Storefront City Chicago

Archive for the tag “chicago”

28 Feb 2013

She Kills Monsters

(buzz22chicago.com)

(buzz22chicago.com)

WHAT: She Kills Monsters
WHEN: February 15 – April 21, 2013 (schedule)
WHERE: Steppenwolf Garage Theatre (1624 N. Halsted St.)
RUNTIME: 90 minutes, no intermission
WHO: Buzz22 Chicago
PRICE: $20

OUR RATING: Do It!

(steppenwolf.org)

(steppenwolf.org)

Each year, Steppenwolf’s Garage Theatre explodes with new talent in three repertory productions from some of Chicago’s up-and-coming theater companies. Storefront City takes on Garage Rep 2013, starting with Buzz22 Chicago’s She Kills Monsters.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

If you’re like us, you know what Dungeons & Dragons is: an epic game of wits, stamina and adventure (and, ultimately, creativity), it represented an epoch when tabletop games were the norm and your imagination could take you anywhere. Buzz22 Chicago’s She Kills Monsters is not only an extremely fun romp through the world of fantasy, but also a meditation on our perceptions of those we love, and how they exist in their own minds.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

In Qui Nguyen’s play, a young woman must face the perils created by her sister’s mind on a D&D quest to save that sister’s very soul (you can pick up the script at She Kills Monsters). Under Scott Weinstein’s direction, a plot unfolds that shows us this young woman is as much trying to save her own soul as her sister’s: accompanied by a motley band of followers, demons are slain in more ways than one in this epically funny and compelling fantasy-action-comedy.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

With transitions from the world of High School to the mythical world of role-playing, we are privy to choreographed battles, large scale puppetry work by Colleen Werle, beautifully intimate shadow puppetry from the majestic Manual Cinema, awe-inspiring mask design from Colleen Werle and Trina McGee, and thrilling costume designs that will take you back into the 90s, through the lands of elves, and even into the depths where demons lurk while watching ER and Twin Peaks.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

You don’t need to know about D&D to appreciate this epic show (to be honest, only half our duo is a D&D nerd). Yet, one of the magical aspects about She Kills Monsters is the wide array of audience members who attend: we shared the house with an avid D&D player who had ‘nerd’ written all over his face and down to his toes, and who had probably not seen a lot of theater before. On top of that, Buzz22 Chicago is just brimming with energy and youthfulness. This young company’s mission is to explore coming of age and the ideas of change, growth and transition that are constant in all of our lives. No matter what you do with your free time, whether you watch reality TV or play RPGs, this show allows us all to share a unique and mesmerizing adventure.

(Buzz22Chicago.com)

(Buzz22Chicago.com)

She Kills Monsters is absolutely fun, subtly thought-provoking and a must for anyone who dreams of being something more. Highly recommended, so pick up tickets while you still can!

P.S. Check out the Garage Rep 2013 trailer! And if you want to play a bit of D&D, this is the place to start: Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Roleplaying Game: An Essential D&D Starter (4th Edition D&D)

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
27 Feb 2013

Paris Club

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

WHAT: Paris Club (French)
WHERE: 59 W. Hubbard St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

It seems that Storefront City has been in a decidedly French mood lately (but then again, we’re always a little bit Gallic at heart). So, when we trotted over to Paris Club this week for a Belgian beer and food tasting, we got a aangenaam [pleasant] combination of libations and hors d’oeuvres from the fields of Flanders, as well as the more traditional Parisian nourriture [food].

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

When you enter Paris Club, a sense of class descends upon you, although you would not feel out of place here in some very nice jeans. Perfect for an afterwork treat, it’s beautiful, chic, fun and countrified. We had a peek at their dining room, and it looked lovely and rustic, complete with brick walls, yet still had a very modern Chicago feel. The space is very open, with their “bar room” associated with, but still apart from, their more elegant dining area. With high leather backed chairs and intimate lighting, the bar area is great for a drink and a quick bite, too.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Adam: Specifically, we had come to Paris Club to enjoy a Belgian beer tasting from the likes of the Duvel Moortgat Brewery of Breendonk, Liefmans Brewery of Oudenaarde (est. 1679, so very old indeed), De Koninck Brewery of Antwerp, Maredsous Abbey of Denée, and Brasserie d’Achouffe. However, since we have an all-beer monthly special coming up later this week, we thought we’d save our reviews until then and concentrate on the wonderful food offerings from Paris Club that you can get any time.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

While many delicious appetizers were available, I’m only going to talk about the best, so you can order them too! Firstly, make sure that you have a large hunk of bread ready. Sourdough or fresh French bread is provided for no extra cost, and goes fantastically with the smoked trout pâté, although this particular offering is not always available. Make sure that you try their cheese also, as they are pretty standard in France, but not in America. I recommend the Normandy camembert (if available on the day you visit), along with the bonne bouche (actually a Vermont cheese), although the latter lacks some of the typically creamy character of a goat cheese. Actually, you can try this cheese either on your sourdough or on a wonderfully savoury pretzel croissant ($4.95), as the soft, buttery bread complements the harder cheese most excellently.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

For a slightly heartier dish, try out the poutine ($9.95), a generous heaping of frites, beef short rib, gravy and cheese. This dish is actually Québécois, and relatively new on the food scene (yet nonetheless exploding in popularity), but truly speaks to the Francophone credentials of the Paris Club (even Vermont was once French, hence the name and the presence of Vermontian cheese on the menu).

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Alicia: Despite my German heritage, I am not the biggest consumer of pork, but Chicago is really into the charcuterie scene right now, and Paris Club has joined in on this fad. To get the best feel, therefore, I sampled their very unique and delicate country pâté filled with pistachios and their thinly sliced saucisson sec, both of which were complemented by a stone ground mustard just bursting with flavor. I also sampled their pork rillettes, which brought me back to my first accidental grocery purchase when studying abroad in Paris. The smoky/salty/peppery pork was luxurious, and perfect when paired with the acidity from pickled mini gherkins and onions.

(parisclubchicago.com)

Country Pâté

To celebrate the Belgian beers on hand, servers also brought a variety of sliced sausages to our table, which I believed to probably have been weiβwurst, knackwurst and bockwurst, all of which were super juicy and delicate, and well paired with their sweet and spicy Dijon mustard.  Not items that I think are usually on offer there, but they definitely knocked them out of the park.

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

I think what ultimately impressed me the most about Paris Club, however, was really the service provided by their staff. Despite this being an entirely free event, I felt as if I must have paid a pretty high price to get in here, because not only was there an ambitious selection of food available to sample, but I almost felt like we were waited on constantly. Sure, the waiters did try to push us a bit to order from the bar, but they were all very friendly and every time we looked around there was always another waiter to offer us a croissant (and they always pronounced it right, too).

(parisclubchicago.com)

(parisclubchicago.com)

Final thoughts: Highly recommended for some pre-dinner snacks and drinks, we’d love to come back to the Paris Club and try their mains, which sound traditional and affordable, of course with some fun twists. And of course, their associated nightclub Studio Paris is also on our future docket. Well done at bringing a little bit of Paris to the Near North Side!

P.S. We’re going back to Paris Club on Monday, March 11th to taste Mauritson’s Wine from 5-8pm and try out another selection of hors d’oeuvres. The event is totally free, so we hope to see you there! If you are coming, let us know!

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
26 Feb 2013

The Grid

WHAT: The Grid (Bar)
WHERE: 351 W. Hubbard St.

OUR RATING: Skip It!

The Grid – a strange bar with a strange name in a strange part of town. Unusually, we would jump at such supposed exoticism. In this case, we can think of nowhere more undeserving of your time and money that this ridiculously confused, rude and rotten little space in River North that dares to call itself a venue of “class and comfort”. As connoisseurs of both the aforementioned virtues, we can categorically say that The Grid lacks them in abundance, and we would be pleased to see the whole place shunned by our readers for inflicting itself upon your beloved authors.

Adam: As a critic, one must keep an open mind about a venue, trying not to judge it too harshly and thinking empathetically about the time and effort the proprietors put into providing your experience, thus mitigating your vitriol to a more acceptable level. I shall not be doing that here as The Grid doesn’t deserve such unabashed charity. In fact, I will be dissecting this establishment piece by piece in order to illuminate for you the most lurid details that will serve to shock and disgust.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

We attended The Grid as invitees for their customer appreciation day Gratitude Party. Off the bat it looked like a great idea, but when you subject your guests to something for which they are wholly ungrateful, one cannot help but laugh at the complete ignorance of the event planners. To start, doors were supposed to open sharply at 2pm. It being brisk as a witch’s teat outside, I was eager to get in and warm up a little. Of course, we waited, and waited and waited…only to be granted access at the intolerably late hour of 2:30! Rule of thumb: if you invite the press to an event, don’t make them bloody cold outside.

The fiasco that followed is best related to you by my co-author, and you can look forward to it below, but I will touch further here on some other problems we encountered. The venue itself is boring. Small, cramped and dark, it serves little purpose and reminds one of the basement of a rather ordinary home, done up to look posh. With one bar and a few alcoves, the imagination is not fired (despite numerous vent-less fireplaces), and you immediately get a feeling of foreboding that you have entered at all.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

On the upshot, the drinks do sound fascinating, but tend to be extremely sweet and non-alcoholic. It’s obvious that this establishment is trying to sell me a piece of coal as a diamond: what an utterly useless business strategy. Similarly, the food is sterile at best, even when served in jars that are supposed to make you coo with joy, and yet contain what might be WWI trench rations.

Alicia: Having worked in a variety of customer-centric companies in my life, I have a very strong opinion on what customer service should be and believe that there are enough businesses around and so many people in need of work that only the most fit and customer-friendly should survive in this economy. In this case, The Grid and its employees have no business being patronized for their complete lack of customer service.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

Basically, they completely trampled all over the meaning of customer appreciation. After making us wait outside in the bitter cold, when we were finally invited in there were only two or three tables open for dozens of guests to use – all of the booths were reserved for who knows who. And right after taking a seat and shedding our warm gear, we were told that there was a mandatory $2 coat check, and that all we were getting as part of ‘gratitude day’ was no cover, and that all drinks and food were normal prices, etc.

(thegridchicago.com)

(thegridchicago.com)

First of all…what would we be paying cover for? Nothing! Okay, so I was getting into a restaurant/bar with no live music or drink/food deals at 2pm on a Saturday…wow, really grateful for THAT. Then, to have the gall while I am still getting settled to tell me coat check was mandatory (and not saying that upfront in advance, or at the door) and that absolutely nothing was provided for customers on appreciation day? Yeah, they were really grateful I was there, I’m sure.

Final thoughts: Boring, horrid and unbelievably and awfully dull, with no appreciation for its customers, The Grid can remain off your grid forever and for all eternity. Skip, tell your friends to skip it, and let’s make sure they never darken another afternoon again!

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,
25 Feb 2013

Headquarters Beercade

WHAT: Headquarters Beercade
WHERE: 950 W. Wolfram St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

The beer-cade. If you were a kid growing up in the 80s or 90s and you haven’t gotten in on this concept yet, you’re A) Behind the Game; and B) probably going to sh*t yourself.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Headquarters Beercade, located in Lakeview, offers 37 vintage arcade games and craft beers. Chicago is home to another older beercade, Emporium, in Wicker Park, but now the North Side has realized how necessary this concept is for using the millennial generation’s nostalgia to profit their businesses. Headquarters is not your average Lakeview bar, nor does it cater to the usual North Side/Wrigleyville-esque crowd.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Alicia: To be perfectly honest, the closest I came to playing in an actual arcade was when I went to the Enchanted Castle or Discovery Zone, where I much more enjoyed playing redemption games like Skee Ball rather than video games, partly for the physical actions required, and mostly for the tickets.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t played arcade games before, even if my memories of Dig Dug are associated with my first real PC, or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles reminds me of my Super Nintendo set (which, by the way, I still play when I go home). Each of these games, however, is available arcade-style at Headquarters, and I was more than happy to play both – for free! Not to mention Pinball…the mere action of manipulating the spring launcher was enough to bring back a whirlwind of fun memories.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

I really enjoyed Headquarters, with my two major loves being their amazing original artwork all over the place and the FREE game playing. While I completely didn’t understand why sports were playing on their televisions (yes, I understand they’re trying to hit all demographics, but this didn’t seem to fit at ALL branding wise), I’ve heard that when there’s nothing big going on in the sports world they actually do air old episodes of shows like Double Dare and the like. I don’t know…I really think they should be airing Legends of the Hidden Temple. Then they’d have me hooked for life.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Adam: In actual fact, I haven’t really frequented that many arcades, nor do I think I would have wanted to when I was younger. Similar to Alicia, I too have fond memories of playing arcade-type games on the old Windows 95 or Nintendo, but having rarely physically visited an arcade myself, Headquarters was a bit like a blast from someone else’s past. Not that this mattered: the games are myriad and absolutely fun, while the atmosphere is laid-back, with friendly doormen and patrons alike.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

I got a chance to play (and complete) their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles game, located on the slightly raised upper level towards the front window. This is a four person game, so great to play with friends and, since it’s free, it doesn’t matter how many times you’re KOed. Other games on offer seemed extremely interesting and I’d love to return to play some more! In terms of the bar, I was slightly less impressed on this front. Somewhere between a craft beer spot and a regular joint, beers start at $6 for (supposedly) craft varieties, even though their craftiness is questionable. I would perhaps get the beer flight in future, but there’s no need to blow money on the bottles.

(hqbeercade.com)

(hqbeercade.com)

Final thoughts: A great group hangout spot, with many games available for multiple players simultaneously. On Tuesdays you can build your own flight of 5 craft beer tastings for $11, and on those days there are even Sitcom wars where they show two different sitcom episodes. Headquarters offers a sweet variety of arcade games to fill your need, whether you are a pinball fiend, a racer, a sports fan, or just want to play table space invaders with a beer in hand. A great place to bring out and really celebrate the kid inside of you, who’s just been waiting to pounce.

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
22 Feb 2013

Next Door

WHAT: Next Door (Cafe)
WHERE: 659 W. Diversey Pkwy.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

(nextdoorchi.com)

(nextdoorchi.com)

Offering a variety of sweet treats, hot drinks and workspace, Next Door is a cafe that sells itself on being both a place to have a casual bite and sip on some coffee and as a collaborative zone, complete with free financial advice and other themed-workshops, conference rooms and desks. It’s an interesting concept, and makes for a great space that buzzes with all the feeling of a college library or study room. Definitely for some, but certainly not for all, Next Door caters to a younger crowd used to working in coffee shops designed for studying.

(nextdoorchi.com)

(nextdoorchi.com)

Adam: Next Door has the feeling of the Arts and Crafts movement behind it: lush woods, high beamed ceilings and reclaimed tables and chairs create a modern and earthy atmosphere that is both comforting and stimulating. Grabbing a table can be an issue, as they are generally packed just after 5pm. However, once you place your articles upon a seat, you may proceed to choosing your guilty pleasures from the menu.

With a selection of customizable crepes on offer, I felt obliged to give it a try, ordering the nutella and banana one, as it seemed to be the most delicious with a sweet character. Well, I have to say, I was wrong. What I was served was plenty of crepe and not very much nutella or banana slices. It was very sad, as I had quite high hopes for the place. It seemed to me that they were being deliberately stingy in a quite unnecessary way, so I was, needless to say, very disappointed.

But would I come back? Perhaps. I would certainly order something else and mainly arrive to enjoy the ambience, but the nutella crepe is a no-go area. Come for the decor, but be cautious in your ordering.

(nextdoorchi.com)

(nextdoorchi.com)

Alicia: Ultimately, Next Door is a hit or miss affair. Their coffee is pretty darn good, but they don’t always refill their milk jugs so if you’re a skim milk fan you might be out of luck pretty often. And as Adam mentioned, their filled crepes aren’t too filled. I ordered a crepe with blueberry compote and speculoos, and the very fact that they had speculoos as an option puts this place on my good side…yum! But the yum factor was limited to the small amount they put in there.

(nextdoorchi.com)

(nextdoorchi.com)

I don’t find Next Door’s atmosphere particularly welcoming. In fact, I find it quite sterile and so open as to be distracting. And I’m intrinsically dubious about it being an insurance and financial advising center (State Farm based). Nothing against State Farm in particular, but just the very association of a community center with an insurance company puts me a bit on edge.

(nextdoorchi.com)

(nextdoorchi.com)

While I wouldn’t work there on my own again, I would definitely go there to collaborate with others, especially with their sliding whiteboard walls, glass enclosed work spaces, and a plethora of group workshops available for free. I’m very excited to be signed up for their free yoga class next Tuesday morning, so we’ll see how that turns out as well. I find the place extremely neighborhood friendly, as they often shout out to their neighbors on social media outlets, and offer a wide variety of free programming which ranges anywhere from featuring local music talent to cooking classes, to yoga and entrepreneurial workshops.

(nextdoorchi.com)

(nextdoorchi.com)

Final thoughts: Participate in Next Door’s communal atmosphere and you’ll be amazed at the wealth of altruistic opportunities at hand. And, ultimately, we have nothing against a good cup o’ Joe and a safe space to share your ideas with others.

Posted in Drink It!, Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
21 Feb 2013

Bistrot Margot

(bistrotmargot.com)WHAT: Bistrot Margot
WHERE: 1437 N. Wells St.

OUR RATING: Do It!

Located in the heart of Old Town lies Bistrot Margot, a Chicago foray into French cuisine. We soon discovered that you don’t need to travel to France for good French food, and in fact, Bistrot Margot provides more genial service, and comparable cuisine to many French restaurants we’ve been to.

(bistrotmargot.com)

(bistrotmargot.com)

Alicia: The French experience starts even before you walk through the doors, as I warmed immediately to the black and white tiles outside the entrance that spelled the restaurant’s name. As you walk inside the red walls, mirrors and black and white photography continually provide a warmth, and I really did feel like I was back in one of the more upscale eateries in Paris. The only thing I felt missing from the ambience was the music, which was relatively absent, or perhaps was just completely overwhelmed by the very boisterous table next to us.

Salade Nicoise (bistrotmargot.com)

Salade Niçoise (bistrotmargot.com)

I’d actually been to Bistrot Margot once before with my co-workers for a more casual holiday lunch, and thoroughly enjoyed their pâté maison (country style pate and chicken liver mousse) and my order of salad niçoise with beautifully seared rare tuna. This time, I wanted something a little lighter but still French as hell, so I went the moules marinières route, a dish I have only ordered once elsewhere at chain restaurant Léon de Bruxelles in Paris. Knowing that this dish was an appetizer, and that French plates tend to be smaller, I also ordered the Salade de Betteraves: watercress with roasted red beets, goat cheese and a tarragon vinaigrette.

Moules Marinières (bistrotmargot.com)

When the mussels came to the table I was completely overwhelmed, as the portion was gigantic! The huge bowl of 30 mussels came with bread (of course) and a beautiful white wine, beurre blanc, shallots and herbs sauce that was other-worldly and completely decadent. Luckily the mussels were deliciously fresh and filling, as the salad left much more to be desired. For a whopping $9 I was delivered the saddest plate of over-dressed watercress with a mere two mini slices of beets, but it also came with a generous portion of creamy goat’s cheese. A small miss, yes, with the salad…but ultimately the mussels were a win!

(chicago.eater.com)

(chicago.eater.com)

Adam: I am most accustomed to good French cuisine and, after trying several other spots around the city, I can categorically say that Bistrot Margot ranks amongst the best and most authentic in Chicago. Depending on where I am in the world, I tend to expect different things from Gallic restaurants: if I’m in Europe, I will generally order traditional steaks and ducks, if in the US I tend to go with calf’s liver, fish or veal. This is a well thought-out policy that never seems to fail me. But, tonight, I felt like broadening my horizons and bucking the trend.

Filet Mignon (foodspotting.com)

Filet Mignon (foodspotting.com)

Going all-out traditional, I ordered the filet mignon du boeuf grille, served with golden potatoes, grilled asparagus, and a wonderful bordelaise sauce. This is unusual for me: filet mignon is a harder dish to prepare well and only worth the cost at the best of restaurants. I was most pleasantly and absolutely surprised at the quality and quantity I was served. Even at medium, the filet was juicy and tender in such a manner as is unusual in America. The bordelaise enveloped the whole dish with a fantastic deep rouge that brought out the succulent nature of both the meat and sides. I highly recommend this entree, as it is certainly one of the most accurate representations of French cooking one can have.

A word of warning: these are not French sized plates. Large portions leave little room for dessert or appetizers, so don’t feel sheepish in asking to take some of it home with you.

Final Thoughts: This quaint and romantic spot is perfect for a night out with your loved one, and even has some great nightly specials and very fairly priced pre-fixes on Wednesdays. They also have a quite affordable brunch and lunch menu if that’s more your style. Authentic and quintessentially French, Bistrot Margot makes for un très bon repas.

Posted in Eat It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
20 Feb 2013

Park Tavern

WHAT: Park Tavern (Contemporary American)
WHERE: 1645 W. Jackson Blvd.

OUR RATING: Chance It! (Only if you’re nearby)

(parktavernchicago.com)

(parktavernchicago.com)

Here’s a new location for you to try. Part of the Park Tavern brand (the same as the Rosemont location), the new Park Tavern in the West Loop is in a rather odd location, that seems solely designed to serve the nearby United Center. A multilevel event space, Park Tavern invited us to their launch party to experience their space, food and libations.

(parktavernchicago.com)

(parktavernchicago.com)

Park Tavern is housed in a huge, modern warehouse space that captures a certain stark beauty, with at least 3 bars (along with several, small drink stations) and plush, comfy chairs. Touted as a craft beer location with semi-gastropub credentials, we were hoping to be able to sample their selection. Unfortunately, craft beers were not on offer when we visited and we had to suffice with cocktails, wine and Corona. However, the food selection was truly staggering and mouth-watering.

(parktavernchicago.com)

(parktavernchicago.com)

Adam: To be honest, my first impression of Park Tavern was not positive. The valet staff were extremely impolite to me while I was waiting for the opening, so much so that I had to stand firm and express my dismay at their behavior to them. Nevertheless, when I arrived within the space I was pleasantly surprised by the massive open-plan and wood-and-brick interior that spoke to my minimalist aesthetic.

After proceeding to the upstairs lounge, I imbibed a delicate hibiscus and vodka cocktail, the likes of which I have not encountered. While I have sampled the Upper Egyptian karkadé (hibiscus tea), the addition of alcohol to this had not crossed my mind, and the result was a pleasantly aromatic cordial.

The food was wholesome and hearty, with my personal favourites being the extremely tender buffalo chicken (sauce incorporated into batter, thus avoiding rub-off) and a rich and gamey mini-slider, which was cooked within an inch of medium.

(parktavernchicago.com)

(parktavernchicago.com)

Alicia: If you know or have been to a Restaurants America location before (of which Park Tavern is a part), it’ll help to know that this place is pretty much the same in every respect. Classic American food on the brink of gastropub-ness with an upscale casual feel.

It’s definitely a destination rather than a neighborhood place, which makes it a convenient pre/post United Center show event, but that’s about all. The tastings we were invited to were not very veggie/healthy friendly, with a big emphasis on pork, chicken tenders and sliders, but the salads on their menu sound legitimate enough, and I would definitely order their Asian turkey burger with sriracha aioli if I ever found myself around there again.

(parktavernchicago.com)

(parktavernchicago.com)

Final Thoughts: Park Tavern has an impressive interior, extremely polite wait staff, and a good, solid selection of American favourites, served in a gourmet fashion. However, due to its out-of-the-way location and developing nature, we think that this is one location not worth a special trip, but perhaps would fit well into an outing to the area, perhaps for a happy hour special before the big game. We hope to come back to Park Tavern when it is more established and see how they are doing.

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
18 Feb 2013

The Birthday Party

WHAT: The Birthday Party
WHEN: January 24 – April 28, 2013
WHERE: 1650 N. Halsted Ave.
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 30 minutes with two 10-minute intermissions
HOST: Steppenwolf Theatre Company
PRICE: $15-$78

OUR RATING: Chance It!

(Credit: Sandro)

(Credit: Sandro)

Ambiguity takes and reigns the stage in Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s production of Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party, now playing until March 3rd in Steppenwolf’s newly configured Upstairs Theatre in Lincoln Park. Directed by ensemble member Austin Pendleton and starring an epic cast of Steppenwolf ensemble members Ian Barford, Francis Guinan, Moira Harris and John Mahoney (along with Marc Grapey and Sophie Sinise), Steppenwolf’s take on Pinter’s nightmarish dark-comic classic is lukewarm at best.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

Moira Harris, Ian Barford, Sophia Sinise, Francis Guinan and Marc Grapey (Credit: Michael Brosilow)

Set in a seaside English boarding house, this comedy of menace is absurd to say the least, with a fluid and questionable sense of time, place, identity and context. To put it simply, the lives of owners Meg (Moira Harris) and Petey (John Mahoney) and their guest Stanley (Ian Barford) are turned upside down with the arrival of two mysterious strangers (Francis Guinan and Marc Grapey). Other aspects of the plot are given step by step and questioned along the way, leaving the audience to piece together the rest of the story.

Steppenwolf’s new configuration of their Upstairs Theatre definitely adds some excitement to the piece, now bringing their audience closer in a new alley (traverse) staging that provides a unique and slightly uncomfortable intimacy with both the stage and the audience on the other side.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

Barford and Harris (Credit: Michael Brosilow)

However, the most essential pieces of a Pinter play are unfortunately found missing in this production. The classic suspense and menace that pervade each of his works, including The Birthday Party, are only subtle here, leaving the audience without the unique creepiness and spine-tingling feeling of risk that one usually associates with the Nobel laureate’s work. After reading the play, one feels a certain amount of discomfort and tension that is refreshing and exciting and scary all at the same time. But Pendleton’s direction seems more stagnant and lacks this sense of the dramatic, with a few hapless cameos of the over-dramatic.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

Guinan and Grapey (Credit: Michael Brosilow)

In addition to this, the setting, which is clearly stated by Pinter to be a southern English town (as mentioned on several occasions in the media), does not seem to have mattered to whoever provided guidance for accents on this production. Dialects seem to range from northern working class (Mahoney), Thespian London (Guinan), and indiscernible (Welsh?) (Harris). This added to the confused feeling of the production and was perhaps intentional. However, it still doesn’t forgive some of the poorer accent approximations given by certain members of the cast, which are simply unnecessary with the proper training. We, however, blame this more so on a failing of the voice coach than any of the actors themselves.

John Mahoney and Francis Guinan (Credit: Michael Brosilow)

Mahoney and Guinan (Credit: Michael Brosilow)

This doesn’t negate the fact that the acting as a whole is superb, with stellar performances from Francis Guinan and John Mahoney, although Mahoney’s part is much smaller than we would have liked. Each of these theatrical veterans bring a whole lot of punch to this play, with Mahoney’s strange vulnerability and the lovable, yet terrifying, character of Guinan’s.

While the average ticket price may be a bit too steep for this production, Steppenwolf offers some pretty awesome ticket discounts, including $15 student tickets and twenty $20 tickets to every single show. Twenty bucks to see some top Steppenwolf acting of Pinter’s ominous absurd-ism may just be worth it.

Posted in Performing Arts, See It! and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
15 Feb 2013

Hard Rock Cafe

WHAT: Hard Rock Cafe (Traditional American)
WHERE: 63 W. Ontario St.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

(hardrock.com)

(hardrock.com)

The Hard Rock brand is legendary and iconic. In practically every city in America, there’s a Hard Rock something, and Chicago has both a cafe AND a hotel, so it must be a pretty rockin’ city. If you’ve been living under a (hard) rock for the last 40 odd years, Hard Rock Cafe was founded back in 1971 in London. With walls plastered in rock n’ roll memorabilia, it’s a bit like dining with the stars (or at least in a celebrity bedroom while the owner is away).

Storefront City doesn’t usually go for tourist traps. In fact, we tend to vehemently eschew them. However, we were invited to the Hard Rock Cafe to try some appetizers and drinks, and couldn’t pass up the opportunity. So, put on your tourists’ caps Chicago, here we go!:

Adam: Striking and outrageous pop-decadence is the best way to describe Hard Rock Cafe. Here, a guitar used by Eric Clapton, over there a Braille manuscript from a Pepsi ad used by the one and only Ray Charles. The list of musical artefacts is endless and so it’s definitely a great place to bring any serious music fan or even just the casual listener.

(hardrock.com)

(hardrock.com)

But, we were here to try the food and sip the drinks, so I’ll start there. Hard Rock Cafe has two bars: one on the main level and one on the balcony overlooking the ballroom. I tried drinks from each and was impressed. To get a good idea of the variety to be had (they have an array of beers on tap, including Guinness and Shock Top, as well as the standard wines etc.) I tried a couple of different cocktails. The gin and tonic, prepared with Schweppes Tonic Water and Beefeater Gin, was actually of rather disproportionate ratios. I know it’s very hard to mix a G+T on the fly, but please never add as more gin than tonic. It’s just weird. That being said, it was Beefeater’s, so it can’t have been that bad. Later in the night, I wanted something a little different to test their bartending skills, so I initially set out to order a mojito, only to find that it wasn’t on the menu that night. So, trepidatiously, a cosmopolitan was ordered, just to see if they could get it right. And, lo and behold, they succeeded! Apparently, one can fail at the easy and succeed at the more difficult.

(hardrock.com)

(hardrock.com)

And then it was onto the food. Tupelo Chicken Tenders were first on the menu. Not necessarily my idea of good food, but they were actually pretty darn tasty. Served with a honey-mustard dressing, they could easily sate the appetite of most hungry of gentlemen. Next, it was onto the two pizzas – the margherita and the portobello and caramelized onion. My preference was with the portobello, as the cheese combination of mozzarella, parmesan and romano was a fantastic compliment to the sweetness of the onions. The margherita was pretty standard fare, with the nice addition of caramelized garlic to kick it off.

My last dish was of Sante Fe Spring Rolls. Stuffed with spinach, black beans, cilantro, corn, jalapenos, diced red peppers and Jack cheese and served with Chipotle Ranch dressing, Southwest America meets East Asia was actually a highly successful affair, and I would definitely try this again.

Alicia: Before you walk through the doors of the Hard Rock Cafe you know it’s corporate and touristy, and thus you’re probably paying a bit more than you should for what you get. I get the same feeling when I walk in there as when I walk into the Rainforest Cafe right down the street, or any of those other big restaurants in the North Loop. But that’s okay. I was prepared.

(hardrock.com)

(hardrock.com)

In all honesty, for such a touristy spot, the Hard Rock Cafe actually has pretty fair prices and a good selection of your classic Chicago American cafe food. I enjoyed some fresh and classic ceviche along with one of the better-prepared white wine spritzers I have had in the city. But you don’t really go there for the food. You go there for the ambience and the live music – that’s what the places sells itself on. So if you have some friends in town, order some drinks (perhaps even something with their Fireball cinnamon whiskey, a first for me – but perhaps too sweet), and enjoy some live entertainment.

(hardrock.com)

(hardrock.com)

Final Thoughts: If you’re from Chicago, you don’t have to make a pit stop here, but if you’re ever invited to an event or want to host one for your company, this is a very expansive and well-thought out space, with a very Chicago feel that will be inviting to tourists and Chicagoans alike. If you don’t get a chance to walk through the doors don’t fret – you can check out their website to get a 360 degree view.

Posted in Do It!, Drink It!, Eat It!, Nightlife and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Post Navigation

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →