CHICAGO CARLESS

(Photo: Eye of the Polomex: Chicago Traveler scribe Matt B. in the crosshairs of Hurricane Gustav.)

It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature. Just ask Matt B. (aka “Polomex”), scribe of the Chicago Traveler blog and current refuge from the onslaught of the Gulf Coast’s pesky new resident, Hurricane Gustav. I’m as much of a fan of the male from as the next gay guy, but when Matt’s boyfriend insisted they continue on their Amtrak trip to the Southern Decadence weekend in New Orleans, I’m thinking maybe he should have thought twice.

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(Photo: Just okay has found a home and its name is Francesca’s Forno…)

The past couple of weeks have given me the chance to sample the best, worst, and most unexceptional Italian fare my adopted hometown has to offer. Personally, I could have stopped after that first part: terrific New York-style thin-crust pizza at Wicker Park stalwart pizzeria Santullo’s Eatery.

Why, oh why, did I have to gild that lilly with alleged New York-pizza at Highland Park’s mercilessly abysmal New York Slices? It wasn’t as if the only fair fare at Francesca’s Forno did me any palate-cleansing favors.

Today on Gapers Block, read my comparison of the two thin-crust pizzas in New York Pizza Slice Smackdown, and my attempt to like something–anything–of the merely Fair Fare at Francesca’s Forno. Note to Santullo’s: places like Francesca’s and New York Slices are why I love you so.

Just turn down the ceiling fans a notch so nobody gets hurt.

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(Photo: Upcoming–my weekend trip to Cincinnati. Wagon train not included.)

Ohio? Why, oh why, oh why-oh? Because Yours Truly needs a break from his breakneck work and blogging schedule, and new friend Jamie needs to go check on things at the Cincinnati abode he ditched eight weeks ago for a new life in Chicago.

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(Photo: More butter, less begging, now at Orange on Harrison.)

Your mileage may vary, but my favorite Windy City grilled cheese just got extra buttery. It’s at my equally favorite neighborhood brunch joint, downtown Chicago’s Orange on Harrison. Read all about the sandwich of my dreams in my review of Orange on Harrsion today on Gapers Block.

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(Photo: Sorry, did I wake you? Everyone knows better than a local resident on downtown noise.)

It’s a train that enters the station with Swiss Rail precision. Whenever a downtown Chicago resident complains about neighborhood noise, some local wag tells us to grin and bear it. Among the comments on yesterday’s post about the The Joys of High-Rise Living, we have this gem from “Jim”:

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(Photo: Opposing nightly: 1,300 screaming concert-goes and 1,500 sleeping condo-dwellers.)

THE JOYS OF HIGH-RISE LIVING

Kneeling in front of the toilet bowl shortly after I moved into my Marina City high-rise home, I realized there are some things newbie tower dwellers have to learn for themselves. No matter how long you stare at the water line, you’re not going to see evidence of the building swaying. That was an early lesson in skyscraper living for me.

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(Photo: Algerian crepes at Foster and Clark foster a spirit of sharing for Yours Truly.)

Last weekend, foodie partner-in-crime Jamie and I headed to Andersonville’s Icosium Kafe crepe joint to flee the downtown Air & Water Show crowds. These aren’t your French (or Québécois) grandfather’s crepes. Think Algerian veggie-heavy goodness. But as Jamie learned the hard way, don’t mimic my order in an eatery that I’m writing about–or how am I going to eat off of your plate? Head over to Gapers Block today to read my review of Icosium Kafe. And if you see me coming, be prepared to share.

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