The Local Tourist: Online Guide To Downtown Chicago

Restaurant Openings

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Sun, 23 Jul 2006 15:35:00 +0000

Restaurants open (and close) in downtown Chicago at an incredible pace. In the next couple of weeks we'll have three new culinary choices in the heart of the city:

CPK/ASAP, 30 N LaSalle, (312)920-9662: A quicker version of California Pizza Kitchen with a smaller menu

BB, 22 E Hubbard, (312)755-0007: Across from Shaw's and half a block east of the Hubbard Street bar & restaurant smorgasbord in the former Room 22 localtion. Gourmet comfort food in a pub atmosphere (sounds like it will be competing with Rockit Bar & Grill just down the street).

Zocalo, 358 W Ontario St, (312)302-9977: Mexican spot opening in the old Chilpancingo space. They're serving lots of small plates, but don't call it a tapas spot.

Life In Chicago: "Pull your sh*& up more closer..."

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Thu, 20 Jul 2006 23:41:00 +0000

I just got back from the library. That statement, just the word library, probably brings to mind a geek wearing glasses and carting thick tomes of erudition, most likely wrapped in a flowing skirt and shod in Birkenstocks with her hair in braids, little to no makeup, and her eyes cast shyly to the ground.

Nope. I had on shorts, a short sleeved fitted shirt, running shoes, and a Johnny Walker baseball cap. Very little makeup, though; that part was correct.

I wasn't going to the library for any intellectual pursuit. Much of my day is spent working with HTML, PHP, Javascript, pdf's, jpg's, servers, databases and webhosts. I was going to the library for some entertaining non-challenging mysteries that would provide a few hours of escape from my think-think-think normal life.

Feeling slightly guilty at the stack of Iris Johansen novels I held closely to my chest like forbidden candy that some well-meaning adult would take away at any moment, I picked up several local periodicals on my way out. These are part of my "research" and how I keep up on all things Chicago. As a maniacal Type A person it is very difficult for me to indulge in a strictly pleasurable activity without some "redeeming" effort. Occasionally I have to force myself to read something whimsical, or listen to a song that increases my "cool" quotient with my 13-year-old son.

As I walked home I felt wise and intellectually enhanced just because I had accomplished an errand and I had simultaneously been in a building dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge. Yes, while there I could check out a score of formulaic, predictable novels that would take 35 minutes to read and 3.5 to forget. And yet...I could also learn about any conceivable topic. Any time I'm in a library I imagine my IQ has gone up a point, just by osmosis.

It was with this mindset that I approached the intersection of Belmont and Broadway. And heard: "Pull your sh*& up more closer, you stupid f*&#."

I've been angry in a car before. I've been tempted to scream, cuss, give the bird, whip around some obviously incompetent driver and then slam on the brakes. Two key points, though: I have not given into that temptation, and when I did feel it I was driving and therefore had the illusion of control. This "gentleman", and I use the word very lightly, was sitting in the backseat.

Angry or not, I have never said "more closer." Ever.

I wanted to say to him that he probably shouldn't be calling anyone stupid if he couldn't grasp basic grammatical structure and couldn't find more creative insults than the four-letter ones.

Even if I hadn't just left a library I would have shaken my head in disgust. Grammatical rules have been drummed into me since I was a wee tot. My mother still corrects my grammar (it's "I petted the dog," not "I pet the dog." "The comma goes before the closing quotation mark."), and I have extended the tradition with my son. Any time I hear "me and her" or any other flagrant misuse of the English language a chill goes up my spine and I have to clamp my jaw shut to avoid an unwelcome correction.

I frequently break the rules, but each time I do it's with purpose. Run-on sentences convey excitement, energy, nervousness, anticipation - they're mood-setters. Dependent clauses used as sentences make punchy statements. Contractions, misspellings, and slang all contribute to a colloquial sense of friendship and intimacy.

I suppose I should just relax. The primary purpose of language is, after all, to communicate. And this "gentleman" definitely communicated. Just not the message he was hoping to deliver:

"You haven't pulled up far enough for us to get around. We have a green light and the back end of your car is blocking the intersection. This makes me angry, especially since my idiot friend is driving and I'm stuck in the backseat with this bimbo, so the only thing I can do is shout expletives at you even though you won't hear them because your windows are shut, so only the people on the sidewalk will hear me, and they'll think I'm an idiot because I've screamed out 'more closer' even though everyone knows that's redundant. But I'm going to go ahead and scream it anyway because it makes me feel better. So there."

Coffee Buzz: Lavazza

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 18:31:00 +0000

I'm a big fan of coffee. I drink about half a pot every morning. (That could explain why I get very little sleep and am a bit too chipper for most people at 7am and friends and family have to tell me "SLOW DOWN" when I speak.) However, I don't like Starbucks and even when I go to Intelligentsia or Caribou I tend to be a purist: large coffee. No cappucino, no latte, no fancy beans that are only grown on the south side of the mountain and picked by a fourth generation coffee grower who lives among the beans in a cabin built out of used coffee filters. Nope. Just coffee. That's all about to change.

Lavazza is a family-owned Italian coffee company that opened three cafes in the Loop last year. These are the only Lavazza Cafes in the world, and there are no plans to open any more any time soon. Which is a darn shame, because I would go every day. I'd start off with a muffin that's been baked in the store and a glass of fresh squeezed orange juice. Their OJ reminds me slightly - and this is not a bad thing - of Tang because it's so incredibly sweet. I'd go back mid-morning for a Cappugiro, which is an "inverted cappuccino." Normally I have to add sweetener to any coffee I drink, but theirs is so smooth that it didn't need anything. Luigi Lavazza invented coffee bean blending (think Meritage if you're a wine lover) and apparently they've continued to hone the process of creating a non-bitter, smooth beverage.

Since service is key here, for lunch I'd have a seat while they brought me my Prosciutto Baguette or tuna salad. The prosciutto is, of course, imported from Italy (as is the tiramisu - don't get me started on that). The tuna is mixed with oil and vinegar instead of mayo so you can actually taste the tuna. Then I'd head out with my Berrissimo. I took one sip of this berry smoothie made with gelato and exclaimed "WOW." I couldn't help it. The flavor was so strong and clear it jumped on my tongue and made it do a little dance.

In the afternoon I'd stop in for a Caffe Shakerato. Who would think to take espresso and milk foam and flavored syrup, shake over ice, and pour them into a martini glass? This is just one of the many coffee "creations" they feature. Another, which really needs to be eaten with a spoon, is the Meringato. Espresso, nutella, meringue, and whipped cream. Need I say more?

Unless you're taking your drink to go it's served in a glass or a real coffee cup. You get to eat with real silverware on breakable plates. Unless they're super busy, they'll bring your order to you. This is not a dash in, run out type of coffee shop, although I could just run in for that no-frills cup I usually get. It's modeled after an Italian coffee cafe, where food and drink are meant to be experienced and not rushed through like a chore that needs to be finished before racing off to the next.

Obviously I'm a big fan. I suppose it's a good thing they won't be opening one in my neighborhood any time soon. I'd have to take a sedative to counteract all the espresso.

LAVAZZA
Coffee
27 W WASHINGTON
(312)997-9971
Hours: Mon - Fri 7am to 5pm, Sat 9am to 2pm
134 N LASALLE
(312)977-9701
Hours: Mon - Fri 6am to 6pm
111 W JACKSON
(312)447-0000
Hours: Mon - Fri 6am to 5pm

Do you ever feel like there's a big red X on your forehead?

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Wed, 12 Jul 2006 19:46:00 +0000

Well, now there can be! Or on your chest, your coffee mug, your bag...

Instead of hitting you, though, this red X tells everyone to hit The Local Tourist. YOU know it's a great site with tons of information; don't be stingy - share!

The Local Tourist's new store has hats, shirts, hoodies, and mugs. Send me a picture of you sporting our stylish logo and I'll post it on the site.

Mugged In Chicago: The Healing Process

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 22:59:00 +0000

One of the good things about being a woman is makeup. Normally it could be considered an inconvenience. It seems like it would be much easier to just head out the door without worrying about foundation, blush, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick, etc. This week, however, I am darn thankful for those various liquids and powders. Without them I wouldn't want to leave the house. With them I can venture out into the world and look somewhat normal, unless you peek a little too closely. Then I look like a Tammy Faye protege.

As you can see from the pictures below, each day there's been steady improvement. I still look like a racoon, and a friend kept calling me "Demon Eye" last night, but my face is slowly returning to normal.

It's difficult to tell in the pictures, but besides the obvious discoloration my entire face is basically yellow except for my forehead. I also have bruising on my neck, like I was punched there also.

Physically I've been amazed at how little pain I've experienced. Right now I have a slight ache, and my balance is a little off, but other than that I feel pretty normal. I haven't taken a Darvocet since Tuesday (so yes I have a stockpile and no I won't share!) and haven't needed so much as a Tylenol.

Emotionally I'm still numb. As I mentioned a couple of days ago, I'm avoiding dealing with the mental aspect until I'm physically healed. Last night I met a large group of my friends out. One, I didn't want to be alone yet, and two, I wanted to show my face and let them know I'm OK. However, there were times when I would have to walk away and just stare out the window. Today's my dad's birthday and we're going to dinner, so once again I'm gussied up and coated with makeup and shaky as Hell. But I'm going, putting on a brave face and toting a bag filled with supplies to keep the bruises covered throughout the evening.

I mentioned yesterday that I would include some information I've learned in case you're a victim. Everyone knows to call 911, but listed below are some other numbers to be aware of and actions to take:

Illinois has a Crime Victims Assistance program (800-228-3368) for victims of violent crime. This offers compensation for medical bills, counseling expenses (which I have a feeling I'll need since I keep avoiding the emotional part of this experience), loss of earnings, replacement costs for clothing used as evidence, and several other expenses incurred due to the crime. To be eligible you have to report the crime within 72 hours, file a claim within two years, and of course, not be a party to the crime.

If your drivers license is stolen, call Illinois Drivers Services at (217)782-7044. They'll ask for a copy of the police report and you must request a stop on your drivers license. When you get a replacment you'll have to bring more pieces of identification than normal, obviously.

You should also contact one of the major credit bureaus to let them know there could be possible identity theft. I called Equifax's Fraud Alert division at (800)525-6285, but you can call any of the three and they'll notify the others.

Anthony Hamilton/India.Arie photos

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:54:00 +0000

Taste of Chicago ends today. As I write this, the last concert of the 10-day food and music extravaganza is being performed in the Petrillo Band Shell.

Last Wednesday freelance photographer Jillian Dowd and I went to the Taste to cover the Anthony Hamilton/India.Arie concert.

We didn't stay long because we were a little miffed at the treatment we'd received, but what we did hear and see makes me wish we had stayed a bit longer. Both artists definitely have different styles and messages. Although one message they both delivered in the short time we were there: love yourself.

While the press were exiting the photo pit in front of the stage, Anthony jumped down from the stage. He tried going directly through the middle fence, but it was latched together so he (and the security detail) exited through the side and then snaked their way through the crowd.

Rooftop Solitude: Uh Oh, That Means She's Thinking...

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 02:05:00 +0000

It's a perfect Friday evening. There's a light breeze off the lake. It's not even strong enough to tussle my hair into my face. From the rooftop of my building the city is quiet and peaceful. I hear birds, the hum of the air conditioners, and the constant overhead drone of planes to and from O'Hare. But even that is a low crescendo and diminuendo, almost a soothing ellipse that leads you into another thought. That plane is leaving Chicago...This one is arriving...

I look around at the other rooftop decks. First, I'm amazed at how few there really are. Second, I'm disappointed that there are only two, no, four - just four other people outside enjoying this calm, peaceful, perfect summer night.

That thought didn't last long. I mean, come on Theresa, of course there are only five of you. You're in Chicago and it's FRIDAY NIGHT.

I still work part time at a restaurant (because it gets me out of the house and frankly, I'm not independently wealthy yet), so it's rare that I have a Friday evening free. Earlier, I ran some errands and as I passed by people eating dinner on patios and walking to parties and bars, I thought "I should be doing that." I thought about calling a friend who lives around the corner and extending a dinner invitation. I thought about calling Hainesville to see if he wanted to drive down here or vice versa, because landscaping business plus summer plus long distance = take what you can get. Essentially, I felt like I had to be doing something, and if I weren't there must be something wrong with me. A Friday night off feels akin to a field day to a 3rd grader and I should be Out There, for heaven's sake!

Being the annoyingly obsessive introspective psychoanalytical person that I am, I had to figure out why I was feeling so out-of-sync. And because I'm an annoyingly obsessive introspective psychoanalytical person, that didn't take too long:

Even though I'm around people at the restaurant and have a great social circle, there are times when I get lonely. Earlier this evening was one of those times. I'm at the computer all day, every day. I occasionally have fears that I'll turn into a cat lady. On days when I've talked more to Nina (my cat) than a human being I'm prone to being overly social in the cosmetics aisle at Walgreens or spending way too much time talking to my ex on MySpace. Today had the potential to be one of those days.

Then I went up to the deck. My original intentions were to 1) get out of the apartment so I didn't bore Nina, and 2) to finalize some details for a new feature I'm adding to the site. (Yes, I know that's redundant, which is why I feel the need to get out more.)

If I ever had any doubt I was a city girl it was taken care of tonight. I'm one of those people who see the skyline and all the activity it implies and sighs, calmly, "I'm home." In retrospect it doesn't surprise me that I saw the Hancock Building, the Sears Tower, glimpses of the lake and Belmont Harbor, and relaxed. I no longer felt the need to do something. I knew it was OK to just enjoy a calm, quiet evening. There are 8 million people around me, and I'm sure plenty of them are doing enough to make up for my chosen night of solitude and serenity.

There is always, and I do mean always, something to do in Chicago. If you're bored, it's because you're either not paying attention, or you choose to be. Sometimes, and this is almost blasphemy coming from my fingers, it's OK to choose to be bored.

Then again, there is this band playing at the Metro tonight...

Taste of Chicago: Love/Hate Relationship

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 21:32:00 +0000

I like food. I like all cuisines, all types. There are only two foods I won't eat because of bad experiences: kalamata olives and raw oysters. Green pepper is the only thing I'll pick off a pizza. I've had rattlesnake, alligator, turtle, buffalo, oxtail, and ostrich, and liked them all. My son and I have a rule: try everything once. If you don't like it, you don't have to eat it. I'll read passages of the glutonous feasts of Roman times and sigh with longing. The only reason I don't weigh 200 pounds is because I force myself to eat in moderation and I exercise daily. Why? Because I like food.

I like music. All genres, all types except for country, and even that's growing on me. Music either reflects or influences my moods. There's music to write to, music to run to, music to clean to. If there's a snappy beat I'll dance to it. If it's a passionate aria or a sappy love song I'll cry to it. If it's got lyrics I'll sing along. My son laughs at me, because I'll even sing along to songs I'm tired of or don't particularly care for. Why? Because I like music.

So you'd think the Taste of Chicago would be right up my alley. There's just one problem.

I hate crowds.

I know that makes no sense. I promote downtown Chicago. I'm inviting tourists into my beloved city, and inviting those who live here to get out and take advantage of everything it has to offer. And there's no way I'm going to sit at home and extol its virtues while everyone else goes from parade to restaurant to festival to bar to concert, etc. That means that when I plan on visiting an event like Taste of Chicago I have to mentally prepare myself. I'm a fast walker, so I have to adjust to ambling, meandering throngs of people who will stop, change directions, wave cigarettes absent-mindedly, and spill beer and ice cream.

Yesterday my photographer friend Jillian and I planned on covering the Anthony Hamilton/India.Arie concert at the Taste. It wasn't until shortly before we left that I realized - we were going to the Taste. At 5:30 at night.

I've been there before. In fact, I go every year (it is part of my job, after all). And every year I think the same thing, and other locals generally feel this way: it's crowded and overpriced and the food is NOT representative of the great cuisine Chicago has to offer.

This year I realized that while city dwellers might swear off the Taste of Chicago, it is perfect for visitors and suburbanites. I can get great pizza, Italian beefs, Thai, Indian, Persian - basically any type of cuisine you can think of - delivered to my apartment in Lakeview. I've been here less than five years, and I'd forgotten how excited I was when I moved here and realized I could get BEER delivered to my apartment at 3am! My delivery options seemed boundless, and even now it will take me half an hour to leaf through my file of menus before deciding what to order. The Taste provides that plethora of choices for 10 days to people who don't ordinarily have those options.

There are only three days left of the Taste, so here are my recommendations:

1. Bring bottled water! You really don't want to use your tickets for water, do you? There's a White Hen up the street on Michigan.
2. Get the roasted corn (I had the one from A Natural Harvest with cajun/creole spices - HOT!) and the BBQ turkey leg. They're ubiquitous fair food, but every year they're the two most oft-recommended food items.
3. Get the taste portions. I've heard of a group that each got a taste portion, brought it to one of the green spaces, and everyone got to a try a little bit for a true sampling. Jillian and another friend and I purchased various taste portions and were able to try much more than if we hadn't wanted to share.
4. Try Robinson's! The pulled turkey sandwich is enormous, but it's the sauce you really want so you'll be fine with the taste portion of rib tips.
5. Don't get the Dolmeh from Pars Cove. I tried them. I love stuffed grape leaves. These were bland and dry.
6. My friend Mike said the goat is b-a-a-ad. OK, he said he didn't like it. I said it was b-a-a-ad.
7. You can't go wrong with any of the desserts.
8. Beer can seem expensive at 8 or 9 tickets (~$5), but it's really not much more than you'd pay at a bar in downtown Chicago. It just depends on how much money you have to spend whether you want to eat at the Taste and drink later.
9. The tickets say $0.50 each, but you have to buy 11 for $7 because there's a $1.50 charge for "Taste amenities". So, really, each ticket is $0.63.

The key to enjoying the Taste of Chicago is knowing what to expect. This weekend will be extremely crowded, especially with acts like Macy Gray, Liz Phair, and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Just be prepared, have fun, and stay out of my way! (Just kidding. No, really. If you see a redhead who looks like she's going to burst if she has to walk at 2 mph for any longer, move. Please.)

Don't They Know Who I Am?

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Wed, 05 Jul 2006 21:41:00 +0000

A friend of mine is a music producer and a talented songwriter. Recently he had the opportunity to attend the BET Awards and met artists ranging from Ludicris to Stevie Wonder. When he returned to Chicago, and reality, he mentioned that he's going to try to stay humble, but he could feel himself getting wrapped up in that world.

I know what he's talking about.

In the Chicago media world, I'm still small potatoes. I'm the shreds of small potatoes before they become hash browns. But I do have a very loyal and steadily increasing subscriber base to my newsletter, and more and more frequently I'll meet someone who will say "You're the Local Tourist!"

That's incredibly intoxicating.

It can also create a monster.

A couple of weeks ago I faxed my press credential request to my contact at the Mayor's Office of Special Events. I was told to list the events I would be covering, and if I needed a photographer to provide the freelancer's name. Yesterday afternoon I contacted the office ahead of time to find out where to pick up the credentials so that Jillian and I could cover the Anthony Hamilton/India.Arie concert at the Taste of Chicago. The woman I spoke with was, to put it bluntly, quite snotty.

"You're an unknown publication, and the only reason I'm allowing you to attend is because Ann's worked with you before."

I bit my tongue and reminded myself that I wouldn't get anywhere by responding in kind. I very politely told her that TLT receives about 80,000 visitors a month, and that as an Internet publication photographs were necessary. She grudgingly told me that she would allow a photographer, but I would have to sign a release agreeing not to sell the photos.

Fine.

Before leaving I spoke to my mother and told her about the conversation. She said "oh - she doesn't know who she's talking to. That's going to end up on your website." Of course she's right, but not just for the reason that this woman was somewhat rude. I'll get to that in a moment.

The security at the concert also could have used a lesson or two in social niceties. Photographers were allowed for the first three songs, which was fine, but after that a bevy of blue t-shirt- wearing angry people swarmed into the pit and shoed us out like we were so many aggravating mosquitos. One woman glared at me and said "you shouldn't even have been in here" because I had an orange bracelet instead of the green photo pit.

Because we were a bit disgruntled by our treatment, were hungry, and had some time to kill before India.Arie we decided to visit the Taste and get something to eat. Unfortunately we missed her first three songs (the concerts actually start on time at the Taste of Chicago!), so we headed up the aisles to get close enough to get a decent shot. Jillian was let through, but I had to wait halfway back.

Here's where my reason for writing about this comes in. It's not so much the treatment itself. I can somewhat understand that. I'm sure the Mayor's Office and the people at the press check-in get all sorts of people saying they work for this or that publication. Even though the Internet is now the news source of choice for many, I still have credibility issues simply because my publication is a website and really, anyone can put up a website. And security detail is a thankless job and people try to sneak by all the time.

My problem was with my own reaction. I was irritated and literally thought "Don't they know who I am?" When the woman told me I shouldn't have been in the photo pit, and when I wasn't allowed closer to the stage, I felt like a whiney bratty child. I even said to Jillian - "But it's my website! I'm the publisher!"

Time for a reality check, Theresa.

Rude behavior should not be met with an arrogant belief that they picked the wrong person to mess with. I don't care how many visitors The Local Tourist receives; that does not make me more deserving of kind and considerate treatment. It does, however, give me a venue to voice my dissatisfaction, or, and this is more frequently the case, my satisfaction. This is a public forum, and while I definitely include my personality I'm also providing a service that goes beyond me as an individual. My all-about-me reaction was humbling.

Next time I'm treated with disdain or disrespect I promise to keep the monster in its cage. I'll let everyone know about it of course, but it will be for the right reason.

Theresa

Loop The Loop: Chicago Audio Tours

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 16:23:00 +0000

If you're the type of person who'd rather see the sites on your own instead of tagging along with a group, you're in luck. Last week I mentioned that the Chicago Loop Alliance has created audio tours of downtown Chicago. Even though the Loop is normally seen as the business/financial district, there's a whole lot of culture to be found also.

The tours focus on three different areas: Art, Theater, and Landmarks.

If you're short on time, start with the Theatre Loop. There are 10 stops, and the audio portion is only 25 minutes. Many of the theaters are close to each other, but you will take a trek down to Congress Parkway if you want to see the Auditorium Theatre. This is worth it simply because it was designed by Louis Sullivan and Dankmar Adler, and Frank Lloyd Wright was the draftsman (which you'll learn on the tour).

Everyone's familiar with the Picasso in Daley Plaza and Cloud Gate, or "The Bean" as it's affectionately known, but the Loop contains more art than those two famous sculptures. The Art Loop audio tour has almost twice as many stops as the Theatre Loop. You begin at the Art Institute and then venture through Millennium Park. Note: They mention that you can purchase an audio tour of Millennium Park, but you can also download it for free from the park's website. Wear some comfortable shoes, because they take you all the way down to 9th Street to see the Logan Memorial Statue. You end up just past the Spirit of Music Garden, which is where the SummerDance Festival is held. If you're not too tired, go on a day when it's in full "swing".

If you're feeling ambitious and have more time, the Landmark Loop will keep your neck craned for 55 minutes. It's worth it, though, if you're one of those who's curious about all that fantastic and varied architecture. Besides buildings, Chicago's highlighted landmarks also include the "L", Buckingham Fountain, and the starting point of Route 66. I actually appreciated that they skipped the Sears Tower, since that's gotten enough press for the entire area!

I enjoyed these audio tours for all the little tidbits of information that enhance my love of this city. I learned the Carbide and Carbon Building was designed after a champagne bottle (cheers!). When I heard that there used to be cast-iron buildings that melted during the Chicago Fire of 1871, I could picture them being reduced to molten heaps. And ever since reading "The Devil in the White City" I've been fascinated by the Columbian Exposition, so it was with renewed interest that I looked at Marshall Field's: its exterior was designed to complement the architecture of the Expo. Note: Marshall Field's also has an audio tour, available on the 7th Floor.

These three tours cover a lot of the same ground. If you're interested in all three, you could create your own mix-and-match tour and make a day of it.

Chicago Audio Loop Tour

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 20:49:00 +0000

Don't you hate it when you have a great idea and somebody beats you to it? Well, that happened to me. I've been wanting to create downloadable audio tours so that you can know what you're looking at as you walk around the city gawking with your neck craned back and a camera to your eye. Well, Chicago Loop Alliance must have been present at one of my brainstorming sessions (or it's just an obvious idea and they had the means to execute it) .

Either way, I don't begrudge them. They've created "Loops of the Loop," MP3 audio tours with accompanying maps for three different aspects of Loop offerings. These are the Public Art Loop, "From the Picasso to the Peristyle," the Theater Loop, which points out the many theaters within the city's business district, and the Landmarks Loop, which highlights such things as the Pritzker Pavilion and Marshall Field's. Side note: in their press release they call it Marshall Field's/Macy's. I suppose I should get used to that and be grateful they're preparing us for the transition.

I downloaded the files today, and be aware that they're BIG. The compressed ZIP files are 21, 32, and 47 mgs! To put that in perspective, one downloaded song is usually 6 mg.

Weather permitting, tomorrow I'll be doing at least one of these tours and I'll get back to you this weekend.

Picnicking In Chicago

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Thu, 29 Jun 2006 19:52:00 +0000

Growing up in the midwest, a picnic usually meant Kentucky Fried Chicken or lunchmeat sandwiches with cole slaw, potato salad, and chips. To this day, when I picnic in one of the suburban forest preserves that's my lunch of choice.

However, after living in Chicago for almost five years, my al fresco culinary tastes have gotten a little more sophisticated. One trip to Ravinia and it's goodbye greasy bucket and hello shrimp cocktail.

Listed below are some of the wine shops and delis downtown. I'll also be adding restaurants with pre-packaged boxes in the next couple of days.

Binny's
Gourmet market, knowledgeable wine staff
213 W Grand Ave
(312)332-0012

Fox & Obel
Gourmet market
401 E Illinois St
(312)410-7301

Printer's Row Wine Shop
Primarily wine, but also a selection of cheeses, chips and nuts
719 S Dearborn
(312)663-9314

Treasure Island
Cheeses, wines, large deli
680 N Lake Shore Dr
(312)664-0400

UnCork It
Wine, gourmet party platters, imported cheeses
393 E Illinois St
(312)321-9400

Whole Foods
Salad bar, large deli, natural and organic foods
50 W Huron St
(312)932-9600

Juzt Nutz - Yes, they are (band review)

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 23:47:00 +0000

When a member of a band has a heart attack three weeks before a show, you're not quite sure what to expect.

Well, that's not quite true. You expect that there will be no show.

Unless it's Juzt Nutz. And this band is appropriately named. They're freakin' insane.

I've been corresponding with this Chicago band for the last couple of months. They've been particularly supportive since I was mugged and frequently check in on me. So when they had a gig at Weeds (1555 N Dayton, 312-943-7815) I had to meet them! (Besides the fact that I like their music.)

Weeds is a small bar near North and Halsted. It's one of those Chicago bars that's kind of like your grandmother's house, in that stuff has accumulated over the years and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason. At first there's a Native American feel (in a stereotypical sense). There were Navajo blankets on the bar, masks on the wall, and the bartender was a tall dark-skinned man with sunglasses and a ponytail who obsessively lit a new incense stick each time the last one went out. Then you notice the clothesline with dozens of bras hanging over the liquor bottles. And the pool table pushed against the wall with an enormous plastic pumpkin with "TIPS" in magic marker on masking tape. Their draft selection reinforced the confused character of the bar: Bud Light and Bells Oberon.

As we walked into the bar, my buddy Mike and I were immediately blown away, and by the end of the night felt like we'd been sitting through g-force winds. Have you heard DJ's proclaiming there's face-melting guitar on "Dani California" by the Red Hot Chili Peppers? I have. I've waited for it. And waited. At the very end, there's a guitar lick that I've noticed only because I was told to notice it. It's OK.

If you want your face melted off, there's no waiting with Juzt Nutz. Every song, every single song has overwhelming energy. It's not just Bailous on the guitar. It's Derrick on the bass and Al and William going back and forth between vocals and drums. These guys are having fun and it's infectious. Sometimes I was reminded of Van Halen, sometimes Jimi Hendrix. At all times their energy kept me off the barstool and there wasn't a moment where I could just sit on my heiny and drink my beer.

I had to keep reminding myself that William had a heart attack just three weeks ago! He wore a Superman t-shirt during the first set as a message to their manager that he was a man of steel. (Yes, it is soaked in sweat.)

Because I'd corresponded with Juzt Nutz, and they treated me like a rock star (even playing "The Roctopus" again because I was late - sorry guys), I'll admit that my viewpoint might have been a little skewed. I realized it wasn't by Mike's reaction. He's a guy with very definite opinions. If he likes something, you know it, and if he doesn't like something, you definitely know it. He operates in superlatives.

He liked these guys. As we walked out of Juzt Nutz he turned to me and said "I've never seen anybody do what he could do with a guitar."

They'll be playing at Dugans sometime soon. I'll definitely let you know when, and you know I'll be there! But I'm going to rest up, eat my Wheaties, and befriend a CMT beforehand.

Call for Chicago Bands

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 03:23:00 +0000

Do you want to have your music heard by thousands of locals and tourists of Chicago?

TheLocalTourist.com, THE website for downtown Chicago, wants to put your music out there. Every week a different Chicago band will be featured on the home page, with a clickable sound file and link to a dedicated bio page. Site visitors will vote to keep it or chuck it. Based on votes, TLT's favorite band will be picked monthly, quarterly, and yearly.

What do you have to do? Submit the following to bands@thelocaltourist.com:

Up to 3 songs in MP3 format
Picture of band in jpg format, 200 x 200 max size
Mini Bio of band, max 300 words

How much does this cost? Nuttin. Nada. Zip. Zilch. Just send the above and hopefully your band will get picked to be the only one on the home page of The Local Tourist for an entire week. That'll get you about 20,000 potential new fans. If you're one of TLT's favorites, you'll also have bragging rights and we'll let all the local media know how great you are.

Here's to Chicago music!

Theresa Carter
The Local Tourist

Alcohol on Chicago Beaches/Public Bathrooms in Downtown Chicago?

tlc@thelocaltourist.com (Theresa Carter) — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 19:18:00 +0000

Someone asked me if you could have alcohol on Chicago's beaches, so I thought others would probably have the same question.

I visited the Chicago Park District's website, where it's about as easy to find information like that as it is to find a bathroom in downtown Chicago (more on that later). So then I called the Chicago Park District, because unless you've got an easily navigable site like The Local Tourist (aren't I cute?) it is just easier to pick up the phone. After listening to nine menu options I was directed to press "0" for an operator. I waited briefly on hold.

The operator's answer?

"No."

There you have it.

Back to the bathrooms. A couple of weeks ago my brother and I spent an afternoon downtown. We took our sandwiches to the retaining wall on the Chicago River and ate with our feet dangling over the edge. Drinking a large Diet Coke next to a running body of water is not a good idea. I inhaled my sandwich, handed my drink to my brother (because the swishing was making it worse) and made a beeline for the stairs back up to Michigan Avenue. Well, I did look around for a big bush, but decided against it. I do have SOME pride (despite the fact that I'm relating this story) and really didn't feel like being arrested for public urination.

I raced south on Michigan, my brother laughing at me as I cursed my infinitesimally small bladder. The only place I could think of that HAD to have a public bathroom was the AON Center. There are various food establishments in the lower level and a really cool patio with a waterfall (of course. Running water, again), so I assumed there would be a place for me to relieve myself.

Practically running at this point, we entered the building. I scanned left right left right, and my savior brother found one at the end of the hall to the right. I think I knocked someone over in my haste, and then...

I won't go into the relief, the feelings of peace and calm and happiness I felt. Suffice it to say I could resume my day at a much more relaxed pace.

Yesterday I was relating this story to my parents and we decided I should put up a listing of public restrooms in downtown Chicago. And yes, this is really how I come up with ideas for new content on TLT.

Obviously I don't know where they all are, so I'm starting a new thread on the forum. If you know where there are publicly accessible facilities in downtown Chicago, please let everyone know! You'll be doing a public service. If nothing else you know I won't plow into anyone in a desperate search for relief!