Walking the streets of Chicago one would think that the entire population smokes. Heck, people even smoke on the lake front path, which is designed for running, skating, and biking, all pursuits that require breathing and, presumably, fresh air. So it's a bit of a surprise that in this city of smoke-filled bars and butt-strewn sidewalks there are not one but two smoking ban proposals. Alderman Ed Smith (28th) supports a sweeping ban that would prohibit smoking in almost all public places. Alderman Burton Natarus (42nd) recently introduced a much weaker ban. His would allow smoking in bars and lounges, and in restaurants that have a free-standing bar area. A restaurant could get around this ban by erecting walls around its existing bar. Others that already have free-standing bar areas would not be affected at all. (Hmmm - makes me wonder if some of those restaurants with free-standing bars are good "friends" of Natarus. This is the same man that wants the drummer kids in front of the Art Institute arrested for noise pollution.) Big deal, right? You can still go out for dinner without worrying about second hand smoke. Maybe...How many times have you shown up for your dinner reservation and had to wait for a table? Usually the host will suggest that you have a drink in the bar. With Natarus' proposal you would still be inhaling someone else's habit. Proponents of the comprehensive ban cite the health of service industry workers as a main reason to support it. Opponents say that bartenders and servers accept second hand smoke as part of the job so they shouldn't complain about it. As someone who's worked in the industry for many years I find this argument offensive. Would these same people claim that construction workers should expect to be hit by a car because they chose to work on a highway? No - hit a worker and you'll be fined thousands of dollars and go to jail. Besides, for many people in the industry the flexibility, hours, and income make it the only viable option. Another argument is that personal freedoms are being violated. Whose personal freedoms? If cigarette smoke did nothing but make your clothes and hair stink that might be valid. But it does so much more than that. It causes cancer. That's like saying that drunk driving should be allowed because to prohibit it limits personal freedoms. Drunk drivers risk their own and everyone else's lives. So do smokers. Drunk driving kills people. So does secondhand smoke. There are two websites where you can contact your Alderman and voice your own opinion: www.dontchokechicago.com and smokefreechicago.org.

In what is surely one of the great olfactory travesties of our time, the scent of chocolate emanating from Blommer Chocolate Co.'s factory will be eliminated. I can't count the number of times I've smiled as I breathed in the fumes of the cocoa bean while walking around River North. It was part of the charm of the city. One block I'd be holding my breath to avoid choking on the stench of the sewers and the exhaust from traffic, the next I'd be inhaling as if someone were chanting "breathe deeply" into my ears. The smell of brownies enabled me to get through the next few yards of noxious fumes. But now, some Grinch, some Scrooge, some miserable soul who wants to deprive us of this pleasant and uplifting experience, has complained to the EPA. Apparently the emissions that carry the aroma are considered air pollution. So the EPA is making Blommer's install filters that will get rid of those nasty emissions. Yep, that's right. Even though pleasant odors make people calmer and more, er, pleasant, the number of airborne particles required to carry that odor can cause health problems. That may be true, but is it really THAT dangerous? I, for one, believe that the smiles generated and the overall effect of the scent of chocolate in the middle of a bustling major metropolitan area counteract the possible negative consequences of a few airborne particles. I'm not a scientist, but I think the EPA would do better to focus on the pollution that's causing all the bad odors the chocolate has helped to cover up. Sewage and exhaust fumes or chocolate - which would you choose? Blommer Chocolate Co. 600 W Kinzie St (800)621-1606

Tucked into a side street in the Gold Coast, the Underground Wonder Bar could easily be passed by if you didn't know it was there. It's located on one of those short side streets just before State & Rush converge. On a Thursday night, at least, there were no scantily clad women and untucked-shirt-wearing Metrosexuals lined up outside, and the crowd inside seemed like a mix of locals and conventioneers. Once you descend the stairs and walk into the narrow bar you feel like you've entered another era. Smoky, with a raised bar to the right and a brightly lit stage in the back of the room, UWB is exactly what you'd imagine a late-night jazz club to be. You even have to walk through the stage to get to the bathroom! The atmosphere has a character of its own, but the reason to visit is, of course, the music. When my friend and I arrived around Midnight we were treated to a soothing, soulful woman's voice accompanied by a pianist. She was followed by a band whose drummer reminded us of Buddy Rich. We were amazed that we could hear this incredible music for a $7 cover charge in the heart of the Gold Coast. I will definitely be back, and can see myself becoming a regular. Next time I'll go when Lonie Walker and her band are playing. She's the force behind this showcase for fantastic talent. Underground Wonder Bar 10 E Walton (312)266-7761