Category Archives: random spottings

Never mind the underside of this counter at Rockstar Dogs and pay attention to the hooks. Man, do I love it when a bar or restaurant installs hooks in front of the bar stools. Such a simple, little, inexpensive detail that stays hidden and completely changes your wining/dining experience. They are especially great in winter when you don’t particularly want to sit on your massive coat, or when you just want to keep an eye on your purse or bag. I noticed hooks at the bar at new Bucktown hotspot The Bristol last week (more on that amazing dinner to come in a later post), and I know there are a smattering of other local spots that are down with the bar hooks as well. You’d think they’d be a Chicago bar standard, like a huddle of smokers shivering out front or original tin ceilings, but alas, they are not. At least not yet. Here’s to more bars and restaurants hooking it up.

Unordinary peeple

Much like Xerox has cornered the market on “photocopy” and Kleenex has taken over for tissue, marshmallow Peeps are synonymous with pink or yellow sugar-coated Easter bunnies or chicks. They just are. So when I see bright orange Jack-O-Lantern Peeps in the store (still strangely in the shape of bunnies..hmmm) it throws me off a little. I checked out the surprisingly awesome Peeps Web site only to discover that pretty much every holiday has an icon that can be sugar-coated and marshmallow-a-fied (hearts for Valentine’s Day, snowmen for Christmas, yadda to the yadda). But in my mind, Peeps only seem truly fitting for Easter. Anyone disagree? Let me know in the comments along with the answers to the following Peep quiz.

1. Jack-O-Lantern peeps are:
A) Strange and forced
B) Cute and festive
C) Delicious

2. Peeps in general taste best:
A) Fresh from the package
B) Stale, like a week or two out of the package
C) Never 

3. What year were the first Peeps created?
A) 1953
B) 1974
C) 1947

4. How long does it take to make one Peep?
A) 23 minutes
B) 6 minutes
C) 2 minutes

5. Just Born Confections, the makers of Peeps, also makes what candy?
A) Mike and Ike
B) Starburst
C) Junior Mints

The mini pumpkin patch in the outdoor patio of Lovely bakeshop. 1130 N. Milwaukee Ave., 773.572.4766

The view from the patio at Mexican restaurant, La Perla, 734 S. 5th Street, Milwaukee, WI

Speaking of my daytime office neighborhood, I can only explain it as Lincoln Park traffic meets Weed Street club monstrosities (in the daytime, eek!) meets British School-moms-in-SUVs. In other words, I am within walking distance of VIPs, Pump it Up (the inflatable toy haven for kids), Hecky’s and Crobar nightclub. Tucked amid all of the randomness is Nicole’s Fine Breads and Other Goodies, a 25-year-old Chicago institution (I recently discovered) when I finally walked into the tiny, tucked-away storefront at 1505 N. Kingsbury today. I think I may have met the owner Nicole Bergère because a large photo of her was one of the only things on the wall. “Is this a bakery?” I asked in a duh-moment. “Isn’t that what they sign says?” she asked. Little did I know, Bergère’s been featured on the Food Network and Chicago magazine among other publications over the years, so her sarcasm was warranted! I turned the corner to see a massive bakery hidden off to the side, where flavored crackers (with names like Heaven is Lavender and Chili Chocolate Day), wafers and cookies are turned out and sold to hotels and Whole Foods. Bergère explained that they once had a cafe, but are now mostly a bakery with a small retail selection (including individual cookies I plan to make my next PM sugar fix!). To think this place has been hiding out in the hood this whole time. Like I said, duh-moment.

A lox of crap

It’s almost beautiful in all of its colorful chaos, but why does the New York City Bagel always have to be so cluttered? There are four, count ’em, four brand-happy drink coolers where there could be more tables for me to enjoy the over-stuffed bagel sandwiches and black and white cookies. Every inch of the wall is covered with NYC and Chicago nostalgia, framed press clips and accolades, and you almost don’t even notice the ubiquitous TV affixed in the corner. Eh, I guess that’s an authentic Big Apple deli for you. First one to spot Tom Selleck gets to guest blog about their favorite restaurant! 1001 W. North Ave., 312.274.1278

Actually it was a very cool katydid perched on Mana Food Bar’s glowing outdoor sign last night. Props to Tonia for getting close enough to take shot number two.

Don’t let the hazarai (Yiddish for junk) fool you, Feed restaurant is more than just chicken- (and jackalope?) themed kitsch strewn everywhere. They have awesome mac and cheese, hand-cut fries, pulled pork and chicken sandwiches and other Southern comfort-food goodness. But the homiest part of the place are the retro over-sized Christmas lights that randomly blink off and on, and look totally normal hanging in the window in the middle of August. 2803 W. Chicago Ave., 773.489.4600.