Flipper on the Loose

observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1577753,00.html


Just thought people could use a good read. Hilarious, but true. Have heard and read about this story from multiple sources.

(This did not work right before so I am putting it up again. Hope it works this time.)

Dark Days

I saw a documentary last night that was very interesting. It was called Dark Days, made in 2000.

The movie follows a group of homeless people who live in an old abandoned Metra tunnel and how they survive. These homeless may live in darkness with rats and garbage, but that does not stop them from having shelter electricity TV's, VCR, stoves, refrigerators, etc. They live in a small neighborhood in the tunnel and how they interact with each other is also part of the story.

The movie is very good, a true documentary, I think it is well worth picking up at the store.

Other recommended documentaries are: American Movie, Stevie, Gummo

You Can Put It On The Board

Sox clinch, but they still have to be scared of the Yankees (ARod) or the Red Sox (Big Pappi), or The LAA (Vlad).

Brooklyn Bridge

It really says this on the bridge leaving Brooklyn

Survivor

The third episode of Survivor is on tonight, 8 o'clock on CBS, luckily softball ends at 7 tonight. This season has been great already and I encourage people to watch.

In the first episode they had an 11 mile hike through a jungle, over a mountain and down a river, it took a total of 24 hours to complete the first mission.

Tonight the cast will be bathing with crocodiles, of course nothing will happen , but maybe.

I know everyone does not like Survivor, but all I did was watch TV yesterday so not much went down.

PS The E Ring, was on last night, is a great show also.

Bears vs. Bengals

Well that was a crappy game to be at. The Bears had 6 turnovers and 5 of them were interceptions thrown by Kyle Orton. They lost 24-7.
The seats were up there in the nose bleed section, but that is what is great about the new Soldier Field no matter where you sit you have a pretty good view.

At the end of the third quarter it started pouring I tried to stick it out even though I was soaking wet with no raincoat, poncho or even garbage bag, but after the fumble in the middle of the fourth that set up another touchdown for the Bengals I had to watch the rest of the game inside by the hotdog stand.

I dont really want to talk about sports politics so I wont, but I do hope that this is not a glimps of games to come otherwise we are screwed.

Best Gauc in Town

Las Palmas on North Ave is a Mexican restaurant with some really good food. The atmosphere is upscale and maybe leans more towards a place to bring a date, but you can go there with a couple of friends no problem. They also play live music every once in a while which ads to the feel.

The food is very good, but the reason everyone should check this place out is because of there guacamole. Once you order your gauc they wheel a cart over to your table full of ingredients and ask, "How do you want it, spicy, medium or mild?" then they start.

Right in front of you the ingredients are mixed and crushed together in what looks like a cement figurine. The cement figurine works as the mixing, grinding, and serving bowl. They are done within minutes then refill your chips and you are on your way.

Needless to say the guacamole was truly delicious along with the rest of my meal.

Las Palmas (Wicker Park)
1835 W. North Ave.,

Tel: (773) 289-4991

Cosmic Bowling

Hilarious... the lights turn off and the music turns up. Then the real fun begins, lights of all colors start flashing all around, the shirts begin to glow and shapes and designs are projected on the walls. All making bowling more interesting.

Normally I like to stick to the original style of bowling, but every once in a while this is a great change.

I was at the Rock and Roll Diversy Bowl last night and it was a blast. I was hesitant at first to even play there because I remember it being expensive, but it turned out to be OK. It is $19 an hour for one lane, but when you have 7 people on a lane like we did it works out to be pretty cheap.

Bowling is great without the bells and whistles, but how can you turn down glowing teeth every once and a while

Vlad The Impaler

Joey OC sent me this post card. It is from Transylvania. Soon he is off to Moscow to hang out with the Russians. I need to get to Europe and visit all the people out there.

Joe see you at Christmas, have fun.

(If you click on the postcard it shows it as a bigger view)

King Crab

I have been craving seafood lately and last night I could not hold it back any longer. I went to a restaurant called King Crab, the original Cy's Crab House. It is located on Halsted near the Steppenwolf theatre.

It is a small little place that is filled mostly with a big U shaped bar. I decided the bar is were I would sit and pulled up a stool and ordered the crab appetizer, they were delicious. Of course after getting the crab I noticed that they had 50 cent shrimp and oysters, if you are sitting at the bar. I have to say that 50 cents for oysters is pretty good considering they were $3 at the Guiness Oyster Fest.

For the main course I went big and got the lobster. The service I thought was quick, but it might have just been because I was at the bar and not a table.

The lobster was stuffed with crab meat and topped with scallops, (I was really craving seafood), with a side of mashed potatoes.

The food was great and the service was good. I think the next time I go, I will just sit at the bar, get a beer and pop a few shrimp and oysters. I won't go as big.

1816 N. Halsted
Chicago IL
312-280-8990
http://www.kingcrabrestaurant.com

Out On DVD

Crash is now out on DVD. I saw this movie in the theatre and again last night. This movie is up there with my favorites. It is defiantly the best I have seen in a year.

It is written and directed by the same person, Paul Haggis, that wrote Million Dollar Baby.

The movie follows the lives of several different people. It shows how racism and stereotypes are rampant in society, and that these views never lead to good. There are a lot of twists and turns and jumping back and forth through the character's, but it is very easy too follow. It has been compared to Magnolia in its style.

There are a few times where a person might feel like crying in this movie, so if you think you are a tough guy, don't watch it with anyone around.

I highly recommend this movie to everyone.

Twisted Spoke

Another Good restaurant to check out. The Twisted Spoke is on Ogden somewhat near the United Center. Dont know about the one on Clark. It is not really a family restaurant, but it is not as scary as they try and make it. Even though It was meant to be a scary biker bar it is not really a "biker bar" or scary.

The restaurant does have a heavy motorcycle theme and the waiters and waitresses do love their tattoos, but it is all part of the atmosphere. The food, what really matters, is very good. They have a very large selection to choose from, the sandwiches alone range from a burger to a fried balogna sandwich (hilarious).

I ordered the "Boss Hog" sandwich, BBQ pork, this thing was enormous. It came with some homemade fries and the whole thing was delicious. They also have a very big beer selection and on tuesdays all beers are $2.50, not a bad deal when you are getting Dogfish Head beer.

For Whiskey lovers they have 1/2 priced whiskey wednesdays and Jim Beam on tap, yes it comes out of a tap next to the beers.

So next time you are going to a late Bulls or Blackhawks game or you are in the neighborhood I suggest stopping in for a sandwich and a pint, service is quick you will be out in less than an hour.

Twisted Spoke
501 North Ogden
Chicago, IL
312-666-1500

16" Softball

This might be the greatest sport ever. It makes me even happier that the only people who play it or know about it are people from Chicago. There are those who may be stupid enough to think this is an easy game for amateurs, but in reality there is just as much knowledge, strength, and agility needed to play softball as there is to play baseball. Even though the pitch comes in slower it just means that as a fielder you have many more balls hit your way. The batter has a very troublesome job also, it may be easy to hit, but there is no where to hit the ball. The ball usually pops up in the air or dribbles on the ground. If you can soft touch it over the infielders heads than you will do real well, but there are not many who can pull that off.

I love softball and I wish they had an indoor league.

Home

I Love Chicago

Thanks for the Pic D

Rooftop

Went on a Wrigley Field Rooftop yesterday, unbelievable. The view was way better than anything I could have expected. I knew I was going to like it, but man was I overwhelmed with how great it was.

I was invited by my uncle so luckily for me I did not have to buy the ticket, Thanks Jim.

At the door a cute girl stops you and asks for your name and who you are with, once inside you walk up a nice stairwell to the third floor. On the third floor it is decked out with Wrigley signs and posters. There is also a bar in the room that faces the field. In the room next to the bar is a pool table for when the Cubs suck, its been getting a lot of use, and at the end of a hallway is the door to the roof top.

A steel stairwell takes you up to the roof. At the top of the steps is a patio were there are tables and chairs on one side and a fully functional little restaurant. You then walk up a couple of stairs and that is where the double Decker set of seats are. Under that is a little make shift bar.

The food was perfect. In innings 1-3 they serve hotdogs, brats, and Italian sausage, I got a hot dog. In innings 4, 5, and 6 they serve hamburgers, cheeseburgers, teryaiki chicken, boneless rib sandwiches and ribs, and all with your choice of potato salad, mashed potatoes, chips and/or Caesar salad, I got the chicken and the rib sandwiches with a side of potato salad. Then for the kicker all drinks free too. This was one of the best cubs games I have ever been to, and they stink.

Cubs ended up losing in extra innings 7-4, thanks bullpen.

Tumbler

I recently read about these "new" types of wine glasses, they have actually been around in Europe for awhile, and decided I really like them. They are stemless wine glasses called tumblers. I know they are the new hip cool thing, but that is because they are hip and cool. The simplicity is what really captures my attention. They also are sturdier which means they will not break as easily. The best part about them is they are cheaper.

So if you want to be part of the trend or like me you just like the idea of them you should pick some up for the next party.

Chicago "L" Station Tour

http://www.chicago-l.org/tour/2005flyer.pdf
I am going to be taking part in this tour. It is $33 and seems like it is completely worth it, hearing information about a few stations and their history. The tour will be on Sunday the 18th of September.

Von Steuben

The the German American Fest and Von Steuben Parade was this weekend. I went and caught a little of the fest, but did not make the parade. This was a good time there was dancing tons of food and huge German beers. The beers were expensive, $8, but you were given a stein that was easily two or three beers of Becks. I had a lot of fun at this festival and can't wait to go next year.

It is Located on Western and Lincoln, Just under the Western Brown Line stop, In Lincoln Square.

A Well Kept Lawn

By looking at this lawn you can not tell there was a drought this summer. One amazing lawn.

The Festival

I went to the Guiness Oyster Fest on Saturday located On Division inbetween Ashland and Damen.

This Fest had expensive fresh-shucked oysters that you had to wait in line 45 minutes for, but I guess it was worth it. There was also live music including, the Shannon Rovers, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, The Tossers and the Violent Femmes

Admission was a $5 suggested donation and was going towards a good cause.

One thing that was disappointing besides the fact that they only had 1 oyster tent and two beer tents for a 5 block festival is that at a Guiness Fest they were promoting Smiranoff Ice. Don't go to an Irish Fest and drink some crappy liquor drink.

Actually the Fest was not that great.

Bari

If you are ever in Old Little Italy in Chicago stop by Bari on Grand Ave. Just west of Halsted. This place is a true old school Italian deli. The Store front is small and cluttered but the three aisle that crowed the store are filled with great sides and condiments. The refrigerator aisle is filled with excellent sauces, pastas and other Italian food delights. The three aisles all lead straight back to the Deli counter where the butchers work quickly to get you the best sandwiches in town. I highly recommend people give this deli a shot, but remember it can get crowded around noon.

Also there is a bakery next door called D'Amato's #1 which makes all sorts of treats, so if you go to Bari on your way out stop by and pick up some pastries for desert

Bari
1120 W. Grand
Chicago, IL 60622

D'Amato's #1
1124 W. Grand

License

Is there anything better?

I'm Full

Last night around 11pm I got a craving for something to eat. I decided that I was going to try a restaurant I had read about. The magazine, TimeOut Chicago, had a piece about how there was a 24 hour Korean BBQ restaurant with enough food for any appetite, so I thought I would give it a try.

The name of the restaurant is San Soo Gab San. Its located in Lincoln Square on Western and Foster.

I had never been to a Korean BBQ restaurant before and did not know what to expect, man was I in for a surprise.

The set-up of the restaurant is very nice. There is a maze of wood walls with carvings and designs on them, but still a simple layout. When we walk in there is no one to greet us, obviously, it is almost midnight, then I hear a faint yelling from the back of the restaurant and spot a lady barely peeking over the walls that are throughout this restaurant, she points at a booth (I guess you would call it that) and we grab a seat.

As I look around I notice there are several different sections throughout this place and one of them seemed to be for a more traditional Asian crowd because there are no seats just pillows at a low table, luckily for me we were not sitting there.

First I ordered an appetizer, stir fried noodles with vegetables. Next, I ordered from under the Korean BBQ & Pan Grilled section, my meal was called Dai Ji Kal Bi (char-broiled bbq pork ribs). The meal is served with rice and soup. My friend ordered salted Mackerel, no rice, no soup and we each got a tall glass of beer.

The appetizer was brought out almost immediately and was a pretty good size. Before we were even close to done with the noodles they brought out what I thought was OUR meals, A meat tray on a hot plate and then soups for two, rice for two, and thirteen, one-three, plates of other shit. I have no idea what these were for, but the entire table was covered. All I could do was laugh. Then 2 minutes later my friend was brought his food. Two full Mackerels.
The food was good and I can tell you this, after that I am going to be full for awhile.

San Soo Gab San
5147 N. Western Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625

Gas Prices

Here is a way that you can find the best gas prices in your area. You go to this website and just enter in the zip code and it will give you the cheapest gas stations around. It also shows you the cheapest, the average and the most expensive. It does this for your area and also the rest of the country.

http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip

Thanks Kathryn

Google Internet Game

I thought this game was enjoyable to pass the time, so I suggest giving it a try.

http://www.weavedigital.com/guess-the-google/?l=1

The Roach Coach

Have you ever eaten from a roach coach? Sorry, a mobile food-vending vehicles.

This may only be a Chicago thing, but it is a mobile food cart, like a pickup truck, but instead of a flatbed it has a hut that inside stores hot and cold food. They are usually outside of factories or construction sites.

The back of this refrigerator on wheels opens like the dolorian's car doors and inside its silver compartment is were the "food" is stored. The food ranges from sandwiches, to tacos, to pizza. There is also and asortment of drinks, chips and treats.

Buyer beware this food gets the job done and is cheap but the reprecutions the morning after are never worth it.

Google Earth

I can not get over my addiction to this program. I have been messing around with Google Earth for the past couple of months now and I think that I have a problem.

The concept is amazing. It is satellite images of the entire globe. When you first open the program you see a similiar image to the one in this post, but then with a roll of the mouse you are zooming in closer and closer to say, Chicago until finally you are right above, millenium park. The images are actual satellite photos that have been taken within the last three years. So for example if your house was under construction for the last year, or three, the image of your house might show blue tarps and trucks on the street. It is not in real time.

When you get bored cruising your neighborhood, zoom out and then back in on Rome, Italy just by moving a mouse. The colleseum, the parthenon, red square, the possibilities are endless.

If you run out of ideas to look up or have become bored, which I highly doubt will ever happen, you can click on an icon, (Keyhole Comunity BBS), and all the places people previously have marked will show up for you. This way you can learn about places you knew nothing about.

Also If the image was taken three years ago and is not a clear image you can download overlays, new images that have been taken more recently, of places like stonehendge or Machu Picchu.

The down load is free at google, but takes a little time.

http://earth.google.com/

Frequency Below

I was lucky enough to see this band over the weekend they were very good and their lead singer Caroline has an amazing voice. I saw them at The Note, a bar in the Wicker Park area. Frequency Below was well worth any one's time and I think people should find out where they are playing next, usually small clubs and bars. All I paid for was the cover at the door, $6, I would have paid more. The down side to seeing this band in small venues is that the sound quality is not perfect and some what hindered the show. Caroline's voice is angelic and should be the focus of what everyone's ears are hearing, but because of the poor sound system at The Note, and the mixing guy being asleep, the focus was on the standup bass and the drums. I went up right next to the stage and I can tell you that I was impressed.

Glad I was told to go check them out.

http://frequencybelow.com/

B.L.U.E.S.

A bar I found yesterday, yet has been around since Al Capone was avoiding his taxes, changed my view of bars forever. A pessimist at heart when it comes to having a good time at any some-what popular bar in Chicago, this bar made me have a whole other perspective. You could not ask for a bar with a better small neighborhood atmosphere yet big city attitude. What I mean is that they make you feel right at home even when you are out of your element. We, a couple of friends and I, were at a bar across the street called Goodbar (nothing good about it) trying to go to an Acquaintances birthday party, but of course were denied because the party was "at capacity", bullshit talked to people at the party and they said no one was there. I would have been understanding if just I was the one who got rejected, but I was with this birthday girls, girl friends so I came to the conclusion, quickly, that the bar was just for assholes anyways, luckily for me it turned my attention to the bar across the street and the reason for this rant, B.L.U.E.S. I walked up to the entrance and there was a $10 cover, ha I hate paying to get into bars, it usually means I am in the wrong place, but the bouncer and older grey hair with a fantastic beard, mustache and bandana said to me, "check it out, walk in, your friends stay out here and you tell me if it worth the 10." I was sure it was not worth the money and took the leather vests challenge I walked in, it did not take longer than a second I was back outside telling my friends to pay the man. The live act on stage was a group that goes by Michael Coleman and the Backbreakers. I was blown away by not only the music, which was a perfect act, but also the atmosphere. A small place in ways but it had big heart. There were just enough stools in the back to accommodate my friends and me; the music still came in loud and clear. The bartender, a semi attractive woman was probably the best bartender this side of the Mississippi, she never missed a beat. When I was taking my last sip she was tapping me on the shoulder refilling a new glass, she was also quick with a discount and a by-back, the lady was on point.

This bar will be visited many more nights, and the times I am sure will always be as memorable.

B.L.U.E.S. Chicago
2519 N Halsted
Chicago, IL 60657

http://chicagobluesbar.com/welcome.html

Sorry I am not the best at grammar and spelling, but I am sure the point gets across, the bar if you are ever in the CHI is worth a stop in.

A Great Beer

Dogfish Head - Raison D'Etre

A deep mahogany ale brewed with beet sugar,
green raisins, and Belgian yeast.

As complex as a fine red wine.

Some small facts...
8% ABV 36 IBU
Approx. 258 calories
27 carbs per 12 ounce serving
Available year round

Voted 'American Beer Of The Year' in January 2000 by Malt Advocate Magazine.

Descriptors: Notes of pit fruit, decadent, winey, raisiney, malty

Food pairing recommendations: Steak, duck, game, wine-reduction sauces, Blue cheese, ham, mussels

Suggested serving glass: snifter

Comparable wine style: Amaron

Taken from there website http://www.dogfish.com/beer/raisondetre.cfm , because I could not have said it better.

I very much enjoyed this fantastic beer and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys sipping a beer as apposed to slamming one.

A True Gentleman

Not Really A Connoiseur

Just like the idea of being well versed in anything.