My Jeep

Well it was only a matter of time, but it finally happened, my wonderful Jeep decided it did not want to go on.

I was driving home from the suburbs when it happened. The engine started to become increasingly louder and louder the car began shaking and the interior lights were fading fast. As I tried to accelerate to make it off the highway nothing happened. The more I accelerated the more it slowed down so with its last bit of strength it was nice enough to get me to the side of the off ramp. That is where its last stop would be, the Kimball off ramp on 90/94. The car began smoking and there was a pungent smell all around. As I sat there on the side of the highway at 1:00 in the morning, my mind racing a million miles a minute, thinking about how hours from now I would be getting to work. Thinking, how would I be able to buy a car seeing as I am broke most of the time. Or whether I would have to rent a car for the rest of the week or get rides from co-workers. Suprisingly enough I had forgotten to worry about the immediate future, what was I going to do right then.

I did not even realize that as soon as I had pulled off the highway someone had pulled up next to me. I would have rolled down the windows, but obviously that didn't work. So I got out of my car went up to the man and he told me to try and make it to the end of the ramp where there was a gas station. I told him no way the car was dead. "what's wrong?" he asked, " It's dead, she isn't workin at all, it has a lot of miles (240,000 to be exact) and this is the end for her," out of no where he says, "alright then get in, where you going?" I told him and he was going some what near there so he gave me a ride. Man, I was lucky I would not know what to do sitting on the highway late at night with barely any money and no idea where I was in relation to public transportation.

So my car, my great car, my companion and friend who was always there for me (except when it would break down) is gone, its sad and can not be replaced, but I must move on. So I have a rental and am looking for another. I'll let you know what I get.

Tamales

2 - Packages of Ojas De Maiz
2.79 - Pounds of Tomatillos
1 - 5 Pound Gaud Masa
1.28 - Pound Jalapeno Peppers
3 - Full Chickens
1 - Giant Tamale Pot
7- Hours

This, along with some old myths and legends is what you need to make a whole lot of tamales.

Last night I went my friends moms house, who is from Mexico City, to make tamales. I love tamales so when I had the chance to learn how to make them I had to go for it.

First you take the chickens and start boiling them with some onion garlic and salt. While that is happening you take the Gaud Masa, (Crushed corn, lard, salt, other stuff), and scoop it all into a big bowl. Add 2 parts water and stir. This part is tricky you want to in the beginning stir it around like brownie mix, but as soon as it gets soft and a smoother consistancy you need to actually whip it. This process is supposed to be done with your hands, but I used a really big spoon. You whip the masa for 45 min or until your arm falls off. The real way to know when it is done is you drop a piece into water and if it floats you are done. Actually though the longer you go the better your tamales will be and whoever starts the stiring process has to finish it otherwise it will not be good.

Once the masa is whipped you rinse off all the ojas de maiz, the corn shuck the tamale is wrapped in, all the time watching the chicken. Next you prepare the Tomatillos, little green tomatoes. These tomatoes are specifically for the type of Tamales that we were making. There are many different types of tamales, basically red green and sweet. We were making are tamales with salsa verde. So you clean off and boil the tomatillos again with onions garlic and salt. You then twist the stems of the jalapenos to make them mad so that they will be spicier. They are then thrown into the pot with the tomatillos.

While the tomatoes and the jalapenos boiled the chicken was cleaned and then shredded. The tomatillos were then done. You can tell they are done by the color that they change and they become very very soft. Put them in a blender with the onion and garlic that was boiling in the pot add some salt and liquefy. The same is done with the Jalapenos and then they are mixed together. A separate pot is used to heat up a thin layer of oil, any kind, and then the peppers and tomatillos are thrown in. When this happens there is a loud whoosh and what looks as though it is all going to come flying out of the pot, but it does not. If this does not happen, if your oil is not hot enough, you might as well start over because it will be no good any more.

The salsa is then cooked and is ready once it is cooled. It is then mixed with the shredded chicken and always use a healthy amount of salsa because it is what is keeping the chicken from being to dry.

Then on to making the tamales you take a healthy spoon full of the masa and spread it directly in the middle of the ojas de maiz and then make a indent inside that and put the salsa chicken mix, kind of like mashed potatoes and gravy. You then fold over the two sides trying to get the masa to surround the chicken. Then one more fold at the bottom.

After about 65 of those you bless them,(Very Very important part), and then you put them in the tamale pot. The tamale pot has levels inside it so you put water up to the first level, then a tray sits inside of the pot above the water. You stack the tamales on an angle always pointing up. You can just keep laying tamale upon tamale as long as the open end is facing up. When all are inside start the steaming. When you hear the water boil that means you have one hour.

An hour later you check, if they just fall of the side of there wrapper they are done, if any part of it sticks then 15-20 minutes more.

Mine took a total of 2 and a half hours, I forgot to bless them. The end result though was 65 delicious tamales and a great time learning. I cant wait to make them again, but it will not be for awhile.

Fry Daddy

Well my brother gave me a little fry daddy. I have not yet gained 100 pounds, but I am not doubting the potential downfalls and heart attacks this little thing can cause. So far I have made fries, tater tots, chicken fingers, and onion rings and I have only used the thing twice. To add to its goodness I happen to have a plethora of different dipping sauces that I don't use enough, so it gives me the excuse to fry up more things. The cleanup though is a major ordeal and literally takes me two days to get it perfectly clean. I am trying my hardest to use it at a minimum and so far have been doing a good job, but in a few months if I have gained a ton of weight you know why.

The Green Mill

The Green Mill is a really great little old place that plays live music almost every night. It is setup as though it is the 1920's and you are sitting at a club where Frank Sinatra might be singing.

At one time this famous place was actually run by Al Capone through one of his hench man "Machinegun" Jack McGurn. There is a replica booth where Al Capone used to sit when he came to the club, it was located perfectly so that both entrances could be seen. In this great place there is also a trap door in the floor behind the bar, where now they store the liquor, but back then it was for hiding it. It is also said that this door leads across the street to the Aragon ballroom in case anyone had to leave in a hurry.

The bar has a couple of major rules though that all pertain to when the music is playing. "Big Al", the one enforcing the rules, lets you know right away what they are, when the music starts no smoking and no talking. If you really have to do one or the other you are sent to the way back corner of the bar. These rules are tough, but the music does sound much better when you are hearing it in such a quiet room.

This may be my new favorite bar in Chicago and I plan on heading back there again and again.

Charlie Hunter

The Charlie Hunter Trio is a jazz group that I went and checked out this weekend at the Green Mill, (separate entry), and this show was unbelievable. I am actually not lying I could not believe my ears and eyes.

Charlie Hunter plays an 8-string guitar, this means that the guitar is more than just a guitar it is also a bass. It is not like the old 80's guitars where it is two different instruments combined, it looks from a far as though it is a normal electric guitar, but when you get closer you can easily realize there is something special about his guitar.

When he is playing you do not know where to look, his left hand, his right, his face, his feet, everything is moving a mile a minute. Because he is playing both the bass and the guitar at the same time he can not take his right hand and just go across all the strings like a normal guitar, but instead has to pluck each individual string every time. While this is happening his left hand is somehow playing two different parts of the instrument with his fingers. Two are playing the guitar part and two are playing the bass part.

My favorite part about Charlie Hunters playing though was his expressions. I can only imagine the amount of work that is going into the way he plays, but I got some sort of idea of it by the way he contorts his face and mouth. The music almost seems to be coming out through his body expressions.

The music was amazing and his ability was gifted, but he was not the only part of the band. John Ellis on the Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Wurlitzer & Melodica, (google it, its worth it) and Derrek Phillips on the Drums and other percussion instruments.

These two were also masters of their instruments and made it look easy to be playing two or three instruments all at the same time.

My favorite part of the show came during one of Derrek Phillips' drum solos, he was jammin and then all of the sudden Charlie hunter came over and started playing the symbols while Derrek kept bangging away at the drums, one hand with a drumstick the other just his hand. Then John came over with moraccas and some other noise maker and all of them crowded around the drums and played in perfect rhythm.

They will not be around again for awhile, but I am going to make it my mission to see these guys again.

Sushi Samba

Went to Sushi Samba last night. They have really good food there. It is a mix between Brazillian, Japanese, and Peruvian meals. Which is actually really nice if you do... or don't like raw fish. I am someone who not only likes, but loves sushi they had me covered.

Not going to lie at first I was kind of turned off by the trendy "Mod" look they were going for, but the waitress was nice and not pretentious, so it worked out.

I ordered a couple of sushi rolls. First the standard spicy tuna and then one of their special Samba rolls. It was called the Unagi Tamago, which is fresh water eel, zuke tuna, cucumber & tempura flake with wasabi tobiko crema. It was un real. This sushi was delicious and was one of the better sushi rolls I have had.

A great finish to the meal was an amazing dessert, Valrhona Chocolate Fondue. Which came with coconut marshmallows, japanese rice crispies, passionfruit cake, brigadeiro, fruta fresca & sorvete. I could not eat it all but sampled one of everything and it was all perfect.

The end price wasn't to bad and I am going to be back there real soon.

Big City Swing

Well I actually did it. I started swing dance classes at a place called Big City Swing. I never could have seen this happening, but my cousin asked me awhile back if I would be down for checking out a dance class with her. I said yes, which is scary because I already knew that she was good at dancing therefore I was definitely the one who was going to make a fool out of myself.

We actually found the dance studio over the summer, but we just missed the signup and therefore had to postpone until yesterday. The class though is really awesome.

The set up is such that you do not always have the same partner. So even if you are bad your partner does not really know because you are only doing a small part of each step with one person. Since there are less men than women (honestly though not by much) the men form a circle around the outside edge of the class and the women rotate in the middle. The instructors are in the center explaining and showing each step. After their presentation they turn on the music and everyone practices it. "Thank your partner then rotate."

I did not get told I was bad so I guess that was a good sign, but really it is only the first class so who knows. I think though this is going to work out and we are having and will continue to have a lot of fun.

Thanks Carmel for asking me to go, see you Monday.

The Saturday Evening Gentlemen

Well this weekend was great. It started off with the Disco Biscuits and the MOE concert at the Aragon which was really good. The place was packed. I did not realize how big the Aragon was and how popular Moe is.

That happened to be just the beginning of what would be a ridiculous weekend, mainly because of my Saturday night.

My Friend Pat was in town from New York for what was supposed to be a Bears- Colts Super Bowl, turns out it was neither, oh well, so we met up on Saturday at the old APT. There were a few people over and we were doing the standard chillin listening to music sippin on a couple of beers watching bad TV, or good, depending on your opinion (Elimidate).

We decided the night needed a little something more because it was seeming a little boring. After a few outlandish ideas that were thrown around Al decided talk was cheap and he was actually going to follow through with one of our ideas, so...Martin grabbed the markers and we started making sketches. No one truly knew where this was headed, but Al was not backing down and then the hilarity began.

Al went first and choose the 1980's Mike Ditka/ Coach Dyer mustache in the color black. So I proceeded to use a good old fashion crayola marker and drew to the best of my abilities a mustache on Al. To my amazement it didn't look bad and in fact it looked real from more than 3-4 feet away.

This started a chain reaction next was a fu-manchu with the upper lip missing, I believe it was called the Mick Mars. Then there was the pointy villain mustache, the Yosemite Sam, the pencil thin just above the upper lip, the 1920's barber, a bar code, and a Hitler.

This alone made the night absolutely ridiculous, but the night was just beginning. We decided that it was perfectly normal and definitely socially acceptable to draw mustaches on oneself and therefore we should go out to bars looking like this. So we did.

The first bar, "Louie's Pub: Where Friends Meet", happened to be having
karaoke night which was not not all that surprising because at this particular bar they have karaoke 4-5 times a week.

We all were singing on the mics, talking with complete strangers, dancing and if anyone asked us a silly question such as, "Why do you guys all have drawn on mustaches?", everyone would reply, "what are you talking about", "who has drawn on mustaches", or "Its saturday night isnt it", people were so suprised by the ridiculousness of the situation that they soon didn't know what to do or say so they just stopped asking.

The bar was coming to a close and so for the finale "The Saturday Evening Gentlemen" where called apon to sing Black Water by the Doobie Brothers. I am sure it was the most aweful sounding thing in the world, but hilarious none the less. The night went on, but this is where I departed. Only to wake up and find out that they were not washable markers.

Pictures to come soon, being developed. Here is one off my phone, its Pat with a pencil thin.

Vino

Been having some really good wine lately, in particular three.

Company: Altos Las Hormigas
Vintage: 2004
Type: Malbec
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Price: 10-13




Company: Nobul Red
Vintage: 2003
Type: Temprinillo
Country: Spain
Region: Madrid
Price: 8-10




Company: Rainoldi
Vintage: 1998
Type: Nebbiolo
Country: Italy
Region: Valtellina Superiore D.O.C.G.
Price: In a restaurant $36, so it's much cheaper, but dont know

Fiore's Italian Deli

Found a new great Italian Deli slash grocery store In Ukranian Village. It is a very small little shop with great sandwiches and ready to go pastas. you can pick up a cannoli, a slice of pizza or a single serving plate of lasagna to go. It also has a great and wide variety of sauces and sides to choose from out of their little grocer section. The sandwiches though are the reason to go, they have all the usually subs and more, they even make breakfast sandwiches.


Fiore's Italian Deli
2258 W. Erie St.
312-942-9419

New Table

Click to Enlarge the Photo

Great Beer Greater Idea

Wednesday, January 25th 8pm-?
Celebrate great stouts and your abitlity to grow facial hair!
11th Annual Bell's Stout Tasting, 2nd Annual Sheffield's Mustache Party!
$3.50 pints and $1 tasters
Best Mustache to be awarded! (this contest has no bias, if you can't grow one, one will be provided)

Sheffield's
3258 N. Sheffield
(773) 281-4989

I dont think there is anything better
Thanks Martin

Globetrotters

The one and only Harlem Globetrotters are coming to the United Center. They will be playing on the 21st at 1pm and 7pm. The tickets range in price from $14 in the nose bleeds to $125, which is kind of ridiculous. The Globtrotters with be playing and beating the Nationals, obviously. Man I can not wait to see this.

The Jigawatt Trio

They are playing at Wise Fools Pub tomorrow the 20th. Everyone has to go check this band out. They play a jazz funk rock mix and do it well. They start at 9pm. The bar is great the band is excellent and the cover is cheap. I highly recommend it.

The Jerry Springer Show

This is not for Kids or people easily offended, this is my experience at the Jerry Springer show and therefore more than a little obscene.

Here is the Ridiculous story of one mans trip to the Jerry Springer show.

We get there wait in a small line to go through the metal detectors, then are taken up to a waiting room through a 10' X 10' elevator with 15 ft ceilings. In the waiting room, obviously, we waited for about an hour and a half. People were all crowded and bored so jokes were told by the others around me. People laughed at others trying to use the "Vegas" style vending machines. Meaning there was a good chance you were loosing your money, it was possible to get chips but "the house" usually won.

Then someone walked in looking to tell us some news, that news being...."As you may or may not know, this is not an ordinary episode of Jerry. Tonight it is the Uncensored Jerry Springer Episode. This means there will be excessive language and nudity, if this offends anyone let me know now!" After the laughter stopped we were filed onto the stage. The magic was about to begin.

The MC slash main behind-the-scenes guy comes out tells us the run down, "Hey everyone as you know this is an uncensored show and therefore you guys can be as raunchy and foul mouthed as you want to be, but only when I tell you to. "This show is going to be all about you the audience the questions you ask are what make the show so be as filthy and disgusting as you can be when asking questions, but be funny, don’t just stand up there and say the F word a bunch of times be creative." "Oh and the louder and more you cheer the more there clothes come off."

So then Jerry comes out and does a little warming up of the crowd. He tells some jokes does a little Q & A Jerry then tells us to have fun.

The MC comes out again and this time tells us the show is about to begin and then gives us some final rules and guidelines. He finishes by saying "if you don't know what to do look at me and I will tell you what to do." (That is exactly what I did for the entire first segment.)

Then the ridiculousness of Jerry Springer Uncensored began. Out came two strippers, who for the rest of the time would be dancing around a poll just off to the side of the stage.

The first guest is a girl who thinks her boyfriend is cheating on her with another girl, turns out she is right and in fact Jerry has that girl back stage. Ding Ding Ding the girl from back stage comes out and immediately that start trying to kill each other. After a couple of minutes of fighting, for no apparent, reason they take off there clothes and decide to fight naked. As the crowed is yelling "F*ck her up F*ck her up", they roll on the ground pulling each others hair and punch each other all while Jerry just stands in the crowd and smiles at the insanity that he has created.

The boyfriend then comes out and the crowd just yells "F*ck you f*gg*t", over and over again. This is then where Jerry goes into the crowd to gets people, much braver than I, to say something to the boyfriend about how there d*ck is bigger than his, which always resulted in a "Then show us yours then" cheer by the crowd. There were great insults people calling people R Kelly or A white Carlton, from Fresh Prince, your moma jokes, all the staples. This would go on until no one had anything more to say and then...back to naked fighting.

Similar story lines and acts happened two more times girls come out naked fight. Girls stripped on a poll just of stage and the crowd made fun of everyone including if someone in the crowd said something dumb they to were then torn apart by the crowd yelling something like' "suck my d*ck you f*gg*t" or some other completely out-of-control chant. This was truly the most insane yet greatest thing that has ever happened to me.

It was funny yet wrong all at the same time, but then for the end it just got that much more ridiculous.

The same story line for the last segment except that the women in the first parts were cute, white trash, but good-looking, these ladies in the last segment were GINORMOUS. I mean huge. This was not as fun to watch. It also took a turn for the worst when the crowd was chanting, "F*ck you, you fat f*ck." My mouth was wide open and if you could see my face at the time you would no exactly what a dumbfounded expression should look like. I was in shock.

The show ended shortly after with Jerry's somewhat final thoughts and then clapping until done. We were thanked and then on are ways.
I will be trying again very soon to get another set of those tickets.

James Brown

The Godfather of Soul, The Hardest Working Man in Showbuisness, Mr. Dynamite, Soul Brother Number One, The Hit Man, The Creator, The Minister of the New New Super Heavy Funk, The Original Disco Man... James Brown. Thanks to my Cousin Carmel I was able to see him live last week at the House of Blues.

The show was amazing. We were hearing stories about him being old and not that good to see live, but the show was really good and he, I thought, was performing well. He is about a hundred years old so he obviously did not do the splits and when he went down on one knee and got his cape put on him he did not pop back up like you would have expected. He did however put on a great show and still had some of his old moves. He plays with a huge band behind him and they were really good also. The band is called the J&B's and they all would play little solos throughout the show which were all really good. The show is all a huge production and is more Vegas style than anything else, but that is exactly what I expected going to see someone called Soul Brother Number One.

The show was amazing and I am so glad that I was able to see the Godfather of Soul in my lifetime.

Munich

Went and saw Munich last night in the theatres. It was good, defiantly worth watching on the big screen. The movie was long, 2 hours and 44 min, my butt fell asleep and I still had an hour to go. The movie though had to be that long otherwise they would not have been able to tell any of the story.

The movie is not about the Munich Olympics entirely, which I thought it was going to be, instead it is more about what Israel tries do do because of what happened at the Olympics and really that the group Black September was able to get away with so much while the world watched and yet nothing was being done about it by the world community. The movie is obviously biased but does try and give you the other sides point of view, it doesget shot down quickly thhough.

The movie does leave some questions unanswered, thank god they were not all answered, but does a good job of making you think. The movie can be confusing at times, but keeps your interest throughout and tries to show the struggles that the Israelis and a little of what the Palestinians are going through.

Overall good movie lots of info and action and worth the admission price.

Water Towers

I have been thinking about water towers a lot, not the Water Tower, but water towers. They are on top of every old building over 6 stories high. If you are looking for them in the city you cannot miss them they are every where. I had heard about a project going on in the arcitectual world that involved making those old water towers useful in some way. I like this idea because they would not be tearing these great pieces of history down but instead modernizing them.

I was then told just the other day that the Chicago Cultural Museum was going to have an exhibit showing all of the projects that were entered. This includeds almost 100 proposals. Thanks Reilly for that find.

I am really looking forward to checking this exhibit out. The museum is in a great location right across the street from millenium park and down the block from the Art Institute, so there is plenty to do before or after you check out the water tanks.

It takes place at:
The Chicago Cultural Center
78 East Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602

The exhibit goes until the 29th of January. Info

Coast

This may be one of the best sushi places in Chicago if not straight up the best, period. I have eaten from Coast before and always been blown away by there food, but this weekend I was able to actually go to the restaurant. We did not have a reservation, luckily though they had an opening early in the night. I was also there with a great crew so I knew the night would all go well.

Like I said I was aware going in that there food was good, I have had some of there take out, but still did not know what to expect. My real fear was the price. Walking into the restaurant did not ease my tension. This place is very stylish. A low lit restaurant with the sushi bar along one wall and booths along the other. It was very "sharp" and "clean", with great artwork along the walls. We were then escorted into a second room with a similar theme except just booths along both walls. I was later told that this second room had just been added.

The great thing about Coast is that it is BYOB, so we brought a couple of bottles of wine with us. We started of the night with Edamame, which is just boiled soybeans. They were delicious once I was told how to actually eat them by Blair. After a laugh at the fact that I had no idea what I was doing we started to order.
First an Unagi, which is fresh water eel laid over rice, for everyone. Also an order of coast crab, a volcano, a couple of white dragons, the Alaskan, and a spicy tuna, the reason for naming them all is because we still got more after all this and the price was still reasonable in the end.

This restaurant from atmosphere to service; to especially the food was amazing. I will definitely be going there again and can't wait.

The Green Door

This is a great place to get some food at. I have always been impressed with there food and drink selection. The Green Door is a really old building in the River North area and has actually been around since right after the Chicago fire. This makes it unique in its own way because it is made out of wood, which they did not allow at that time so close to the loop. The original door is still used and you can tell that it is so old because of the slant that it is on.

This restaurant slash bar is great because of the people who work there's attitudes. Its not like Ed Debevicks, always yelling at you, but instead they are just really relaxed and nonchalant.

The Green Door has really good "bar" food and also great little side meals. They also have a very healthy beer selection with some interesting beers that I have only seen at this bar.

So if in that part of the city I suggest giving it a try, after work seems like a good time to get food there along with a pint.

New Years Eve

New Years this year was really fun, which does not normally happen. New Years eve is overrated. This year though I had a little pre party at my apartment along with the dudes upstairs, the usually 1610 gala. After that I went to a show featuring The Chicago Afrobeat Project and Bad News Jones.

These bands were really good and Impressed me a lot. The CABP was a jazzy funky type of band with what seemed like a million people on stage, including African tribal dancers (they were not really from Africa, but look as thought they were). They had all sorts of great instruments going on to the sax, djembe, drums, guitar, keyboards, it went on.

The second band was a more hip hop band, but with some true roots in jazz. I actually got to talk with one of the singers and they seemed like cool guys. This band came on second though meaning I could not truly appreciate the band at 2 in the morning on New Years, I'll catch them again sometime.

The Note had all the bells and whistles going on with the countdown and everything was done well. It was a good time and I am glad I went.

A finally got a picture

This is in my kitchen, but I have not been able to get a picture of it till now.

JosB (Hose Bee as in not Hose A)

My cousin Joe is coming back for a little bit. He has been in Russia for what seems like forever. Cant wait to see him.

Bears in the Playoffs

A little late , but have to mention how great the Bears are and how they are going to win the Super Bowl. I cant believe how good they look with Rex Grossman as there Quarterback it is like they are a whole new team.

Bears playoff tickets go on sale next tuesday. A limited number of tickets for the Bears' NFC divisional playoff game Jan. 14 or 15 at Soldier Field are scheduled to go on sale next Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 10 a.m. through Ticketmaster.

Everyone better be ready. I cant wait.

Reebok Classics

I got exactly what I wanted for Christmas new shoes. I got three pairs, white and blue, blue and white and bears blue and orange. I also have my original white and white. These are the greatest shoes and I have been wearing theses shoes since my freshman year of high school. Best Christmas presents ever.

Texas Part II

I had never been to Texas before, it was very interesting. I went to three cities when I was there, Houston, Austin and San Antonio. In Texas they think they are the greatest and that they have, as a state, done nothing wrong. There is nothing wrong with this it is just funny. The people in Texas actually are some of the nicest people I have met.

In Texas it is no problem for anyone and everyone to own or buy a gun. This is kind of creepy, the fact that someone could have a gun at any given time and most likely does. It makes you not pick fights, not that I do that anyway.

They say they do everything bigger and better in Texas there fore when you get a hotdogs it is a foot long and a half a pound of meat. Or instead of an Expedition SUV which is huge to begin with they have a Texas sized Expedition, AKA a mini bus. They do love there trucks in Texas, white pickups in particular, and these are also huge. When thinking of a normal truck it is usually a F150 or 250, not in Texas though they ride in F450 and 550 which are bigger than any truck I have ever seen, the thing seats 7. That is a minivan with a truck bed attached to it, the thing is fricken huge.

In Texas they are also obsessed with the shape of there state and the Texas star. Anywhere it is possible to have one or the other, there it is. Every beer can, every road sign, on the highway walls, and flags everywhere. It is actually quite funny.

San Antonio though was very cool and was probably the best of the cities I went to. I got to see a Spurs game, they won, but the reason San Antonio was so cool is the way there city is set up. The whole city is on a little river, literally on the river. The shrine, the Alamo, is the center of the city. You walk down from the Alamo and there is a whole city down below literally on the river. Instead of a street separating the stores and restaurants its the river, it was very cool.

Houston and Austin were also very fun. All of Texas had great food. There Tex mex, the steaks the Mexican food, it was all amazing. In Houston we went to a small little Spanish restaurant right near Minute Maid Field called Irmas. At the restaurant they did not have menus they just brought us out a plate with all sorts of different spreads it was delicious. They also had a house lemonade that might have been the best lemonade I have ever had.

Another restaurant we went to was called Saltlick and it was just outside of Austin, or so we thought, in a town called Driftwood (nowhere near water). The food here was also excellent they had a deal where you get three servings of meat, (steak, ribs and sausage), also mash potatoes and colslaw. This was enough food for any one person but since we were in Texas the food was all you can eat, I had trouble finishing the one plate. The best thing about this place was the BYOB.

Overall I liked Texas a lot and suggest giving it a try. The temp though I hear gets to be 100 degrees in the summer with 100% humidity so go in the winter when it is 70.

Moe

I good band is coming to town called Moe and I think they are worth checking out. They are more of a jam band than anything else, but defiantly play some really good music. The opening band is actually really good too they are called Disco Biscuits and play some crazy music. I actually so them along time ago at the rave and enjoyed the show a lot so I am really excited for them coming to Chicago. The tickets are cheaper the earlier you get them so if you are going to go I suggest picking them up earlier and forget ticket master they are a complete rip-off.

Feb 2
Aragon Ballroom
1106 West Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL
all ages
$20

"Early bird" tickets will only be available until 1/3/06 for $20,
From 1/4/06 until 2/2/06, advance tickets will be available for $27.50
Day of show tickets will be $35.

Texas

The stars at night, are big and bright
deep in the heart of Texas,
The prairie sky is wide and high,
deep in the heart of Texas

Sorry I have been on vacation in Texas and could not get to a computer. I do have a few stories though.

Back in a second

Clark Bar

I found a bar that is great for watching Bears games, Clark Bar. It is somewhat of a dive bar and until recently I had not really seen very many people going in and out of this bar, but the reason it is perfect for watching the games is because on Sundays they have free Italian beef sandwiches, hotdogs and buffalo wings. They also have pints of Goose Island for only $3. The people there are great and truly appreciate everyone in the bar. During all big plays and at halftime the owner plays the super bowl shuffle throughout the bar. They also will buy you back drinks every once in awhile which has become rare now-a-days. I have not been to this bar on Friday or Saturday night so I cannot say what it is like other days, but they have really impressed me on Sundays.

Another nice little fact about Clark Bar is that it happens to be next door to the site of the Saint Valentines day Massacre.

Tons of Snow

Last night was insane, 10" of snow fell last night. Which means that today is a great day to go sledding. I was thinking of going back to my old neighborhood in Evanston where they had built a giant slide that was at the top of a little hill. When I was little we used to ride on that thing for hours. I am pretty sure though that they took it down. A kid probably got hurt and the parents pulled the plug on that one, oh well.

There are great places to sled through out Chicago, Warren Park on the north side, Mount Trashmore in Evanston, but one I have been hearing about lately is new because of Soldier Field and Northerly Island. They created a big hill so people going to games or concerts could get a nice view of the city, but it doubles great as a sledding hill. Check it out, you know you all want to.

The Sullivan Brother's

A really good Irish band that my uncles are in called The Sullivan Brothers will be playing a benefit at the Irish Heritage Center on Thursday this week. Not only is the band really good to listen and dance to, but the atmosphere in the Irish Heritage Center brings out the best in people also. They are playing for a good cause and everyone should really think about going if they have a chance on Thursday.

Sullivan Brother's Band Year End Extravaganza

December 8, 2005 - 6pm to 10 pm

Irish American Heritage Center

4626 N. Knox Ave, Chicago

Honoring Sister Theresa Sullivan's return to Chicago to minister in the Daughters of Charity/St. Joseph Services Outreach Program, which provides much needed support to high-risk Chicago area families. Join us and enjoy good music, friendly banter, light fare and drink! Plus, this may be your only chance to hear Irish Christmas Ballads!!!

$25 donation to Daughters of Charity/St. Joseph Services

Also, collecting new or nearly new donations for the children at St. Joseph Services after School Program at Casa de Providencia:

Books for 6th through 8th grade children

Education Software age 10 to 14

Children\'s Toys unwrapped for holiday distribution

RSVP: 773-278-0484 or email stjosephseervices@sbcglobal.net

If you unable to attend, donations may be sent to

St. Joseph Services

2516 W. Cortez St.

Chicago, IL 60622

New Hat

My green hat has gone into a semi retirement as of yesterday. I got a new hat and really like it. It is a hat from the Negro Leagues in 1947, The Black Yankees, it is pretty original and I am almost positive no one else has it.

The shower curtain did come in yesterday and has a ton of detail on it it even has places marked like the BaHai temple in Wilmette all the way to random conservatory's on the south side it is amazing. The only thing though is it had a ridiculously strong new plastic odor when we hung it up and our entire apartment reeked it has subsided now though.

I have a football game tomorrow and I think I am playing quarterback, cant wait. Wish me luck.

Shower Curtain

I hope my new shower curtain comes in today. How great is this thing? The entire "L" map is on the curtain, brilliant.

Blackalicious

Went to the Blackalicious concert last night at the Park West...It was everything I knew it would be.

The show was great, only problem not long enough (luckily for me though because I had to be up at 5:30am). The show was especially incredible because it seemed like they were really appreciative of Chicago. They would incorporate Chicago throughout there intros and rhymes.

Gift of Gab was accompanied by T the Truth, someone I don't know, but he was really good and could keep up with Gabs rhyming which is not easy. They played a lot in the little time they were there. Went from there new songs and style all the way back to some of there original songs. The back up singers were also amazing especially the girl, forgot her name, but will find out.

Well worth staying up later than I wanted and am glad I was dragged out my apartment to go. Thanks Vorell and Stevie.

Shuffle Bowling

I was just challenged to Shuffle Bowling tonight, a game of champions. Shuffle bowling is a fantastic game were you slide a puck similar to a hockey puck down a sawdusted wood table to an end that has bowling pins that are suspended just above the table. When the puck goes over the sensors it computes what a bowling ball would have done and the the pins spring up. This game is almost exclusively found in corner bars, but is great to play. What got me really excited though is searching the internet for old shuffle bowling tables I came across this great picture of a Parker Bohn III Pro Bowler. I think I might save up for the next ten years and buy this instead of a house, it is hilarious.

Derailed

Hope everyone had fun over the break. Thanksgiving weekend was a definite good time all around for me.

I saw Derailed this weekend with Clive Owens and Jennifer Aniston. It was Good, not great, but it did have a lot of Chicago shots. The movie is filmed all over Wilmette and downtown Chi. A good portion of the movie filmed on the Metra or just off of it(which they constantly, mistakenly call the red line, but whatever) .

I was scared Derailed was going to be a love story and be terrible, turns out I was wrong. It is a suspense movie that revolves around Clive Owens character being blackmailed and tortured by a thief that keeps taking his money. Like I said it was good, not great, maybe better if it was just rented, but if you have already seen Walk the Line this may be worth a trip to the movie theatre.

Homebrewing

Well I have started the process of brewing my own beer, hilarious. I went to this store over the weekend with a couple of friends called Brew and Grow, which is located at the end of a dilapidated road in a warehouse with no sign of life and a door that looks like it should have a beware of high voltage sticker on it. I almost walked right by it the first time, but there was a small sign on the door that just had work hours, no name just the hours. I thought I would give it a try, but was sure it was locked, it opened into a funny painted stairway and then into a very nice looking very well lit store.

This place was strange, yet easy going at the same time at first. In the store you kind of felt like you were doing something wrong. The store is completely committed to only two things growing plants (yes probably illegal, but if you are growing regular plants this place is great too) and brewing beer.

While walking around sipping on beers, they were letting us taste, I picked up one of the books and decided that yes I would give this ridiculous adventure a try.

So in a month I will let you know if I made a good beer or blew up my kitchen.

Thanks Dan for that find.

Bears

Bears are going far I can feel it. Another win over the weekend puts them at 7-3. 8 sacks and two interceptions, the Bears D dominated. They are truly the #1 ranked D fense and the offense is starting to look better also, a great sign.

Alex Brown....Sick

Chili Cookoff

Over the weekend I was able to go to a chili cookoff at a bar called The Hideout. The event was run by Time out Chicago Magazine. The bar is hilarious and seems like a place that truly does not want to be found. The bar is a great hole in the wall bar that plays real good live music daily. If you are ever in the neighborhood you should stop by this bar. Some really famous bands have even played there such as The Rolling Stones and, The Smashing Pumpkins.

The place was packed the day of the cookoff, but well worth it. the back room was lined with chefs standing around there creations all being served out of individual crock pots. When entering the room you are given a spoon, a sheet of paper for judging and a pencil and then you are thrown into the chaos that is a chili cookoff.

The 25 different chilis all had there own individual style, there was kobe beef chili, hot dog and guiness chili, spicy ,mild, choclatey...you name it they had something like it. Some of the chilis wer spectacular and some terrible. One even made a friend violently ill for the next couple of days.

On every tuesday night a great band plays there called Devil in a Woodpile, an intimate bluegrass band. they are worth checking out and they are originally from Evanston and used to play in a little music store on Central St. which makes them even better.

The Hideout
1354 W Wabansia
Chicago Il 60622
http://www.hideoutchicago.com/

Great Upcoming Events

Damian "Jr Gong" Marley House of Blues Nov 27 $18.50
Blackalicious Park West Nov 29 $20
Mos Def/Talib Kweli House of Blues Dec 9 $40 (what the hell)

And on Dec 15 Alex Kotlowitz author of There are No Children Here and Never a City So Real will be speaking at the Steppenwolf theater. Even if you have not read these books you should check it out. He has a lot of stories specifically about Chicago and probably has a lot of interesting things to say. Tickets are $25.

http://www.steppenwolf.org/boxoffice/productions/index.aspx?id=362

I have read Never a City So Real and highly recomend it, everyone who has read it has had nothing but great reviews about it. The book itself is short so it can be read easily.

Christmas Ale

If you haven't all ready I suggest going out and picking up the seasonal special of Goose Island Christmas Ale. All year I wait for this beer to come out. I think this beer might be the best Goose Island offers, which is impressive because all there beers are really good. Christmas Ale is a brown ale that is very hoppy (has a lot of flavor). Because of its strong flavor though if you are used to crap beers like most people are, myself included, then it can catch you off gaurd, but savor that first sip and you will realize just how good a beer it is.

I also suggest going to the actual brewery, the one on Clyborn not Wriglyville, for a pint and some food. The food there is actually really good. With your meal I suggest getting the sampler of beer. This way you can try out a few different types of beer with your meal. At the Brewery you can also try some beers they won't have in the stores.

Goose Island Brewery

1800 North Clybourn

Chicago, IL

312.915.0071

Snow

Today in Chicago is the first day of snow. It is not sticking but it is freezing and windy, just like always. I wonder what it is like in Europe?

I hate the winters. It is cold outside and everyone is stuck in there houses. When you finally do go outside you freeze go inside drink some hot cocoa, or soup and then burn your mouth. Also since everyone is wearing about a thousand layers of clothes you are bound to loose something that you had, wether it is your hat, gloves or whatever.

Man winter has not even started and I already want it over with.

That is what my stoop is going to look like in a couple of weeks...I can wait.

The Softball Team

What A Good Looking Team

Fried Chicken

It's been a little bit since last updated, sorry a hectic week. Last week though I tried to make fried chicken, it turned out alright I guess, but man that is some scary stuff. You bring the oil in a pan to about 350 degrees but there is know real way of telling when it is that hot because it does not boil. When making it the whole apartment filled with smoke, my eyes were watering and I was convinced that I was probably going to burn the house down.

The process of putting the chicken into the seemingly calm oil is about the scariest cooking experience I could imagine. As soon as the chicken hits the oil the pan erupts shooting little pieces of oil everywhere. The bubbling oil rises up higher and higher coming closer to spilling over the edge every second, but luckily it stopped right before the top. Then once in the boiling oil I let it rest sitting there bubbling for ten minutes until it was ready to flip and then the insanity started all over again.



It some how worked out though the fried chicken tasted good and the mash potatoes and steamed vegetables all tied it together. The meal was then topped of with what else....home-made tiramisu of course, ha.

next weird combo lasanga and pina coladas.

The First Place Bears

It is only fitting that the bears make the playoffs this year. First the Bulls Then the Sox and now I have no doubt the Bears are going to make it to the Playoffs this year. It is not that I am super confident in there amazing D and the new rookie quarterback, It is that I am confident in the failure of all the other teams in our division. The Packers are a disgrace and the Viking are really starting to miss Randy Moss. It is laughable to say, but are competition is actually the Detroit Lions and they don't even know how to beat a terrible Vikings team. Not to mention the Bears have already beat the Lions twice which gives us the win in any tie breaker situation. The Bears record is currently 5-3 and have a pretty good chance of finishing 10-6 or better.

GO BEARS