Reduced Blog: Places 37-40

37: Lake shore bike path: There is no better place for a long bike ride than the path that faces downtown from beautiful north and south facing vantage points.

38: Schubas -- this neighborhood bar brings in both local and national talent. Marshall Crenshaw played a great set the night we were there.

39: The Spot: The queer prom and feminist burlesque show at this bar near Broadway and Wilson was a great way to start the Pride celebrations

40: Pride parade viewed from atop a float. A great way to see a fabulous see of humanity -- a nearly 500,000 people attended this year.

Hopper and Winslow at the Art Institute - Place 37

We recently went to the Art Institute to view the Edward Hopper and Winslow Homer exhibits and they did not disappoint! Perhaps the most interesting thing we discovered was that Hopper's work, for all its realism, has many interesting surreal aspects. For example, in his famous "Nighthawks" painting, shown at left, there are no entrances or exits to the diner -- it's basically a self-contained, hermetically sealed space. We both liked his oils much better than his watercolors -- even though the watercolors focussed largely on venues in Kate's native New England. Great show -- but it was huge and we were so wiped out by the end of it that we didn't even make it to the gift shop afterwards to look at the books!

Fixx Coffee house - Place 36; The Year My Parents Went on Vacation - Movie 27

Weekend before last ushered in some beautiful weather and we decided to spend all day Saturday outside our apartment. We started off by walking over the the Fixx Coffee House, a locally owned coffee shop in our neighborhood. There were few people there that early on Saturday morning, so it turned out to be a great space for some peaceful reading. At about 11:30 a lot more people started showing up so we headed off to Penny's Noodle Shop for lunch, probably our favorite Thai restaurant here in Chicago, just a few blocks further down on Diversey and Sheffield. From there we went shopping down on Clark Street, hanging out in various bookstores and picking up a new pair of gym shoes for the triathlon training. In the late afternoon we stopped in at the Landmark Theatres to see a very quiet but compelling movie, The Year My Parents Went on Vacation. This is a Brazilian film set in the dictatorship period in 1970, the year that Brazil also won the World Cup (in soccer) led by the great Pele. This film chronicles a boy's coming of age during that time when his secular leftist parents are forced underground ("on vacation") and he must find his place the jewish community of his grandfather, who passes away upon his arrival. After the movie, we walked up to Mama Desta's Red Sea Ethiopian Restaurant (blogged here earlier) for an excellent dinner, and then finally made our way home, exhausted but happy with our day trip around the neighborhood.

Queer Exclusions at CHM - Performance 15; The Closet - Place 35

Last week we met up with our friend Karen to hear a lecture on Queer Exclusions: Sexuality and U.S. Citizenship at the Chicago History Museum, given by Siobhan Sommerville of English Department at the University of Illinois. Sommerville wrote a great book called Queering the Color Line a few years back, and is now at work on queering citizenship. We were expected a small crowd of maybe 50 or so people, so you can imagine how surprised we were to walk into a sold out room of 450! Her talk was part of the "Out at CHM" series. Famed transgender activist Susan Stryker is the next speaker in the series so stay tuned. She has a new film out that will be shown the Sunday before her talk.

After the talk we went out to eat at Adesso, an Italian place on Broadway in Boystown, and then to The Closet, a gay bar across the street for nightcap. A DJ in there was trying to get people to do Karioke, but we escaped unscathed!

The Power of Forgiveness - Movie 25; Siskel Film Center - Place 34

Last week we saw "The Power of Forgiveness" at the Gene Siskel Film Center, located in downtown Chicago. The Siskel Center is associated with the School of the Art Institute named after the popular movie critic of Siskel and Ebert fame who died of cancer some years back. The Center shows tons of arty movies in fabulously comfortable theatres. The director of this film, Martin Doblmeir, directed one of our favorite docs of all time, "Bonhoeffer," an account of this Lutheran ministers complex coming to terms with what it means to live in Germany during the Nazi reign.

In The Power of Forgiveness, Doblmeir addresses the concept of forgiveness, in part by visiting several locales / events that seem to many to defy forgiveness -- 9/11 families, folks in Northern Ireland who have had family members killed by the British army, an Amish community in which schoolchildren were shot, Holocaust survivors, and a number of other. Though the film raises some interesting issues, it is sometimes facile in its conclusions and has some weird production values which include an unfortunate reenactment scene reminiscent of a show one might see on the Discovery Channel. If Gene were still around, we think he would say thumbs down on this one -- but check out Bonhoeffer (2003) which is on netflix if you are a subscriber ("two thumbs up, way up" - Kate and Susan)

Chicago Printmakers Coalition - Place 33

On Saturday we visited the Chicago Printmakers Coalition, just off Lincoln Square, under the Western Ave. el tracks. This cool place is a working print studio that also has shows and sales on ocassion. We went to view a show of posters and came home with a fabulously colored and designed poster announcing a tribute to okra held in Alabama last year. The tag line: okra, the people's vegtable.

Chicago Popcorn Works and Nuts on Clark - Places 33 and 34; Fun Fact 36

Two other great little specialty shops that we've been to are The Chicago Popcorn Works and Nuts on Clark, both within walking distance of our apartment. Both of these stores specialize in something called "Chicago mix" which is a combination of cheesecorn and caramel corn. Mmmm. When you walk by the Popcorn Works you can smell the caramel corn, even in the middle of winter. We think they must have some sort of elaborate exhaust system rigged up emitting smells that will entice the casual passer-by in ;^) Nuts on Clark is just down the block from Wrigley Field. It comes by its name honestly. This is quite an eccentric place, a real slice of Chicago life! Fun fact: Saveur Magazine voted Nuts on Clark's caramel corn the best in the country. They'll get no argument here!

The Cheese Stands Alone - Place 32

One of the great things about the city is its wide variety of specialized little stores. Most recently, we stopped in at The Cheese Stands Alone a great little cheese store just off Lincoln Square, about 2 miles or so from where we live. Kate had been reading an entertaining book called The Cheese Primer and became aware of this store, so off we went! After the owner allowed us to taste several scrumptious samples, we settled on an Aged Appenzeller from Switzerland which was hard, with good but not overwhleming flavor, and a Valdeon from Spain which was a very strong blue cheese. Both were delicious. We brought chunks of each home and have been lunching on them since.

Breast Mine - Place 31

So, the latest word from the Breast Mine (my latest name for the Lynn Sage Breast Cancer Center) is that we'll be waiting to see what, if anything, develops by my next check-up in June. The weekly conference of doctors at the Breast Mine all agreed that the likelihood of successfully obtaining more sample through another biopsy was slim to none and that there is a good chance that the stuff they couldn't get to is benign. And here I was all set to jump back on that biopsy table! (l0l) So, I've escaped for the time being and am looking forward to coming up with all sorts of creative ways to put this all on the back burner -- way on the back burner -- until June. Suggestions welcome :)

Persepolis - Movie 22, Duke of Perth - Place 30; Fuller's - Beer 37

Last weekend we went with our friend Ellen to see Persepolis, a feature film adaption of a graphic novel about about a young girl's coming of age during the Iranian revolution. The story is largely the same as the book, but its visual representation on the screen is much more layered and complicated than was the case with the frames on the page. This allows Satrapi to meet the complicated layers of the narrative with a visual match. Two thumbs up - we both liked it a lot. Afterward, we went to a local bar, the Duke of Perth for refreshment, imbibing in a Fuller or two. The Duke features a fine UK based beer list, along with an extensive list of Scotch, including several flights. This will be a great place to take our friends Wayne and Helena if they visit later this year -- Wayne is a wee bit of a fan of the scotch!

Atonement - Movie 21, Lake Theatre - Place 29

Susan went to see Atonement this weekend with Patti and Teri, friends from golf and bowling. We met at the Lake Theatre in Oak Park, just west of downtown Chicago. This is a great old theatre that has been somewhat cut up, while still retaining much of its original art deco stylings. The resulting theatres are still enormous by any standard. It is pictured on the right in all its glory in the 30's.

What to say about Atonement? Set on the verge of Britain's entry into World War II, it explores the question of forgiveness for the act of a young girl that has severe consequences for the two people she seems to love best in the world. It deals with such an interesting question in a compelling fashion, but it is really quite sober when all is said and done. In addition, the movie seemed to move along pretty slowly at certain points, really trudging to get to the initial exposition of the plot and then again to get to Normandy. Despite all of that, there is a kind of satisfying feeling that comes at the end of a story that is really looking hard at a very complicated and interesting moral dilemma. I'd recommend it, but if you're looking for emotional uplift, this may not be the right movie for you.

Celtic Crown Football Sunday - Place 28; Fun Fact 32

Last Sunday we met up with a bunch of the girls to watch football at a cozy and friendly neighborhood pub called Celtic Crown in the Lincoln Square neighboorhood just north and west of our place. The Celtic Crown is an interesting mix of an old timey wood-based bar along with an enormous number of flat screen tvs placed strategically throughout the pub so that you can see the action from wherever you're sitting in the pub. Sunday was also our friend Teri's birthday, so we all shared a delicious cake from a neighborhood bakery in Homewood. Yum! The Packers came to an unfortunate end, but apart from that, it was a fun time.

Fun Fact: Chicago just passed a no-smoking ban in public places. The upholstery in the furniture was so smoke-ridden in the Celtic Crown they decided to replace it when the ban took effect!

Suzanne Westenhoeffer - Performance 12; My Pie - Restaurant 32; Park West - Place 27

Last Saturday we went out with a group of the girls to see famed lesbian comic Suzanne Westenhoeffer at the Park West, where she was doing a benefit for a local non-profit, the Lesbian Community Cancer Project (the LCCP). The evening started with some delicious pizza and drinks at My Pie, around Clark and Fullerton. This place features deep dish pizza and maybe the best pizza crust we have encountered while here in Chicago. After adequate food and drink were had we walked over the Park West, a few blocks south on Clark and Armitage. We had really good seats in this very comfortable venue where we proceeded to laugh pretty continuously for the next hour and a half. Westenhoeffer's show is a combination of set pieces interspersed with banter from the audience. And really, when all is said and done what's better than laughing at and with your own kind?

Dylan and Costello - Performance 10; Chicago Theatre - Place 26; Fun Fact 20

We went to see Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello on Susan's birthday on Sunday. What a great show! Dylan's band was really good and they played a lot of long jams on both old and new songs. Dylan's voice was extremely raspy, even for him. And he made up some new melodies for his old songs. But the real star of the show was Elvis Costello. From start to finish he was pure energy and entertainment, with great song selection and enthusiasm. He sang many old favs as well as some new songs including several anti-war songs, and even a humorous old chestnut from the 20's about elections and politicians. Even his banter from the stage was great. Although it was relatively brief, it was one of the best performances we have seen. Ever. We both came away wishing that he would have been alotted more time. The Chicago Theatre was a great venue in which to see them both. Its a cool old theatre with high ceilings, ornate decorations, and a wide main floor. So much more intimate than an arena venue which they undoubtedly could have filled. We were about 15 or so rows back on the side and had a great view of the whole show. Fun (?) Fact: Dylan did not talk to the audience once during the entire show -- until the encore when he introduced his band.

Lake Park Golf Course - Place 25

Susan and her golfing buddies recently visited beautiful Lake Opeka and the 18 hole par-3 golf course that hugs it. After some difficulty finding the right location, Susan and the girls found the course and settled in for a challenging round of short holes that required good pitching and putting skills. Who knew a golf course on a lake would be so close to O'Hare? Across the lake, a band played a range of ethnic songs as we worked our way through the course. It was all very surreal. Sadly, many a ball found a new home in beautiful Lake Opeka on the day we played. Might be a good idea to start the season here next year, rather than end it!

Lesbian Bowling League - Experience 18; Timberlanes Bowling Alley - Place 24

Last Friday was the first night of the biweekly lesbian bowling league at Timberlanes Bowling Alley. This is a great little place has 8 lanes to bowl in and a great old bar tucked in behind the lanes. It's located just a few blocks away from where Susan grew up, near Irving, Lincoln, and Damen. What a great vibe this place has!

Susan got a maroon colored ball from a friend from the league who has since graduated to a bigger and better ball. She got it redrilled by the helpful but somewhat odd fellow at the family owned Simmons Bowling Shop just down the street, where the proprietor still rolls out 6 feet of foam rubber for you to try out your new ball on.

It was great to bowl with all the girls! (See photo above :^) The folks I bowled with were really supportive. There are some really great bowlers in the group, however, I do not seem fated to be among them! In any case, Timber Lanes and Simmons are both a very delightful blast from the past -- so delightful that the scores from bowling night are, luckily for me, largely irrelevant!

Chris Pureka at Martyrs - Performance 6, Place 22, Dead Rogue Ale - Beer 17

Last weekend we saw Chris Pureka at Martyrs, a smallish music club on Lincoln Avenue not far from our home. A girl with guitar and a lot of anguish to share, she reminded us a lot of Ferron, with songs ranging from grim to grimmest, and Mary Gautier's sober Americana songs. One of the folks we were with jokingly asked, where's the honeymoon stage in the relationships she's talking about? Her stage patter did however reveal a sense of humor about the unremitting grey sky in her songs. Her most recent album, perhaps not surprisingly, is called Dryland. We both agreed that a song about her grandmother looking back on her long life and concluding it was a good life was amongst her best.

Martyr's is an intimate little club that can probably seat a hundred or so folks in various tables surrounded by two bars. There is light food available there and a selection of beers, including Dead Rogue Ale, a good tasting beer out of Oregon which comes in at number 17 on our list.

1000 Waves - Place 22

We took some time out of the hustle and bustle of the city last weekend to visit 1000 Waves Spa for the first time. Located just a few blocks from our home, this fabulous place is an oasis for women who need a bit of peace and quiet to rejuvenate them. The Spa features hot tubs, a eucalyptus steam bath, and a dry sauna. Afterwards, one can hang out in their kimono in the relaxation room, which includes a wide variety of magazines, newspapers, tea, and other beverage options. There are also little cubbies for napping in case one gets so relaxed that they need to succumb to sleep. For $20 you can spend up to 3 hours here. The spa also offers massage and aroma wraps for an additional charge.

1000 waves also has a great stress management program for cancer survivors. They offer 5 free sessions at the spa and 5 free massages to any woman who has been diagnosed with cancer. The owner of the spa is a cancer survivor herself and has lost a partner to cancer. This program is a great way to acknowledge the difficulties associated with cancer and to offer survivors a new way to deal with some of the stress. Two thumbs up on 1000 waves, way up! What a great place to have right here in the neighborhood!

We were soooo relaxed and mellow upon leaving. It was a little startling when we immediately jolted back into city life! Maybe 1000 waves should qualify as an experience rather than a place -- in any case, we can't wait to visit again!

The Bourne Ultimatum - Movie 6; The Grind - Place 21; Fun Fact 6

Today we went to see The Bourne Ultimatum which was a perfect choice for a slow Labor Day Monday. If you've seen any of the other Bournes then you know the pace and plot of this one two, but knowing that doesn't take anything away from this enjoyable movie. Afterwards, we met our friend Ellen for smoothies, etc. across the street at a little spot called The Grind. After we noted that there are no more Ludlum's for the Bourne franchise to exploit, Ellen said she heard an interview with Matt Damon in which he said that if there had been another one the next film in the series would have been called The Bourne Redundancy. Great fun fact. It'll be interesting to see whether they really are able to stop at the triology given the continued success of these movies.

Place #20 - The Grafton; Lagunitas Censored and Pale Ale - Beers 15 and 16; Fun Fact 5

Last weekend Susan visited The Grafton Pub, down the street from the Old Town School of Folk Music in Lincoln Square. It was chosen by a friend from she met from the (previously blogged) Girls Rock! experience, and we opened up the place at 4:00 for Friday happy hour. We sat at the bar and people slowly joined us, singly and in groups, drinking and eating and talking in friendly fashion. Susan tried two new beers from the Lagunitas Brewing Company, based in California. The first one, called Censored, was a "copper ale". Susan figured that was some new marketing term for amber beer, but the bartender insisted that the term's been around for quite some time. She also explained that they called it Censored because it was thought to smell like marijuana when they brewed it (that should qualify as a fun fact.) It didn't smell like it when Susan drank it, but it did taste pretty good.

The second beer was also a Lagunitas, but it's name was just plain old pale ale. They were trying to decide which one to stock at the bar. Though Susan liked them both, she voted for Censored. That beer will be a conversation starter at this interesting little bar for years to come!