Dinner Time: XOCO Edition

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XOCO had me at “on-site roasted cocoa beans”.

I finally checked out XOCO, beloved Chicago chef Rick Bayless’ take on Mexican street food and it was every bit as great as the line out the door suggested.  The smell coming from the kitchen that we were practically standing in as we placed our order almost filled me up, it was so incredible.

I said almost– I was still able to polish off my Seafood Verde (shrimp, scallops and avocado in a lime-cilantro sauce) and have a few bites of my mom’s Chicken Tinga Torta (mexican submarine sandwich that was unreal).  We ordered a churro to top off our meal (when in Rome Mexico, right?) and they threw in a little cup of the darkest melted chocolate I have ever tasted.  Perfection.

Go, go now- on your lunch break, for dinner, hell- XOCO is even open for breakfast.  My excitement level about XOCO rivals how I felt the first time I went to Grahamwich…

Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago c/o Refinery 29

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Refinery29 has come out with a High and Mighty list of the best rooftop bars in Chicago.  It’s been warm for 3 days so far (unless you count that 50 degree downpour business this morning- in that case, reset the clock) and we’re already banking on boozing above ground level.  That’s just how Chicago rolls.

Definitely looking forward to checking a few of these out this summer!

(Almost) Ready to Run

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5 days until the Soldier Field 10 Miler.

I signed up for this race in January and am blown away at how quickly it has crept up on me.  If we’re being honest, I haven’t exactly been running 10 miles lately.  More like…less, less than 10.  Thank goodness for the adrenaline of race day…pounding the pavement with thousands of other runners who have the same goal- making it to that finish line.  Which in this race is the freaking 50 yard line of Soldier Field!  Which is all sorts of awesome and will totally get me through those 10 miles.

If that isn’t enough motivation, Ryan and I have a Cubs game to get to at noon!  Soldier Field and Wrigley Field in one day?  Jazz hands, all around!

Millennium Park: Ready to Rock

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One of my favorite things about summer in Chicago is all of the free concerts offered at Millennium Park.  I took a little walk through the park yesterday and while there was no orchestra or band warming up on the Pritzker Pavilion stage, everything was so shiny and…ready. Ready for blankets and picnic baskets on the grass, ready for subscription holders to take their seats in front, ready for the criss-crossed domed covering the park to be filled with all kinds of different music.

Downtown Sound: New Music Mondays is back for the 3rd year and the lineup is all sorts of awesome.  This free concert series is every Monday night at 6:30pm, May 23 through July 25.  Iron and Wine, Blonde Redhead, and Ted Leo are slated to perform- check out the full list here.  And this series is just one of many- last summer, the Chicago Symphony, Joffrey Ballet, members of the Lyric Opera and many, many others were a part of FREE performances at Millennium.  Ah-mazing.

All these seats, just waiting to be filled…

St. Patrick’s Saturday

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Yes, the actual holiday is still 5 days away but in Chicago, we do St. Paddy’s Day up big on the Saturday before.  There’s a parade, annual dyeing of the river and the entire day is dedicated to all sorts of Irish-themed shenanigans.

First up: brunch at our apartment.  Temps are still in the 30s so Ryan and I figured the best plan was to host a morning of good food, adult beverages and watch out the window for the river to turn green before braving the elements.  Mission accomplished!  Our nearest and dearest came over to nosh on quiche, apple turnovers, cinnamon buns, homemade donuts (thanks, Erin!) and hash browns, washed down with mimosas and Guinness (naturally).

Second on the agenda: head down to see some green!

The green in this picture does not do it justice.  The river is BRIGHT green.  Anti-freeze green.  Wicked Witch of the West green.  The greenest green there ever was, people.

After some ooo’ing and ahhh’ing, our crew carried on to a bar in River North.  Lots of green beer, girls in ridiculous costumes (ladies with the drums, tambourines AND whistles, I’m talkin’ ’bout you), and more Charlie Sheen t-shirts than I could count.  People watching at its finest.  Or worst, possibly.

All in all, a highly successful St. Paddy’s Saturday!

Chicago Ain’t No Sissy Town

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It’s not.
That’s one of the things I love most about my city.

We are a scrappy bunch.

We take our team sports very very seriously [and don’t let little things like a 103 year losing streaks get us down] We have emphatic opinions on our favorite cuts of meat [the aptly named, Chicago Cut is my personal fave] We have over 200 neighborhoods, each with their own distinct personality

& we are fine with you calling us the second city, because really….we know better.

It is cold as hell here, but Chicagoans aren’t afraid to dress for the weather….
Let’s just say, trapper hats are not a passing trend in this city.
And I have a theory:
Because of the amount of time spent in winter gear, the folks here have to have a personality.
because it is really hard to play the “i’m hot” card when buried under layers of puff coats and ski-masks.

And come summer.  All bets are off.
Judging by the influx of revelers drawn to our beaches and fashionistas dining al fresco at our cafes….you would really think we were an ocean-front community

Our politicians embody a “git ‘er done” attitude
[and how things get done may be less of a concern than actually doing them.]

We love our Blue’s
and our storefront theatres
We love our Flag
and our accent
and we totally love Rick Bayless

We see Vince Vaughn & John Cusak  at the corner pub with a degree of regularity, but it never causes much of a stir.
However, we have yet to ever see Oprah actually walking the city streets [and can’t help but wonder, does she actually live here?]

We have pretty jacked traffic.
But of course we do…
who wouldn’t want to spend their days[/nights] exploring this city?

Chicago aint no sissy town
but it is a town with a whole lotta heart.

Mad Love for Home Sweet Home Chicago.

(reblogged from Emphasis Added; FuckYeahChicago)

Couldn’t have said it better myself.  I have mad love for those who have mad love for the Windy City.

Oh and I must. Get. That. T-shirt.