Hey Chicagoans! What's your favorite. . .

In My Humble Opinion
1

Someone will probably start another one for other cities (or maybe that’s my ego talking), but for now, list your favorite of various things.

Local Band:
Fancy Restaurant
Non-Fancy Restaurant
Fast Food:
Touristy thing to do with out-of-towners
Beach/Park:
Sports Team
Sox or Cubs
Jazz/Blues club
Sports or other bar
Street Fair

For my answers:

Local Band: Used to be Poi Dog Pondering. They’d get up to 10 to 15 people on stage, and you couldn’t help but groove to the beat (and I’m not even a boogier). The album release right after the singer left sucked rocks though. Has anyone seen them live recently? Now the answer would probably be the Four Charms. Excellent swing band.

Fancy Restaurant: Crofton’s, on Wells. Best crabcakes ever.

Non Fancy Restaurant: Wholly Frijoles. Just discovered it on Touhy. Excellent Mexican food, with some non standard twists. If you go a la carte, only the combo fajitas are over $10, and it’s BYOB.

Fast Food: Portillo’s. Mmmmmmm

Touristy things: Walking the Mag Mile and the lakefront. Taking a water taxi ride from Navy Pier aroung the downtown harbor.

Beach/Park: We’re northerners now, so we usually hit the Wilmette Beach, but when I would ride my bike along the lakefront, Oak street Beach was always nice.

Sports Team: Cubs, cause the weather is nice during the summer for sitting outside. I’m not a big sports fan, so the venue is almost more important.

Sox or Cubs: Cubs. Originally a Cardinals fan, so we played the Cubs a lot. Also, see answer above.

Jazz/Blues Club: I most frequently go to Pete Miller’s in Evanston. Live jazz every night but sunday. Also has the best burgers in town (for 9 bucks, but worth it)

Sports or other Bar: Fireside lounge on Ravenswood. Excellent pub food and a great beer garden in back. Also, the owner looks just like Mick Fleetwood.

Street Fair: Custer’s last stand in Evanston. Also, the Lincoln street fair was a lot of fun when I could get down there.

Whaddabout you’se guys?

2

Definitely Sox. My family would instantly disown me if I even hinted that the Cubs didn’t suck royally. Mind, I haven’t followed baseball for probably 25 years, but I damn well better not say anything bad about the Sox.

I don’t get out into the city much (I’m a suburbanite now) but my favorite fast food place there is Michael’s Hot Dogs & Beef, corner of Oak Park and North Avenue - BEST french fries in the world, IMHO. I’m also partial to Johnny’s - actually in Oak Park- on North Avenue for Italian lemonade (only a non-Chicagoan would call it Italian ice).

3

Local Band: Mama Digdown’s Brass Band (hmm, maybe they’re not local), Los Amigos Invisibles…uhh, Wilco

Fancy Restaurant: The Chop House. I love steak. Mmm, steak.

Non-Fancy Restaurant: Cold Comfort Deli, on North and Leavitt. Incredible food there.

Fast Food: Hmm. Not sure. Hero’s, on Addison & Western, has great subs…Jimmy’s on Pulaski and Grand has great hot dogs and fries…Jay’s on Montrose and Naragansett has great Italian beefs…Marie’s on Lawrence has great pizza…god I’m hungry. For ambience, nothing beats Superdawg’s on Milwaukee and Elston.
Touristy thing to do with out-of-towners: Museum of Science and Industry

Beach/Park: Since I have a little boy, we usually hit Foster Beach, as it has lots of trees and such for shade. Plus, we’re not beseiged by the meat market that North Ave and Oak Street have become. My favorite public park is probably Horner Park – again, close to home, and it’s near McFetridge, which has great sports facilities.

Sports Team: Cubs

Sox or Cubs: Cubs, hands down. Since I was a zygote.

Jazz/Blues club: Green Mill, baby! I love that place, even when it’s packed full of assholes. And it frequently is.

Sports or other bar: I like O’Donovan’s, Martyrs, and the Four Moon Tavern – all, coincidentally, close to my home.

Street Fair: Okay, I’m one of those that goes to the Taste every year without fail. But I can’t pick just one. I am a sucker for festivals. The only one I don’t like…the Puerto Rican Day fest. Ish. I just can’t stand the constant flag-waving.

4

Local Band: Hmm, WIlding or Salthill Mines (local but INCREDIBLE talent, celtic music, Wilding is just mindblowing and Salthill Mines has a harmonica player who has custom made harps that allow him to play jigs that make me think of John Popper)

Fancy Restaurant: I cant pick just one, Aruns, Ruths’ Chris, Oceanique, Le Bouchon

Non-Fancy Restaurant: Sun Wah Chinese BBQ (Argyle 1/4 blk E of Broadway)

Fast Food: La Pasadita on Ashland just S of Division ( The one right next to Pizza Hut)

Touristy thing to do with out-of-towners: rent a paddle boat at Lincoln Park Lagoon

Beach/Park: Another Evanston person here so I usually go to Greenwod St. Beach but I prefer Lighthouse Beach. Park- Gilson in Wilmette is nice but the kids love Penny Park

Sports Team: Cubs

Sox or Cubs: Cubs, I worked for them for three years

Jazz/Blues club: Green Dolphin Street (Ashland @ Webster) my cousin Bridget is the bartender at the main bar and the small acts on Sundays are amazing sometimes

Sports or other bar: NO sports bar; Gunther Murphy’s

Street Fair: Custer St. Fair in Evanston (Custers Last Stand is a hot dog place on Central)

5

I thought it was Mustard’s Last Stand?

6

D’oh!

You are right Gundy. It is Mustard’s Last Stand. But don’t feel bad MikeG. It is on Central. I was obviously on very hard drugs when I wrote that last one. My daughter likes ketchup, so she calls it Ketchup’s Last Stand.

Mike G, have you been to Tommy Nevin’s in downtown Evanston on Sunday? From about 3 to 6 in the p.m. they have a Celtic music jam session. There seems to be about 3 or 4 regulars, plus anywhere from 3 to 8 occasionals. There’s usually plenty of kids there too, so we can bring the whole bunch.

7

Have I been to Tommy Nevins? :slight_smile:

Let’s see,

I had the third sold pint in the place back in 1990 ( I was at Davis St and Steve called over to let us know it passed inspection and we come over)

I had my first legal beer there when I turned 21 in 1991 ( Boy was Jerri pissed when I told her:))

I met my (now ex) wife there. We went back for our ten year reunion even though we were divorced by thewn, wanted to show the kids where it all started)

I came up with the name for the second room when they expanded. Not the new music venue, from when they had the one bar room and the dartboards were where the fireplace there.

I was one of the first people to suggest a Sunday afternoon session ( I haven’t played there in over 5 years)
Re: Mustards, Doh! I am not a particularly big hot dog fan so in my defense I can say I’ve never been in.

I may bring the kids this Sunday but I won’t be buying much as I’ve been unemployed for 8 weeks and it’s starting to get bad:(

8

CUBS CUBS CUBS

Halsted Market Days is the best festival

Wild Goose on Lincoln and Cullom is the best bar

Fancy Restaurant? Capital Grille

Fast Food: even though it’s EVANSTON, I have to agree Mustards is the best.

This wasn’t one of the questions but Tedino’s is the best deep dish pizza

9

Local Band: Batteries Not Included (long long time ago)
Fancy Restaurant: Morton’s
Non-Fancy Restaurant: Brandy’s in Palatine
Fast Food: Arby’s
Touristy thing to do with oot’s: Water Tower, Mag Mile, State St.
Beach/Park: Don’t remember - it’s been awhile
Sports Team: Bears
Sox or Cubs: Soxs
Jazz/Blues club: Haven’t been to one in years so can’t answer
Sports or other bar: The Stadium Rolling Meadows
Street Fair: Frontier Days in Arlington Heights
Pizza (good one, jar!!): Mama Capri’s in Palatine

10

So I can’t spell worth a damn and live in the burbs - sorry…

11

Where is this Tedino’s you speak of. Never heard of it. We’re always stuck with Lou Malnati’s (which is not a bad settle).

Missy, are you and Arlington Heightser? I work on AH road just south of Central.

And how could I have forgotten to ask for best deep dish pizza.
“Bad Abe Babe. No Italian Beef for you”

12

Yep - well, technically, Schaumburger. :smiley:

We should do lunch one day!

Wonder if there are any others of us out there?

13

I might live in Brooklyn, but even I know that the best fast food in Chicaguh is a large Italian Beef, hot and sweet (and dipped), fries on the side, at Al’s, on Taylor.

I’m also partial to the gyros at the Athenian Room on Halstead.

14

Hey, Missy2U you sound like someone I might know.

I was in a band in the NW suburbs area (back in the day) whose singer left to join Batteries Not Included. His name was Steve D. Same band?

15

The Stadium… home of the beers so titanic they should be served with a life preserver. What a great place to see a Bears game.

Local Band: The Mary Janes
Fancy Restaurant: Everest
Non-Fancy Restaurant: Reza’s (great Mediterranean place on Clark and Foster)
Fast Food: Hoagie Hut
Touristy thing to do with Out-of-Towners: the Art Institute, Water Tower Place, Michigan Avenue
Beach/Park: North Avenue/Oak Street (yeah, it’s a meat market but the scenery’s incredible… and the beach isn’t bad either)
Sports Team: Bears
Sox or Cubs: don’t care either way, but Wrigley’s a helluvalot better place to see a game
Jazz/Blues club: The Green Mill
Sports or other bar: Poor Phil’s, Oak Park
Street Fair: the Taste of Chicago. Expensive, ridiculously crowded and always hot… but still a great time nonetheless
Pizza: Lou Malnati’s or Gino’s East

16

Holy crap! Evanston dope, anyone? Anyway, here’s mine:

Band: Not really into any right now.
Fancy Restaraunt: Upstairs at Campagnola
Non-Fancy: Merle’s Rib Palace
Fast Food: Gigi’s on Ashland and Irving Park
Touristy thing: Usually a Cubs game
Beach/Park: I live about 2 blocks from the lake, so the beaches/parke from about Church to Main
Sports team: Bears!
Sox/Cubs: Eh, Sox I guess
Jazz/Blues: Pete Millers
Bar: Toons, Ten Cat, or the old standby - Pete Millers
Street Fair: Custer Street, of course

17

Delta-9, May have been… I saw them back when Maxfield’s was still around in Palatine - they gave me (swoon) a copy of their first CD - it’s called BNI - The Band - first song on the CD is “All Sewn Up” - same one you’re thinking of?

Oh, and Delta-9, since you’ve been around “back in the day” (which is my day too!) do you remember “Spies who Surf?”

18

Ya know, the memories are a little fuzzy. I only heard them play once. I recall being pissed at our (former) singer for wanting to leave our great rock and roll band (Voyager) to be in a “new wave” band (Ha!). If they were anything like us, they went through numerous lineup changes, so who knows?

If you weren’t dating a keyboardist named Mark at that time, you’re not who I thought you were. Your user name sure triggered a little trip down memory lane, though!

19

Nope, didn’t date a keyboardist at that time. I was dating a garbage man. :smiley:

But I seem to remember (if you can really remember it, you didn’t live it Mr2U says) a band called Voyager - can you tell me some of the places you played?

Oh - are you (and anyone else!!) up for a 'burb Doper lunch at the Stadium, huge beers, life jackets and all?

20

::thinking really hard::

Lessee, we played one of the first Streamwood 4th of July Festivals, as well as the 1st Hanover Park Harvest Fest. Charlie’s Club in Palatine was one. We used to play in Kanakee alot–Fat Rat’s Tap and The Stationhouse Pub were the two big places there.

::thinking really, really hard::

We had a few gigs at The Thirsty Whale, before they went metal. Oh yeah, Hugh’s Too, (now known as the Barrington Rock House) in Streamwood. I’m sure we did Penny Road Pub in Barrington. I know we did alot of shows in the Schaumburg-Hoffman Estates area, but I’ll be damned if I can remember any names.

Chi-burb doper lunch? Yeah!! Which stadium? You kinda threw me with the life jackets thing.