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3 days in chicago (river north)
My friend (no romantic dinners) and I will be spending 3 days in Chicago in early may. We will be staying in the really nice James Hotel, corner Ontario and Rush. These are four places that I've read about on Chowhound:
Mercat a la Planxa
Café Iberico
What we really LIKE is good food, young upcomming chefs, local products, classic european style quality bistro, and what we really LOVE is wine, wine and wine...
We don't mind walking a few blocks or even taking a cab ride if necessary for a good glass of wine and the great food that comes with it. We have a medium budget but don,t mind paying for a great meal if it is worth the cash. We are both from Québec City, which is north of Montreal, so we are used to live in a french/european style city where the food reflects the town.
Not so much into dogs, Lavazza, chains, pizza, anything fried...
Thanks for all your help
re: MahiMahiFish
Yes, i second the recommendation for Avec. Also, what was the 4th place you listed? Have not heard of Knowit.
re: ms. chow
Soory for that. I meant Rockit.
re: QcQc
RockIt is ok in terms of bar food and drinks. But not the 5 criteria you are looking for. Actually for that matter, Cafe Iberico too. Food is good and solid, but wine list so so, no young up coming chef.
Don;t get me wrong, i go to both places, and they are good for what they are. Just not the criteria you mentioned.
Hi Patrick,
I don't see any questions, so I'm guessing you're looking for general feedback on your plans. So without further ado...
>> These are four places that I've read about on Chowhound:
Mercat a la Planxa
Café Iberico
What is "Knowit"? I'm pretty sure it's not a restaurant in Chicago.
The other three restaurants are all very good. However, they are all quite similar to each other; all three feature Mediterranean cuisine in "small plates" (tapas). If that's what you REALLY want to do, go ahead! However, I think you could experience more of what Chicago's restaurant scene has to offer by trying to incorporate a bit more variety into your itinerary. (And for the same reason I would not recommend adding Avec to your itinerary, since that would be your FOURTH Mediterranean small-plates restaurant, LOL!)
Here are a few examples of terrific, not-terribly-expensive restaurants near your hotel that do NOT feature Mediterranean small plates. You might want to consider going to Cafe des Architectes ( www.cafedesarchitectes.com and http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/598661 ) for lunch or dinner, to experience the fine contemporary American cuisine of one of the city's top chefs, Martial Noguier. Another possibility is David Burke's Primehouse ( www.jameshotels.com/Chicago-Hotel.asp... ), right in your own hotel. Burke's is one of our very best steakhouses and also has a lot of other foods on the menu. Their American dim sum brunch on Sundays is also awesome; for a detailed report, see the brunch topic at http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/364403 As a third suggestion, Chicago has some wonderful creative provincial Mexican cuisine; within walking distance of your hotel you'll find Frontera Grill/Topolobampo ( www.rickbayless.com/restaurants ), or for more Mexican recommendations see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/463572 Latin fusion restaurants serve dishes from throughout Latin America in a fun atmosphere, and Nacional 27 ( www.nacional27.net ) is close by. We have lots more restaurants serving all types of cuisine; these are simply a few of our best places within a few blocks of your hotel.
In terms of your budget, keep in mind that lunch is less expensive than dinner, and all of these places serve lunch during the week and brunch on weekends. There are also some special deals you'll find on the restaurants' websites, such as the $29 "neighborhood friends" dinners at Cafe des Architectes on Sunday through Tuesday evenings. As another option, you can take public transportation ( www.transitchicago.com ) or cabs to inexpensive ethnic restaurants in their neighborhood enclaves, such as Chinese food in Chinatown ( http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/594324 ), Vietnamese food along Argyle Street, Indian/Pakistani food on Devon Avenue, Mexican food in Pilsen (see link above), and Greek food in Greek Town ( http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/119233 ).
>> What we really LIKE is good food, young upcomming chefs, local products, classic european style quality bistro, and what we really LOVE is wine, wine and wine...
Then in addition to the above suggestions, you should probably also plan a trip to Bin 36 ( www.bin36.com ), which is a wine bar and restaurant just a few blocks from your hotel.
Also note that May 10 is Mother's Day, for which many restaurants have special brunch plans, and book up in advance, so reservations that day are essential. Most of our nicer restaurants accept reservations on the Opentable.com website. (Neither Cafe Iberico nor Avec accepts reservations for small parties.)
Feel free to ask questions and all of us will be happy to provide more recommendations to you.
re: nsxtasy
Thank you for the American Dim Sum suggestion. I checked out the menu and since my birthday is coming up, I think my daughter and I will be checking that out in early May.
Your post was, as usual, extremely informative and well-written. That's a phenomenal deal for a bit of a splurge.
re: Pete Oldtown
Thanks for the kind words!
Here are some insider tips about the American dim sum Sunday brunch at David Burke's, just a few things to keep in mind.
The brunch does a pretty good business; there have been times when I've checked for reservations and they were not available, or were only available earlier or later than I wanted. So making an advance reservation (which they accept on Opentable.com) is a good idea, especially if you need a specific time.
Allow at least two hours for the brunch. That's how long it took me as a solo diner (which generally means a slightly faster pace than a group) without getting any seconds on anything. I arrived at 1:00 and finished at 3:00. They were definitely winding down at that point, so I would avoid being seated any later than that.
The portion sizes are somewhat small, as you would expect with ~22 items. I arrived hungry and left feeling full (not overstuffed/bloated, but definitely full) after eating each of the plated items, and some but not all of the items on the carts used for 2 of the 8 courses.
The price and menu is different on special occasions. For example, the brunch is normally $35 for adults, but it's $48 with a different menu for Easter and Mother's Day. The menu says that serving is family style, which is not necessarily the same as the dim sum approach.
Several of the drinks - bloody marys, mimosas, etc - are offered at $10 with unlimited seconds. This is a great deal; just don't overdo it, and consider transportation arrangements or a designated driver if appropriate.
It's really a very special and unique experience - enjoy!
re: nsxtasy
Thanks for the tips. I will use them. I emailed my daughter the dim sum menu and she emailed back, "can we go THIS weekend?"
re: Pete Oldtown
Today's Wall Street Journal has a feature on David Burke. Very clever fellow.
For good food, up & coming chef, and reasonably priced wine, I would also recommend Perennial, which is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.
Since you mention Wine in caps (I would type it that way too) I will point you that way.
My absolute favorite wine bar in the city is the Tasting Room (and Randolph Wine Cellar) on West Randolph. This is MUCH better than Bin 36 for wine selection. An aside, if you do go to Bin 36 (and I do go there frequently) be sure to ask for the reserve list. Their standard menu is quite pedestrian and their servers don't know wine. Back to the Tasting Room, the upstairs room has a wonderful view of the entire skyline and the wines are always great. Food is also very nice, but not a destination in itself for dinner. I have had hit or miss with the servers knowledge, but the bartender and somalier are great to chat with.
Another very nice wine bar in the LIncoln Park neighborhood just north of downtown is Websters. About a 10 minute cab from your hotel. Great ambience, a phenomenal list and superb servers that know the list.
Quartino is great for food, but only above average in the wine department. I go there at least a couple times a month for dinner and have never had a bad glass, but have never been blown away.
Just had a great meal at Mercat and I would 100% pick that over Iberico. Don't do both.
Rockit! is another place i frequent for drinks and the late night burger. Food is excellent for a bar and the drinks are not (that) overpriced for a downtown bar.
Totally agree with NSXTASY that you should try some of our gourmet mexican at Frontera or latin (and SUPERB cocktails) at Nacional 27. This is something you cannot get in Quebec.
re: jbontario
Great recs jbontario. Webster is my favorite. Their knowledge of wine can only be described as encyclopedic.
Agree re Bin 36. Lately too seems like because of Brian Duncan (wine director) doing all those collaborations with wineries, they are definitely pushing those products.
Try Bluebird too, which is owned by the same folks at Webster. It is their take on the gastropub craze. Great wine selection. Beer selection too. Food is better than what they have at Webster. It is about a 15 minute cab ride into Bucktown. 1749 N Damen.
1749 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
re: ms. chow
I've only had a quick look at a few pictures from the Bluebird web site and I know I want to go there. Exactly the ambiance I am looking for, young but professional. Thank you so much for your help
re: jbontario
Thank you so much, both really interesting... I think The Tasting Room will get my attention, I was really impressed by the wine list and I will be there on monday and/or tuesday so they have great specials for both days.
Mercat cought my attention a lot also. Café Iberico was recommended by tourists from Chicago that I served last week.
Places like Rockit and Nacional 27 will get us going for the evenings.
I love the James Hotel and stay there quite frequently. One of the reasons is that David Burke's Primehouse is right off the lobby. Outstanding steaks and "Burkers," and salads. They are the in-house restaurant so the room service menu is also really good. I have not tried their breakfasts but I am certain they are excellent too. There are a lot of fun places to dine within walking distance. Topolobampo and its sister Frontrera Grill, Roys, to name a few. I know you don't like pizza but I would be remiss if i did not mention that the original Due's is on the same block and the original Uno's is a block away. Due's has a lively bar and a great garbage salad as well as chicago style italian beef. Lawry's the Prime Rib is across the street but seems soooo dated -- but they do have some nice things at their lunchtime carving station -- prime rib sandwiches on onion roll are very tasty.
re: biga290
Next time you plan to stay at the James, make a reservation for David Burke's "American dim sum" Sunday brunch - basically a 22-dish, 8-course meal, most of which is cooked to order. It's really special, and quite unique! Also a great bargain at $35 with unlimited seconds (even more so with the $10 unlimited mimosas, bloody marys, etc).
re: nsxtasy
The dim sum sunday brunch will be on our list for sure. Lets just hope they have some places left for us. Thanks
I'm a big Iberico fan, but its not there for its wine. Quartino is, however, and I love their food.
re: jesteinf
Great, will try to make it. Do you know if any of the two owners are the chef and or server of the place?
re: QcQc
Yes. Mado is a "mom and pop" operation, except that "mom and pop" are Rob and Allison Leavitt and they're young and hip. Rob is the chef de cuisine and Allison is the pastry chef, savory chef and environmental-rights enforcer of this very green establishment.
The food is great and the offerings of the day, along with the organic purveyors are listed on chalkboards on the wall.
In lieu of starting a new thread, I've decided to bump this one with a similar request.
I'll be spending 3 days (2 nights, mid-week) in River North next month, staying at either Hotel Sax, Whitehall or Palomar (new place). I don't want to upset the powers that be, but any quick recommendations (or alternatives) on that front would be appreciated.
In addition to what's already been mentioned in this thread, I'm looking for other suggestions. Pertinent info about my trip and what I'd like to accomplish:
-I'm traveling alone.
-This trip is purely for leisure purposes.
-I've been to Chicago multiple times, but haven't spent time in downtown in the last 10 years.
-I will have a car (with in and out privileges as part of my hotel package)
-I am a huge fan of mexican food. I will be trying one of the Bayless joints, but I'm open to any other recommendations.
-Love Chicago style pizza. I'm sure this will lead to a war, but I need a place that I can go by myself and enjoy some pie. If I have to take leftovers back to the room, I won't be heartbroken. :) The only thing close I can get to Chicago style I could get at home (Minneapolis/St. Paul area) is the now defunct Uno chain.
-I'd like to keep my daily tab under $100 if possible
-Looking for a good place to tip back the full selection of Goose Island brews. I've had them all (as far as I know), but never had them all available at the same establishment.
-Looking for a nice, relatively quiet bar with a good beer and whiskey list. If this can be accomplished under the same roof, all the better.
-Any good ethnic food is welcome. I love trying new cuisines.
-A good breakfast, anything from a greasy spoon to a nicer cafe/bistro. Just plain good, wherever it's served.
-I plan on going to Hot Doug's. Is mid-afternoon the best time?
-I will probably have one or two nice dinners. I see Avec recommended. I'd like to stay at or under $50, if possible, but I could splurge on one of them.
I know this is pretty broad, but it certainly won't be my last visit.
Thanks in advance, Chicago Hounds.
Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph St Ste A, Chicago, IL 60661
re: BigE
First, I'll respond to your specific questions...
>> - I am a huge fan of mexican food. I will be trying one of the Bayless joints, but I'm open to any other recommendations.
Topolobampo and Frontera Grill are obvious choices and both are excellent. Topolobampo is more expensive than Frontera at dinner, but the prices are pretty similar at lunch. Topo accepts reservations for the whole place, whereas Frontera accepts only a handful and holds most of the restaurant for walk-in traffic; weekday waits can be short, but on weekends they can be lengthy. Topo accepts reservations on Opentable.com and books up for dinner WAY in advance; if you want to eat dinner there, make your reservations NOW.
We have a lot more places featuring creative provincial Mexican food, but not in River North itself. Salpicon is nearby, in Old Town. www.salpicon.com My favorite is Mundial Cocina Mestiza, in Pilsen. www.mundialcocinamestiza.com I also like Mixteco Grill a lot. http://chicago.menupages.com/restaura... For a combination of Mexican dishes with French techniques, try Mexique in West Town. www.mexiquechicago.com
>> -Love Chicago style pizza. I'm sure this will lead to a war, but I need a place that I can go by myself and enjoy some pie. If I have to take leftovers back to the room, I won't be heartbroken. :) The only thing close I can get to Chicago style I could get at home (Minneapolis/St. Paul area) is the now defunct Uno chain.
The original locations of Uno and Due are still good. www.unos.com Also good are Pizano's, whose location on State is in River North - www.pizanoschicago.com - and Lou Malnati's, which has a location in River North on Wells - www.loumalnatis.com If you'd like to try our double-crust "stuffed" pizza, Giordano's has a location in River North on Rush. www.giordanos.com Wherever you go, call ahead with your pizza order to avoid waiting 30-45 minutes for your pizza to bake.
>> -Looking for a good place to tip back the full selection of Goose Island brews. I've had them all (as far as I know), but never had them all available at the same establishment.
Why not go to the Goose Island Brew Pub on Clybourn? www.gooseisland.com There's also a gastropub in the Loop called the Gage that has a huge selection of beers. www.thegagechicago.com
>> -Any good ethnic food is welcome. I love trying new cuisines.
Well, you name it, we've got it. I love Double Li in Chinatown for Szechuan food. http://chicago.menupages.com/restaura... You could try one of our Latin fusion restaurants, such as Nacional 27 in River North www.nacional27.net or Carnivale in the West Loop. www.carnivalechicago.com We have some excellent pan-Asian restaurants, such as Sunda in River North www.sundachicago.com Red Light in the West Loop www.redlight-chicago.com and Aria in the Fairmont near Millennium Park www.ariachicago.com For tapas, I recommend Mercat a la Planxa at the south end of the Loop. www.mercatchicago.com
>> -A good breakfast, anything from a greasy spoon to a nicer cafe/bistro. Just plain good, wherever it's served.
See this recent discussion:
River North Breakfast Ideas - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/693985
-I will probably have one or two nice dinners. I see Avec recommended. I'd like to stay at or under $50, if possible, but I could splurge on one of them.
I don't normally recommend Avec, for many reasons - the no-reservations policy means long waits for tables at desirable times, it's the LOUDEST restaurant in Chicago, and it has the most uncomfortable seats of any restaurant in Chicago. I also don't think the food is anything special, although a lot of other people like it. If you want a relatively inexpensive "small plates" restaurant, I instead recommend two places in River North: Cafe Iberico for tapas www.cafeiberico.com and Quartino for Italian small plates. www.quartinochicago.com
There's also a contemporary American restaurant that is very affordable, and which I absolutely love. The food has been superb every time I've gone. It's called Cafe des Architectes and it's on the ground floor of the curved glass facade of the Sofitel in River North. Their prix fixe menus are very reasonable; they have a 3-course prix fixe menu for $42 every night, and on Sundays through Tuesdays they offer their 3-course "neighborhood friends menu". www.cafedesarchitectes.com
Recently someone else staying in River North asked for recommendations of places that are unique and representative of the great food to be found here. This is what I wrote in response:
Here are places and foods I suggest, all unique to Chicago.
Deep-dish pizza - in River North, you can go to the place where it all started - Pizzeria Uno and Pizzeria Due. They're still there, and they're still excellent. Phone ahead with your pizza order to avoid waiting 30-45 minutes for your pizza to bake. www.unos.com
Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches - Right in River North on Ontario Street, there are two places, a block away from each other, and you can get both of these local specialties at either of them: Portillo's ( www.portillos.com ), and Al's Beef ( www.alsbeef.com ).
Fine dining - We have a restaurant that was recently ranked one of the ten best restaurants in the WORLD. It's called Alinea, from Chef Grant Achatz, and it will blow your mind. To get an idea what it's like, check out the comic strip at http://lucylou.livejournal.com/555828... Yes, it's expensive (figure $300 per person including moderate wine, tax, tip), and dressy (jackets for gentlemen), but it's unique and it's here. It's in Lincoln Park, about two miles north of where you're staying. www.alinearestaurant.com
Rick Bayless's restaurants (Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, XOCO) - Chicago has a collection of wonderful restaurants specializing in creative provincial Mexican cuisine, which is difficult to find almost anywhere else this side of the border. Rick Bayless is widely recognized for bringing this trend here, and his restaurants are still excellent and providing the most creative Mexican food in town. Topolobampo is the most expensive, although it's surprisingly affordable at lunchtime, and accepts reservations in advance but books up long in advance for dinners, not as much for lunch. Frontera Grill is not as expensive, but accepts only a handful of reservations and keeps most of the dining room available for walk-in traffic. Waits for a table can be lengthy on weekends and at lunchtime. XOCO is his take on Mexican street food and I've found the food there excellent when you are in the mood for lighter fare; beware long lines at lunchtime. They are all at the same location, in the middle of River North. www.rickbayless.com/restaurants
North Pond uniquely represents Chicago for its setting, located in the middle of Lincoln Park (the park itself, not the adjacent neighborhood of the same name) facing its namesake pond with the city skyline looming over the opposite shore. The renovated building formerly served as the warming shelter for skaters on the frozen pond in the winter. The food is contemporary American featuring local and seasonal ingredients from James Beard Award finalist Chef Bruce Sherman. It's about three miles north of River North. www.northpondrestaurant.com
Our new French Market, located just west of the Loop in one of the train stations, is worth a visit. Keep in mind that it just opened a couple of months ago, and it's not fancy. However, it has several dozen food booths and these include some of the very best that Chicago has to offer. Highlights include the croissants, entremets, and French macaroons at Vanille Patisserie; the artisan chocolates at Canady Le Chocolatier (whose main shop is in the South Loop, also not far away); the cheeses at Pastoral; and the rainbow cookies at Delightful Pastries. www.frenchmarketchicago.com
While you're here, go to Garrett's Popcorn. There are several locations in the Loop and one on Michigan Avenue, all walkable from River North. They have caramel popcorn (with or without cashews or pecans), cheese popcorn, or a mix of caramel/cheese. Yum! www.garrettpopcorn.com
Fox & Obel is our premier gourmet food store, with the finest meats, cheeses, and other basics, as well as the finest baked goods and other prepared foods. Don't miss the yummy cinnamon swirl rolls at the bakery counter! There's a cafe in the rear if you want to eat anything on the premises, from a cup of coffee to an entire meal prepared to order. It's on the other side of Michigan Avenue a short walk from River North. www.fox-obel.com
Most of our better restaurants, including North Pond and Topolobampo (but not Alinea), accept reservations for free at Opentable.com
Enjoy your visit, and feel free to ask more questions!
re: nsxtasy
Well, that ought to get me started. :) Much obliged. And thanks for the link to the breakfast thread; some really good looking stuff there.
Anything else you would recommend in the dinner realm? I'm certainly not married to the Avec idea and the reviews seem to be quite mixed. What about Publican or Graham Elliott? I don't think Alinea is in the cards.
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Avec Restaurant
615 W Randolph St Ste A, Chicago, IL 60661
re: BigE
I ate at Publican a week or two ago. The savory dishes (meat as well as seafood) were very good. The desserts were dreadful. It was also incredibly LOUD/NOISY. I doubt that I will return. About half the restaurant is communal seating at a very long table; when making a reservation, you can specify your preference for the communal or for your own table, and they will try to accommodate your preference but they can't guarantee that they will do so.
I haven't been to Graham Elliot, although I enjoyed his food when he was at Avenues.
My top picks for contemporary American food in the city are still Cafe des Architectes and North Pond (see above).
North Pond
2610 North Cannon Drive, Chicago, IL 60614
Cafe des Architectes
20 East Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611
re: nsxtasy
Thanks so much for all your help. As I've read the Chicago board, my interests have changed slightly.
My (rough) itinerary consists of this:
Breakfast - LB Bistro for one and not sure for the other. Any rec between Heaven on Seven, Yolk and Southwater? Other choices are welcome.
Lunch - Frontera or Topo for one and looking for your input on the other. I know it's corny, but I'd like to get a good dog and/or Italian beef joint...thoughts? Doug's or Portillo's seem to fit the dog bill, how about the italian beef? I'm not interested in driving across town for either of these, FWIW.
Dinner - Pizza for sure one night (Uno, Due or Malnati's), Frontera or Topolo might be the other (I have a slight Rick Bayless/mexican food fascination).
Any other places I can't miss (lunch or dinner)? My trip is lengthening by a few days (in Madison for the weekend) and as such, I'd like to keep my meal costs lower if possible. Any and all recommendations on that front are welcome.
Again, thanks for all your help. Keep in mind, this certainly won't be my last visit to Chicago. :)
PS - Any parking issues at these places? I will have my car, but it would be helpful to know beforehand if I should leave it behind. I know I can walk to the Bayless places, and probably a few others.
Heaven on Seven
600 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
re: BigE
I would definitely recommend HoS over the other choices for breakfast (we are talking about the HoS on Wabash, right?) It's one of the more interesting places for breakfast in the Loop, primarily because of the unique (for Chicago) Cajun ambience of both surroundings and food, and I particularly recommend the cheese grits with egg and andouille altho if you have a sweet-tooth the -Foster items are nice, too. Be sure to check their hours first (not open til 10:00 on Saturdays and closed Sundays). Forget about parking, unless you don't mind paying center-city parking garage rates as an add-on to breakfast costs, but there's about a dozen ways to get there by public transport depending on where you start.
re: BigE
The two Heaven on Seven locations are on Rush Street at Ohio in River North (northeast of the Hotel Sax), and on Wabash near Washington in the Loop (southeast of the Hotel Sax). They are roughly the same distance from the hotel (about 6-7 blocks walk).
You said that you were planning on going there for breakfast, no? Only the Loop location (on Wabash) is open for breakfast, starting at 9 a.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday. The River North location (on Rush) opens at 11 a.m. for lunch during the week, and at 11 a.m. for brunch on weekends.
I know this doesn't answer your question, but this may make the question moot!
re: BigE
>> Lunch - Frontera or Topo for one and looking for your input on the other. I know it's corny, but I'd like to get a good dog and/or Italian beef joint...thoughts? Doug's or Portillo's seem to fit the dog bill, how about the italian beef? I'm not interested in driving across town for either of these, FWIW.
I'd pick Topo for lunch over Frontera. The prices are similar (which means that Topo represents more of a discount vs dinner) and you can make a reservation, so there are no concerns over waiting for a table. I would make the res soon rather than risk being a walk-in (when Topo can get busy with the overflow from Frontera).
Since you're not keen on traveling, I'd skip Hot Doug's and go to either Al's Beef or Portillo's. Both are a block apart in River North, and either one has an excellent representation of both Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches.
>> Dinner - Pizza for sure one night (Uno, Due or Malnati's), Frontera or Topolo might be the other (I have a slight Rick Bayless/mexican food fascination).
A lunch AND a dinner? Interesting! You can certainly do that if you want (assuming you can get the Topo reservation or you don't mind a possible wait at Frontera - to be sure of no waiting, arrive 15 minutes before they open). If you're interested in trying another creative regional Mexican restaurant, Salpicon is very good and is not far from the Bayless places. If you don't mind traveling, I love Mundial Cocina Mestiza, which is in Pilsen and is convenient to public transit (CTA Orange Line, 18th Street stop); on the north side, Mixteco Grill is excellent but is less convenient to public transit.
>> Any other places I can't miss (lunch or dinner)? My trip is lengthening by a few days (in Madison for the weekend) and as such, I'd like to keep my meal costs lower if possible. Any and all recommendations on that front are welcome.
I mentioned some ethnic places in the paragraph in my March 31 post starting "Well, you name it, we've got it." Those are mostly upscale but casual ethnic places, with the notable exception of Double Li in Chinatown. You can spend less by going to ethnic storefront places in some of the neighborhoods, but you will need to get there. In addition to Double Li, these would include TAC Quick and Spoon Thai for Thai food, Tank Noodle and other places around Argyle St for Vietnamese food, and Indian places on Devon Avenue.
For more tips on getting great value for your restaurant dollar here, see http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/697829
>> PS - Any parking issues at these places? I will have my car, but it would be helpful to know beforehand if I should leave it behind. I know I can walk to the Bayless places, and probably a few others.
For getting around the downtown area (including River North, the Mag Mile, and the Loop), a car is generally more of a hindrance than a help. Park it once, and pay once. Most downtown restaurants offer valet parking that is typically $7-12. Parking rates vary widely; you can pay $10 and $25 for 2-3 hours on the same block! I've found one website where you can enter a city address along with the date and times you'll be arriving and departing, and it shows you parking rates for lots and garages in the vicinity: http://chicago.bestparking.com/index.... If you're traveling to the more distant and/or less transit-convenient neighborhoods or the suburbs, a car can reduce your travel times considerably, except for prime commuting times.
For short distances around downtown, you can walk; you can also take a taxi if the weather isn't so great. If you're willing to consider public transit, some of our restaurants (like the Thai and Vietnamese places mentioned here) are right near el stops. If you use a transit pass rather than cash, you can transfer to/from buses for a small charge without paying another full fare. More transit info is at www.transitchicago.com
Feel free to ask more questions!
Mundial Cocina Mestiza
1640 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Mixteco Grill
1601 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60613
re: nsxtasy
I'm not averse to driving around for good food, but sitting in traffic and paying extraordinary amounts for parking aren't on my 'to-do' list. A driving example would be 20-30 minutes for a place like Superdawg...is that worth it for the experience? Maybe that is something I can hit coming into town.
I'm willing to drive for cheap food, but I think (hope) my hotel location will allow me to walk to some of my destinations.
Thanks for all the info. I'm sure I'll have more questions before I leave (a week from tomorrow).
re: BigE
You are correct that you can walk to all of the places you have mentioned with the exception of Hot Doug's, which is about seven miles northwest of your hotel. For Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, the locations of Portillo's and Al's Beef on Ontario Street are about 5-6 blocks walk from the Hotel Sax.
re: nsxtasy
Alright, so I leave tomorrow morning (whenever I wake up, that is). ~7 hours of driving ought to put me in town around mid-afternoon.
Aside from a lunch reservation at Topo on Thursday, my schedule is still wide open. I'm trying to decide if I want to do something upscale tomorrow night or go the complete opposite way.
I'd say the tentative schedule is as follows:
Wednesday late lunch - Grab a quick bite at Portillo's or Al's. Get settled into my room.
Wednesday dinner - Undecided. May go something higher end like Graham Elliot or Blackbird, may slum it and get my pizza fix.
Thursday AM - Heaven on Seven
Thursday Lunch - Topolo...can not wait for this.
Thursday dinner - Opposite of what I did Wednesday night.
Friday Breakfast - ? LB Bistro, Yolk and Southwater have been recommended...any that I should put above the rest?
Friday Lunch - ? Maybe Doug's on the way out of town. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind finding something uniquely ethnic, even if it is another Mexican meal.
Suggestions on the last two would be great. Friday I'll be driving from Chicago to Madison, where I can't check in until 4, so lunch will be had before I leave.
Heaven on Seven
600 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Graham Elliot
217 W. Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60654
re: BigE
>> Friday Breakfast - ? LB Bistro, Yolk and Southwater have been recommended...any that I should put above the rest?
If you want something different from what you'll find just about anywhere else, consider Bongo Room. Particularly good if you enjoy sweet dishes like their pretzel pancakes with white chocolate sauce; if you're just looking for eggs or other savory items, not all that unusual.
Another unusual possibility is XOCO, Rick Bayless's place. It's very different from Topolobampo. Check out the menu on their website.
>> Friday Lunch - ? Maybe Doug's on the way out of town. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind finding something uniquely ethnic, even if it is another Mexican meal.
Did you miss my post above, with all the ethnic suggestions? Again...
>> >> -Any good ethnic food is welcome. I love trying new cuisines.
>> Well, you name it, we've got it. I love Double Li in Chinatown for Szechuan food. http://chicago.menupages.com/restaura... You could try one of our Latin fusion restaurants, such as Nacional 27 in River North www.nacional27.net or Carnivale in the West Loop. www.carnivalechicago.com We have some excellent pan-Asian restaurants, such as Sunda in River North www.sundachicago.com Red Light in the West Loop www.redlight-chicago.com and Aria in the Fairmont near Millennium Park www.ariachicago.com For tapas, I recommend Mercat a la Planxa at the south end of the Loop. www.mercatchicago.com
re: nsxtasy
First of all, thank you for all the wonderful suggestions.
Second, I absolutely loved the visit. Hotel Sax is in a GREAT location. Walking distance from everything I wanted to go to. The room was nice, the staff was wonderful...I would definitely return.
Now, on to business.
Day 1 - I didn't get on the road as early as I wanted to (surprise, surprise) so I ended up hitting some good traffic for the last 10 miles or so of my trip. Minor distraction. Got checked in around 5:30, basically threw my bags in the room and went right back out. Spent the next 45-60 minutes just walking around. I can use google maps only so much. I wanted to see the lay of the land. I passed by Rick Bayless' restaurant row and a smile crossed my face. I couldn't help myself. I had to make...
1) Xoco my first stop. A moderate line (~10 people) awaited, as did another 5 or so minute wait for a table after I got to the front. I've never had a torta before, so I figured this would be a good chance to start. I was deciding between the Cubana and the daily special, which was Pork Belly. I went with the special and was seated in the back of the restaurant. The wall of sound kept me entertained, as did the death rattle of a young child apparently unhappy with his experience. My torta arrived and the first thing I noticed was the overwhelming amount of bread compared to the filling. Probably 3/4 bread, which was discouraging. My first bite revealed a nice crusty bread and little else. As I continued to work, I got the flavor of bacon, arugula and the glaze, but the pork belly flavor was mild at best. The sandwich continued this way and left me discouraged.
Walking back on to the street brought new life. I love the vibe in river north. It helped that the weather was absolutely perfect (65-70 and sunny) for my entire stay. I walked a few blocks up Clark to the corner of Ontario. There stood my second stop.
2) Portillos - I'm a complete junkie for hot dogs, so this was an easy choice. I must admit, I wasn't expecting the mall food court experience I walked into. Minor gripe. One Chicago dog + one chili cheese dog and I was on my way. First, the Chicago dog. I had to start with the classic. The first big was mostly dog and bun...heavenly. The bun puts it over the top. I have to admit, though, that the rest of the Chicago dog toppings get a little muddled for me. Oh well, I finished it and moved on. The chili cheese dog was outrageous. I have no idea if this chili is homemade, where the cheese comes from, etc. And I don't really care. This was as good as any dog I've ever had (though this sentiment would change). I walked out of Portillos with a huge smile on my face, but still a rumble in my tummy (nearly 8 hours of non-stop driving had left my famished). So, down the road I went to...
3) Al's #1 Italian Beef - Being another Chicago institution, I figured what better place to have my third dinner of the night? I ordered a regular with hot peppers. I watched the whole sandwich making process and my mouth watered. As I sat down with my tightly wrapped prize, I couldn't wait. My first bite brought...wait, what? First problem, the bun completely disintegrated, leaving me with a failed sandwich. Beyond that, the meat was kind of...mushy. I can't think of a better way to describe it. It was OK, but very bland. Too bad, as I was looking forward to this stop.
Later in the night, I walked around trying to find a nice spot to enjoy a drink and watch the NHL playoffs. There are plenty of choices around (though I didn't look at any reviews on the bar scene) and after a good bit of walking, I happened upon English. A few pints of 312 and a conversation with the gentleman next to me ensued and I tried a bit off the menu. It turns out Top Chef vet Radikha Desai is now cooking at English and she is making some out of this world pub grub. Seriously, give it a shot. This was the end of a great, but very long day.
Day 2 - Definitely didn't wake up in time for breakfast. Laid around until my 11:45 reservation at...
4) Topolobampo - This was the meal I was waiting for. I got there right on time and was walked back to the Topolo side of the Bayless complex. I was expecting a bigger space, but this is not the case by any means. I was rather surprised to see that I was the first table seated for lunch that day. No matter, I was ready. The meal started with complimentary chips and guac that were as quite good. The chips were hot and (I assume fresh made) the guac was creamy and helped out by little studs of red chili throughout. For a starter, I ordered the red chili short rib soup with epazote and masa dumplings. The meat, though scant, was nice and tender. The broth was incredible...I could have sucked it through a straw. Not too heavy, full of flavor with just enough kick to leave my mouth tingling. I chose carnitas for my main course. This arrived in a pile, accompanied by pork belly, tomatillo/avocado salsa, lime 'air' and 4 piping hot tortillas. The meat was fork tender, as expected, the sauces were great and the lime 'air' was unlike anything I've ever had before. Superb. Top notch meal all around, as expected.
From there, I walked over to the lake, then back to my hotel for a few hours. My next meal was going to be a little more casual...
5) Lou Malnati's seemed to fit the bill. Late afternoon, they were ~25% full. I bellied up to the bar, ordered a 312 and a small sausage pizza with the butter crust. I knew the 30+ minute wait would be there, but the Cubs game (and the staff suffering through it) kept me well entertained. The pizza arrived and was different than I expected. Perhaps this wasn't me doing my homework, but I expected the red sauce laden, knife and fork classic Chicago pizza. No matter...I'll eat pizza anywhere, anytime, so I dug in. Very good crust, good cheese and good tasting sausage. A satisfying pie that I would eat again.
Another night of hockey and beers at English. Again, highly recommended.
Day 3 - On my final day, I made a point to go to breakfast. For this, I actually crossed the river for the first time in the trip and made my way to...
6) Heaven on Seven - I have to admit, going into a huge office building and up to the 7th floor did not lead to expectations of a greasy spoon diner. The only times I leave ground level for food tend to be shirt and tie affairs. No matter, up the elevator I went. Bellied up to the bar and got a menu. Since I hadn't eaten any sort of breakfast so far in the trip, I decided on the andouille omelet. In maybe 5 minutes, the food was in front of me. Just a good, simple breakfast. Nothing fancy, just done right. Loved the taste of the andouille and more than ample hot sauce choices to kick up the eggs a bit. Great suggestion here.
From there, I trudged back to the hotel to pack up. I would have stayed another week, to be honest. Anyways, I couldn't help but make a few last stops on my way out of town. First, a few pints at Goose Island brewpub on Clybourn. Unassuming outpost to say the least, but damn do I love their beer. Had I been going straight home, I might have picked up a growler or two, but alas, I left empty handed. As I looked at the clock, I knew I could safely hit one more destination before I left and it was only a few miles away. I motored up Elston, up to California and took a left at...
7) Hot Doug's - Sure, there are mixed feelings on this place, but damn am I glad I stopped. I figured it would depend on the line and, seeing only ~10 people out the door, I stopped. The weather was nice, I had nothing but driving in front of me and I was here. It had to be done. I got in the line and waited maybe 40 minutes until my meet with the wizard himself. It was a no-brainer that an order of the now famous duck fat fries would be had, but what else? I settled on the duck sausage with fois, the garlic pork sausage and a corn dog. As I took my bag of goodies back to the car (the inside was too packed for my liking), I dove into the fries. Good...really good. Not sure how the taste compares to Doug's regular fries, but a definite thumbs up. Next, the garlic pork sausage. Holy garlic, Batman. I'm a man who loves his garlic, so I was in heaven. The pile of blue cheese definitely helped cut through the garlic taste and complimented everything else. Thumbs up. Now, on to the main event...the sausage I've heard so much about. Could it possibly live up to the hype? It couldn't, could it? It can and it did. The first bite brought a smile to my face and actually made my laugh with joy. I'm not very well versed in fois, but as far as I'm concerned, I could have it in this form for the rest of my life. Words can't describe how much I enjoyed this. Some people may say '$9 for a sausage?' but I would gladly pay that again. Hell, I'll probably get 2 next time.
As I drove back up I-94 munching on my corn dog (well worth a buck and a half) and my pile of duck fat fries, all I could do was smile. Thank you, Chicago. What a great 3 days. See you all soon.
Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610
Heaven on Seven
600 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Al's Beef
169 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60654
re: BigE
Publican wasn't that loud in my opinion. Had a business meeting/dinner there on a Wednesday and everyone was able to hear each other and communicate with each other in normal tone of voice. Was there at 7pm too. Food was top notch and served "family style". Loved the dessert of the waffle with honey butter. Absolutely sinfully rich but not cloying sweet like a lot of desserts. Had one of my worst meals at Cafe Des Arct... Again, it was a business dinner with our London group. Waiter got orders mixed up (which was odd because we all ordered from their "seasonal pre-fixe menu so we had limited options so he wasn't juggling a lot of different options), food was ok but bland, and the dessert looked really nice but that was pretty much it. For the price point, it was fine. But I would never go back again. Maybe my expecations were too high since it is highly praised but the whole evening was flat.
re: lbs
Publican is INCREDIBLY LOUD. (I have heard that the restaurant is aware of the problem and is looking into solutions.) The reason it's so loud is that it has a lot of hard surfaces (mostly wooden seats, tables, and decor) and high ceilings and virtually no soft surfaces to deaden the sound. I was there on a weekday with a somewhat early reservation; they were still not quite full when we left and the place was already at a FULL ROAR.
As for those terrible desserts, they really need to hire a pastry chef if they want to consider themselves a destination restaurant. I thought the waffle dessert was dreadful, just a plain overbland waffle; I've had better at Bob Evans. The other two desserts (we tried all three on the menu) were no better; one was a chocolate sorbet that allegedly had some sea salt and caramel flavorings but were undetectable, and the third was a dried out, tasteless lemon poppyseed cake.
I'm glad I tried Publican, as I really liked some of their dishes (notably the sweetbreads), but I would never go back again.
By contrast, in my numerous visits to Cafe des Architectes, every time it has been absolutely superb, with one amazingly delicious dish after another. Highlights have included their heavenly saffron fish veloute (soup) with shrimp and mussels, the moist and delicious duck confit, the hanger steak, the whitefish, and the wonderful chocolate pistachio dome which deserves consideration as their signature dessert. The service has always been exemplary and I love the room itself in the curved glass facade of the Sofitel. The bargain price is just a bonus on top of the best food I've had at any casual dining place in the city.
Cafe des Architectes
20 East Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611
re: nsxtasy
I usually respect your opinions, nsxtasy, but I have to disagree with you re both Publican (which I love!) and CdA.
We recently dined at CdA. The room is an attractive hotel dining room. The Chef's Seasonal Menu was, as you have pointed out, very reasonable and an excellent low-priced option for North Michigan Avenue. However, we both found that while the food was perfectly acceptable, nothing special at all. The only exception for us was the hamachi appetizer, which was, indeed, wonderful.
Worse, the service was both unctuous and omnipresent. The waiter, rather than tell us anything about the menu items, basically read to us the menu descriptions, adding absolutely nothing. For some reason he was pushing the deconstructed Caeser salad ("It has white anchovies," he told us. Twice). Then our waiter, the bus boy, the manager, the chef and a couple of other people stopped by our table just about every 5 minutes throughout our meal to interrupt our conversation and ask us how everything was. We actually left finally laughing about it.
We won't bother to go back there, but can see how it could be a reasonably priced nice dinner for folks looking to be careful with what they spend. Sorry.
re: chicgail
No problem. Sometimes experiences differ, and sometimes it's a matter of taste. I've never had any service problems at CdA and the food has always been superb, but apparently your experience was different, and that's okay! FWIW, though, I love it and recommend it not for the value for the money, but because I've loved the food more than any other restaurant in the city, leaving aside the big-bucks fancy places.
re: nsxtasy
Maybe we ordered badly. Maybe the food just didn't rise above our experience of the obnoxious service. It is also possible that our waiter was new and/or inexperienced and all the attention from other people was an effort to compensate for it.
I know this is one of your favorites, but after this experience, for us there are too many other places that we really enjoy for us to try CdA again.
re: nsxtasy
About the Publican, I said:
>> they really need to hire a pastry chef if they want to consider themselves a destination restaurant. I thought the waffle dessert was dreadful, just a plain overbland waffle; I've had better at Bob Evans. The other two desserts (we tried all three on the menu) were no better; one was a chocolate sorbet that allegedly had some sea salt and caramel flavorings but were undetectable, and the third was a dried out, tasteless lemon poppyseed cake.
Someone stated on another forum that the Publican hired a pastry chef within the past two weeks, so let's hope this turns the dessert situation around!
Bob Evans Restaurant
2201 Morthland Dr, Valparaiso, IN 46383
After my visit last year, I can't wait to return. Last year didn't go exactly as I planned (things never do), but I managed to get to: Topo, Xoco, Portillo's, Al's, Malnatti's, English (for beers and hockey viewing), Heaven on Seven, Goose Island Brew Pub, Dougs.
Not much fine dining in there, obviously. I quickly realized that even though I had access to my car, the idea of driving anywhere didn't appeal to me in the slightest. I walked everywhere last year, no taxi, bus, L, nothing. And I plan on doing things that way again, unless the weather is poor.
As with last year, I'll be spending a few days in the middle of the week (arriving Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon, departing Friday around noon). Haven't booked my hotel yet, but looking at the James, along with a few others.
Anything new I should be looking to try?
I'm planning on repeating the following: Bayless complex at least once, Portillo's, Dougs. Beyond that, I'd like to try new things. Different breakfast, different bar (beer/whiskey list, and semi-quiet ambiance at a premium), at least one high end place (not quite Alinea, but in the ~$50 range), different pizza joint, at least one new ethnic place.
Can I do this all? Who knows, but if not, there's always next year. :)
P.S. If there is anything good on the outskirts of town (or beyond), I'm all ears. I'll be coming southbound on 94, so anything from Milwaukee down is fair game.
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Heaven on Seven
600 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Goose Island Brewpub
3535 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657
449 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654
re: BigE
>> Anything new I should be looking to try?
The places with the biggest buzz are the Girl and the Goat and the Purple Pig. G&TG is Stephanie Izard's new place for contemporary American cuisine, and reservations open up three months in advance and fill up quickly thereafter. You may or may not get seated quickly if you go without one (going at non prime times helps). The Purple Pig specializes in pork, cheese, and charcuterie (just like the Publican). It does not accept reservations and waits at dinnertime are lengthy. I recommend going at lunchtime, since they serve the same menu all day anyway.
Sable is relatively new also, and I just love it. It too has contemporary American cuisine, from Chef Heather Terhune. Most of the dishes come in half portions as well as full ones, so you can try a lot of things. Don't miss the sweet corn creme brulee! For $20-25 of food you can stuff yourself, but don't let the price throw you, it's a classy place. They also have artisanal cocktails. And they take reservations on Opentable and they're not that hard to get. Highly recommended!
>> at least one high end place (not quite Alinea, but in the ~$50 range)
$50 range is not high end. Not even close. Our truly high-end restaurants (Alinea, Everest, TRU, Spiaggia, Trotter's, etc) generally run in the $175-250 range per person including moderately-priced wine, tax, and tip. The less formal "finer dining" restaurants (North Pond, MK, etc) typically run roughly half that amount (figure $75-110/pp). I mentioned Sable and the Girl and the Goat above, and both are a bit less than that range (particularly Sable, which is quite the bargain); their food could qualify because they have the creative chefs normally found in high-end places, even though both are casual in style. I'll add some notes at the end about places away from downtown, on your route.
>> at least one new ethnic place.
How about some Latin fusion (Carnivale, Nacional 27) or pan-Asian (Red Light, Sunda)?
>> P.S. If there is anything good on the outskirts of town (or beyond), I'm all ears. I'll be coming southbound on 94, so anything from Milwaukee down is fair game.
Two of my favorite restaurants are in the suburbs off the Edens, right along your route, and a third is on the north side not far from Wrigley. I've eaten at all three of them several times in the past year or so, and frankly I think they're as good as anything downtown short of the super-expensive places. Any would be suitable for your "inexpensive high-end" meal. Here are links to the restaurant websites as well as my detailed reports:
1. Michael, in Winnetka - www.restaurantmichael.com
GREAT Dinner at Michael in Winnetka! - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/351457
2. Inovasi, in Lake Bluff - www.inovasi.us
Inovasi in Lake Bluff (North Suburbs) - TERRIFIC! - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/687962
3. Deleece, in Chicago/Lakeview - www.deleece.com
Deleece - Chef Brandon Canfield rocks in Lakeview - http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/757360
HTH - feel free to ask more questions!
re: BigE
An idea for a bar, depending on what you're looking for, is Pops the champagne bar has opened a bar in their basement called Watershed, that specializes in various local beers. I haven't been myself, but am attaching the link so you can see if it interests you.
I agree for new spots- I really love G&TG and the PP, but PP can get crowded, although it has a convenient location right off of Michigan Ave. Another new place in River North is Grahamwich- Graham Elliot's sandwich shop. I thought the food was good, not amazing, but an option for creative sandwiches if you want something quick. The other spot I've really enjoyed lately is Gilt Bar- has a great atmosphere and delicious food.
re: ms. mika
Thanks to both of you for the info.
-ns, I realize the $50 budget is far from 'high end' around Chicago. I guess I should clarify by saying that I don't have any desire for the $100+ dinner tabs. Anything under that is perfectly fine. Thanks for the out of town/coming into town recs as well, but I'll most likely be driving by these places at lunch time. Any others you'd add to that list? Quicker is probably better, to be honest.
-I've heard a lot about G&TG, I'll definitely have to check that out.
-ms, thanks for the heads up on Grahamwich. I love a good sandwich shop and there is a dearth of them in the Twin Cities area.
re: BigE
>> Thanks for the out of town/coming into town recs as well, but I'll most likely be driving by these places at lunch time. Any others you'd add to that list? Quicker is probably better, to be honest.
Inovasi is open for lunch. I've only been there for several dinners, but the lunch menu looks similar. It's not far from US-41 so you could take that once you cross the border into Illinois. But when I'm looking for a quick lunch, I usually wind up at stand-in-line places like Panera, rather than sit-down restaurants.
>> -I've heard a lot about G&TG, I'll definitely have to check that out.
Make a reservation NOW.
re: nsxtasy
G&TG is booked solid for the next month...yikes. Guess I'll have to wait until next year for that.
As for the outskirts of town kind of stuff, I might just stick to what I did last year. Stop at Goose Island, a few delicacies at Hot Dougs, then on my way. That made a perfect ending to last year's trip.
Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
re: BigE
>> G&TG is booked solid for the next month...yikes. Guess I'll have to wait until next year for that.
Right now, G&TG starts accepting reservations for any particular date three months in advance. They fill up quickly thereafter, especially for more desirable days (weekends) and times. That may or may not change by next year!
re: nsxtasy
I actually went back to Opentable and got into G&TG next Thursday at 10. Very pumped about that.
The rest of my itinerary (Thursday late lunch/pre-dinner) is still up in the air, including Wednesday lunch/dinner and Friday breakfast/lunch.
I'm thinking:
-One of the pizza joints (Malnatti's last year)
-No idea about breakfast...I tend to sleep in, so this might get missed altogether.
-I'd like to find another good tasting menu in the ~$100 range.
re: nsxtasy
>>I love Sable!
That's what I hear. :)
OK, one last topic. On Friday, I'll be driving back north right around lunch time...anything in Wrigleyville/north side (aside from what you already listed) that's worth a look? Something less fancy, on the ethnic side perhaps? The current plan is Kuma's/Doug's. Truth be told, there is a 99% chance I'm stopping at Doug's no matter what.
re: BigE
>> On Friday, I'll be driving back north right around lunch time...anything in Wrigleyville/north side (aside from what you already listed) that's worth a look? Something less fancy, on the ethnic side perhaps? The current plan is Kuma's/Doug's. Truth be told, there is a 99% chance I'm stopping at Doug's no matter what.
If your heart is set on Hot Doug's, by all means try it! Just one more suggestion - before your trip, check their website, as he closes the place and goes on vacation for a week at a time, and always posts the dates it will be closed ahead of time on the website.
Here are some additional places you might consider for lunch on your way out of town.
Mexique (Chicago/West Town, Mexican) - www.mexiquechicago.com
Lula (Chicago/Logan Square, contemporary American locavore) - www.lulacafe.com
Smoque (Chicago/Irving Park, barbecue) - www.smoquebbq.com
Deleece (Chicago/Lakeview, contemporary American) - www.deleece.com
M. Henry (Chicago/Andersonville, breakfast/brunch) - www.mhenry.net
Mexique, Lula, and Smoque are both off the Kennedy (I-90/I-94) before the junction, so they're on the way regardless of whether you're headed north on the Edens (I-94) or the Tri-State (I-294). I threw in Deleece and M. Henry since you mentioned Wrigleyville and the north side, even though they're not exactly convenient to the expressway.
re: BigE
"Thanks for the out of town/coming into town recs as well, but I'll most likely be driving by these places at lunch time. Any others you'd add to that list? Quicker is probably better, to be honest."
Captain Porky's for some of the best deep-fried (jumbo) shrimp (and other d-f seafood) around. Beef brisket's pretty good too,
My 2nd annual three day trip to River North is complete. Here are the gut busting details.
Day 1:
I hit the rage inducing Chicagoland traffic at ~2:30 on Wednesday. In no mood to sit through it, I ducked off I-94 a few miles north of downtown and wound my way through the neighborhoods in search of the uber-popular Kuma's Corner. I had just read a glowing review by David Lebovitz and I was determined to get there. As I drive by, I see a hoard of people outside the door, and an obviously full house. After 7 hours in the car, standing in line for an hour plus wasn't high on my list. I decided to drive back north a few blocks to the warming embrace of Hot Doug's. There was no line whatsoever, which was great. I walked right to the counter, got my Foie dog, corn dog, and fries and was on my way to the hotel. Delicious as I remember, and a good start to the trip.
Sable - After a few hours of walking around and relaxing in the hotel, I strolled over to Sable. Not having a reservation, I waited for a few minutes until a spot opened at the bar. Immensely impressed with the whiskey list and still feeling full from my late lunch at Doug's, I ordered some cheese curds and the buffalo short rib sliders to go with whiskey #1. That ended up being all I ate at Sable, while getting a 3+ hour master's class on everything from bourbon to scotch to tequila, sampling a handful of spirits on the house. I will definitely be returning.
Day 2:
This was a day of gluttony/food bliss that won't soon be forgotten.
Topolo - My first meal of the day was an 11:45am stop at Topolobampo. When I arrived, there were a combined ~10 people at Frontera and Topolo. By the time I left (just before 1), Frontera was packed and Topolo was ~75% full. I started with the Frontera ceviche. This was a nice, light start to the meal. Three good sized portions of ceviche sitting on tostadas. Fresh, bright, clean flavors...everything ceviche should be. For the main course, I ordered the duck breast in pasilla chile sauce. I was told the duck is prepared medium rare, which is just what I like. When it arrived, the duck was beyond medium, closer to medium well. Still, it was tender and the pasilla sauce was very nice. Unfortunately, the amount of sauce served ended up overpowering everything else. When I was done, my entire plate was still covered in sauce, even though I used it liberally. As a whole though, this dish didn't wow me like I expected it to. This meal was good, but not as good as I was hoping. Next year, I will probably try a new lunch spot.
GT Fish and Oyster - As I was walking around on Wednesday night, I noticed this place only a few blocks from my hotel. Having never heard of it, I read up and found that it was brand new (opening Thursday), the outpost of celebrated Boka Group chef Giuseppe Tentori. It seemed like there was a lot of hype and expectation here, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I walked in right at 5pm and was greeted by FOUR people at the host desk. Overall, there were probably 30-40 staff members present and maybe 6 patrons...opening night, indeed. Finding a seat at the bar, I started talking to the oyster guys. Minnesota isn't exactly oyster central, so I wanted to try a few different types. I ended up with 2 Kumamotos (the only type I had ever heard of), 2 Blue Points, and 2 of another type that I don't recall. I really enjoyed them all, and preferred the East Coast varieties. Great start to my meal. From there, I had the BBQ Eel, which is served on an octopus potato salad with a bit of wasabi. The eel was nice, the potato salad was a fun compliment with a little kick. It was hard to distinguish the octopus (not that it has a strong flavor to begin with), but textural difference was enough to let you know. I finished my meal with the lobster roll. Lobster is another alien creature to me, so I can only say that I really enjoyed this version. I've been told it was a classic lobster roll, with the split toasted brioche roll. Delicious. It was served with crispy fried onions...not sure what purpose they served, but they certainly didn't take away from the dish. They don't skimp on the lobster, either.
Chef Tentori was calmly running the pass, occasionally breaking to glad hand with friends and well wishers. The space is nice and bright, very open and inviting, chic yet rustic. The staff (there were enough for me to have my own team) are friendly and passionate about their particular area, be it oysters, cocktails or otherwise. I have a feeling this place is going to be extremely popular.
Girl and the Goat - Not ready to be done with my incredible food day, I hailed a cab and rode over to my 10pm reservation at G&TG. This place was packed and buzzing, but upon arrival, I was immediately taken to a two-top to begin my meal. Still reeling from the day's indulgences, I wasn't sure what I was going to be able to manage. I started with the chickpea cakes, which were absolutely incredible. Impossibly smooth inside with a crisp exterior. Just outstanding. From there, I wanted to get something light. I settled on the grilled octopus, which was served with a few other grilled vegetables. Again, a great dish. The char flavor on the octopus was wonderful. They do serve it a little more al dente than some people care for, but I thought it was just right. Sadly, I couldn't manage to eat anything else, but I can completely understand why this place is as popular as it is. Great, albeit abbreviated, meal.
I ended day 2 with a belly as stuffed and satisfied as can be.
Day 3 didn't involve anything but packing, having a few brews at Goose Island, and making one last stop at Hot Doug's. I managed to get in before the rain started and munched as I drove away. The only disappointment were the famous duck fat fries. They just weren't as good as last year. Oh well, still worth the stop.
My second annual trip to River North ended up being even more successful than the first. It gave me some of the best food and drink experiences of my life and left me wanting more.
Alinea ominously remains on top of the list for my return, but we'll see.
Until next year...
1723 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
Hot Doug's
3324 N California Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
1729 North Halsted, Chicago, IL 60614
445 N Clark St., Chicago, IL 60610
Kuma's Corner
2900 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60618
Girl and the Goat
809 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
re: BigE
Yes, thanks for posting. Feedback is always helpful. And it sounds like you've found a possible "undiscovered gem" in GT. There are always so many restaurants in Chicago, with new ones opening all the time. A few get lots of attention and hype from the media, while others may be doing a fine job but just don't get the PR. GT sounds like one of these, and I'm happy to add it to my never-shrinking (LOL!) list of local places I'd like to try! Thanks again!
Great thread to all who contributed. I am staying at the westin north river and this was helpful. I hoped to go to frontera or topolobampo, but unfortunately they are closed Sun-Mon. But I had a great dinner at Quartino (dining alone in the bar area). I always know I can rely on Chowhounds!


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Am I reading this thread correctly? That people are ACTUALLY thinking of spending money on gimmicky gadgets for use in schools?
I'm not sure why you're so desperate to assume that I think school's should be dictating projects to one another when all I'm suggesting is a bit of information sharing. Just because I give you a case study of how something works for me doesn't mean I'm insisting you implement it yourself.
Am I reading this thread correctly? That people are ACTUALLY thinking of spending money on gimmicky gadgets for use in schools?
As gadgets go, arent there better products on the market then the iPad. I sometimes think that Apple products are just fashionable and thats why they get away with the price. Dont get me wrong, some of the stuff they come out with is pretty cool but in this case i think they have some real competition.
seems to be already happening First U.S. High School to buy iPads for their students. I think they are just fashion products but so many people are using them!
Thanks for all the replies guys, i am dreading these gadgets hitting my school and i am putting off as much as i can but with the head extremely impressed with our new mac suite hes edging that way. maybe its time the mac suite had a major network crash and caused unfixable problems for a few days to put him off!! lol
It really depends upon your approach to technology; Are you technology or solution led? By this I mean do you see a piece of technology & buy it & see how it fits, or do you identify a problem or requirement & look for a solution that may or may not be solved by technology? If you have the luxury of unlimited funds (or can attract sponsorship) then being technology led can be great for innovation. However most schools can only afford to be solution led....
Sylv3r (11th May 2010)
like most schools we are solution led, but our head likes us to stand out and is renouned for testing rubbish out for the local LEA, making my job fun! so it wouldnt suprise me to see these next year
You have a massive potential waiting in the iPad, its a shame it was flawd (in an education environment) from day 1! 90% of the websites we use in a primary run flash, add flash support and I can see it being a great tool for the classroom.
It would be nice, but you just cannot justify buying them at that price.
I can get two netbooks for that!
Where are the management tools to stop students installing apps?
Why are the batteries not replaceable?
Why can't I browse much of our VLE?
It's blue skies thinking to have them, but you cannot justify them, you would be better off buying an alternative windows tablet.
stevehp (14th May 2010)
I'd just fear for the life of them, they are the latest tool to have. Kids will realise this and they fit nicely into bags, if they are also so inclined you may find a smashed screen every other day.
We buy hundreds of PC's a year to replace the damaged / vandalised kit in our school.
Yes the technology is fantastic and would be brilliant in an ideal world, but in reality can schools afford such a costly venture.
By no means writing them off but they are expensive and will they be used for the right purpose? I doubt it, let our teachers have a break and get used to current technology for just a while
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subset: commoncrawl


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Wiki Headlines
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"Awaken an era."A Mons series from Nintendo and Red Entertainment,note Fossil Fighters (Bokura wa Kaseki Horider, or "We Are Fossil Hunters", in Japan) is a collection Mon RPG/paleontology sim for the DS.On the tropical Vivosaur island, the Richmond archaeological foundation has built a fantastic resort. Using the brilliance of Dr. Diggins, they have developed a process to revive dead animals from fossil fragments. (Sound familiar?) As a side-effect of this process, the dead animals are not complete copies of the creatures they originally were in life—they gain unusual appearances and best of all—superpowers. Vivosaur Island has become a playground for the rich where wealthy young dinosaur fanatics can revive extinct animals in the form of superpowered monsters and fight them against each other for glory and fame.Like most games, this one stars a young boy who aspires To Be a Master. You hunt fossils, battle other fans, and raise in the ranks, with the help of his... er, "friend" Rosie. But the island is lousy with the BB Bandits, a group of fossil thieves and general schemers who, naturally, want to Take Over the World. And who is this strange girl who keeps showing up to assist you...?A sequel called Fossil Fighters: Champions (Super Kaseki Horider, or "Super Fossil Hunters" in Japan) has been released. It features improved, cel-shaded graphics (with FMV cutscenes), a female player character, a revamped movement system, new islands, new villains, and, of course, plenty of new vivosaurs (including the ability to Super Revive certain vivosaurs into evolved forms).A third game in the series has been announced for Nintendo 3DS with a Japanese 2014 release. It was announced for North American and European release as Fossil Fighters: Frontier, with the new feature for this title being the ability to fight wild Vivosaurs and to drive around in customizable vehicles.
This game provides examples of:


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I learnt this wonderfully tasty and quick, easy-to-make recipe from my sister-in-law. It is a great treat with steamed white rice. Try :)
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Make this season merry, bright and manageable with our easy ideas.


text: MS244 ALL-STAR TRACK TEAM View full-size image < previous next > Is this photo a winner? "Our school was at a track meet on Monday May 5, 2014 near yankee stadium in the bronx ALL of our students wore their shirts proudly and represented our school. We took first place in the 200meter and 400 meter, also the long jump. " - MS244 TRACK TEAM (May 05, 2014) Share this photo on: Twitter Facebook Pinterest Similar Photos: BRONX TRACK MEET | k12 athletics | k-12 athletics | track running | track | track meet | large group Feeling inspired? Visit the CustomInk Design Lab to start your own group order. Design Your Own


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The Big Island provides some of the best hiking in Hawaii. Excellent trails can be found all across the island. Wherever you wish to explore, there's a good chance there is a wonderful Big Island Hawaii hike in the area.
Some of our favorites are listed below:
Before you start hiking in Hawaii remember to always bring a daypack with plenty of water and sunscreen. Apply sunscreen 20-30 minutes ahead of your hike. Most Big Island hikes are in areas with a lot of exposure and little shade, and you won't find drinkable water along the way. Don't forget lunch or a snack too.
Insect repellent is always a good idea. Some people don't get bit, while others, well, don't say we didn't warn you. We like to also carry a headlamp, just in case our exploring gets the better of us and we stay out after dark!Be sure to bring comfortable shoes. Many people hike only in sandals. More substantial hiking shoes are probably a good idea for some of the longer hikes and walking across a'a lava. Check out all the great Teva Originals for men & women! These are the sandals that made Teva famous! Receive Free Shipping on all Originals orders!
Other clothing is optional; you can get by with shorts and a t-shirt almost anywhere you travel on the Big Island.
And don't forget your camera!
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Grand Bahama Island House Rental Photos and Description
3 Bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, sleeps 6 comfortably
If you're looking for a relaxing, secluded getaway, Arthur's Place on the Beach on Grand Bahama Island is for you! Enjoy long walks along the white sand beaches. At low tide you can walk for miles in either direction and walk out into the ocean at least the distance of a football field onto beautiful white sand. Swimming in the crystal-clear water is great as it is shallow and calm. Enjoy the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets. Huge screened lanai with clear views of the ocean by day -- and starry vistas at night. Port Lucaya nightlife is only 25 minutes away with many fine restaurants, pubs, and gambling! During the day, Port Lucaya offers championship golfing. and lots of shopping.
- Suitability:
- Long-term Renters Welcome
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For at least one winner of last year's Houston Press MasterMind Awards, the accolades continue. The Hightower High School Broadcast Academy, which received a $2,000 prize in the Press's 2009 MasterMind contest, was recently awarded three separate grants that will help Ted Irving and his students ... More >>
The Houston Press will once again recognize outstanding local artists.
For the second year in a row, the Houston Press is on the prowl for artists, innovators and entrepreneurs who are changing our creative and cultural landscape.And we need your help.If you know of one of these life-changing artistic types -- if you are one yourself -- please tell us. From all th ... More >>
This past January, when the Houston Press awarded its first-ever MasterMinds Awards to three local groups showing cutting edge creativity and determination, one of the recipients of a $2,000 check from us was the Hightower High School's Broadcast Academy, headed up by Ted Irving, the media academy c ... More >>
We pass on a bit of luck to the recipients of our first creativity awards
Last fall the Houston Press asked readers to send in nominations of people who were breaking new ground in the arts around here.The lucky winners have been named and will be getting a $2,000 check at a dinner Saturday and -- perhaps more importantly -- they are profiled in the Press today. (Well, ma ... More >>
High school camera crews score the big one: the Aeros' halftime show


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(Updates with Noonan comment in second paragraph. See {EXT4} for more on Europe's debt crisis.)
Nov. 2 (Bloomberg) -- The European Central Bank is now the only backstop in the region's debt crisis and it should use a "wall" of money to continue to buy bonds to stop contagion spreading to Italy and Spain, Ireland's finance minister said.
"The firewall which is part of the comprehensive solution to prevent contagion spreading to countries like Italy and Spain is not yet in place," Michael Noonan said in an interview with Dublin-based RTE Radio today. "They need to go into the market and say 'We have a wall of money here and no matter how much speculation there is, we're going to keep buying Italian bonds or any other euro bonds that are threatened.'"
Noonan said the Frankfurt-based bank has no choice but to continue to buy bonds following Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's decision to hold a referendum on the bailout deal hammered out by European leaders last week. The ECB has to accept its responsibility to help prevent contagion spreading from Greece, he said.
Noonan said ECB President Mario Draghi is unlikely to cut interest rates in his first rate-setting meeting tomorrow. He said the bank may lower the benchmark rate in its subsequent meeting on Dec. 8 and called for a half-point reduction from the current 1.5 percent.
"I don't think Mr. Draghi will cut interest rates at his first central bank meeting because it'll look as if it was a criticism of his predecessor," Noonan said. "We're about three-quarters of a percent out of line, I think, and I hope that would come through between now and Easter."
Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny said in an op-ed piece in the Irish Times today that a move to repudiate the country's aid agreement and renege on its debts "would be disastrous" for its recovery. The government's strategy is beginning to produce results and Ireland will grow, not default, Kenny said.
Ireland's Finance Ministry said yesterday its 2010 debt was 3.6 billion euros ($4.9 billion) lower than previously estimated after it discovered an error in its accounts for the year. Noonan said he first learned of the mistake yesterday and while it won't affect the country's budget, it helps make the debt calculations more sustainable.
"From the Irish national-interest point of view, we want to make absolutely sure we have no association with Greek problem whatsoever, and are seen as a totally separate economy with a separate set of values more in line with the north European economies than with the Mediterranean economies that are in trouble," Noonan told RTE.
--Editors: Andrew Atkinson, Eddie Buckle
To contact the reporters on this story: Joe Brennan in Dublin at email@example.com; Finbarr Flynn in Dublin at email@example.com
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Colin Keatinge at firstname.lastname@example.com


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|Home >The Revolt > Camera Destruction > France, Spain, UK: Traffic Cameras Trashed
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3/16/2014France, Spain, UK: Traffic Cameras Trashed
Vigilantes in Europe set fire to, smash and scrap speed cameras.
In Lanhellen, France, vigilantes burned a speed camera last week Saturday. Ouest France reported that a half-dozen burning tires were placed around the automated ticketing machine on the RN164. In the same region, another camera had been burned on the RN165 at 2:30am on March 3 in Loire-Atlantique, according to Presse Ocean.
Vigilantes in Liverpool, England have knocked a pair of speed cameras out of commission. The device on Park Road has been twisted to point away from the road, and another in Kensington has been scorched and had its lens smashed in.
"The one in Kensington has been damaged on a number of occasions," a cab driver told the Liverpool Echo. "Whenever it gets fixed it's damaged again."
A man in Tremanes, Spain has been arrested for grabbing speed cameras and selling them for scrap. La Nueva Espana reported that a camera was knocked loose in mid-February after it failed to prevent an accident with a truck. That made the device easier to grab.
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You will never be stuck for what to cook for dinner ever again!
Whether you crave pork, fish, tofu or lamb – there is something for everyone. I'm a firm believer in lowering my carbon footprint by eating more vegetarian meals, so there are plenty of those, and although I don't have any food intolerances I have lots of friends who do so I cook my fair share of vegan and gluten free goodies too.
Bread is my new cooking obsession.
It's not something I have chosen to become obsessed with. However, as I am realising more each day, your children lead you down learning paths to new wisdom.
Whether you want to go or not.
My daughter's restricted eating is a challenge I relish most of the time. But on the difficult days I tear my hair out in despair and hope that another brilliant idea (like this bread) is just around the corner.
Parenting a child with autism is a roller coaster like that. And food is just the tip of the iceberg*. (more…)
I put the call out on facebook and you voted unanimously. You want the recipe for these soft quinoa hash browns. More than the recipe for my carrot and lentil picnic pie*. So here you are!
These hash browns are the perfect breakfast fare for vegans as they incorporate carbs (potato) and protein (quinoa), and when served with an array of delicious veggies like avocado, tomato and mushrooms make a complete and nutritious breakfast. (more…)
I'm just dropping in quickly today to support #meatfreeweek. I'll be back again in a few days with another meat-free recipe.
I know burgers have a bad reputation for being too meat-heavy and full of fat, but this veggie-packed version will change all that! (more…)
The weather is still hot here in the northern rivers, even though it's almost Autumn, so cool dinners are a welcome respite at the end of the day. Even better when they are practically no-cook.
This sauce is designed to be quick and easy but still full of the best flavours of Summer. Stir it into cooked and cooled pasta for an instant salad or stir through hot pasta for dinner in a flash. Mums, it's a winner. (more…)
Today is less of a recipe, more of a philosophy. A rough method, if you will.
Long time readers will know of my intense hatred of food wastage. Yes, hate is a strong word, but in this context it is warranted. I absolutely can't stand allowing food to go bad in the fridge – it's the reason why I keep my fridge well organised and clean pretty much all the time.
My favourite way to use up bits and bobs from the fridge and pantry is to make a salad. A chuck everything in salad. (more…)


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Bizarre Creations is a British video game developer, famed for high-profiles releases like Blur, Project Gotham Racing, and The Club.


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HuffPost's "Elite" Live Book Chat Today at 2 p.m.
HuffPost hosts a live conversation today between "Shadow Elite" author Janine Wedel and HuffPost Washington Bureau Chief Dan Froomkin.
It's a chance to ask questions – intelligent ones if you want.
Later Wedel is set to appear on MSNBC's "The Dylan Ratigan Show" at 4 p.m. EST to discuss the recent controversial Supreme Court ruling to eliminate limits on campaign funding advertising by corporations and unions.
Wedel's book is Arianna's second book club pick. The book has "initiated a crucial debate during the past month over the survival of democracy in America," claims HuffPost.
Read why Huffington chose the book:
"My first HuffPost Book Club selection of 2010 is Janine Wedel's Shadow Elite: How the World's New Power Brokers Undermine Democracy, Government, and the Free Market. It's a gripping, disquieting book that exposes and explains why it's been so hard to bring about any real change in our country — why Washington no longer seems capable of addressing the problems our nation faces. Fingers have been pointed at everything from gerrymandering to partisan polarization to the misuse of the filibuster. But, according to Wedel, the real problem is much deeper — and more disturbing — than any of these."
Go here for the chat.
- Cronut™ Creator Dominique Ansel Talks Creation of Epic Dessert During Lunch at The Jefferson
- WATCH LIVE at 1pm: Leon Panetta on Worthy Fights with GW's Frank Sesno
- Adaption of Garrett Graff's Forthcoming Raven Rock May Soon Join NBC Programming
- A Toast for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand on Recent Publication of Off the Sidelines


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Tips and Tricks for the 2007 Microsoft Office System (60 Minutes + 15 Mins Q&A)
Registration not required
Executive Summary
The Microsoft Office system has evolved from a suite of personal productivity products to a more comprehensive and integrated system. The 2007 release presents the Microsoft Office Fluent user interface as well as new features that businesses and individual computer users can use to complete tasks more quickly and easily. In this informative session, the attendee will learn how the products and technologies of the 2007 Microsoft Office system can help to deliver better results faster, get more out of the information, and work more effectively with others. The attendee will explore the NEW and exciting features within Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Format: Webcast
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Retired Vietnam Vet(1Cav66), Wants Obamacare repealed, dedicated Conservative and avid NY Yankee fan. Our Constitution is America not Radical Obamanism


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When Stinky said that he wouldn´t hire lobbyists he meant that no one who was a registered lobbyist or who thought he might be considered a lobbyist - - whether registered or not - - but who was not at the time that he had been lobbying - - or since the time that he was considered for a job - - but not before he was offered the job - - but who had since not been a lobbyist or had not thought that he was still a lobbyist - - despite what others may have thought about his lobbying - - or lack of lobbying - - would be offered a job unrelated to that lobbying by someone who himself or herself was not a lobbyist - - but who already had a job within the administration - - and was not a lobbyist at the time of the offer or of the hiring.At least - - that´s what I think he meant.
Click Here if you Like this Comment 15 persons like this.
Why are people surprised about this?We KNEW this was going to happen!!!Why are so many people just now realizing they have been had?All you have to know is that Demonrats LIE and CANNOT run on their record, and in the case of Obama, Hitlery and Elizabeth Warren they have to have willing accomplices in the media to cover their butts.So many people DO NOT KNOW the enumerated separation of powers of government in the US Constitution to realize the games being played on them.Lord Help US!
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The MSM has only turned on Obama because they are ready to put ´boots on the ground´ for Hilary, who is running against Obama or as the tougher, more centrist Dem. There has been no awakening; the high school clique that is our MSM has just decided that Obama is uncool and they like Hilary now.
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He found out that´s where the money is!
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Key Biscayne Radiesse Doctors and Reviews
Key Biscayne Radiesse cost
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Key Biscayne Radiesse reviews
100% of Key Biscayne reviewers said Radiesse was worth it
I'm 36 and have been teetering with the same 15lbs for many years. Sometimes I'm up, sometimes I'm down and sometimes I'm in the middle trying to lose it. My weight shows in my face. Not a fat face, but it's the first place people can tell if I'm losing/gaining. My nasolabial folds have been increasing over the years (I noticed them at 25). Tried Juvederm while living in LA. I went to Tattoo... more
"Great Experience Coral gables, Fl"
I have been wanting a chin implant for 10 years but to scared to have it done. So I decided to check out non-invasive options and sure enough radiesse seemed to be a good fit for me. I called and made an appt to have a consult done on the soonest Saturday available. Oh thou I was 10 min late they accommodated for me and automatically felt so at ease with the staff. I'm in love with the... more
"Dr. John Martin is the Best! - Coral..."
I am a 57 year old woman who is losing fullness in my face. The first time I did Radiesse, I was black and blue, but make up covered it and the results were worth the bruises. The next time, I iced my face all evening and was not bruised at all. Stay away from ibuprofen and red wine before doing so. There was no downside at all. The results lasted me 15 months each time. I have also done... more
"Had Radiesse About 6 Months Ago"
I was very satisfied with the results, instant gratification. I did it for the marionette lines along w/botox. I'm going back this Monday for more radiesse. My doctor who everybody goes to & loves said he could enhance my cheek bones (won't look like a cheek implant, but I know that) & to touch up the nose to mouth lines.I looked very refreshed, price is right & he's... more
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Talks to begin soon in Ethiopia as heavy fighting erupts in provincial capital Bor
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UCSD moves on to D-II Softball Championship
The UC San Diego softball team erupted for three runs in its final at-bat, using a two-run single from Tess Granath and an RBI single by Jennifer De Fazio to edge Cal State San Bernardino, 3-1, on Saturday afternoon to win the NCAA Division II West Super Regional title.
UCSD (41-13), top-seed and winner of the West Region, advances to May 26-30's eight-team NCAA Division II Softball Championship in Salem, Va. The Tritons have already set the single season school record for wins and will be making their first-ever appearance at the Championship. No. 7 CSUSB ends its season at 35-24.
CSUSB starter Cassidy Lee (17-10) faced the minimum amount of hitters over her first six innings of work, but surrendered a lead off walk to Kris Lesovsky in the seventh to give the Tritons their first baserunner since the first inning. Taylor Sepulveda followed with a bunt to the third base line and beat the throw to first, putting runners on first and second with no out.
UCSD third baseman Sarah Woofter moved the runners to second and third with a hard groundout to the right side of the infield. With one out, UCSD head coach Patti Gerckens inserted Granath, who was 0-for-3 since her last hit on April 16, for freshman designated player Charly Swanberg.
Granath delivered, sending Lee's outside delivery for a single into right field to drive-in Lesovsky and Sepulveda and give the Tritons a 2-1 lead.
"I just knew [Lee] was going to come outside so i just got closer to the plate and i knew it was coming," said Granath.
For Granath, who came into the game hitting just .176 in 17 at-bats, the two-run single marked just her second and third RBIs this season. She usually earns her keep as the Tritons' number two on the pitching staff, but a shoulder injury in early April prevented UCSD from using Granath's services on the mound. In 14 starts, Granath is 7-5 with a 2.27 ERA, fourth-best in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.
"Tess has great hitting mechanics, but we didn't use her a lot because we had to favor her pitching," said Gerckens. "She had been hurt and we didn't want that to interfere with her pitching. I just knew we had to go all out today, I was really impressed with her in practice this week so we had to give her a shot."
Jennifer De Fazio recorded her team-leading fifth RBI of the NCAA tournament, picking up Granath from second with another single into right field off the CSUSB left-hander. Lee escaped the inning after De Fazio was doubled-up at first on a stellar play by third baseman Alex Mitchell on a line-out from Katrin Gabriel.
Armed with a 3-1 lead, Camille Gaito (31-4) forced Stef Pace into a groundout to Woofter before giving up a one-out single to Court Wilhelms. After Alyssa Flores flied out to Sepulveda, Gaito notched her first strikeout of the day on Mitchell to end the game and send the Tritons to the DII Championship.


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Professor de Direito Processual Penal e Direito Constitucional da Rede de Ensino Luiz Flávio Gomes - LFG


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VM6 user profile
Summary: In my recent post, VM6 - taming virtual environments for the midmarket, I presented VM6 Software and its product VMex 2.1.
In my recent post, VM6 - taming virtual environments for the midmarket, I presented VM6 Software and its product VMex 2.1. I've since had a chance to communicate with Christian Boivin, VP of JLR Recherche Immobilière, about VM6 and its products. Here's what he had to say. Thanks, Christian, for taking the time.
Please introduce your organization and the role you play there.My name is Christian Boivin and I'm the vice president of JLR Recherche Immobilière
What are you doing that needed this technology?JLR Recherche Immobilière collects, compiles, and distributes real estate transactions published at the Land Registry of Quebec, Canada. JLR's transactional website enables its subscribers to get online access to transactions published at the Land Registry Office of Quebec. In 2009, we completed an integration of more than 85 percent of properties in the U.S., making it one of the largest distributors of real estate data in Canada.
Our IT infrastructure was depreciating and running on cheap clone computers and servers. Our business was growing fast, and we needed an IT infrastructure that could scale as we continued to grow, which our current infrastructure did not allow.
What products did you consider?We were looking at virtualization solutions for two mains reasons: first for consolidation and secondly for high availability. We needed to completely renew our IT infrastructure and have it highly available. We looked at both the VMware and Microsoft solutions, but they were both complex and required a considerable investment.
Why did you select this product?We selected VM6 Software's VM6 VMex because it is the only product that allows shared storage, server virtualization, simple management and built-in monitoring in one solution. We didn't need to hire new staff with more expertise, and because we were already running Windows Server 2008, we were able to leverage Hyper-V and the staff we had on hand. It was also easy to install and because the interface is Windows based, it was easy to learn.
VM6 VMex allowed us to virtualize and consolidate most of our production workload and all of our development servers. VM6 VMex offered a 70 percent lower cost than the VMware-based solution, as well, which was obviously more cost-effective for us.
What tangible benefits have you received through the use of this product?VM6 VMex has given us a completely virtualized infrastructure right out of the box. Its continuous real-time replication has given us an affordable, high-availability solution that has mitigated any risk of data loss due to a hardware failure. Our on-staff MSCE had it up and running and trained on the solution within a few hours. At 70 percent lower total cost of ownership than the other solutions, the return on investment has already been proven.
As our business is growing, we are currently putting in a disaster recovery (DR) site that would take over the production load in case of disaster from our primary site. VM6 VMex is optimized for multisite or distributed environment and can be centrally managed, which will enable us to build a DR site with the same kind of savings and flexibility that we reached with our main production site.
What advice would you offer others facing similar circumstances?Do your research. Many small- and mid-sized businesses (SMB) often only think about the big players in the virtualization space. While those vendors claim to offer a solution for the SMB market, their products are still the same as their enterprise products, but with less functionality. There are vendors out there who cater specifically to the SMB market and who have developed products that are both cost-effective and have the same or even better performance functionality than the major players. It's worth the time to research these companies. Also, choose your partner or reseller carefully. Many will be pleased to sell you a more complex solution where they can sell you more of their expensive professional services, instead of thinking about your needs first.
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