Entries Tagged as 'chinese'

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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Trimming the Tree & Opening a Few Gifts

December 15th, 2009 · 1 Comment

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Rachelle & Margo

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Stephanie

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Stephanie, Amanda, Jess

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Mom, Amanda

After the cookie party Tessa and Jess went through all of our Christmas ornaments and decorated the Christmas tree. I’d meant for this to happen during the party, but I heard the girls weren’t sure if they had permission and I just completely lost track. Next year I’ll try to remember! They had fun decorating the tree regardless. Jess, especially. My dad was helping us with some chores downstairs during the party and then went and read a few papers at the Logan Square Starbucks while sipping some fancy lattes. After the party he came back and helped Jess and Tessa get the star on the tree.

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Jessica decorating the tree

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Dad helping with the star

Since we won’t see Tessa, Charlotte or Margo before Christmas, we exchanged gifts. I got Tessa a book about tea parties and a tea party set of dishes. Margo got a onesie that said “I Can’t Read.” I thought this was a great gift for the daughter of an English teacher! Charlotte wasn’t at the party so they took her gift home with them. I won’t say what it was in case she hasn’t opened it yet. From the girls I got some really nice gifts: a new scarf and sweater, a candle, a subscription to Food & Wine magazine. Fun fun!

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Kelly, Margo, Tessa, Jess

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Rachelle with Margo’s Onesie

My parents were staying overnight and when Kelly and Amanda decided it was time to leave, Stephanie and Jessica decided to stay overnight too. We ordered in from Friendship Chinese (looove this place) and watched How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Jess said it’s her favorite Christmas movie. Funny, it was made 40 years before she was born!

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Rachelle, Dad

One thing I noticed later on: no one was really helping Jess and Tessa decorate the Christmas tree, aside from the star on the top, and so all of the ornaments only go up so far and the rest of the tree is undecorated. Hilarious. I’m inclined to leave it this way!

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Finished Tree

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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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