Blogs from Chicago, Illinois, United States, North America

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North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 18th 2024

Some Chicago events for March: 3/16 Wizards vs Bulls (the Wiz are awful, we plan to skip it!) Pretty Woman (Broadway in Chicago) I prefer My Fair Lady, so we are going on Friday night. Portillo's (a must stop for me) Eataly (always an adventure) Yolk (breakfast in a nice clean, and quiet place) Second City Bill Murray, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey and more honed their wit at this slick venue with nightly shows. The Mainstage and ETC stage host sketch revues (with an improv scene thrown in); they're similar in price and quality. If you turn up around 10pm Monday through Thursday (or 1am Saturday or 9pm Sunday) you can watch a free improv set. Steppenwolf is Chicago’s top stage for quality, provocative theater productions. The Hollywood-heavy ensemble includes Gary Sinise, John Malkovich, Martha Plimpton, ... read more
Belushi
Mafia?
Eataly

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 18th 2024

I am stopping in Chicago, on my way back from Annapolis/Baltimore and my visit with Dirty Pat, and Mrs. Pat. I am here to complete the last part of my journey to document and discover the places where my parents spent time during World War 2, including their incarceration in Gila, AZ (I visited in March 2023). After my parents eloped to Phoenix, while incarcerated at Gila, they left Arizona on a work furlough. Internees were allowed to leave the camps, provided they had a job in the interior part of the country, to help in the war effort due to a severe shortage of manpower. I plan to visit two locations, the apartment where they lived, and the famous Nisei Lounge. The Nisei Lounge: From their website: Nisei Lounge (at 3439 N. Sheffield) is proudly ... read more
Nisei Lounge notice
Store front
Inside the Lounge

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 16th 2024

For some reason I have always wanted to do this. Perhaps due to my Dad's birthday, St. Patrick's Day, we must be part Irish?? From Only Illinois: If you visit Chicago during St. Patrick’s Day, you will undoubtedly witness one of the strangest traditions in the country: the river dyeing. For five decades, Chicago has transformed the waterway into a shade of bright emerald green by dumping 100 pounds of environmentally friendly dye right into the Chicago River. This year will mark the 61st anniversary of this unique event. According to url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchicagoist.com%2F2016%2F03%2F16%2Fst_patricks_day_history.php&data=05%7C01%7C%7C642b22acf1294e103bda08dbee197842%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638365565398023001%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7... read more
And a green river
Color me green!

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 16th 2024

After a dozen trips to Chicago, I must admit I am not a deep-dish pizza fan. I love a thin crust pizza, like Serious Pie in Seattle. Serious Eats describes the differences: Chicago deep dish is remarkably distinct from pizza as it’s known elsewhere. Baked in a tall, circular pan, it features a thick crust filled with cheese on the bottom, toppings (optional) in the middle, and sauce ladled on top. But here’s the tricky thing: Not all thick-crusted pizza in Chicago is deep dish. In fact, deep dish is just one of at least three different kinds of thick-crusted pizza you'll find in the Windy City, which is to say nothing of the numerous styles of thin-crust pizza. Though real differences exist, there’s confusion because these styles look so similar. Each is thick and features ... read more
Famous Gino's East
Thinner crust for me!

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 14th 2024

Illustrious url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alinearestaurant.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7C5b80405382664132672108dbed0bf451%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638364407827473449%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=rGTbjg0dZGLpophQFGxxOnmRsiLmXumlYKdiO3%2FlMA4%3D&reserved=0Alinea takes the art of cookery and dissects it to a molecular level, turning raw ingredients into amazing dishes using physics and chemistry. Everything on the menu is carefully planned by Grant Achatz, the restaurant's chef and co-owner, and a master of molecular gastronomy. Meals here are an assault on the senses, with each dish presenting a different thrill. Expect to see things like spherified dips, distilled liquids made from green chilis, and marzipan frozen with liquid nitrogen. Don'... read more
Famous deep dish pizza
Love Manny's

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 13th 2024

Some history from Far and Wide: On Chicago's South Side, Italian immigrants first started making Italian beef sandwiches in the ‘30s. Juicy and flavorful, these sammies are now available all over Chicago, but purists run to url=https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.alsbeef.com%2F&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cbfbf2ceefb734bfee33608dbb7e96c24%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C638305985403362906%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=LZFGTZp0KpjmAi6VsQJmGwHeaF3nsIufI8Bo7BPzDJo%3D&reserved=0Al's, which still claims to be the originator of this classic sandwich. The chain still uses its original recipe to prepare dry-roasted beef coated in a secret blend of spices, topped with peppers and served inside a thick roll. Most connoisseurs opt for their sandwich "wet," with extra ... read more
Love the Chicago Beef
Love the red checkerboard tables

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 13th 2024

What makes a Chicago dog different from any other dog? Hot Dog is another American classic that became popular outside of America pretty much worldwide. A grilled or steamed sausage served in a sliced bun and traditionally adorned with mustard, ketchup, onions, relish, and other condiments. It is a flavorful and portable delight often enjoyed at ball games, picnics, and summer cookouts. The marriage of juicy sausage and a soft bun, along with the tangy and savory flavors from the toppings, makes the hot dog one of the most famous American street foods. A Chicago-style hotdog starts with a steamed poppy seed bun and an all-beef frankfurter. It is then topped with yellow mustard, bright green relish, chopped onions, tomato, a kosher-style pickle spear, and a few spicy sports peppers, all topped with celery salt. Its ... read more
Here dog!
Chicago skyline

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 12th 2024

After numerous trips to Chicago, mostly for business, but a few for pleasure, I am just about out of "new" things to share with you. But, as you know, I will try my best. I have always found Chicago to be a much more manageable city than LA, NY, Paris, or Tokyo. But you can decide for yourself. Fifty million people visit every year! One place I have always wanted to visit is the International Museum of Surgical Science, operated by the International College of Surgeons. It houses thousands of medical artifacts and objects, along with a huge dose of infamous quackery. It also houses a rather unique library, including one book written by Florence Nightingale! Friends have told me it is one of the most macabre places in the world! A companion visit would probably ... read more
The infamous Green Mill
The Button Museum

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago March 10th 2024

Google says: Chicago, on Lake Michigan in Illinois, is among the largest cities in the U.S. Famed for its bold architecture, it has a skyline punctuated by skyscrapers such as the iconic John Hancock Center, 1,451-ft. Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) and the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower. The city is also renowned for its museums, including the Art Institute of Chicago with its noted Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works. I started visiting Chicago in business back in the 80s. I much prefer Chicago to New York City, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Rome, or Moscow. For me, it is a big city but very manageable. Public transportation is very good, though O'Hare is a trek to and from downtown. The famous "El" can get me almost anywhere, along with an extensive bus system. I did not know: The ... read more
The Billy Goat Tavern
Love my Portillo's

North America » United States » Illinois » Chicago January 5th 2024

From Clever Journey: Qatar Airways, Air New Zealand, and Singapore Airlines offer the best airline food, according to AirlineRatings.com. Emirates served over 110 million meals in 2019, with 70 million special meals catering to dietary requirements.... read more
Very tasty!!!
Count me in!




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