Chicago
This past weekend I visited Chicago. I lived there for almost 3 years, and they were some great years. I was broke most of the time, but it is such a fun city to live in.
I was staying in a suburb so I had to plan in detail what I wanted to do while in the city proper; I had to go to Schubas, have a 312 (Goose Island Brewery's wheat ale named after the city's area code) even though I am near intolerant of alcohol these days, get cookies at Sweet Mandy B's bakery in Lincoln Park, and see La Roux at Lincoln Hall (a new venue by the owners of Schubas, so I had to check it out).
Schuba's was the same great old Schubas.
Sweet Mandy B's is a great bakery in Lincoln Park (Webster & Racine), and I took my friends Holly and Mary there for the first time. It has expanded since I was last there, twice as big! Sweet Mandy's has the best - and I am not using hyperbole - best buttercream frosting. They have a huge variety of sweets, but my favorites are the cupcakes and sugar cookies, both with generous helpings of buttercream on top. The sugar cookies are under 2$ and if you eat the entire thing at once, you will probably get sick, but it will be worth it.
The Belmont station has finished its construction since I left, and has mosaics everywhere! The kid I nanny would love all the smiley faces.
Holly and her cousin Bryan and I arrived at Lincoln Hall plenty early because the La Roux concert was sold out. We did a crossword and had french fries, then got a great spot at the balcony. The concert was awesome - the only downside is La Roux's set was too short, but they only have one album, so what can you do. Great crowd, great energetic performance. Check out the gig poster:
Those are my saddle shoes holding the curling edges down. My mom had the same brand (Bass) when she was in grade school for her uniform.
Next up...well, not much since I have bills to pay, but a trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico is only a month away!
À bientôt!
I was staying in a suburb so I had to plan in detail what I wanted to do while in the city proper; I had to go to Schubas, have a 312 (Goose Island Brewery's wheat ale named after the city's area code) even though I am near intolerant of alcohol these days, get cookies at Sweet Mandy B's bakery in Lincoln Park, and see La Roux at Lincoln Hall (a new venue by the owners of Schubas, so I had to check it out).
Schuba's was the same great old Schubas.
Sweet Mandy B's is a great bakery in Lincoln Park (Webster & Racine), and I took my friends Holly and Mary there for the first time. It has expanded since I was last there, twice as big! Sweet Mandy's has the best - and I am not using hyperbole - best buttercream frosting. They have a huge variety of sweets, but my favorites are the cupcakes and sugar cookies, both with generous helpings of buttercream on top. The sugar cookies are under 2$ and if you eat the entire thing at once, you will probably get sick, but it will be worth it.
The Belmont station has finished its construction since I left, and has mosaics everywhere! The kid I nanny would love all the smiley faces.
Holly and her cousin Bryan and I arrived at Lincoln Hall plenty early because the La Roux concert was sold out. We did a crossword and had french fries, then got a great spot at the balcony. The concert was awesome - the only downside is La Roux's set was too short, but they only have one album, so what can you do. Great crowd, great energetic performance. Check out the gig poster:
Those are my saddle shoes holding the curling edges down. My mom had the same brand (Bass) when she was in grade school for her uniform.
Next up...well, not much since I have bills to pay, but a trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico is only a month away!
À bientôt!