February 19, 2006

• EDIT: Hey, Check out my new profile pic! It’s another photo of a Jeff Koons sculpture. This one is called Pink Panter and it is on view now at the Museum of Contemporary Art. I love it. You?

  These are a Few of My Favorite Things

  Shaun and I were on our way to a brunch party at a friends house last weekend and on the way we made a list of places we would include if we wrote a Lonely Planet guide to Chicago. Even though my tastes are, well, mine, I thought I would share it with my fellow Xanginians, in case any of you ever make a pit stop in Chicago and subsequently find yourself wondering why on earth so many people endure such horrible cold weather. For the unenlightened, Chicago is quite the toddlin’ town; although the average person (of which in this essay I am more or less admitting to be) rarely deviates from their regularly scheduled program, the average Chicagoan can easily rattle off quite a lengthy list of favorite spots that they call their own. So read this list of mine and enjoy!

  Eye Candy
  Entertainment

  The Museum of Contemporary Photography
  When I used to work at Columbia College, one of my favorite things was to take a lunchtime stroll through this intimate photography museum.

  The Art Institute
  Don’t spoil a trip here by trying to take it all in. Pick a few galleries and make friends with a few pieces. I like a piece in the Asian ceramics galleries called “Peaches with Bats.” It is a china plate with exactly that on it and I enjoy communing with it whenever I go. Find your muse and visit her often.

  The Art Institute Sculpture Garden
  Past the lion sculptures guarding the Art Institute entrance, heading north on Michigan Avenue, you will notice a thick wall of hedges. If you look carefully, you will see a clearing that leads into one of the best sanctuaries in the city: the Art Institute Sculpture Garden. Bring your lunch and a book and eat in sweet, green peace. Careful of the birds, though. Twice now I’ve been shat upon in that garden and had to ask Shaun to come out of his office (he works there) with paper towel. But bird shit is supposedly lucky, right?

  The Museum of Contemporary Art
  If you can, hurry and go now. We have two collection shows up and a graceful Calder exhibition. This is a real treat because the MCA collection is not permanently on display since contemporary art is, well, contemporary. The MCA has exhibitions that constantly change in order to fulfill the mission of showcasing the living artists of our time.

  The Native North American galleries in the Field Museum
  On the immediate left when you first walk through the doors. The totem poles are astounding. There is no sanctuary like these galleries of artifacts and art. I especially love the Eskimo section. There is nothing more beautiful to me than their woodcarving.

  The Man Eaters at the Field Museum
  These are the two lions in Africa that ate 150 people trying to build a railroad in the days of British imperialism. Except they are dead and stuffed and behind glass. A movie was made about these lions and it starred Val Kilmer and Michael Douglas. The movie is about two Hollywood heroes who try to off the psycho big cats, and basically the movie sucks except it is fun to root for the lions. So if you are into lions that eat the imperial system, you might get a kick out of it.

  The Shed Aquarium CRABS! Exhibition
  This exhibition is all about crabs. I loved it more than any other special exhibition that has come to Chicago. CRABS! It had an exclamation point in the title. How could you not like that? Don’t go on a weekend, though. It is heinous with tourists. Try to get a coupon, too. Shaun and I get in free because we work for museums, but if you don’t, it’s a hefty $20 or something like that to get in. The lines are long too. But its so worth it for Crabs!

  Graceland Cemetery
  This place is extra creepy because all the dead people it contains were the reason why Chicago was a hot bed for the labor movement. Also, a lot of famous architects were buried here. Check it out, its a cemetery for the stars: Potter Palmer, George Pullman, Cyrus Hall McCormick, Marshall Fields, Martin Ryerson, Victor Lawson, Phillip D. Amour, John Root, William Holabird, Louis Sullivan, David Adler, Howard Van Doren Shaw and Mies Van der Rohe. It’s a really beautiful place too.

  The Movies (cool stuff showing always at The Century, The Music Box, The Gene Siskal)
  One of the best things about Chicago is that those little indie movies that never make their way to the burbs play on the big screen. And for a film fanatic like myself, that is pure heaven.

  826 CHI
  Do you like Dave Eggers? Me too! What an author! What a literary force! What a cool guy. He has a writing center for kids and teens called 826 CHI on Milwaukee Ave. Sometimes they have lectures and readings for grown ups too. Very cool.

  Young Chicago Authors
  A writing center for teens to be themselves and become steeped in language. They do a lot of poetry slams in the city. If you are lucky, you will be in town when they host Louder than a Bomb.

  The Neo Futurists
  30 plays in 60 minutes, you roll a dice to see how much you pay, new material every week: this theater company is innovative, fresh, and very cool. They also offer classes.

  Second City
  Everyone’s heard of Second City, the academy for SNL superstars, but what you may not know is that their student shows are WAY cheaper than the main stage shows and they aren’t half bad. Plus, I always prefer to see the legends of tomorrow over the established professionals—because both can suck, but at least the newbie’s give you the trill of having tried something new. Once there was this awesome girl at a student performance who sang an improved rap song that I love to sing. Here’s how it goes: “Hey/Yo/What the Shit/French Impressionism is legit/Hey/Look/There’s a faun/Paint it motherfucker/Before its gone.” Great, isn’t it?

  Second City also offers writing and acting classes. Shaun has been in the writing program for the last year and 1/2. Although the first class left a bad taste in his mouth, he has said nothing but good things about the past couple courses and met lots of good friends, a challenge to do when you move to the city. Especially if you have the classic, quiet temperament of a writer as he does.

  Imrov Olympic
  Something about this group strikes me as more cutting edge than Second City, although I can’t put my finger on it. Both rock. Both have classes. I’ve laughed my ass off at both.

  Melissa Thodos & Dancers
  This is a dance company and school. They have a knack for incorporating sculptural pieces into their performances that really take my breath away.

  Aragon Theater
  There is something about going to a rock show in a swanky old club that used to frequent by Chicago’s most notorious mobsters. Plus this theater has seats, which I, the girl who passes out with alarming frequency, appreciate.

  Naughty Candy
  Indie rock with a country edge, this local band is comprised of Shaun’s work friends who are unfailingly nice and funny. Plus their music is fun.

  Steppenwolf Theater
  Need I say more? Yes. I do. Right now the Steppenwolf is host to the play, After the Quake, penned by one of my favorite authors, Haruki Murakami. A Western play marinated in Kabuki and magical realism, it is one of the most memorable play’s I’ve seen in a while.

  The Lake/Lake shore path
  This is a daily indulgence for me in the summer. Swimming, rollerblading, biking, walking, running, Frisbee, volleyball, reading, sketching, journaling, hotdog carts. Really. It’s very fun. Strap on a backpack, grab a water bottle and head out for the day. The best beach is the Ohio Street beach because it is actually deep enough to swim and it is not as crowded as the hyper-trendy North Avenue beach.

  Millennium Park
  Fun interactive public art, green space galore, a bike valet, wintertime ice-skating—what more could you ask from a downtown oasis?

  Story Studio
  This is the writing center that I take workshop at. Courses in journalism, fiction, and memoir lead by nice writers. Best of all, you get to have other literary minded people read and critique your stuff. It’s intimidating at first, but you get a kick out of it eventually.

  Columbia College Chicago’s Story Week
  My calendar is already marked for March 12-17. Along with many other writers, Stewart Dybek is coming this year to do readings, lecture, and lead panel conversations on the wonderful world of writing. Last year Sandra Cisneros came to town and I completely wanted to invite her over for dinner. After her reading and Q&A I knew we would have made great friends if only she weren’t a famous writer and I a mere ChicagoArtGirl.

  The Lincoln Park Zoo (when the animals there are not dying)
  Okay. So this zoo has go a lot of bad press this year. The zookeepers don’t really have mad skills when it comes to keeping the animals here alive. On the other hand, the zoo is free and beautiful and easily accessible. So do I raise my voice with the PETA protesters? Sure. And then I sneak past them to visit the polar bears.

  Fem TV Burlesque Show
  This feminist-minded vaudevillian burlesque show usually does at least one show a year in Chicago. Last year I got called onstage to help a juggler with his act. He put a garter belt on me onstage and if I were more sober I’m sure I would have been a bit embarrassed.

  Kit Kat Club
  Drag Queens, Drag Queens, Drag Queens! That’s right, ladies and gents; I love a man who flatters my womanhood enough as to attempt to emulate it. I love the kitsch factor, I love the fun factor, and I love the killer cocktails with umbrellas. Plus, these drag queens are divas. They sing and dance and you would never know that Tina Turner was a man if it weren’t for her see-through dress.

  Blow Your Wad
  Places to Shop

  Morpho Gallery
  This art gallery on Damen has a special place in my heart because we stumbled into its opening on accident with our friend Jason when he came to visit us during the first weekend we moved into our current apartment. They were having a photography sale to raise funds and I bought a picture of Indian architecture for my mom and Jason bought Shaun and I a photo to thank us for sheltering him during his stay because he is awesome like that.

  Renegade Craft Fair
  This fair happens annually and although my friend got heatstroke trying to man her booth at it two years back, I am still a fan of this very cool fair. Young, bohemian hipster types pedal their wares here: where else can you buy a boob cupcake and a plush mustache? I know what other women are talking about when they say certain stores are “dangerous” for them to bring money into. For me, this is the Renegade Craft fair.

  Paper Doll
  This is a stationary store whose owner lets her pug dog run around and play with customers. The dog and I got quite attached so now I buy many a birthday gift and card from Paper Doll.

  The Wooden Spoon
  This is a store to buy cooking things. They also offer classes. Shaun and I took a sushi class taught by a German guy. I give it two big thumbs up.

  Myopic Books
  A maze of a used bookstore with a dog and cat to play with.

  Brainstorm
  Comic book store and movie rental place. Naturally, lots of our expendable income is directed here. There are no pets to play with wondering around this store, but I like it anyway because the owner is so friendly and a good conversationalist: not your stereotypical gross comic book shop owner at all.

  Chicago Comics
  If you have a significant other who likes comics and drags you to comic places, this one you won’t mind going to. There are lots of fun toys and books to entertain you while he debates the merits of the latest issue of Hell Raiser with the guy at the counter.

  Uncle Fun
  My favorite! This store is full of lame toys. Want a thousand miniature plastic porcupines? How about a roll of Alf stickers? A fake mustache kit? Plastic body parts? Mexican wrestling masks? Whatever your fancy, you can find it at Uncle Fun.

  Farmer’s Market
  Since I work there, naturally I go to the one on the MCA plaza. But Farmers Markets are littered all over the city in the summer and they are all pretty wonderful. I especially like the baked goods from Bleeding Heart Bakery.

  Stanley’s
  This is a fruit and veggie market run by a nice Mexican family. Whole Foods wished they could have produce even half as nice as Stanley’s. Plus, can you say cheap? Oh, how I love my vegetables.

  Munchins
  Places to Graze

  Benehanna
  The upstairs is too expensive. Ditch it. Go to the basement sushi bar. Order the sushi boat. You will LOVE it.

  Chicago Subs on Michigan and Madison
  The owners of this are the nicest people ever. They are a nice Indian family that talks about anything with you and are always smiling. Plus the subs are fresh and delicious. My favorite lunchtime munch.

  Puck’s at the MCA (for my favorite peanut butter cookies)
  Lucky for me, any workday of the week that I happen to have money to spare (which lets face it, is almost never) I get to eat at Pucks at the MCA, but even if I could only go there sometimes, I would make the trek for the big, crunchy peanut butter cookies. As big as your face and filled with peanutty goodness, they are sure to satisfy.

  Margery’s Candies
  This place is an ice cream parlor that hasn’t gotten a decor update since the 1930′s. It’s old school and the ice cream sundaes are HUGE. We took my brothers there when they came to visit us without parents a few summers ago. We were all on a sugar high for hours afterwards.

  Inn Joy
  A restaurant/bar with relaxing, low-key decor, good music, and chilly air conditioning. I like to go here to escape our hot apartment in the summer. Plus their Ruben is finger-lickin’ good.

  Letizias Natural Bakery
  Get the Apple Yogurt muffin or the chocolate/peanut butter swirl cookie. You have to go early, though: those two menu items seem to be a city favorite and they go quick.

  Alliance
  Free wi-fi, fluffy cappuccinos, and loaves of bread good enough to buy to serve for company but so tempting that you eat them all by yourself before anyone actually arrives.

  Red Hen Bakery
  Once I came when the cookies were just out of the oven. I’m usually more of a peanut butter or oatmeal raisin cookie gal, but these warm, fresh chocolate chip cookies were as close to heaven as I think I’ve ever come. I dig the rye bread too. I like to get it for the red pepper soup that Shaun and I make with Stanley’s veggies.

  Piece Brewery
  Pizza to die for and the beer is pretty good too.

  Gallery Cafe
  They are also a micro roaster, so the coffee is supreme. My absolute favorite thing there though, is the steamed egg. They cook it with the cappuccino wand and it is so good that I’d rather eat that than a piece of cake.

  Marrakech Espresso and Moroccan Food
  The owners are legendary for their kindness and personality. And the food is really, really good. Try the famous Moroccan tea, but don’t blame me if you get diabetes from it.

  Garcia’s on Lawrence
  We like the waitress/bartender here. She is nice and she always plays Spanish soap operas on the big screen TV instead of sports.

  Hop Leaf
  The beer menu here is astounding. I hear there is a dining section, but we so seldom have cash to go out to dinner, so Shaun and I just go to nurse one beer each and talk about writing.

  The Red Lion
  An English-style pub that is rumored to be haunted. The food sucks, but you should order it anyways just to stay long enough to see if something haunted is going to happen.

  Duke of Perth
  This is a Scottish pub that I sometimes frequent. I like their chilly cider and Roast Vegetable sandwich.

  Kopi Cafe
  Great everything. Ambiance is excellent. Try the Chi Shake.

  Irazu
  Coasta Rican food, nice people, excellent price range. Love it.

  The Brew & View
  Lame movies and bad beer. It is VERY fun. Go!

  Charlie’s Ale House
  Again, this is a restaurant, but we don’t eat here. We nurse beers at the bar sometimes and talk writing.

  Feast
  PRICY! But if you are like us, just go for dessert and get the Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. Mmmmm….heaven.

  Chicago is full of other good things, too. I hear people enjoy sports here a great deal. Others like blues and others like to hit the clubs. But if you are like me, your perfect day might include any of the above things on this list. And so if you are ever in Chicago, you should do them too.

  _____________________________________________________
  What are some of your favorite places where you live?

  • 6:52 pm
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