Chicago - former co-workers getting laid off from dot-coms, individuals getting married and moving to the suburbs to have kids, people going back home to the states they grew up in, friends going back to grad school. We've stayed through all these changes, however. And now comes time for a change of our own.

It's been a great city, a great place to live. It's very "livable" and not just because the rent is relatively cheap compared to NYC or SF. The traffic's bad but not THAT bad. It's easy to find your way around because of the way the city's laid out. People, for the most part, are down-to-earth and friendly. I could go on and on about the other "favorite things" I will miss (and how come they're mostly food-related?) - the deep dish pizza at My Pie, the awesome goodness of the mild curry chicken and crispy crab ravioli at Ecce Cafe, and of course, the tapas at Cafe Babareeba (don't thumb your noses at me, Cafe Iberico lovers).

I'll miss the proximity of Lincoln Park (the park, not the 'hood) and the Lakefront. Those walks by the Lake, or through the Lincoln Park Zoo and by the Conservatory provided refuge from the noises and stresses of the city. I'll miss the idiocy of the WGN Morning News team, the times I would pick up The Onion or The Reader to see what bands were coming to play, and the PBS show Check Please! to get good local restaurant recommendations.

I'll miss the way the city gets dressed up for the holidays, the way Mayor Daley (for the most part) seems to keep the city clean, and the various neighborhood festivals that make summers in Chicago so much fun. I'll miss the shopping on State Street and on Michigan Avenue, the newness of Millenium Park and of things to come, the Chicago skyline via Lake Shore Drive, and the quick commute to work/school via the CTA.

And of course, I'll miss simply walking around the 'hood and (was it Sesame Street that had this song?) - the "people in your neighborhood": the guy cutting my hair for years, the doormen and maintenance guys in our building, the waitstaff at the various restaurants we go to on Broadway.

And I'll miss the people that have been a part of my life in some form or another, whether they be co-workers, former co-workers, classmates, friends, etc. It's been a good run, Chicago, and you've given us lots of good memories and connections. Hopefully we've given a little something back too. If I wasn't going to miss these things, then it meant I didn't like it here and that's not the case at all.

I am looking forward to the next step and I have no doubt the new 'hood will have its own set of memories and connections to offer. But I am glad to have been part of Chicago and for that I thank you.

My Favorite Things #7

For a while, we used to do breakfast at the diner across the street - Stella's. And here's a bit of trivia, before it was remodeled and renamed Stella's, I'm pretty sure it was just called Lakeview Diner. How generic.

In any event, the eggs were runny, the coffee tasted like ass, and the bacon was undercooked. Sometime along the way, we came to our senses and started doing breakfasts at The Bagel.

I always got the same thing - two eggs, sunny side up, bacon, hash browns and wheat toast. It never disappointed, I must say. The bacon was crisp and flavorful. The hash browns tasty. And they brought out the food in record time. It's as if they could read our minds. Even the eccentric waiter who always asks "Coffee? Coffee?" seems endearing now that we are leaving the hood.

Once in a while, if I came home late from work or class and was starving, I would stop by and would get a cheeseburger to go. They did that right too. The only thing they did wrong - that bowl of pickles they bring out around lunch time for each table. Who eats those things? And if no one does, do they recycle them?

Oh well. All I know is that I will miss those breakfasts at The Bagel.

End of an Era

We sold our 1999 Nissan Sentra today. This is actually NOT a picture of our Sentra, but it is a picture of a Sentra.

It's been a good car. It was a great ride. Many a trip to North Mankato, South Bend, or the local Dominicks was had. Hmm, what exotic locales we traveled to. No wonder it only had 55,000 miles.

But alas, we shall have no use for it in NYC. Farewell, 1999 Nissan Sentra. You have served us well. May your next owners be as cool as we were.

Good Food, Bad Neighbors

Went to Green Zebra recently to celebrate my wife's birthday. All in all, it was a good experience - sort of a "choose your own" tasting menu.

Here are just some of the items we had:
-Marinated Fresh Mozzarella Salad, arugula puree, parmesan cracker
-Warm Blue Cheese Cake, plum wine-concord grape reduction, hazelnut tuile
-Crispy Sweet Potato Dumplings, fresh water chestnuts and dandelion miso broth
-Shoal Creek Farm Chicken Breast, roasted new potatoes, crisp skin and wild honey

Unfortunately, the tables/booths are pretty close to each other and couldn't help but overhear the group next to us whom I have to suspect are political science/economics professors. Talk about a snoozefest - they seem to enjoy talking about how smart they are, spouting off random facts, discussing the research they've done, coming up with hypothetical experiments, ripping on other colleagues for their "data sets", etc. Just seemed like a haughty bunch who enjoyed talking about themselves.

Binge Blogging

Is there an official definition for this yet?

It happens to all of us.

You're away from the computer for a while and (gasp) actually living life! Remember that? Going to work, running errands, interacting with others, maybe even having fun?

But as you go through life, you keep thinking in the back of your head, "Man, I gotta blog about this". So you jot down a note on a piece of paper, maybe a napkin, or maybe that fancy new Moleskin journal you bought at Borders or Barnes and Noble.

Then one day you're back at the computer and start binge blogging - one post, two posts, three posts, catorce posts (no U2 fans?). You get the gist.

Latest i-Tunes Purchases

Latest downloads from i-Tunes:

The Replacements I'll Be You
John Legend Ordinary People
Ella Fitzgerald Manhattan
Matt Pond PA Brooklyn Stars
The Honorary Title Bridge and Tunnel

My Favorite Things #6

I can't take credit for this picture - I found it on the Web - but without a doubt, I will miss the Chicago skyline. Whether it was taking a boat cruise through the Chicago River and into Lake Michigan or driving down LakeShore Drive at night after a road trip, the skyline always created excitement, possibility and comfort - you knew you were home...

They got Poppycock?

Overheard on the Upper West Side (before heading to our dinner at Ouest)....

We're at a Duane Reade because I needed to purchase some Kleenex to battle a cold and there's an older couple in line ahead of us. Apparently they were purchasing some snacks to smuggle into the movie theater across the street.

The male yells out: "They got Poppycock?"
Female yells back from one of the aisles: "They only have the big bucket!"

He passes on it and purchases something else. The female now joins him in line and notices a product at the checkout counter: "Ooh. They have Madagascar Chia Pet here!"

Man, only in New York....

Ouest

No clever title for this blog posting.

Needless to say, that Thursday spent apartment-hunting in Manhattan was not fun.

Our luck changed on Friday in the Slope.

Saturday provided a much more relaxed day for us having secured a new place to live, so we treated ourselves to a nice dinner at Ouest, on the Upper West Side.

I had the Pan Roasted Squab with a Johnny Cake, Smoked Onions, Chanterelles & Budding Chives. It was very good.

My wife had the Roasted Salmon with Sweet Corn Flan, Chaneterelles, Prosciutto,Zucchini, Corn-Chive Butter & Shrimp Oil.

All in all, a tasty dinner in a nice neighborhood restaurant.

Do You Like Old World Charm?

Apparently "old world charm" is broker-speak for "crappy and not renovated".

Yes, a little over a week ago, we took the plunge and went apartment hunting in New York City. We flew in on a Thursday afternoon and had a quick (yet tasty) lunch at Niles, which is attached to the Affinia Hotel in midtown Manhattan.

We then made our way up to the Upper East Side to meet our broker where we looked at about a half a dozen places, none of which we liked. A couple of them were "works in progress" so it was difficult to get a sense of what it would look like when it was done. I mean, lady, I ain't gonna shell out thousands of bucks without seeing the finished product. We couldn't even see a couple of the other ones she had planned on since she could not get into them. At one point, she even asked us to give the key a try! Are you kidding me? Two other places had red flags - garbage bags in the hallway for one, while another had a notice from the ASPCA about the tenant's multiple pets. And we did get to see a lovely (note sarcasm) one bedroom where the couple literally had their stuff stored in every nook and cranny (including clothes in bins on top of the kitchen cupboard).

The most decent place we saw was in Murray Hill - it was decent but still didn't have all the things we wanted and its fire escape full of other people's crap didn't exactly instill comfort. Plus, they were asking us for $100 per person for a credit check and pulling that bullshit "you need to make 40x the monthly salary" routine. We were close to applying for it but thank God we didn't.

The events of the day were discouraging to say the least but prompted me to wonder how this whole apartment broker in NYC setup is even legal. It's complete bullshit. Some incompetent person shows you places (if they can get into them) without really knowing anything about the landlord, current tenant, or the place itself. Then they have the nerve to charge you an arm and a leg for a credit check and finally, if and only if your application is approved, you receive the privilege of spending a shitload of money on living in a tiny little apartment in Manhattan. Of course, there's that little 15% you owe the broker on top of everything.

What a racket!!!!

Not That There's Anything Wrong With That...

Can't say I have any interest in seeing Brokeback Mountain but did get a kick out of comedy writer Larry David (of Seinfeld fame) and his take on the film.

New Home in the Slope

It's done. We found a place in Park Slope!

More to come on our recent trip to NYC....

Lazy Sunday Beyotch

Finally! Something funny came out of Saturday Night Live. This show used to be must-see TV. Growing up, who can forget all the great actors/actresses and classic bits that were created? But alas, for many years (it's been so long that they've sucked, I can't even remember the last time they did anything funny) they have been PAINFULLY unfunny. Quite remarkable to go through such a drought and absence of laughter when you consider the talent and money pumped into the show.

Anyhow, they finally did something funny. It's making the rounds on the internet and my bro sent me the link. Yup, a couple white guys rapping about some very non-gangsta stuff. You can watch it here and read the New York Times article as well. And for even more, visit this site to read a transcript of the lyrics.

New Year's Eve Specials = Trainwreck

First of all, was there anything more depressing than seeing Dick Clark in an incoherent post-stroke state last night? I feel sorry for the once "forever young" TV icon, but man, don't bum me out right before the start of the new year!

Also, regardless of the channel - ABC, NBC, MTV, etc. - what's with all of the horrible "musicians" performing on these New Year's Eve specials? Guess nobody good wants to work on a holiday. Mariah, please put some clothes on.

Finally, is there a bigger no-talent than Carson Daly? This guy lucks into fame via MTV and now fancies himself the next Dick Clark! Nobody died and made you his successor. You've got nothing interesting or funny to say. How did this guy get a job in show business? But wait, there's more...word is that Ryan Seacrest may be groomed to take over Dick Clark's spot for future NYE telecasts. Now that makes two no-talents hosting these specials....

One More Chicago Pic from the El

Took this pic earlier today as we rode the Brown Line back north to Lakeview....

View of the Hancock Tower from a train window....

Not Long Now....

It's been a good run, Chicago....

We're just about four weeks away from leaving the Windy City.

Had a good holiday break the last ten days....

Today, we went downtown and did a little window shopping at Marshall Fields, before it becomes Macy's later this year; and visited the Art Institute of Chicago, which I hadn't been to in several years.

It's a world-class museum to be sure - the favorites remain the same: Gustave Caillebotte's Paris Street Rainy Day, Georges Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Edward Hopper's Nighthawks, and the miniature rooms.

I did find a new fave to add to the list - Stuart Davis' Ready to Wear.

We rode the "El" back home and I took a few pics including this one of the "Chicago" stop on the Brown Line.

Happy Holidays

Nothing says Christmas Like Indian-Latin fusion

So we went out today for a late lunch/early dinner at one of the few restaurants open on Christmas day - Vermilion.

It was a breeze going down Lakeshore Drive and we got parking right outside.

A four-course meal features Indian cuisine with a Latin twist. On the menu: roasted cumin pumpkin empanada; butternut coconut squash sopa; tamarind-mango-glazed ham served on a Bahain yucca coconut puree; parval sautéed with cranberry and kari leaves; and an almond and dried fruit cake with liquor, dry ginger and drizzled with an eggnog anglaise.

Damn, Those Penguins ARE cute

We watched March of the Penguins the other night and it's not a bad little flick - though not sure it deserves all the hype it's gotten.

One thing is for sure, however. They are pretty damn cute.

Don't Get It Twisted

The most recent show we went to was Q101's Twisted 12, featuring Hot Hot Heat, Death Cab for Cutie and The Psychedelic Furs.

Once again we had to brave Chicago's arctic tundra but at least it was a weekend night. I hadn't realized that it was an all-ages show and my wife and I found ourselves waiting in line for the doors to open amid awkward teens and tweens. I heard an exchange behind me go something like: Boy - "How are we getting home?" Girl - "My dad's picking us up."

Jesus, how old am I? Alas, I took my bitter old bones up to the balcony section of the Aragon, plopped myself down in some choice seats with an unobstructive view and started downing my six-dollar Miller Lite. The Aragon is a really interesting venue. It is designed to look like a Spanish villa, I think. Anyhow, watching the teens and tweens on the main floor from the balcony was fascinating voyeurism - seeing them travel in packs, give awkward exchanges, and sport even more awkward attire. For the tech-savvy kids, they even projected their text messages onto a screen overhead for all to see. Weird.

As for the music, Hot Hot Heat's set was tight and demonstrated again that our neighbors to the North are producing some good music. Death Cab for Cutie, though, was the show-stopper. There was something palpable in the air and the place was absolutely packed when they got onstage. They did a few songs from Plans and a number of hits from Transatlanticism, including the set's finale "Sound of Settling."

It was clear that they were the most talented band of the three, which leads to the peculiar selection of 80's group The Psychedelic Furs as the headliner. It was depressing. At least half the place cleared out - never a good thing for the main act. Even more departed as their set continued. They didn't help their cause by not playing any of their identifiable songs ("Love My Way", "Pretty in Pink") until the latter portion of the show. It was uninspired and sounded dated.

We should have left after Death Cab....

Free is Free

Alright, this picture looks really gay - but hey, it is Depeche Mode, after all.

Catching up on blog entries here....a few weeks ago my wife won a pair of free tickets to see Depeche Mode and a meet-and-greet prior to the show.

It was a typical cold, dark, and blustery Chicago evening so we were definitely on the fence about going to this one. It's funny being in your late 20's - it's no longer a no-brainer that you will go out on a weeknight, but nor is it clear that staying in and getting a sensible eight hours of sleep is the preferred option.

Anyhow, we did end up going and making the trek to the burbs. It was an interesting cross-section of scoiety to say the least - goths, yuppies, the elderly, the handicapped, townies, white trash, gays, lesbians, etc. - Depeche Mode brought out all of them!

As for the meet-and-greet, it was pretty lame - very military-like in nature. We were ushered in three groups of varying numbers and were instructed to shake each of the band members' hands and to move on. There was no time for words and barely any time for eye contact. We then took the obligatory "group photo" with the band and then it was all over.

I will say that I had no expectations of the show but I'll give credit where credit is due. These guys put on an entertaining and inspired performance. I hadn't heard much of the new album before but the tunes were good. They did a number of hits from Violator - "Policy of Truth" and "Personal Jesus" and a couple from Songs of Faith and Devotion - "I Feel You" and "Walking in My Shoes" and ended the set with everyone in the arena singing along to "Enjoy the Silence."

In the end it was a good show and I am glad we dragged our old twentysomething bones to the free concert.

Holla atcha boy, JC

Once again, the posts have been few and far between due to the demands of work, school, the holidays and an imminent move to NYC.

Alas, some much needed time off between Christmas and New Year's should provided an ample period of rest, relaxation and introspection.

And hey, what a segue! Speaking of ole JC, check out this site that sells Christain inspired sports jerseys. Fascinating, amusing, disturbing! Thessalonians in da house!

No Spin, My Ass

Nothing says quality like an American made Bill O' Reilly "No Spin Grandpa" baseball cap.

What a piece of crap!

I was listening to Howard Stern the other day and he was rippin' O' Reilly for the shameless plugs he makes on his program, hawking this crap merchandise. O'Reilly is a shill, peddling his ultra-conservative ways while taking people's money with his lousy products. How pathetic. Does Fox News not pay him enough that he's got to resort to the "O'Reilly" jigsaw puzzle?

I've got a recommendation - how about some O'Reilly toilet paper?

Tell Me Why I Don't like Mondays

Thanksgiving vacation is coming to an end....

It was fun while it lasted.

Now, there's lots o' work and stress ahead.

But I'm not alone.

Check out this article from the Wall Street Journal about Sunday Night Depression.

Remembering Katrina Part II

I was cleaning out my email account and found these wise thoughts from my wife:

It seems like anytime Bush fucks up, all the Republicans are like,"let's not point fingers and play the blame game..." I was going to write more but what's the point. My main point I guess is that politics and policy are all about the blame game, really. So THEY should get over that. After all, Bush is employed by us, the taxpayers. And if your employee fucks up, you are going to tell him. You not only tell him, but you also say what he should have done, so that next time he doesn't fuck up again. Unfortunately this administration has been one mistake after another. What's not helpful is for Republicans to hide and/or ignore mistakes, if they do that then how is anyone going to learn from them and not repeat them?

Remembering Katrina

Let's not forget the Katrina mess. Here was a good op-ed piece from the Times back in September. And here's a link to another good piece.

OPINION September 7, 2005
Editorial: It's Not a 'Blame Game'
No administration could credibly investigate such an immense failure as the government's response to Hurricane Katrina on its own watch.
September 7, 2005
It's Not a 'Blame Game'
With the size and difficulty of the task of rescuing and rebuilding New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas still unfolding, it seemed early to talk about investigating how this predicted cataclysm had been allowed to occur and why the government's response was so slow and inept. Until yesterday, that is, when President Bush blithely announced at a photo-op cabinet meeting that he, personally, was going to "find out what went right and what went wrong." We can't imagine a worse idea.
No administration could credibly investigate such an immense failure on its own watch. And we have learned through bitter experience - the Abu Ghraib nightmare is just one example - that when this administration begins an internal investigation, it means a whitewash in which no one important is held accountable and no real change occurs.
Mr. Bush signaled yesterday that we are in for more of the same when he sneered and said, "One of the things that people want us to do here is to play a blame game." This is not a game. It is critical to know what "things went wrong," as Mr. Bush put it. But we also need to know which officials failed - not to humiliate them, but to replace them with competent people.
It's obvious, for instance, that Michael Brown has met the expectations of those who warned that he would be a terrible director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. This is no time to be engaging in a wholesale change of leadership, but in Mr. Brown's case there seems to be precious little leadership to lose. He should be replaced with someone who can do the huge job that remains to be done.
But the questions go way beyond Mr. Brown - starting with why federal officials ignored predictions of a disastrous flood in New Orleans - and the answers can come only from an independent commission. We agree with the Senate minority leader, Harry Reid, Senator Hillary Clinton and others who say that such a panel should follow the successful formula of the 9/11 commission: bipartisan leadership and members chosen by the White House and both parties in Congress on the basis of real expertise. It should have subpoena power and a staff expert enough to find answers and offer remedies.
Mrs. Clinton has also proposed pulling FEMA out of the Homeland Security Department and restoring its cabinet-level status. That is premature. The current setup makes sense, at least in theory. The nation should not have to support two different bureaucracies for dealing with sudden disasters.
Before throwing the system into chaos again, an investigation should determine whether the problem lies in the structure or in execution. Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal showed how the Bush administration had systematically stripped power and money from FEMA, which had been painfully rebuilt under President Bill Clinton but had long been a target of Republican "small government" ideologues. The Journal said state officials had been warning Washington - as recently as July 27 - that the homeland secretary, Michael Chertoff, was planning further disastrous cuts.
This page supported the creation of Mr. Chertoff's department. But it was poorly run by the first secretary, Tom Ridge, with his maddening color-wheel alerts.
It is clearly in need of a hard look and perhaps serious reorganization. Senators Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, and Joseph Lieberman, Democrat of Connecticut, have plans for hearings, which is fine. But they created the department in the first place and may have more of a stake in the outcome than a panel of impartial experts.
The panel should also look at the shortcomings of local officials and governments. It was chilling, to put it mildly, to read Mayor Ray Nagin's comment in The Journal that New Orleans's hurricane plan was "get people to higher ground and have the feds and the state airlift supplies to them."
But disasters like this are not a city or a state issue. They concern the entire nation and demand a national response - certainly a better one than the White House comments that "tremendous progress" had been made in Louisiana. We're used to that dismissive formula when questions are raised about Iraq. Americans deserve better about a disaster of this magnitude in their own country.

Seriously, what happened to Mikey?

I saw this on the celeb rippin' blog Go Fug Yourself. The caption was "Celebrity Bloat Watch: Prognosis Negative."

Really, what's happening with Favreau?

Dude, That's Some Sweet Marketing

So my wife just dropped the bomb on me - no, she ain't pregnant. But that little, trendy, boutique-like chocolate lounge that we thought was independent? Turns out, it's owned by Mars, Inc. Yes, the same folks who bring you Snickers, M&M's and Milky Way.

It's actually rather brilliant. Mars has found a way to tap into a niche audience - upscale (mostly female) customers with a penchant for socializing and indulging in pricey sweets - while creating new revenue streams by entering into the retail space. I found some interesting commentary on Ethel's Chocolate lounge on a brand experience blog.

The brand experience blog mentions:
Mars, Inc. whose research revealed that "even the most diet conscious consumers ... would occasionally splurge on 'premium' chocolate -- in terms of calories and money -- if it were part of a broader social experience. Yes, they'd certainly go for a place to "chocolate and chitchat."

My Favorite Things #5

Whenever we got home from a trip, oftentimes the first place we went to was Nohana.

They might not have known our names, but they always knew our order.

We we would share the combination box with California roll (no fish eggs), tempura, salad and tuna pieces. Miso soup for the both of us. Sapporo beer and chicken teriyaki appetizer added for me.

In later years, I would branch out to the Soft Shell Crab and the Salmon Teriyaki. But some things remained the same: the attentive service, quality of food, affordable prices, and familiar atmosphere. And, of course, those Tootsie Rolls they give you when they hand you the bill.

It's quite possible that Nohana is the restaurant we most frequented during our stay here. Heck, I don't even know what Nohana means, come to think of it. Maybe it means "Dumb American willing to pay for raw fish."

But alas, it was often our home away from home. Comfort food to the nth degree.

If we ever have a kid, perhaps we'll name him/her Nohana. Okay, maybe not. But maybe it would be a good name for a cat or dog.

Hmm, now I am getting hungry for some sushi and Sapporo....

Flirting With Disaster

You've got to be kidding me.

Reports came out Friday that former FEMA director Mike Brown ("Brownie" as Bushie liked to call him) is starting his own disaster preparedness consulting firm.

This guy played an integral role in NOT having us prepared for something like Hurricane Katrina. Now he's got the balls to set up shop and offer up his services? Is he going to teach us how to "f" things up, 'cause I don't see what else he's qualified to do!

Isn't this akin to Hitler providing "Sensitivity Training" classes, Billy Joel offering driving lessons, or Paris Hilton teaching Sunday School?

Only in America....

Armitage Smells Like Money

It was actually nice out today so we took the El down to Armitage to walk around and window shop.

You can hate on the yuppies all you want, but hey, there are some fine shops around that street and seem to be more and more popping up all the time.

Some of the shops include: Kiehls, Paper Source, Vosges, American Apparel, Active Endeavors, Ethel's Chocolate, Benetton, Lush, Paul Frank, and Argot Tea.

Running perpendicular to Armitage is Halsted, which contains even more yuppie stores like Banana Republic, Escape (a Best Buy store), Aldo, The Blue Jeans Bar, Club Monaco, Barney's Co-Op and Guise.

My Favorite Things #4

How come everything that I am going to miss about Chicago (except for Lake Shore Drive) revolves around food?

Next up on the list - Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread and Wine.

We like the Fromager D'Affinois.

Fromager D'affinois
In the Brie family this French soft-ripened cheese has a 60% fat content with a white creamy smooth interior and a flowery white edible rind. As with most cheeses, Bries should always be served at room temperature so its full flavor is allowed to develop.
Characteristics: Cow's milk, soft-ripened cheese with edible bloomy rind, smooth and creamy interior

I told y'all

"The crowds were so thick that a brawl broke out among shoppers at one of Wal-Mart's Florida stores, according to eyewitnesses."

Nothing says yuletide cheer like a little scuffle among some White Trash shoppers at a Florida WalMart. I'll just assume that they are Christian and also voted for Bush.

My Favorite Things #3

Man, oh man.

I think I ate here twice the first week it opened. Or was it three times?

Either way, Bobtail is a great place - a new soda fountain with the old school feel.

Favorite Ice Cream Flavor? The Merlot Signature Sunset.

My Favorite Things #2

View of the city - going down Lake Shore Drive....

I took this pic yesterday.

And yes, the windshield is dirty and we do need to get the car washed.

My Favorite Things #1

From now until the day we move, I will be posting a few of my favorite things about Chicago....things I'll definitely miss.

First up - Intelligentsia Coffee....

Man, it's so good. We like the Quetzal Breakfast Blend.

Lately, I've really been getting into their teas too - current fav is the Organic Peppermint.

I'll miss you, Intelligentsia.

Tis The Season

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy shopping. But this Black Friday thing is bullshit. Sure, growing up, what red-blooded American family DIDN'T have the tradition of going Christmas shopping the day after Thanksgiving?

But alas, we are older and dare I say, perhaps even a little wiser now. So, why in the hell would anyone get up ass early in freezing weather to go shopping? Nothing's worth the rude shoppers you must battle, the long lines, and the fisticuffs that develop over parking space disputes.

Also, isn't it ironic that less than 24 hours after a day on which we supposedly are to give thanks for the blessings that we currently have, we are immediately clamoring for more? Let's call a spade a spade - advertisers, retailers, and societal expectations have created a tradition that manufactures unnecessary wants and desires.

Now, get out of the way, I'm headed to Best Buy for that Plasma Screen TV!

Top Tunes for 2005

Never too soon to start talking about top tunes of the year. I got inspired by my brother who sent me his list.

This year, instead of top albums, here are some of the top songs I downloaded from i-Tunes (released in 2005):

1. Bloc Party "Banquet"
2. The New Pornographers "Sing Me Spanish Techno"
3. Hot Hot Heat "Goodnight Goodnight"
4. Broken Social Scene "Handjobs for the Holidays"
5. Weezer "Perfect Situation"
6. Teenage Fanclub "Time Stops"
7. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah "The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth"
8. Death Cab for Cutie "Soul Meets Body"
9. Brazilian Girls "Don't Stop"
10. Aimee Mann "I Was Thinking I Could Clean Up For Christmas"

Happy Turkey Day!

After the usual things to be thankful for (good health, great wife, loving family/friends, roof over our heads, good job, etc.), there are a few other things to be thankful for this holiday, such as:

1)Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson finally announcing their split;
2)The news that T.O. will not be allowed to play for the Eagles again this season;
3)Last night's episode of Lost on my TiVo;
4)That whiny bitch Clay getting the boot in last week's Apprentice;
5)My wife winning a sweepstakes drawing - free Depeche Mode concert tickets;
6)That tasty little turkey we'll be devouring later on;
7)The FOUR days off we have before we have to go back to work;
8)ND football;
9)The earnings we made so far from selling some stuff on Craigslist;
10)Seeing HP: Goblet of Fire - this weekend...

More Slope Pics

IT'S ON....

It's official. We're moving.

Now the fun part. Overpaying for an apartment.

But hey, it's NYC, right?

Not sure where we'll be. Manhattan or Brooklyn. Either way, it should be an adventure....

Evil, Thy Name is Dick

What a dick!

"What is not legitimate -- and what I will again say is dishonest and reprehensible -- is the suggestion by some U.S. senators that the president of the United States or any member of his administration purposely misled the American people on prewar intelligence," Cheney said.

Unbelievable. Pot calling the kettle black, no? They're the ones who started a war under false pretenses and have lied about so many things, but the senators who are questioning him are the ones who are "dishonest and reprehensible."??!!!

F You, I'm Rich!

A story in today's Chicago Tribune caught my attention. It's about a group of entrepreneurs in the haughty Highland Park suburb who have produced "lattees" (see picture to the left).

That's right. It says "Half Calf Vanilla Nonfat Extra Foamy Latte."

Apparently a group of privileged Trixie moms decided it was just too much work to get their order out for their fav drinks. So why not simply point to their T-shirts?

Is it me, or is this pretty damn obnoxious? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy a tasty Starbucks drink as much as the next guy but there's a difference between buying a drink and advertising your privileged background with a shallow message on a T-shirt.

I can picture the Lincoln Park Trixies eating it up. But hey, why stop there? Why don't you just wear a T-Shirt that says "I'm rich, bitch!"?

New 'Hood?

Park Slope might be our new 'hood....

Pants On Fire

How does this guy live with himself?

Honestly, he must have no scruples.

He really does the devil's bidding.

How Can She Be So Skinny and Yet Live So Phat?

In yet another example of how Tyra Banks wants so desperately to become Oprah Winfrey, she recently donned a "Fat Suit" in order to go undercover and learn just what it's like to be, well...an average overweight American woman.

"As soon as I entered the store -- when I went shopping -- I immediately heard snickers. Immediately! I just was appalled and, and and hurt!"

Gimme a break, Tyra. Don't give us your manufactured sympathy. You take off the suit and you're back to being a vapid, skinny supermodel while the fat women in this country remain fat.

Get Back in That Closet!

Wow. This is an absolute trainwreck. I just saw snippets of R. Kelly's urban themed opera "Trapped In a Closet" on VH-1's Best Week Ever. I'm speechless. Apparently, the story centers around Kelly going home with a lady after a night of clubbing. Well, of course, the lady's married so Kelly finds himself "trapped in a closet" in case the husband comes home. I think hijinx ensue shortly thereafter.

All I know is that there are multiple chapters of this awful work and they include high-concept plotlines such as a midget crapping his pants. This is so bad, it might be good.

Sonbitch, it's Windy!

Chicago's known as the Windy City (for reasons other than the weather), but this past weekend it has everything to do with the weather.

We've got winds up to 35mph. Good thing I'm indoors, nursing yet another cold, sucking on some Vitamin C drops and listening to i-Tunes...

I hate Spam

So apparently the new trend in spamming is infiltrating people's blogs and posting comments.

I noticed 4 comments added to my last post about Canadian music - and it was all spam! I'm researching some fixes but until then, "comments" will be hidden! Sorry to disappoint the two of you who may read this blog on a regular basis.

Maple Leaves Ain't So Bad After All

Hey, when the heck did Canada get so cool? And no I'm NOT talking about temperature here.

Canadian music has come a long way from that monstrosity known as "Snow".

My favorite bands lately have come from our neighbors to the North. Check 'em out, eh?

1) Broken Social Scene

2) The New Pornographers

3) The Arcade Fire

Some Children Left Behind

The stroller set is up in arms in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood due to a sign put up at a local establishment asking that children use their "inside voice" when visiting "A Taste of Heaven."

Well, that sign did not go over too well with locals. Here's one reaction:
"I love people who don't have children who tell you how to parent," said Alison Miller, 35, a psychologist, corporate coach and mother of two. "I'd love for him to be responsible for three children for the next year and see if he can control the volume of their voices every minute of the day."

C'mon lady. The owner of "A Taste of Heaven" has every right to put up that sign and to kindly ask that you and your brood not disrupt other restaurant patrons. If you don't like their policy, then it's your choice to take your business elsewhere. Just because you chose to have kids does not give you the right to let them run rampant wherever you go on the premise that "kids will be kids". You have a responsibility as a parent and more simply, as a decent human being, to be respectful and courteous of others around you. You're not entitled to get a free-pass on being civil to others just because you have kids and because it's hard to control them. Common decency, lady. That's what's expected.

The DUMBEST Family Ever

Just when I thought I could not get into a "Family Edition" of CBS' Amazing Race, there I am watching and selecting "Save Until I Delete" from the TiVo options.

There's been some real choice families in this competition. But none are quite as infuriating as the Weavers. Essentially they are a group of White Trash, Bible-toting, and ignorant hypocrites.

They claim to be the only family living a "Christian Life" but continually contradict themselves by talking smack about other families and attempting to sabotage the race for the other contestants so that they may benefit. Is that what Jesus would do, Weavers?

Hey, Pat...F You!

Yesterday, I saw a bumper sticker on a car that said: "Christian Right. They're neither."

True dat.

Have you heard the latest? Jack-ass Pat Robertson has the nerve to give a Pennsylvania town a warning not to come crawling back to God if disaster ever struck since they voted against a plan to teach "intelligent design" in the schools.

Sorry Pat, remind us again when you became the mouthpiece of God? Oh yeah, and when did so-called "intelligent design" become a neccessary part of our public education system? And hey, that concept of God you presented is terrific. According to you, God sounds like a spiteful tween who was NOT invited to another girl's birthday party and reacts with: "You didn't invite me to your party, so now I'm ignoring you..."

Say it with me now: "You suck, Pat!"