Monthly Archive

Yes, I wrote down what I drank last night. I wrote it down because I knew that if I did not write it down, I would never remember what I drank because I knew I drank too much. Make sense?

So, let’s break down this little list, starting with the first two. Ileana and I started the night at Hi-Tops, a rather classy college sports bar on N. Sheffield in Lincoln Park (off the Fullerton stop). No real complaints about this bar. It is clean, well-lit (read: no ugly lights), the bartenders are all hottie co-eds, it is frequented by college kids, and there are tons of TVs playing whatever sport it is you enjoy.

The food is okay, too, and Ileana ordered a massive plate of buffalo chicken strips with tatertots that we pretty much destroyed.

The beer selection is…okay…for a collge bar, and Thursday nights offer up $1 Bud or Bud light bottles. As you can see, I fell victim to the cheapness and indulged (see #2 on the list!). The first beer I had was a Sam Adams Lager which was a step up from the other beers offered on tap.

We were about to start Round 3 at Hi-Tops until we received advice from a professor via mobile that we needed to change venues and make our way to the Local Option. You can see that Ileana has dubbed the Local Option the only option, and for good reason. Read and see pics of the Local Option on her post.

My job is to break down the beer I drank and to encourage you that if you do, indeed, decide to visit the Local Option, you MUST meet Tony and eat the french fries!

First and foremost, I needed a beer. This place has over 200 beers and the selection will not disappoint. I am a dark beer drinker myself, and told Noah, our server, to surprise me with a porter or stout. The Founder’s Porter is a hard-hitter at 6.5% ABV. It is dark, chocolate-y and has such a strong black espresso undercurrent that it nearly knocked me off my seat.  It is delicious and smooth with a surprisingly hoppy aftertaste. I will say that you should save this beer until last because otherwise everything else that follows it will taste like nothing.

Delirium Tremens is a strong Belgian pale ale with a blueberry bouquet and lots of carbonation. If Delirium Tremens was a nightclub, they would play Tegan and Sara maybe even Hanson. I do have to say that when I first took a sip, I was skeptical. It tasted a little bit like…dare I say…the aftertaste you get in your mouth after you vommit. It was tangy and slightly bitter and made my mouth salivate and triggered my gag reflex. After a few sips, I was acclimated to the bizarre taste, but will not pay $9 for a 1/2 pint of the stuff in the future.

At this point in the night, Tony, the owner/bartender has befriended us (we share a mutual friend) and decided that he was going to get Ileana and me in “deep shit”. By “deep shit” he meant shit faced as he put several bottles of Bell’s Two-Hearted Ale on ice for us and explained that the stuff is illegal due to its alcohol content (10%!). It took a while to chill, but Tony treated us to two of the beers each and holy magillacutty they were good! A hoppy, pungent beer with a citrus-y twist, it roundhouse-kicks you in the face with flavour. I would tell you how much it cost, but I got them for free.

Lesson of the day: Make friends with cool bartenders and get good beer for free.

Dev :o) x

As we were walking through Lincoln Park last night, we walked by this adorable little theatre. Just thought I would post it!

After a stressful day in the newsroom, Devin and I decided it was imperative that we head out on the town with intentions to “unwind.” And unwind we did. After a helpful tip from our professor, we were off to Lincoln Park to a bar aptly called, The Local Option.

The warm atmosphere (of which Devin and I were entirely grateful after a cold slush through the rain) was wonderfully inviting, and Noah, our server, was quick to come by our table with delicious beer suggestions.

Devin ordered a chocolate beer– of which I am sure she will explain in salivating detail. Per Noah’s suggestion, I had a German White Ale. It was the perfect first beer; light, crisp, and just hop-y enough to make me crave deli meats (as Devin would say).

After our delicious initiation, we moved to the bar for the next round. When in The Local Option, you will undoubtedly notice a blackboard listing the bar’s top brews. The #1 choice was Delirium Tremens, an old favorite. I had never been to a bar that had that specific beer on draft, so my curiosity, and intense thirst, led me to demand a round for each of us. It did not disappoint.

One thing I have found is that Chicagoans take their beer very seriously. There is a plethora of microbreweries all over the city where you will find a medley of beers to satisfy any palate. These places are not where you’ll find average PBR drinking crowd, but a more sophisticated group that will insist you dip your nose deep into the glass and experience your beverage with all senses.

The pièce de résistance of the evening was when the bartender, Tony, let us sample his personal stock of Bells Two-Hearted Ale. Fabulous. Chilling on ice, he slowly poured the beer into our glasses and let it sit while he explained (through the drone of his AC/DC dvd playing on the TV in the background) the taste sensation we were about to experience. It did not disappoint.

The fact that I am even going into painstaking detail over a night of beer drinking should stand as testament to the quality and friendly atmosphere of The Local Option. I highly suggest it to anyone looking for a relaxing evening with the hopes of meeting new friends and new beers.

The Local Option is located on Webster, off the red line el stop at Fullerton.

-Ileana

Extra, extra! This just in!

As a food/nutrition beat reporter, I get a lot of really cool information that I am allowed to release.

In a conversation I had with Meghan Risch yesterday, she announced that the Chicago Convention and Tourism Board is extending Chicago Restaurant Week for an extra week, until March 6, “due to excitement and demand.”

Risch encourages everyone to take advantage of the extra week, as the deals at restaurants are astounding.

“If you are holding back on dining out because of what is going on in the economy, there has never been a better time to dine out because if you were afraid to go to a restaurant because of its higher prices you are never going to get a 3-course meal for 32 dollars,” Risch said.

See all the participating restaurants here!

What I enjoy most about Hyde Park is the uniqe element of quiet solitude one can experience there at any time.

During my assignment to that neighborhood for beat reporting, I have come to a few realizations:

1) As for the South Side, this neighborhood gets a bit of a weird rap. Awkwardly inhabited both by families who have been living there for many years, and students attending the University of Chicago, it strikes a precarious demographic balance. Locals feel as though the neighborhood has progressed in terms of gentrification and safety, by leaps and bounds. Quite contrastly, many students (mainly female) feel unsafe and threatened by their surroundings,  and therefore feel negatively about their college experience. Frequent instances of robberies and attacks keep them on edge. Though not surprisingly, these students hail from mainly suburban towns in the southern US.

For the record, this has not been the Hyde Park I’ve seen. Walking down the streets, it’s hard not to be overcome by the quaint neighborhood charm. Nestle in to the Third World Cafe for a sip on their delicious mild brew coffee and mull over the quiet solitude and separation you feel from the bustle of city life. Slip into Hyde Park Records and chat with Larry, store manager, about his favorite bands and how the store obtained its vinyls (it will surely amaze you).

2) The amount of neighborhood pride locals feel for their home is staggering. Defined predominantly by its former resident, the Obamas, tourism in the community has skyrocketed and local business owners will be the first to tell you that change has already come to Hyde Park. Bookstores are awash with books, magazines, posters emblazoned with Obama’s profile. Pedestrians wander the streets with winter hats and gloves with Obama’s name. CVS’ selling Jones Soda called “Orange You Glad For Change Cola.” Every trip to Hyde Park is an experience, as well as an undoubtable sign of the times.

3) As for local hotspots, a trip to Hyde Park isn’t complete without a visit to Jimmy’s. This bar is frequented mainly by U of C students but is still the best place to grab a cheap beer, and some good conversation with the bartenders. Jimmy himself serves up the cold brews and will chat nostalgically about Hyde Park’s proud history and its fraternity of local business owners. Definitely worth a trip, if only for the nuts.

A short distance off the red line el stop at Garfield, and a quick bus ride on the 55, Hyde Park will certainly fulfill all your expectations for charm, history, and comraderie.

-Ileana

As students, imagine our horror and blatant disgust upon hearing about the second rate status of Oxford Commas. Ranked by AP stylebooks as unacceptable at best, the poor little commas are reduced to mere fluff, disrespected, (its beautiful use in action!) and ignored!

We here at makingchicagohome.com have had enough of this injustice! And will be the foremost supporters of Oxford Comma rights.

To be used, loved, and appreciated.

-Ileana

As slot editor, Ileana picked up some ridiculously tasty goodies from our favourite little bakery in Chinatown, Tasty Place to serve to our Medill counterparts. As her partner in crime, I was down for the ride!

Tasty Place is a clean, bright and consistently delicious bakery that is cheap cheap cheap! Everything Ileana bought came to under $14 and the average price for a baked good is $0.80.

As we picked out both sweet and savoury baked goods, I decided it might be more helpful to you if I took a picture of everything we got and then label and describe each item. It can be quite scary to wander into a bakery in a foreign neighbourhood and choose from a bunch of suspicious looking items with nondescript names like, “Tasty Balls”. What the hell is a Tasty Ball? And WHAT is that gelatinous blood-coloured filling?!

But no worries, love. I have simplified this process for you and you will no longer have to question what you are putting into your mouth.

• A = Winter Melon cookie – really does not have any melon taste, whatsoever. This cookie tastes like a doughy pina colada with a moist and flaky crust.
• B = Red bean stuffed sesame sweet bar – you have to love red bean paste to love this bar, which I do not. Red bean paste is just what sounds like and does, indeed, taste like red beans. There is a whole heck of a lot of filling in these little suckers, which means they pack a whole lotta red bean punch. Try them at least once.
• C = Lotus cookie – this is probably the most interesting cookie I have ever, ever had, and I HIGHLY recommend it. The Lotus cookies tastes as if Tasty Place made peanut brittle, liquefied it and then made it into a stodgy, gelatinous filling. The flavour is delicate but complex and incredibly addictive.
• D = Almond bun – oh. my. gosh. Eat these! The delicious almond-butter pastry is stuffed with dry coconut and almond paste and is sweet as can be. Seriously, the combination of flavours is gorgeous.
• E = Egg custards – sweet, but not too sweet, the pudding-like custard is piped into crumbly mini-pie crusts and air on the bland side. Still, they are safe bets for picky eaters.
• F = Cocktail bun – Ileana’s favourite. The pastry is packed with a mild coconut egg custard and is a true delight. This is also a really safe bet for people who are iffy about trying new pastries.
• G = Filled Sesame Balls – the exteriors of these balls are chewy and crusted with toasted sesame seeds, but be careful which ones you get. Most places in Chinatown have sesame balls that have identical exteriors but are filled with very very different things. Imagine getting something you think is filled with saccharine-sweet red bean paste and finding out (only after you are mid-bite) that it is actually barbecue pork. Not saying it is a bad thing, but it can be shocking!
• H = Egg and ham bun – you get what you see. A small sliver of poached egg and cooked ham nestled between fresh-baked bread.
• I = Pineapple roll – in keeping with the grand scheme of Chinatown baked goodies not tasting like their names, the Pineapple roll tastes nothing like pineapple. The cake is ridiculously soft and spongy with a very thin layer of sweet cream in the middle and the crust is brushed with egg to yield the beautiful yellow colour you see above.
• J = Hot dog bun – my favourite! A hot dog shoved into soft sweet bread for $0.80. You. cannot. go. wrong.

Enjoy! Dev x

I’ll admit, I don’t know everything in the world about Chicago. I’m not a local, by any sense of the traditional definition. I accost people on the street, demanding the locations of hotspots and try really hard to fit in.

My desperation: WORTH IT.

If you have yet to experience the wonders of a person’s “Midwestern mentality,” then you have yet to embrace Chicago. Moving to Illinois from NYC was like a breath of fresh air. Going from a location wrought with pessimism, and the relentless running around with the intent of doing something urgent/important/better-than-what-you’re-doing mentality, to exploring the charm, history and all around kind acceptance of Chicago truly makes you feel at home.

As graduate students, we have found ourselves endlessly busy, with seemingly little time for extracurricular Chicago fun. What you see posted in this blog are our efforts to go above and beyond the requirements of a student. We are constantly on the lookout for new and excited (as well as FREE) things to do, taste, touch and explore.

Our current obsession is Chicago’s South Side. We spend the majority of our week staked out in Chinatown and hopping from neighborhood to neighborhood. Tirelessly fascinated by what this amazing city has to offer, it’s safe to say our relationship with Chicago has gotten fairly serious!

Although this post is having a mild ADD moment, the point has been made! We love Chicago. We have a middle-child-esque relationship with Northwestern. We are HUNGRY for any and every opportunity the learn something new about the city never lets us sleep :)

-Ileana

That the Cat Circus, featuring the AcroCats and the RockCats, takes place this Saturday at 2pm and 4pm at the Gorilla Tango Theatre in Bucktown, Chicago!

Check out the video I took! :-)

Dev x

While I should preface this by saying that I fall in love easily, falling head over heels in love with Pilsen, even by my standards, was quick.

I have been spending several weeks in Pilsen now as it is the neighbourhood I chose to report in for Medill. Even after spending the majority of my days there, I am still blown away by the neighbourhood, its residents and everything Pilsen has to offer.

Taking several steps off of the El and onto the 18^th Street Pink Line platform I am constantly impressed by the artwork and murals present in the station. Reproductions of José Posada’s La Calavera de la Catrina (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catrina), images of Mother Mary, colourful paintings of the Mexican flag and other murals reflect the rich Mexican-American culture in which Pilsen residents take pride.

While walking through Pilsen, you would never notice that the Mexican population has been on the decline since 2000 due to gentrification. Artwork and murals aside, shops like Paco’s Record Shop and Discoteca Mexico Oro blast Hispanic and Latino music, tempting me to start an impromptu dance party on the sidewalk, and many restaurants like Playa Azul on 18^th frequently feature middle-aged Hispanic men belting out traditional Mexican tunes.

Shops and restaurants are painted with colours one would not expect to encounter in a South Side neighbourhood, nearly every sign is written in both Spanish and English, and the neighbourhood is a charming getaway from the rush of the city.

Click onward to read more! :o)

Read the rest of this entry »

Deep-dish pepperoni pizza at Giardano's in Belmont, Chicago

For some reason, I craved Chicago-style deep-dish pizza allll last week.

So, you can imagine my excitement when both Ileana and Tim (my boyfriend) suggested that we go to Giordano’s on Monday night! I have heard rave reviews about this place from other Chicagoans, but never did I think I would love it so much!

The pizza to the right is a medium (12″) which yields two ginormous slices of pizza per person for four people! The sauce was tangy and sweet, the cheese ridiculously gooey and there was an abundance of pepperoni, but the real treat is the deep-dish crust.

More like a pastry than a dense, bready mass, Giordano’s crust was flaky, buttery and actually quite delicate! If you are a crust lover like me, you will not be disappointed.

www.giordanos.com