I was in Las Vegas over the weekend, and caught up with Shawn McClain, the Chef/Owner of Spring and Green Zebra in Chicago. McClain has a new restaurant – Sage – tucked away within the $9 billion dollar City Center project; specfically, in the Aria Hotel. I brought my camera inside to see if I could show you some of the dishes, and discovered he was actually in the kitchen that night, so I also grabbed a quick interview with him.
#10 Who's up for going nowhere fast?
Mar. 15, 2010Okay everyone, get ready for a super BIG, super FUN mission this week...
Everything you need to know is presented in this short film (minute and a half)
What you do now:
1. Put your favorite donut request in the comment section.
2. Spread the word to all nice Chicagoans.
3. Meet me at 9:45 am sharp Saturday morning at Belmont "L" station (945 W. Belmont)
Off we go! (sfx of train here....)
miss amy k.r.
p.s. ‚ and here is the Wishing Video Justin and I put together end of last week...
Photos: South Side's St. John of God Church
Mar. 15, 2010
(photo by Lee Bey)
Over the weekend, I took a spin by the old St. John of God Church in the New City community.
Built in 1918 for the once-predominantly Polish neighborhood, St. John of God is one of several architecturally revivalist Chicago churches designed by Henry J. Schlacks. His work for the Chicago Roman Catholic Archdiocese from the 1890s through the 1920s includes St. Adalbert's near 17th and Ashland; St. Gelasius at 64th and Woodlawn and St. Paul Church at 22nd and Hoyne, a Gothic edifice marked by twin 245 ft towers.
Behind closed doors, angry Tribune CEO confronts staff
Mar. 15, 2010Robservations on the media beat:
- Some who were there said it was an attempt to intimidate employees and identify a scapegoat. Others described it as an effort to assert authority and move beyond an embarrassing episode. But all agreed it was classic Randy Michaels: For close to 30 minutes Friday, the Tribune Co. CEO addressed a closed-door meeting of news staffers at news/talk WGN-AM (720) about the now-infamous memo banning 119 words and phrases from the airwaves. On the subject of leaks, Michaels asked individual staffers: "What do you think should happen to people who do that?" He directed much of his ire at Charlie Meyerson, the WGN news director who circulated the memo, blaming Meyerson for mishandling his directive. Also present were Jerry Kersting, chief operating officer of Tribune Broadcasting, Tom Langmyer, vice president and general manager of WGN, and Kevin "Pig Virus" Metheny, program director of WGN. Earlier the same day, Michaels issued a detailed explanation of the original memo to the Tribune's‚ Eric Zorn. (This time, Michaels referred to me inaccurately as "an out of work blogger.") Here's what Michaels wrote:
Randy Michaels
Friday Foodie Forecast: Redmoon, Earth Hour and Stout Fest
Mar. 12, 2010- There are some events so over-the-top and out of the ordinary, they come along only once every 20 years.
- Redmoon Theater, a Chicago performance group renowned for their imagination and invention, is throwing a food-filled birthday party that will capture their signature creativity. Tonight at 7 PM, Redmoon celebrates its 20th anniversary with a‚ Spectacle Lunatique, a 'Mini-Taste' that will allow guests to experience some of the most diverse and acclaimed food in Chicago. This‚ "Bombastic Birthday Celebration" will feature food from restaurants such as Blackbird, BOKA, Coco Pazzo, Tocco and Urbanbelly. Tickets are $150 for individuals and $625 for couples packages and will be on sale at Redmoon's‚ website or at the door of the event if tickets remain. Redmoon Central is located at 1463 W. Hubbard. Contact the Box Office for ticket information at (312) 850-8440 extension 111.
New video: May all your wishes come true
Mar. 12, 2010You've made your wishes. And now I've made this video for you (and The Wish Fairies).
Because the laws of space and time prevented us from including every wish in this mini-film, and because we truly want ALL of your wishes to come true, you'll see/hear ALL of the wishes left on the toll-free Wishing Line just below the film.
Some are more audible than others, but you get the idea (in 3 parts):
I really want to thank you all for opening yourself up to this week's mission.
Got Crabs? Chinn's 34th Street Fishery does
Mar. 12, 2010
Hey, nice legs (photo by Steve Dolinsky)
In the city, at least, satisfying a crab fix usually entails a trip to Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, or cozying up in a giant red pleather booth at Shaw’s. But in the ‘burbs, the experts will funnel you either to the Shaw’s in Schaumburg, or more likely, to Wheeling, site of the legendary Bob Chinn’s Crabhouse. I still don’t understand how they get away with charging what they do, considering each time I’ve been there, I feel like a hereford being shuttled through a holding pen, “parties of more than four to the left of the rope, parties less than four to the right! Parties of two to the left!” Then there’s the interminable waits (probably because there’s no competition within the county); the super-sweet mai tais made with mixer and then of course the pleasure of receiving your fresh catch in wax paper-lined wax baskets. They tried to duplicate Chinn’s in River North several years ago – upgrading to real plates and all – but that didn’t last long, and the space is now a Fulton’s on the River.
Trib CEO shoots the messenger -- but misses the point
Mar. 12, 2010
Randy Michaels
After what I wrote about Randy Michaels earlier this week, it's no wonder the Tribune Co. CEO doesn't care much for me. But who knew of his low regard for the whole business of bloggers?
The piece here about his edict banning 119 words and phrases from newscasts on news/talk WGN-AM (720) drew more than 100,000 hits and more than 325 comments to this site in just two days. It also got picked up by countless other bloggers (including the Chicago Tribune's own Eric Zorn and‚ Phil Rosenthal) and by most broadcast industry trade publications. One of them, Radio Business Report, reached out to Michaels for comment. Here's what Michaels said:
"I feel sorry for Bob.‚ If he thinks it's wrong for the CEO of a content company to focus on content, that could help explain why he is no longer paid to be in media."