Happy Chicago-ween

Add some snow to this video and you'll see what Halloween 2014 was like in Chicagoland.  The first snow on Halloween in 20 years.  Nobody will be seeing your costume because your Mom is going to make you wear a winter coat over it.

Peckish Pig

I am supposed to go to brunch with a friend at the Peckish Pig.  We are not planning on going for a few weeks.  I was driving by today and decided to get a preview.

The space is really big and the beer selection is nice.  I admit that I do not drink beer so I am actually not qualified to make that judgement, I guess.  I can, however, judge the drinks and I am all in.  It has been so long since I have gone out for cocktails that the pricing I remember was almost half of what it is now.  The food menu looks very interesting.

I decided to try a "bag o' donuts" to go.  BEST decision ever.  Those things are so incredibly delicious.  Very dangerous.  Fresh and hot.  Nice crunch on the outside with a light sugar coating.  Inside is a lusciously hot, slightly chewy and tender inside.

Auction

Every so often I drop by a local auction to check out the offerings.  I think it is hit or miss, but I guess most treasure hunting is hit or miss.  The first time I went I actually stayed and sat for a few hours observing the bidding.  After that, I decided I was much better off doing absentee bidding.  First, because I do not have to sit there for 7 hours.  Second, because I can set the limit on my bid and there is no temptation to go higher because I am not there to place the higher bid.  I have had some success with auctions.  I enjoy the hunt and you just never know what you'll see and what you might win.

UPDATE:  The results are in so I have added the realized prices.  The prices were sort of high last night.

There is always a large selection of art.  I have actually had some success winning a nice lot of antique Japanese woodblock prints.

There is also usually a nice selection of rugs.  I wish I had more knowledge in this area.  Still, I have seen some really nice rugs go for as little as $20.  So, here are some of the interesting things I saw during my quick look at the auction this week.

I really liked this Danish table and chairs, but I have no need or space for it.  I have a feeling I would be outbid anyway.

$700

A very cool pair of drafting stools.

$150

Oooh.  Chrome mushroom lamp.

$110

Paul McCobb chair.

This did not sell.  The reserve must have not been met.

This picture is deceiving.  These two brass globe light fixtures are COOL.  You cannot tell, but they are about 2  to 2 1/2 feet high.  They would go perfectly in my imaginary loft in my head.

$220

'Cue

 Rub's Back Country Smokehouse

Pulled pork, pulled chicken, truffle mac n' cheese, kettle chips, slaw.

Vinyl spinning on the front counter

Grilled Peach cobbler and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

This was playing while we dined.  I will be looking to purchase this for myself.

A new year means changes

 

Have you ever wondered what your large grocery store would look like if it were empty?  In Chicagoland, we were able to find out.  Dominick's has been a local grocery chain here for years and years.  They were eventually purchased by Safeway a couple of years ago.

 

 

                                    

 

It was announced in October that Safeway was closing all of the Chicagoland Dominick's stores on December 28.  Today.  They started discounting items about a month ago and they went to 50% off of grocery a couple of weeks ago.  (No produce, liquor or dairy at that time.)  Last week was the 75% discount at which point they included the dairy and the produce.  The liquor was the only department that did not go greater than 40% off.  At first it did not seem so strange when you walked into the stores because the shelves were still stocked.

 

Last week when the stores looked like this is when it started to feel strange.  I had grown up with Dominick's so it will be odd to not have them around anymore.  The changes for 2014 have already begun to take effect.

Supermercado Chapala

 

After driving past Supermercado Chapala for years I decided to go inside and give it a try.  In the back of the grocery store is a small 10 booth eating area.  I am not sure that I know everything that is on the menu.  There is a list on the wall, but I am not sure if there are more items that they serve which are not on the menu.  They do serve roast chicken, but I have not tried it yet.  Maybe next time.  This time around I just stuck with some simple items.  Chicken taco above for about $1.70.

 

They also have tortas (above) which are really good.  The buns were incredibly fresh with a very tasty guacamole.

 

Both came with this flavorful side of roasted onions and peppers.  There are a few of these small eating establishments inside grocery stores in this area.  I have tried a couple of them and they have all been good.  I suggest that you are around here and have the chance that you try them out.

Dak

 

I tried out Dak the other day and was pleasantly surprised.

 

 

I guess I have to apologize about forgetting to take these pictures before we started eating.  So, you do get more food than what is pictured.  Those wings are about the size of a chicken breast.  Huge.  The wings on the left had the spicy sauce and the wing on the right has the Dak sauce.

 

Again, this was after a big portion had been eaten.  This is the chicken rice bowl.  You can always click on the link and view beautiful photos from their website.

 

  The flavor profiles were a little different from the traditional Korean food I am used to eating.  I like a little spin on my food every now and then.  All of the food was very tasty.  The portions are very large so be prepared to eat or take some home.

Pie and coffee!

 

Something pretty dangerous has opened up in the 'hood.  Dollop and Hoosier Mama have joined forces and opened up in one space.  Pie and coffee!  What more could one ask for?  That it be farther away so at least one would have to work for it.

It is very clean and spacious inside.

 

Pretty much everything is out in the open.

Pear Apple Cranberry pie with a walnut crumble topping.

Misoya!

This is just a short post about the fairly new location of Misoya here in Chicagoland.  It is out in the boonies, but it is worth driving to get this miso ramen.  The above was the char-su ramen made with the kome miso. 

This was the Shiro spicy ramen.  You can have them either add the spicy sauce for you or have it on the side.  They recommend it on the side because people think it can be too spicy.  Well, it was not.  I had it on the side.  I tasted the sauce straight and then ended up just dumping the entire dish into my broth.  Nonetheless, this was some really good ramen.  I have never been to Japan so I cannot compare it, but if you are in Chicagoland, I definitely recommend this place for some miso ramen.

Relief

This is just a refreshing palette cleanser.  Only a week ago we were stuck in a long, blistering heat wave.  This weekend we are expected to have record low highs.  I am much happier.  This is a view of the beach in the cool early morning.

Guerilla

Last night I went to the Guerilla Furniture and Truck Show.   It takes place in what used to be the meat packing district.  All I could think when I saw this was, "poor piggy".

 

My pictures are pretty crappy because it was so hot and crowded.  You can probably get a better idea by going to their website.  Basically, it is a bunch of U-Haul trucks parked down the street with their backs open.  What are in the backs?  Furniture, artwork, installations...oh yeah, and I think there was one pour over coffee guy.

 

 

There were hand built bikes from Legacy Frameworks.  If you need a new bike, these are pretty cool.  I only know of them because our mutual friend introduced us.

 See?  Blaring sun and lots of peeps.

This sort of gives you an idea what the backs of the trucks look like.  This one was an art installation.

 

If you have not gone to his I would definitely encourage you to check it out.  There are several ways in which they could improve this event.  First, I think they really need to have a jury.  If you went last night, you know what I mean.  Second, I have no idea why they have not thought of this.  FOOD TRUCKS!  This is a truck type event so I would think that food trucks would be the first thing to pop into your mind.  Really, there was no food at the event last night and food trucks would have improved it tremendously.  Third, they need some live music.   I have nothing to do with planning this event, so what do I know?  These are just some things I noticed last night.

Hidden Treasure

I love when you discover some hidden gem that has been unknowingly preserved.  I was in Andersonville and noticed that a building had been demolished since my last visit.  I guess that when many of these buildings were erected they were placed almost right on top of one another.  You were not able to see between them when you walked by.  That close proximity is what preserved this great Coke advertisement for years.

Look at how beautiful the paint colors remain.  I do not know the date the sign was painted, but if a bottle of Coke was 5 cents, you can do the math.

Still alive

I am still here.  There just has not been anything to post.  I went to the Art Institute last week.  I should have gone earlier  in order to get everything I wanted done.  I guess another visit is in order soon.

 

 

I wanted to make sure and see "Material Translations" which is an exhibit organized by the Fashion Resource Center and the department of Japanese art.  It is a small show, but the clothes are wonderful.  It was so dark to photograph.  I guess I did not photograph one of each designer because I am missing Rei Kawakubo, Junya Watanabe and Jun Takahashi.  Hopefully, you can go and check it out for yourself.

Yohji Yamamoto

 

Issey Miyake

Yohji Yamamoto