Reasons our Neighborhood is Great #2

(Reason #1 is Trader Todds, and we had a great time there last night. The DJ may have been a little irritated that I celebrated Bonnie Tyler's entire catalog, but that's just too bad. Disc0f is friends with one of the bartenders who was working the door, so we got waived in without having our ID's checked. That's right, we're VIPs at the Key West-themed karaoke bar, don't be jealous. Everyone who works there is really nice. That's because everyone in Chicago is apparently really nice. Except whoever tattled on the chocolate factory.)

What I'm writing about TODAY is Orange, an amazing restaurant just a hop skip and a jump from our condo. Disc0f and I cleverly (OK, lazily) decided to take classes in the afternoon, so we have mornings free to study and go out to lunch. This morning we took our fourth or fifth trip to Orange--it's insanely busy for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, so we do it weekday style. The place is filled with orange-y artwork, and they have a fresh juice bar, the best grilled cheese sandwich of all time, and the piece de resistance, a different pancake flight every week, meaning four short stacks of silver dollar pancakes of themed flavors. This week's theme was Around the World and had different sweet flavors from India, Brazil, France, and the USA. Past favorites have included Kid's Cereal (with frosted flake, fruity pebble and lucky charms pancakes) and Cookies (with oatmeal raisin, ginger snap, and chocolate chip pancakes). They also put cucumber slices in the water, giving the whole experience a spa-like feel.

This of course means you have to come visit and eat with us at Orange. Because in other news, the guest room has been completely cleared of boxes. And some very nice junk removers came this morning and took away the 100 or so collapsed cardboard boxes and loads of packing materials left over from our move, promising to recycle it all.