Like the Buona Beef stand a few yards away, Gina's has become a fixture in Berwyn. Its ice is legendary, and its commitment to the neighborhood is evident in the wall of local kid's photos hanging up across from the service counter. On a hot day, I'm just as likely to get the watermelon as I am the lemon. If you find yourself walking over to pick up a beef, sweet, hot & juicy next door first, be sure to save a little room for dessert.
It's a long way from Tub Ring to "Twilight" -- or is it?
Jul. 6, 2010
Formed way back in 1992 as a high school punk band, the art-damaged Chicago collective Tub Ring really came into its own when Rob Kleiner came on board, fresh from following Mr. Bungle around, and bringing more than a bit of that group’s hyperactive genre-mashing and gonzo theatrics to his new endeavor.
Despite Tub Ring’s dedicated underground following, Kleiner, like most musicians these days, has struggled to pay the rent. In recent years, he’s made inroads into the world of writing for films and television, mostly working with small independent projects—until he co-wrote the song “What Part of Forever,” sung by Cee Lo Green of Gnarls Barkley fame.
The soundtrack album on which the song appears debuted at No. 2 on Billboard’s Top 40 album charts.
Jay Marvin clears the air on why he left WLS
Jul. 6, 2010
It's never too late to set the record straight -- or to clear your conscience. In the case of former Chicago radio personality Jay Marvin, it took almost six years.
In an extraordinary confession on his blog last week, Marvin disclosed what he called "the real story" behind his abrupt departure from Citadel Broadcasting news/talk WLS-AM (890) in December 2004. (Here is the link.) It came after his second time around at the station, which he'd rejoined in 1999.
Revision Street: Lisa Gardner (III)
Jul. 5, 2010Lisa was explaining that she doesn’t spend much time with friends after school.
So what do you like to do for fun?
To tell the truth, I don’t even watch TV. TV just doesn’t really interest me. I’m on Facebook. I go on Facebook, I would say, every other day. Facebook is a lot of drama. It don’t do nothing but put your business out, ‘cause everybody writing on each others’ wall, talking about whoever doing whatever, like the world wanna know. It’s just a lot of drama on Facebook. You get a lot of people in trouble. I don’t even go there. MySpace, I haven’t been on that since last year.
There’s a lot of people I think I can meet and I become friends with. I don’t like to be in the public a lot. I couldn’t go to a club—it’s too crowded, and there are too many people. I don’t like to be around a lot of people. I don’t like to be around young people because they like to fight. I don’t wanna be around all that. I try to stay away from trouble as much as I can. I guess because of the way I look, people always assume I got an attitude, so I just try to stay away from people.
Happy Fourth of July (bbq brisket style)
Jul. 5, 2010
Happy 4th America, now go eat some BBQ brisket (photo by Joseph Storch)
In honor of today's holiday, I'm taking the day off. Go eat some barbeque! See you back here tomorrow.
Aldino's closing for good after just four months
Jul. 3, 2010
Aldino's in Little Italy: R.I.P.
In what has to be a record for the shortest length ever open for a semi-major restaurant in the city, Aldino's in Little Italy will close its doors for good after dinner service tonight, just four months after it opened its doors down the street from the UIC Pavilion.
Friday Foodie Forecast: Chicago Beers and Daiquiris
Jul. 2, 2010Fourth of July revelry, fueled by burgers, brats and backyard imbibing, seems to spill over not just to the rest of the weekend, but the entire month. Summer is in full-swing and Chicagoans are ready to kick back, preferably with a cold brewski. There are lots of beer and daquiri-related events on tap for July, but a few food events sneak onto the calendar as well.
Adam Seger's Ginger Hibiscus Freeze
Alfresco dining without the sidewalk smog
Jul. 2, 2010I get a kick out of seeing all of the outdoor patios that spring up this time of year.
photo by Dean Golemis
As much as I love seeing people enjoying the weather, I can never quite understand why they subject themselves to yapping dogs, out-of-control cyclists and worst of all, the incessant exhaust and noise from the adjacent traffic.