Hey! If you were a hot dog....would you eat yourself? I know I would

Cubs win!

The Cubs just clinched the National League Central Division--I'm told this used to be called the Pennant. In any case, there are 5 helicopters over our house and a thousand people in the street a couple blocks away. Walking home from dinner (from the South) disc0 and I thought there might be some kind of crazed fugitive in our neighborhood, until we noticed the Sports Authority ad board that read "Congratulations Cubs on Win!!!"

Maybe we'll get to see some World Series action on our doorstep...

oh boy

I didn't watch the Dem. debates, even though they were at Dartmouth. Bad me.

I am relieved that Mychal Bell was released on bond and will be dealt with in juvenile court like most juveniles who get into fights in school. And all it took was a national media spotlight and thousands of brave and caring people marching in the streets...yep, that's all it takes to get justice for young black men in some parts of this country. Oh, I'm sorry--the chance for justice.

In terms of Chicago, the weather is absolutely perfect right now. low 50s, high 70s. And it's almost October! Who knew?! Fall in Chicago is as fantastic as summer!

And on a totally different note, I have to introduce you to http://lolsecretz.blogspot.com/.

I don't read post-secret but the concept is that people, well, post their secrets on the internet. Anonymously. I like the cat version better. Don't tell me LOLcats were over before they started, because I don't care. They are cats and they make me LOL.

Oy

Pardon Poor Larry Craig (NY Times). I would LOL if it wasn't all so depressingly true. So instead, it's more of a grave, raspy, mirthless chuckle. Bigots.

On a Chicago note, disc0 and I were walking to dinner two nights ago when a car full of (what we only hoped and assumed was) a sober driver and her 4 inebriated lady passengers, who rolled down the window to ask disc0 and I if we "want(ed) some mozzarella sticks." Completely without guile. We declined, and they drove off bemused that someone would refuse, even politely, such a delicious offer. Most bemused was the front-seat passenger, whose mouth was still full of some of said cheese. Friendly town, you guys--friendly mother-effin town.

Also, Uncommon Ground has a new fall menu. Pumpkin ravioli with hazelnuts and blue cheese? I barely rolled home after that one.

Awww

Becky, one of my biggest inspirations and closest friends, gave me a blog award! You can get awards for blogs??! That's pretty awesome. I guess it helps to know someone on the nominating committee. Beck is one of my favorite people in Atlanta, in the US, and heck, in the whole world.

FFS

So the only member of the Jena Six who was convicted, and whose conviction was thrown out on Friday...is still behind bars, because neither the judge nor the DA showed up for his bail hearing. Because not only was it magically not on DA's calendars...but they haven't been keeping up with local news, national news (or perhaps even their own racist ass conversations all weekend... I mean what?)

Double Entendres

Well, disc0 and I have started work, so updates may be a little more sparse. Also winter is coming, which means we won't be able to go "outside" for a couple of months. But that shouldn't really start until November or December. In the meantime, we had a great dinner tonight with friends at the Schoolyard Tavern a few blocks away; $5 entrees on Wednesdays, including my ginormous black bean burger. AND A SKILLET COOKIE. My goodness, but I love Chicago. They will fry and skillet anything edible and make it better.

Also last week, we say Gayco's new show, I-hole! It was fabulous, maybe the best Gayco show I've seen. They have a really tight cast. We saw their final preview show, but there were still very few bugs in the system. I think we'll probably go see the for-real show at some point during its run since we liked it so much!

Fancy Pants

So it turns out chicago can be super fancy as well as super fun, convenient, and friendly. You just have to leave our neighborhood. Disc0's mom is in town, and last night and today were full of glam.

Last night disc0's mom really wanted to go somewhere with delicious desserts, so we did a little research and headed to Marche. It's part of the KDK family of restaurants, which are made of fance (my noun form of fancy). We had an amazing late-ish dinner, actually just ordering appetizers instead of entrees (which were huge and delicious, and the waitstaff was very pleasantly unsnooty about it) and then had fantastic desserts (sorbet; banana bread pudding; praline pineapple cake--YUM. )

Then today we went ahead and had afternoon tea at the Drake Hotel, oh yes we did. I'm pretty sure when they said "nectar of the gods" they meant Devonshire cream. With strawberry jam. On scones. I did this with my own Mom last summer, and it was just as gilded as I remembered; the Palm Court and ESPECIALLY the Powder Room made me feel very Great Gatsby. Quite the luxurious afternoon.

So tonight we made organic deviled eggs, salad, and broiled potato chips from our farm share stuff. Simple but luxurious in a different way...

Squeezing all we can out of this summer...

September is still summer in Chicago. Who knew?!

Yesterday, disc0 and I realized that we need to get out in the beautiful weather (it was in the 70's all day) so we got on the bus and headed to the miniature golf course in Lincoln Park at the Diversey Driving Range. It is a shady little course, and very difficult, seemingly geared more towards actual golfers than people like me (there are no clowns, windmills, giraffes, etc.) It was a nice relaxing way to soak up the beautiful afternoon, even though I was like 20 above par. We decided to walk along the lake front, and even checked out the Belmont Harbor Dog Beach, where we watched the puppies frolic in the lake for a while.

Then last night we had a great dinner at Radhuni
and headed to IO to give their musical improv show another chance. And I won't say anything else about that. Luckily, Baby Wants Candy is still around...

Today we decided to check out the Brookfield Zoo. Now I must admit that I am very partial to the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is (a)free (b) walking distance and (c) in a park-like environment, with seemingly happy animals. Brookfield didn't have the first two going for it, but it did have some really impressive exhibits and habitats--the monkey and ape habitat was particularly awesome, as it is HUGE and feels very interactive (no cages, just barriers, so some of the monkeys can climb over your heads). The drive was not bad since it was a weekend, and although it was packed b/c of Labor Day and actually a bit hot, we had a really nice time. I would still recommend the Lincoln Park Zoo first, but Brookfield is definitely the best institutional zoo I've ever seen. And we got to see a dolphin show!!!!