Filed In: three one two
weekend plans + 12 great chicago bars and restaurants for date night
At 37 weeks pregnant, Mini Z could make his or her arrival any day now so Marc and I have been squeezing in as many date nights as we can. On Tuesday, we went to Rick Bayless’ newest Chicago venture, seafood-oriented Leña Brava, for dinner. The food was ridiculously good. Everything is cooked on an open hearth, wood-burning oven or prepared at their raw bar. Must try dishes from their “fire and ice” menu – the wood oven roasted chicken a la leña, the black cod al pastor and the grill roasted pineapple.
This weekend we have a double date night planned with some of our good friends. We will be going to Stefanie Izard’s latest addition to her Goat empire, Chinese-inspired Duck Duck Goat. I’ve written about Girl and the Goat and Little Goat Diner here. The Duck Duck Goat menu features things like wood fired duck heart dim sum, goat belly lo mein and crispy frog legs. I’m looking forward to an evening of great food and great conversation!
When it comes to the city of Chicago, you’ve got plenty of bar and restaurant options. I’ve rounded up 12 of my favorites for date night below. Whether you’re looking for a rooftop bar in the heart of the city, an intimate French restaurant with a trendy atmosphere or a BYOB Lakeview hotspot, these restaurants offer a perfect balance between good food and good vibes. Check it out – Read More
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photo credit we are the barkers
I’m so proud of this city, and I loved living there so much that I thought I’d share some of my favorite spots with you – a guide if you ever visit Chicago or if you live here and want to try a few new places. Today I’m going to start with my old Chicago neighborhood – River West.
So, River West – it’s a tiny little neighborhood along Milwaukee from Grand to Chicago east of the Kennedy Expressway and west of the North Branch of the Chicago River and there are tons of fine dining and inexpensive cafes, wine bars and coffee shops. There’s an intersection at Grand, Milwaukee and Halsted with several great places – La Scarola, Iguana Cafe, Piccolo Sogno and The Dawson. River West also rubs elbows with some of the trendier neighborhoods in the city – Wicker Park, River North and the West Loop are all just a few blocks away. Let’s eat and drink –
Iguana Cafe – A true local hangout with a European feel – I love it here. Try the crepes or the paninis. Linger over coffee or a glass of wine. Also a great spot for brunch.
La Scarola – this little restaurant is the real thing. Healthy sized portions of authentic Italian cuisine – I love their grilled calamari and any of their pasta dishes.
Piccolo Sogno – Delicious Italian food and amazing atmosphere. It has the best outdoor patio in the city and we order the antipasto appetizer every time. Previously mentioned Piccolo here.
Paramount Room – Craft beer, burgers and specialty cocktails. I like to grab a bite at the bar.
The Point – Grab a table outside in the sun and enjoy a great classic cocktail or beer from their long list.
694 Wine Bar – I love this spot, one of my favorites in the city! Delicious plates of meats and cheeses and an excellent wine selection. Go Wednesday night for BBQ night all year long!
Silver Palm – A railroad dining car turned restaurant and a great spot for dinner – or take a seat at one of the sidewalk tables.
Matchbox Bar – Very narrow, hip bar – could possibly be Chicago’s tiniest bar. Have a chat with one of the bartendars and a quirky cocktail. Can’t go wrong with a Manhattan – they marinate their own cherries in bourbon.
Big Shoulders Coffee – Grab your morning coffee and a fresh pastry. They’ve got wifi too if you need it.
Thalia Spice – an excellent little Thai cafe
Duran – It’s part of a small chain but the sandwiches are delicious and it’s BYOB
Windy City Cafe – a neighborhood gem and the very best breakfast sandwiches in the city! Family owned, lots of traditional breakfast and lunch options and their coffee comes from Big Shoulders.
The Dawson – a casual spot with three bars – upstairs, downstairs, outside – and an American menu that makes use of a wood-burning grill. This place just opened in the fall and is a great addition to the neighborhood!
three one two 01 | a balloon project
I love Chicago. It’s such a beautiful city – four seasons, delicious food, edgy architecture and a vibrant artistic community to fuel my creativity. What more could I ask for? I thought it would be fun to feature some of Chicago’s local artists and trendy neighborhoods. I’m calling this series three one two – that’s Chicago’s area code for those of you who don’t know. Other topics may include design, travel, entertainment, cool spaces and upcoming events. So follow along and get to know our great city!
Starting it off is a trio of Chicago based creatives – Jillian Barthold, Lauren Connolly and Kady Dennell – whose project really caught my eye. It’s called inflated/deflated and it features handpainted sentiments on deflated balloons.
The words written on our balloons range from humorous quotes to heartfelt feelings and memories. These words are marked on the surface of inflated balloons, and like that of one’s thoughts being released, so too is the air of the balloon. Deflated the once largely marked letters become small, expressive, and intricate forms. -inflated/deflated project
Their thoughts are funny and sweet and the results of this process are a cool typographic effect. Be sure to check out all of the prints. New additions are added to their blog and dozens are available on Etsy.
