Entries Tagged as 'oberon'

Out With Clients & Coworkers

August 6th, 2011 · No Comments

We had clients in for UAT this week and on Wednesday night we all went out for dinner and drinks.

We had dinner at Public House, just down the street from our office. I ordered the chicken burger and it was amazing. I have to have it again to make sure it’s as good as I remember. My coworker Jaivin was in town from Boston and I made him sample a bunch of local brews. Local-ish. I tried to drink a light beer myself, but he made me drink the locals with him. Also, I only wanted short beers, but the waitress kept bringing talls. We had Bell’s Oberon, Three Floyd’s Alpha King, and Founder’s Pale Ale. Actually, now that I look, those beers are all from Michigan. Still, Jaivin can’t get them in Boston.

Our clients were visiting from different parts of the country – Washington D.C., Virginia, St. Louis, and the Dayton area. They’d heard about Billy Goat Tavern and wanted to check it out. We told them not to expect too much! We were just there to see it and have on beer then we were on to the next place. I had not been to the Billy Goat for years (2005!) so it was cool to check in again.

Somehow our clients knew that Howl at the Moon, the dueling piano bar, gave discounts for the military. A lot of our group had the required ID (not me!) and got in for free and got discounts on drinks. Like the Billy Goat, I hadn’t been to Howl at the Moon for years (2005!). It was fun, but after a while I had to get out of there. I should have gone home but Jaivin told me that he went to Mercadito once with Marlena and Anjum once and it was delicious so we decided to stop there for one last drink.

I had this cucumber drink and I did not like it! Thanks, Jaivin. I think I went to bed at 2:30 that morning and got up at 6:30 to be to work for 8:00 a.m. meetings. I functioned better than expected, but was so tired. That night I totally crashed out after work all night. I’m not 21 any more!

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Lillie’s Q

May 13th, 2011 · 2 Comments

Dallas and I recently met up with Todd for an early lunch at Lillie’s Q, a barbecue place on North Avenue that we’ve been meaning to try. Dallas and I arrived early, so we ordered boiled peanuts for an appetizer. We are both boiled peanut lovers, as they’re a local specialty in both Hawaii, where Dallas grew up, and in the South, where my dad’s family is from.

For drinks, Dallas ordered a Lillie Palmer, which is basically a boozed up Arnold Palmer. Don’t ask me what kind of booze was in it, the menu said “moonshine” and you could pick the potency! I got my first Bell’s Oberon of the season. Tasty. All drinks, including water, are served in Ball jars.

Lillie’s Q makes five of their own sauces, which are bottled and available on every table. You can pick and choose whichever sauces you want. Here are the choices:

  • Smoky: A unique blend of ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, apple concentrate, liquid smoke, and a few other spices known only to Charlie.
  • Hot Smoky: A unique blend of ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, apple concentrate, liquid smoke, and a few other spices known only to Charlie.
  • Carolina: A unique blend of ketchup, brown sugar, mustard, vinegar, apple concentrate, Worcestershire, and a few other spices known only to Charlie.
  • Carolina Gold: A unique blend of mustard, brown sugar, ketchup, vinegar, apple concentrate, Worcestershire, and a few other spices known only to Charlie.
  • Ivory: A unique blend of mayonnaise, apple cider, vinegar, lime juice, and a few other spices known only to Charlie.

You can also buy the sauces for barbecuing at home. We all definitely liked the Carolina sauces the best. Dallas loved the mustard-based Carolina Gold. My favorite was the Carolina.

For lunch I had the pulled chicken sandwich on brioche, southern style (with coleslaw on top) and the baked beans. Always the baked beans. The chicken was flavorful and so tender. And I loved the beans. Not too smoky, not too sweet.

Dallas got the pulled pork with sweet potato fries as a side.

Dallas and Todd split the tri-tip. Todd didn’t love it and though it should have had a better sear or char on the outside, but Dallas thought it was great.

Todd got the baby back ribs with the stone ground grits with bacon as a side. He gave a rib to Dallas and I to try and I really liked them, but I’m not a huge rib connoisseur. Well, a few days after this lunch I saw that Lillie’s Q was recognized by Food and Wine as one of the top six new barbecue restaurants in United States. And the magazine specifically recommended the baby back ribs. I guess it’s not just me who thinks the ribs were good!

So yeh, we liked Lillie’s Q. When we arrived at 11:30 the place was empty but by the time we left it was full. Not sure how busy they are at night. I think my dad would like this place. Maybe I will take him next time he is in town!

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Happy 30th Birthday, Richard

November 23rd, 2008 · 5 Comments


Dad, Richard, Rachelle, Mom


Mom, Rachelle


Mom, Dad, Rachelle, Mom


Charlotte loved Dallas’ watch


Jessica wrote “The Rachelle” then “Rachelle” then “Dallas”


Richard opening his gift: Just For Men


Brewers apron and oven mitt


Gift from my parents: Packers Jacket


Too big for Aunt Sue


Uncle Doug, Dad


Sisters: Wanda, Sue, Mary


Richard & Brian


Rachelle & Richard

Yesterday we went to Wisconsin to go to my little brother’s 30th birthday party. Not so little! There were lots of family and friends. Lots of kids, actually, running around everywhere. We ate tons of food and desserts and drank a lot of beer. For some reason he got a lot of beer as gifts. We brought him Fat Tire and Oberon, two beers he can’t get in Wisconsin. We also got him an Amazon gift certificate. I thought he’d get a lot of gag gifts, but there was just one: a box of Just For Men hair dye from our cousin Kelly. All the other gifts were really nice. After the party died down a bit, the people who were left all played Rock Band, which was a gift from my sister-in-law, Amanda. My brother’s best friend, Brian, bought this random bag of liquor that we were drinking shots of later on. .. or at least I was, Dallas was our DD. It should also be noted that my brother has been growing his beard out for the month of November. You can track it on Facebook if you are his friend.

Question for Photographers: Does anyone know why my flash is throwing such a harsh shadow? Is it something I need to adjust on my camera? Or something that can only be fixed by getting an external flash? I don’t remember it being so bad before, but now it is making be crazy.

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Tankboy’s Birthday @ Pontiac

June 30th, 2006 · 11 Comments

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Rachelle :: Pontiac, Wicker Park, Chicago

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Justin, Benjy, Chuck :: Pontiac, Wicker Park, Chicago

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Maker’s Mark Shots :: Pontiac, Wicker Park, Chicago

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Juicy Bootie! :: Pontiac, Wicker Park, Chicago

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Chuck’s Breakfast of Champions :: Pontiac, Wicker Park, Chicago

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The Birthday Boy :: Pontiac, Wicker Park, Chicago

Last night a bunch of us from Chicagoist met up for happy hour at Pontiac. It was time for our monthly get-together, plus Tankboy was having his birthday party at Pontiac.

Scott had issue with the way “bootie” was spelled on the menu. James, can we get a ruling here? After I ordered it and Margaret and Erin had a taste, they said they really enjoyed my Juicy Bootie.

When Chicagoist has and event we’re always happy to get a band lined up and some drink specials.. but Tankboy.. he’s a badass mofo. He shows up to his own party late, has $3 Bud Lights and $3 Makers Mark for everyone there, and gets 3 bands to play.

I was getting tired and thinking about going to work in the morning because I’m getting old and not fun, so I left at 10:30 before any bands had even started yet. Still, it was fun to see everyone. Also, TB, just so you know, all the girls were talking about how jealous we are of your lucious goldilocks.

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