Entries Tagged as 'chinatown'

Paul Baker’s Birthday

February 9th, 2010 · 4 Comments

Last Thursday was Paul Baker’s birthday. We were all going out for dinner in Chinatown but not until 7:30 p.m., so Jess, Alden, Emily and I decided to kill a few hours after work by going for drinks in the South Loop, not too far from Chinatown. We decided to go to a bar called Kasey’s Tavern and I really liked it. It had a really warm feeling inside and had a pretty good beer menu. I had two Smithwicks.

At about 7 we left to head over to Chinatown to meet with everyone else. When we arrived? We realized, “Oh shit! It’s a BYO restaurant! Where can we get liquor?” We thought maybe Walgreens and headed over that way.

After going into the store and looking around we realized Walgreens doesn’t sell alcohol. So, I don’t know. SOL? We head into Chinatown Square.

This is an outdoor mall that looks like a pagoda and has a bunch of restaurants and stores. This mall is the largest Chinese mall in the United States east of San Francisco and west of New York City.

I’ve been to Chicago’s Chinatown a few times before, but I’d never been in Chinatown Square, so I thought it was pretty interesting. I’ve been to Chinatown in New York, SF and Chicago and I like Chicago’s the least, but I would like to come back and check out this mall during the day when more places are open.

So we walked through the mall and finally came up on the restaurant we were looking for, Spring World.

Oh, and looky, what’s this next to Spring World? China Place Liquor City.

There was such a huge selection in here. Emily wanted to get this bottle of mystery spirits for Paul Baker as a gift. Isn’t the bottle cute!?

The sales clerk made it seem like this wasn’t something we could just open up next door and drink, though. She helped us pick a 3 pack of mini sakes for Paul to try. We also got a 12-pack of Tsing Tao.

Paul and his friends were waiting patiently inside Spring World for us. Our search for booze was making us a bit late, but you gotta do what you gotta do!

Finally, seated and enjoying some drinks and appetizers. Paul Baker immediately busted out the sake. We added our Tsing Tao to the inventory someone else had already purchased. There was also a bottle of plum wine on the table. Yum!

And then we ordered food.

And more food.

And even more food.

We may have over ordered, but at least we got to try a lot of things. All of the entrees were on a large lazy susan so we could just rotate the center of the table. I must have tried 10 different dishes!

Paul Baker had a work event at Spring World last summer. He enjoyed it so much that that very day he told Kate that’s where he wanted his next birthday dinner. So, he waited 6 months to come back and he looked like the happiest guy! Happy birthday, Paul Baker!

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Hot (Pot) & Ice (Cream)

November 20th, 2009 · 2 Comments

I found out from Hopstop that to get from the Garment District to Chinatown I’d just need to take the A train down to Canal. The A train entrance closest to my hotel was located at 40th Street and 8th Avenue, which is where this building is located:

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Pretty!

I met Jessica at the A line Canal stop. Our old office, where she still works, is located just up the street on Hudson. From there we began walking into Chinatown. Our destination was Grand Sichuan, where we were going to have hot pot for dinner.

When you’re walking over on Canal you’ll see this building and know you’re heading the right way:

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And then when you see this, look across the street and you’ll see Grand Sichuan:

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If you’re still not sure, there’s this:

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Aha! Now I know where to get hot pot.

Jeannette and Tien had arrived just before us and were waiting at a table. We ordered half the pot spicy and half mild. And then we ordered an assortment of meats and vegetables – broccoli, chicken, dumplings, beef, Chinese cabbage, wheat noodles, clear noodles. Noodles aren’t meat or vegetables, but that’s what we ordered.

Jeannette: “Are they ever going to bring the meat!?”

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Jeannette: “I neeeeed MEEEeeeeaaaAATTT!! Also, is that a rat I hear up there?”

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Jeannette: “Fine, I’ll make-do with broccoli.”

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Jessica: “I’ll take my own meat out, thank you very much. You keep splashing the boiling liquid on everyone!”

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Tien: “I know you’re taking my photo and I will let you, but that doesn’t mean I won’t hide my face in my hair and look at you creepily while you do so.”

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The hot pot was fun and tasty. I hadn’t been to hot pot since 2004, so it was fun to go again. And I don’t mean to imply that the service was slow and our wait for meat was long. The service was pretty great. And the rat thing is an inside joke. There are no rats at Grand Sichuan. That I know of.

The check. How do I submit a receipt for my portion of this?

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Outside walking on Canal Street again. We need to hit up the ATM so someone can pay someone and so we can all get ice cream.

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At Chinatown Ice Cream Factory the girl behind the counter seemed really aggrevated that we were there. She kept reminding us that we could only get two tastes per person (even when we only just asked for one) and was annoyed by our presence. We decided on our ice cream and brought it outside. I held up my camera to take a photo of the neon Chinatown Ice Cream Factory sign and the sign immediately flicked off. I guess it was closing time and that’s why the shop girl was so annoyed. Here is a photo of my red velvet cake ice cream cone anyway:

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On the way back up to Midtown. Got off the A train at 42nd and navigated the underground tunnels to make sure I got back out on 40th and 8th and not in the middle of Times Square madness.

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Walking back to my hotel, just what I was looking for!
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The High Line

August 4th, 2009 · 2 Comments

Saturday morning we met up with Tien, Shannan, and Jeannette for dim sum at our favorite dim sum restaurant, Jing Fong. Someone is going to get mad at me for saying this, but Dallas and I have not liked any of the dim sum spots we’ve been to in Chicago’s Chinatown. Dallas used to go for dim sum in Boston’s Chinatown and I used to go in New York’s and it’s been years since either of us have had good dim sum, so this was a good meal. YUM. Char siu bao and char siu pastry craving fix.

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The High Line

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Dallas on The High Line. I was trying to position him to make a kissy face, but he didnt cooperate.

After dim sum we decided to check out The High Line. This is the abandoned elevated rail in New York that they just recently turned into a park. Not all of it is done, but what I saw is really impressive. Much changed since Tien and I stealthily broke into the abandoned rail and walked it several years ago. I loved the combination of nature, with modern architectural elements, with preserved old rail lines.

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Jeannette, Shannan, Tien on The High Line

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Frank Gehry’s new building as seen from The High Line

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The High Line

I can’t wait to see how the abandoned Bloomingdale Trail in Chicago turns out. They’re supposed to be doing kind of the same thing.

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The High Line

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The High Line

It was a beautiful day outside and we all just walked and walked and talked and talked and sat and talked and walked some more. Perfect.

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Little West 12th Street as seen from The High Line. We were going down there next!

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