Reminiscing about those carefree summer days of your childhood?  Remember running through overgrown summer fields, splashing through creeks and chasing your friends on endless bike rides?  Gas prices, a slow economy and bad airline travel have us all in a pickle, but it’s the last days of summer and we want to milk it for all it’s worth.  So stop looking beyond the bounds of your city because you might just have your urban summer adventures right beneath your feet!

Paddle on, Chicago:

Blessed with beaches, bike trails and golf courses, the Chicago lakefront is the obvious choice for some elbow-to-elbow summertime fun however I recommend trying the wilds of the Chicago River instead.  A meandering river populated by ducks, herons and muskrat, the Chicago River used to be labeled “toxic” because of all the sludge that had been dumped into it over the decades; thanks to the efforts of Friends of the Chicago River and other not-for-profit organizations, it’s been upgraded to merely “not for consumption.”  Take advantage of this little-used waterway and catch some amazing views of the city while you’re at it: Friends of the Chicago River host a number of canoe trips (around $40) that will show you layers of the city you’ve never seen as you float past idyllic wildflower-laden riverbanks, active steel mills and towering skyscrapers.  Kayak Chicago rents singles and tandems by the hour, and also leads 3 hour architectural tours into the Loop ($50), as well as Fireworks tours ($50) every Wednesday and Saturday night.  Just don’t get into a water fight – the jury is still out about just how bad that water really is……

Friends of the Chicago River

Kayak Chicago

Get a Grip on New York:

You don’t have to be Spiderman to get vertical in New York City: put on some solid kicks and try bouldering across the 15-20 foot schist rocks strewn across Central Park.  Rat Rock and Cat Rock, in the southwest corner of the park, are popular starting points for hours of bouldering fun, and are often populated by dozens clambering up, down and across them.  Go to www.rockclimbing.com and www.climbnyc.com for more specific information and safety instructions.

www.rockclimbing.com

www.climbnyc.com

Ride into the Sunset in Los Angeles:

Channel your inner Clint Eastwood and try this spaghetti western activity.  Located just under the Hollywood sign, Sunset Ranch Hollywood has been offering rides overlooking the famed Valley below for almost 80 years.  The Dinner Ride ($60 plus dinner) is 4 hours round trip on horseback to Viva Fresh in Burbank, where you enjoy dinner and the sunset before heading back for the hills.  Giddyup, pardner!

Sunset Hills Ranch

Get High in San Francisco:

Launching from Mount Tam in Marin County, just north of San Francisco, the San Francisco Hang Gliding Center promises to give you a totally unique view of the city.  All you need is 10 minutes of instruction before you get a bird’s eye view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and the Bay while strapped in to a qualified pilot.  Tandem flights go 7 days a week, weather permitting – contact the center for detailed information.

San Francisco Hang Gliding Center

Catch Some Air in Denver:

Get some goofy-foot half-pipe action at the Denver Skate Park, free and open to the public from 5am to 11pm.  You’ll be old-school for sure if you’re using slang like gnarly, but shred that ledge and hit the rail for some sick fun on wheels!

Denver Skate Park

Skater Lingo

Happy Travels!

Tai

Hello Travelers!

The wind is cutting through the NorthFace jacket; your mittens are wet and freezing wet from snowballs and your winter boots gave up hours ago – in short, you need to warm up, inside and out – time for hot food and a warm fireplace. Uncommon Ground Cafe has it all: a sprawling multiple-personality cafe, restaurant, gallery and music theater with a fireplace in one room and a pot-bellied stove in another, full of couches, window seats and nooks to while away the hours with a good book, a great conversation, and a drink. Vibrant day and night with a variety of people and conversations, Uncommon Ground is full of groups of friends chatting over a coffee or a beer, young families’ laughter coming from numerous groups. Someone in the corner is reading Sartre, and you feel like there’s dozens of conversations to be had and new friendship opportunities in every nook of this warm and comfortable find.

Breakfast is served daily, featuring the old standards and a few “Uncommon” specials: the Pulled Pork Benedict with Garlic Hollandaise dukes it out with the Farm Raised Chicken Breakfast Burrito; fresh Red Hen Bakery bread makes the basis of a delicious French Toast. With a full bar, you can augment your breakfast with a house-infused vodka or Pear Mimosa, too. For lunch, the Pork Belly Sandwich is perfect winter fuel: chunks of pork belly with onion marmalade, apple slices and arugula on a warmed baguette. Fresh soups change daily, as do dinner specials.

By far, the best feature of Uncommon Ground (once you get past the fireplaces) is the creative cocktail list: the Tree-tini is a seasonally changing martini, for which every one sold a tree is planted by Live-it-Green. The current flavour as of this writing is a Pear-infused organic vodka based concoction – who knew that being earth friendly would be so delicious! For those times when you really need a warm up, Uncommon creates special coffee and cider based treats: The Devil and Mr Johnson is a steaming bowl (yes, bowl) of espresso, steamed chai, vanilla-infused Makers Mark, steamed milk and whipped cream – dusted with cinnamon, of course. The Red Apple features steamed cider with a kick of bourbon. The identity-confused can check out the Jagger Meets Bowie: pimms no. 1, rose nectar, sparkling rose, blood orange, and a floating flower petal.

So come in, grab the coveted fireplace couch, and while away the afternoon the way a real Chicagoan would – out of the cold.

Have a warm and fantastic time!

Tai

Hello Travelers!

Chicago is increasingly a foodie town, replete with menus that read like farm lists, custom crafted brews and an ongoing debate regarding the merits of really fat duck liver. But even as our restaurants complexities increase, one thing remains a staple for all travelers and residents: brunch. Be it a cure for a Saturday hangover, a veil for Sunday mornings with family, or – best yet – playing hooky on a Tuesday morning, Chicago can fill your bacon craving, Bloody Mary needs any time of the week.

M. Henry: 5707 N Clark Street 773-561-1600

M. Henry offers “globally inspired, new American cuisine” – standards like omelets, pancakes, quiche and oatmeal, but spiked up with seasonal berries or South-of-the-border charm. The menu changes every 4 weeks or so to reflect seasonally available options, but is always sure to please. Weekend brunch favorites include the aptly named Blackberry Blisscakes: buttermilk pancakes layered with blackberries and a crunchy, cinnamon-sugar granola topping, all doused with blackberry compote and maple syrup – for a mere $8. The Latina Omelette mixes local farmhouse cheddar with black beans, salsa and chipotle sauce ($8.25), and the Vegan Epiphany will open your mind with a tofu and mixed vegetable scramble ($7). Bacon Candy is crispy, sweet bacon, broiled with a crispy brown sugar coating ($4), and while there’s no Bloody Mary’s on the menu, the fresh squeezed orange juice ($3) makes you forget about last night no less.

Orange: 3231 N Clark 773.549.4400

Named for the fruit, and decorated to match, Orange has 3 locations, all with outstanding breakfasts (and usually a wait to match). Known for its Green Eggs and Ham (colored by pesto, not ink; $9), Orange also features chai-tea French toast ($9), Caprese Benedict with oven roasted tomatoes and mozzarella ($9), and pan-seared oatmeal, cooked with apple cider and served with a knife ($9). With all this creativity in the kitchen, good luck ordering the “Boring Eggs” ($6). Orange Is BYO, so pack up the Nalgene bottle with some vodka and order the V8 for your own Bloody.

Sepia: 123 N Jefferson Street 312.441.1920

Open just under a year, Sepia’s nostalgic industrial-chic food and décor has caught the attention of the locals and many further afield. At night, Sepia might be a threat unless you come armed with your American Express Plum card. We were overjoyed, therefore, to discover that brunch is much more accessible for the proletariat that craves truffle-infused eggs and duck-fat fries. The creative menu is focused on organic and locally farmed food, featuring in-season veggies and fresh meats – egg white scramble with wild mushrooms and fresh herbs ($11); a flat iron steak with eggs and duck-fat fries ($15); the unadventurous can have the standard bacon-and-eggs ($9). Fresh granola and yogurt ($7), assorted breakfast pastries ($7) and chocolate-mascarpone pancakes will delight the sweet tooth in anyone. But the piece de resistance comes in your glass: bacon infused Bloody Mary’s ($10) take away the sting from the night before.

Sweets and Savories: 1534 W Fullerton Ave (773) 281-6778

Sweets and Savories is one of the best-kept brunch secrets in Chicago. An excellent dining room most evenings, priced to match, it becomes a multi-course, $16 prix fixe breakfast heaven every Saturday and Sunday morning. Popular with groups (baby showers and birthdays seem to happen almost every week here), reservations are recommended, but small groups can usually be seated quickly. Brunch includes a Bloody Mary, wine, belini or mimosa and a delightful selection of croissants, pastries and muffins. Choose a seasonal salad or soup, including Arugula and Pecorino Salad with Lemon Drizzle, or Carrot Ginger soup, before moving on to the main course: Duck Leg Confit Hash; Brioche French Toast with Raspberry coulis, Blueberry Griddlecakes and Sausage Gravy and Biscuits are just some of the selections. Finish off with some applewood bacon or duck-fat fries, order another mimosa, and enjoy the afternoon unfurling before you!

Twisted Spoke: 501 N Ogden Ave 312.666.1500

We’d like to know what the owners had to pay to get that 666 number – fitting in a tongue in cheek sort of way, as everything about the Twisted Spoke has become. Once feared as a hard-core biker hangout, Twisted Spoke has dead, rusting Harleys decorating its grounds – one complete with a skeleton wearing a helmet. Get past that, and you’ll likely be distracted by weekly events advertised on the walls: Saturday night, midnight to 2:30 AM: Smut-n-Eggs (who can resist some hard-core with their pancakes?) Saturday and Sunday morning is a little tamer, with a varied menu of epic proportions – The Fried Egg Sandwich ($7) requires both hands, and the Mexican Scramble ($9) will keep you busy for a while. This place has no equal when it comes to the Road Rash Mary: 16 full ounces, flavored with beef stock and Guinness, accented with a skewer of cocktail onions, cheese and meat, and followed with its faithful sidekick the Beer Back, this is all the meal you’ll need ($7).

Happy Travels and good eats,

Tai

]]> http://ikangaroo.com/2007/12/28/tai-brunch-in-chicago/feed/ 0 http://ikangaroo.com/2007/10/10/chicago-rocks/ http://ikangaroo.com/2007/10/10/chicago-rocks/#comments Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:51:07 +0000 Chris http://ikangaroo.com/2007/10/10/chicago-rocks/ Our Chicago expert Tai lets us know about Fashion Forward and the Chicago Film Festival which is premiering The Kite Runner.

Hello Travelers!

It’s Fashion Focus week in Chicago, which means you can get your fill of models, designers and – of course – socialites looking for the next hot look.  Partnered with the City of Chicago, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and numerous other retailers, business groups and focused players, this year’s event is features numerous shows throughout the week, including Fashion Focus presented by Macy’s, free on Friday October 12^th.  Work your magic, get spotted, and try to snag an invite to any of the numerous parties sure to fill the city….. Get more information at http://www.fashionfocuschicago.com/ 

Not so much on the mini skirts and silver-lame dresses?  Try the Chicago Film Festival, premiering the potentially inflammatory film “The Kite Runner” this week.  Starring young Afghan actors, the movie has already stirred controversy in topic alone (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6992751.stm), leading the producers to hire former CIA operatives and a diverse team of international relations experts to determine the safety of the film’s release.  Catch it here before it gets banned.  More information on the Chicago Film festival is here: http://www.chicagofilmfestival.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CIFFSite.woa/wa/pages/Home 

Then again, you could just stay local: catch some free pool at the Gingerman, 3740 North Clark Street, while gazing at the now-shuttered Wrigley Field and remind yourself: “there’s always next year.”

Happy Travels,

Tai

Hello Travelers!

The question on everyone’s lips in Chicago today: won’t that goat just die already??? As the Cubs prepare to break their losing streak, fans and foes alike will pack Wrigleyville’s numerous bars and taverns to get in on the action. Just know you’ll be paying at least $1 extra per each drink this Saturday and Sunday – whenever a game’s on, prices go up.

Determined to stay in the shadow of the stadium? Be prepared for drunken mayhem and join it yourself at any of the numerous bars lining Clark Street. Uberstein at 3478 N Clark is true to its name, attempting to recreate the abundance of the Hoffbrau, if not necessarily the ambience. At least there’s an outdoor terrace from which you can watch the circus go by.

Further from the ruckus you’ll find fans just as dedicated, but beverages that’ll take a lesser hit on your wallet: at Mix (2843 N Halsted), the bartenders have added curse-busting bevvies like Choke the Goat cocktails ($3) and Bartman Bomb shots ($2).

Not that into baseball? Or just prefer to not pay a premium when everyone around you is loaded and liable to spill your drink on your foot anyhow? Find something slightly off the beaten path – 3 blocks from Wrigley Field you can watch the game without the markup. Halsted’s Bar and Grill, located at 3441 North Halsted, will show the game but feel a world away as the Boystown parade of drag queens, leather bears and stray frat boys mill about in the fabulous Indian Summer weather.

This weekend is loaded with fun things to do in Chicago: the world-class marathon will turn the whole city into a stadium and snarl traffic for hours on Sunday morning, giving you a chance to watch 40,000 runners more dedicated than you as they slog through 26.2 miles across Chicago’s runner-friendly flat streets. The LaSalle Bank Marathon is a classic for runners, mostly because of the street festival associated with it: every block of the route is crowded with spectators, many of whom provide their own show. In the past, the Blue Man Group has entertained at Belmont and Broadway, the South Side Drill Team strutted their stuff while the runners blew by, and the marathon organization itself has numerous checkpoints for volunteers and observers to have their own fun. Support the runners and check it out at http://www.chicagomarathon.com/cms400min/chicago_marathon/

Crave a little culture with your entertainment? Some wine and cheese fit the bill? The 5^th Annual Andrersonville Art Walk runs all weekend, with galleries opening their doors and offering free beverages to go with your postmodern theoretics. http://www.andersonville.org/artsweekend/ When you’re tired of all the hoopla, wander over to Hopleaf (5148 N Clark) for a delicious repast. Specializing in Belgian ale, their beer list features over 200 different brews, each unique and often seasonal. Don’t neglect the pomme frites and garlic aioli either.

Have a great weekend and enjoy Chicago.

Go Cubs!

Tai