Chicago: Foodie Adventures part 1, Old Friends, New Friends & some gripes
Just back in the office... I have tons to do but thought I'd make a few posts about Chicago. It was great!
While I was in town for International Mr. Leather, several local shops had me present classes (Boutique G, The Pleasure Chest and Early To Bed.) They went really well so they've all booked additional classes for my mid September return. I really like the students here. Very eager and quick in learning.
Hotel gripe:
K arrived on Friday as I was switching over hotels. I stayed at the Sheraton, across from the IML host hotel of Hyatt downtown. Nice place but it was just impossible to try to log on in the room. Their wired (!) net connection service provider didn't service Firefox or Safari in the main log-on page, consequently I couldn't get on. All this for $13/day? Once I got around to a Starbucks (blah) to use their wifi. The Sharaton Chicago really needs to get a better service provider for their net access.
Oh and they claim to be environmentally conscious - if you don't want your towels switched out, you're to leave it on the towel hanger. If you want it switched out you're to put it on the floor. In practice it didn't matter where you put it. They swapped it out anyway.
Instead of ceramic coffee mugs they gave you plastic wrapped plastic cups and paper Starbucks cups with plastic lids. I am sure they don't recycle. How does this let them get their LEED certification?
Food Adventures:
Saturday....
I am on a mission. Not having a car wasn't an issue. I had to get us to Hot Goug's The Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium .
Not having a clue about where it is, relative to the trains, and time being a limit, we decided to take a taxi, which was pretty expensive. (Later we find out that the Blue Line would have gotten us out pretty close.) The place is located in the middle of offices and remote businesses... Not easy to get to but worth the trip is you're a foodie. The reason for the determined journey? Fridays and Saturdays are the only days that Duck Fat Fries are available. Yes, French fries fried in duck fat! And their hours? Monday - Saturday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, closed on Sundays.
When we got there the line was, literally, half way down the block. The customers were patient. Some brought weekend readings and generally socialized with their friends and fellow encased meat lovers.
The people in line were really nice. The guy behind us gave us directions on how to get back on public transit. Another person gave us their transit pass with a few cents left on it so we could just refill it. Met a nice couple, Mona and James, and we chatted about our various cats, their wedding plans, etc. When they asked what brought us to town, we told them "International Mr. Leather" - then a moment a thought and then she chuckled "Oh is that in town? No wonder we've not heard from XXXX, he'll be busy all weekend." Yeah, IML is big here.
The wait was an hour and half. We didn't care.
Here, the interior of the store. A paper plate joint, where you're greeted by the owner with a dry at the counter and the staff are really cheery.
The reason for our sojourn? Can you make out this amazing menu?
We had
* Chardonnay-infused Rattlesnake Sausage with Bacon-garlic Dijonnaise and Mirabo Walnut Cheese
* Brandy-soaked Portuguese Chorizo with Saffron Rouille and Queso Arico Cheese
* Bell Pepper Wild Boar Sausage with Anchovy Goat's Milk Butter and Saint Paulin Cheese
and duck fat fries of course.
ahhhhh mmmmm aaaaaa mmmmm omg mmmmm!
We shared the window perch with Mona and James. Then they gave us a lift to the nearest train station! They were so sweet! (I've noticed that Chicagoans are really nice, unless they're driving and you're a pedestrian.)
The El is really easy and pretty efficient. Chicago's just so huge that as a tourist it's figuring out where you are that's tough.
After the sausage heaven, back to IML and enjoyed half the vendor mart. With 125 major vendors, it's the largest kinky market, and simply the best, in the world. Ok, no much for chickie clothes, but I don't care. Great to see so many friends!
K was "assulted" by an attack-homo! There she was, minding her own business, trying on super sexy and unique moto cop pants by InSeam Clothing, when a hunky fashion fag molested her and then forcibly accessorized her with a hot set of red leather braces. No consent here! LOL.
Saturday night - women's meet and greet...
(Gripe warning)
A rather somber event without any festivity and coming from a rather dower place with attitude of scarcity. A real contrast with the excellent party making festive environment of IML. Made me sad. 'Nuff said.
The new International Ms Leather - Hobbit, and the new International Ms Bootblack, Q - did an awesome job to liven up the party. These two are going to be a couple of great title holders!
OMG, IML has parties everywhere! and hot sexy men everywhere!
Also exciting is that fetish wear is really expanding and getting creative. Lots of sport gear inspired outfits, like moto cross and pro speed moto racing, etc!
Ran in to my favorite male models with Colt and they want to shoot with me again! I'm sooo excited!
While I was in town for International Mr. Leather, several local shops had me present classes (Boutique G, The Pleasure Chest and Early To Bed.) They went really well so they've all booked additional classes for my mid September return. I really like the students here. Very eager and quick in learning.
Hotel gripe:
K arrived on Friday as I was switching over hotels. I stayed at the Sheraton, across from the IML host hotel of Hyatt downtown. Nice place but it was just impossible to try to log on in the room. Their wired (!) net connection service provider didn't service Firefox or Safari in the main log-on page, consequently I couldn't get on. All this for $13/day? Once I got around to a Starbucks (blah) to use their wifi. The Sharaton Chicago really needs to get a better service provider for their net access.
Oh and they claim to be environmentally conscious - if you don't want your towels switched out, you're to leave it on the towel hanger. If you want it switched out you're to put it on the floor. In practice it didn't matter where you put it. They swapped it out anyway.
Instead of ceramic coffee mugs they gave you plastic wrapped plastic cups and paper Starbucks cups with plastic lids. I am sure they don't recycle. How does this let them get their LEED certification?
Food Adventures:
Saturday....
I am on a mission. Not having a car wasn't an issue. I had to get us to Hot Goug's The Sausage Superstore and Encased Meat Emporium .
Not having a clue about where it is, relative to the trains, and time being a limit, we decided to take a taxi, which was pretty expensive. (Later we find out that the Blue Line would have gotten us out pretty close.) The place is located in the middle of offices and remote businesses... Not easy to get to but worth the trip is you're a foodie. The reason for the determined journey? Fridays and Saturdays are the only days that Duck Fat Fries are available. Yes, French fries fried in duck fat! And their hours? Monday - Saturday, 10:30 am - 4:00 pm, closed on Sundays.
When we got there the line was, literally, half way down the block. The customers were patient. Some brought weekend readings and generally socialized with their friends and fellow encased meat lovers.
The people in line were really nice. The guy behind us gave us directions on how to get back on public transit. Another person gave us their transit pass with a few cents left on it so we could just refill it. Met a nice couple, Mona and James, and we chatted about our various cats, their wedding plans, etc. When they asked what brought us to town, we told them "International Mr. Leather" - then a moment a thought and then she chuckled "Oh is that in town? No wonder we've not heard from XXXX, he'll be busy all weekend." Yeah, IML is big here.
The wait was an hour and half. We didn't care.
Here, the interior of the store. A paper plate joint, where you're greeted by the owner with a dry at the counter and the staff are really cheery.
The reason for our sojourn? Can you make out this amazing menu?
We had
* Chardonnay-infused Rattlesnake Sausage with Bacon-garlic Dijonnaise and Mirabo Walnut Cheese
* Brandy-soaked Portuguese Chorizo with Saffron Rouille and Queso Arico Cheese
* Bell Pepper Wild Boar Sausage with Anchovy Goat's Milk Butter and Saint Paulin Cheese
and duck fat fries of course.
ahhhhh mmmmm aaaaaa mmmmm omg mmmmm!
We shared the window perch with Mona and James. Then they gave us a lift to the nearest train station! They were so sweet! (I've noticed that Chicagoans are really nice, unless they're driving and you're a pedestrian.)
The El is really easy and pretty efficient. Chicago's just so huge that as a tourist it's figuring out where you are that's tough.
After the sausage heaven, back to IML and enjoyed half the vendor mart. With 125 major vendors, it's the largest kinky market, and simply the best, in the world. Ok, no much for chickie clothes, but I don't care. Great to see so many friends!
K was "assulted" by an attack-homo! There she was, minding her own business, trying on super sexy and unique moto cop pants by InSeam Clothing, when a hunky fashion fag molested her and then forcibly accessorized her with a hot set of red leather braces. No consent here! LOL.
Saturday night - women's meet and greet...
(Gripe warning)
A rather somber event without any festivity and coming from a rather dower place with attitude of scarcity. A real contrast with the excellent party making festive environment of IML. Made me sad. 'Nuff said.
The new International Ms Leather - Hobbit, and the new International Ms Bootblack, Q - did an awesome job to liven up the party. These two are going to be a couple of great title holders!
OMG, IML has parties everywhere! and hot sexy men everywhere!
Also exciting is that fetish wear is really expanding and getting creative. Lots of sport gear inspired outfits, like moto cross and pro speed moto racing, etc!
Ran in to my favorite male models with Colt and they want to shoot with me again! I'm sooo excited!