A week or so ago I walked up to Chicago and Franklin to a Starbucks there to meet Jen, Jay, and Marcus. Jen and Jay were in town from New York and I finally got to meet their baby, Katie! She’s so adorable. Anyway, I passed by this mural on Franklin & Ontario and stopped to admire it. I can’t figure out what restaurant used to be here. The internet is failing me! This is what the building looks like on Google Streetview:
Any ideas?
Tags:Chicago·chicagoist·gothamist·jay·jen·katie·marcus·mural·near north side·starbucks
On Saturday Jessica and I had plans to see Toy Story 3 with Quinn. We met Jen and Quinn and Kristin and Limey at the theater at 10:30 a.m. My friend Marcus needed some kids to borrow to see the movie so he joined us too. The more the merrier!
I think Jen was a little fearful that Quinn would get freaked out and want to leave, but he was so into it. When Woody and Buzz made their first appearances he was so excited he just yelled “WOOOODYYY!!!” and “BUZZ LIGHTYEARR!” and at the end right when the credits started to roll he yelled out that he wanted to watch it again. So funny. He was so upset when we had to leave the theater.
Jess said she liked the movie too. Honestly, it was a bit dark and scary in some parts. I thought Quinn would be scared but he seemed ok.
After the movie we headed to Margie’s Candies on Montrose. I’d only been to the original Margie’s on Western (see here and here). Margie’s ice cream is the best. Actually, it’s the fudge sauce that’s the best.
We heard they also had food, so the plan was to get lunch, then get ice cream. Turns out that they don’t have a grill or anything so all they have for food is like cold sandwiches. They were nice enough to suggest we go just down the block to Dos Toritos, where they have both Mexican food and some grill items. I had a couple tacos, Jess had a grilled cheese. Theeeeennnnnn we headed back to Margie’s. I am happy to report that the new Margie’s doesn’t have those creepy dolls that the Margie’s on Western has, which was a blessing because there were creepy dolls in Toy Story 3 and I might have freaked out a little if they had followed me to the ice cream shop!
Jess was talking to me a bit more on Saturday and she asked if we could go to the park after lunch. While we were eating our ice cream Quinn asked Jess if she wanted to go to his house and play in his little pool, so we decided to do that. It was a hot day and it was good to cool off in the water. Jess and Quinn mostly just ran around the backyard and played in the pool and with a couple water guns. Jen and I both got a bit more wet than we’d have liked, but it felt good. Jess was talking a lot while we were playing, but mostly trying to tell Quinn and I to get her more water for her gun. I had to tell her not to be so bossy. Funny. Try to get the kid to talk for two days then basically have to tell her to be quiet!
Tags:Chicago·depaul·dos toritos·ice cream·jen·jessica·kristin·limey·marcus·margies candies·mexican·movies·north center·quinn·roscoe village·toy story 3
Goose Island
Matt, Scott, Andrew, Cinnamon
Kevin & Killian
Marcus & Rachelle
Goose Island Sai-Shan-Tea
Goose Island Sai-Shan-Tea
Chuck & Rachelle
Chuck
My friend Chuck is the Food and Drink Editor at Chicagoist. He had this awesome opportunity (follow along here: 1, 2, 3) to work on a beer with Jared Rouben of Goose Island Clybourn and Rod Markus of Rare Tea Cellar. They created a new beer and called it “Sai-Shan-Tea.” It’s a saison beer spiced with Rare Tea Cellar’s Emperor’s Lemon Meritage tea. On Thursday night it made its debut at Goose Island Clybourn and Chicagoist had a meet up to celebrate.
Dallas and I and a few of our other friends went to the event. It was so great to see all of the Chicagoist alum there. Some I hadn’t seen for years and it was so nice catch up and see what everyone’s been up to. Others I see a bit more frequently, but it was still great to see everyone. What a walk down memory lane. At one time in my life, a few years ago, I was in daily, heck, hourly, constant contact with these folks. I hope it’s not another few years before I see everyone again!
I also got to meet Nick, who is the editor at Grub Street Chicago. He and his wife live in our neighborhood and we spent some time talking about all the restaurants in Logan Square – what’s good, what’s bad, what’s opening, what’s closing. Hope to bump into them around the neighborhood.
Chuck’s beer (that’s what I’m calling it now) was really good. Very citrusy. I’m not all that familiar with saison beers, but I thought this was tasty. Dallas drank about 6 of them, so I’d say he liked it a little bit 
. Sai-Shan-Tea is being sent to the Great American Beer Fest in Denver for award consideration and I sure do hope they win!
Tags:andrew·beer·Chicago·chicagoist·chuck·cinnamon·dallas·goose island·grub street·jared rouben·kevin·killian·lincoln park·marcus·matt·nick·rare tea cellar·rod markus·sai-shan-tea·scott
Cinnamon and Andrew :: Rogers Park, Chicago
Cinnamon is writing a cookbook about cooking with cast-iron cookware called “Everything Cast Iron.” The book is to include 300 recipes and is on a tight deadline. What does this mean for all of Cinnamon’s friends? Lots of food to eat! Cinnamon made menus, posted them on a schedule, and all we had to do was sign up for a day to go over, share drinks with friends, and sample her experiments.
Sweet Potato Sticks
Jamaican Grilled Okra
Friends :: Rogers Park, Chicago
Last Sunday I headed over to Cinnamon and Andrew’s condo up in Rogers Park. Cinnamon was manning the kitchen and Andrew was manning a grill (with a cast iron grill plate). Since it was so beautiful outside and since the condo doesn’t have air conditioning, all of the friends gathered in their cute little lawn. We were not allowed to bring food, but were instructed to bring drinks of choice.
Asian Potatoes with Chile and Shallots
Spicy West African Yassa Chicken
Yassa Tibs Ethiopian Sauteed Fish
Chuck, Rachelle, Marcus :: Rogers Park, Chicago
I met a lot of new people and visited with other friends I hadn’t seen in a while. Marcus was all salty since I left Roscoe Village behind, a neighborhood we shared, and moved on to Logan Square. Chuck was our odd uncle trying not to fall asleep between courses while he sat drinking his beer in a comfortable chair. And of course the food! These are all photos of all the food we ate. Now, we didn’t eat full servings, but everyone got to at least try a taste of every dish that was made. Then we had a comment card to write what we thought about the dishes.
Cornbread
James and Rose
Truly Blackened Catfish
Cajun Shrimp (with Rice, not shown)
I know we were helping Cinnamon out, but thanks so much to her and Andrew for having us all over and making this all a party at the same time! I had a fun, delicious time! It still boggles my mind a bit that Cinnamon and Andrew were able to turn out this much food in one evening. I can’t imagine how much they’re cooking to make a 300-recipe cookbook. And it’s exciting to be a part of the process. I can’t wait for “Everything Cast Iron” to come out. I’m for sure buying a copy… or two!
Fried Ravioli
Anne and Marcus :: Rogers Park, Chicago
Cinnamon and Andrew’s friends’ baby was only 3 weeks old :: Rogers Park, Chicago
My favorite of the night: Fig Balsamic Vinegar Dessert Sauce. Served with vanilla ice cream and freshly picked in Rogers Park June berries.
Tags:andrew·Books·Chicago·chuck·cinnamon·everything cast iron·marcus·rogers park