home sweet home

Since i'm definitely stuck in this city for the next two months (bar study leaves no time for travel) of course i'm getting homesick for all the places i've lived.

Things I love about Chicago (some of these are up to 45 min. out of the city but they’re worth the commute if you can get there):

Ravinia: a beautiful outdoor music pavilion (kind of like D.C.’s Wolftrap). Lawn tickets are $10, free for students. Bring: a quilt, good food, better wine, and my mother and I always make sure to bring candles and a tiny vase with flowers to add an extra touch Martha Stewart style. Bring a sweater b/c it’ll get cold. Go early. i went home specifically for michael cerveris, audra mcdonald, and patty lupone doing sondheim's "sunday in the park with george" and it was SO WORTH IT.

The beaches: along the lakeshore.

Clark & Belmont: where you can find Pennys noodle shop, Orange’s brunch (get the frushi and the pancake flight), and the Pick me up café (where go for a cup of coffee at 4am).

Nacional 27: one of my most favorite restaurants in the city. I used to work for Lettuce Entertain You and had the sweetest discount. Get the sashimi, a mango martini.

Arlington Racetrack: my mother used to take me there on my birthdays. I used to bet on horses by their silks. When I was old enough to understand the handbook I started using stats but now I never win. I should go back to the old way. My mother always bets on the first grey mare she sees. Don’t pay for a reserved table. Run down to the paddock before each race to look all the horses in the eye. This place is beautiful, take it all in.

Oakbrook mall: my stomping ground when I’m home. It’s the MOST beautiful outdoor mall. It has a Nordstrom (and ALL the other necessaries) and the restaurant I used to work at, Antico Posto (you must go if you’re anywhere near there! Get the ricotta gnocchi, you’ll thank me later).

PORTILLO’S: the best hot dogs. Period. They’re building one in L.A. near my mother so I’m thrilled. you haven't lived if you haven't had a chicago style hot dog (fresh tomato, cucumber, relish, hot peppers, pickle, onion, celery salt). NY'ers go to the shake shack at madison square party. they import vienna hotdogs from chicago for it.

The pizza: Lou malnatti’s, Eduardos or Giordanos. Or try Pizza and Oven Grinder, get the flatbread, skip the salads, and try the pot pie pizza’s with wheat dough.

The Lyric Opera: which is twice as good as the Met, I think. Actually, I think the metropolitan opera house is just damn ugly. I had season tickets all through junior high and high school (I was a dork, we don’t need to go over it again). These two old guys used to stand near the door and yell, in perfect unison, “librettos. Enjoy the opera with a libretto…and opera glasses!” I’d get a bottle of Orangina. I always wore this beautiful nanette lepore dress.

Second City: where I used to watch Rachel Dratch before anybody knew who she was. Chicago is THE home for good improv. It's where anybody who is anybody funny got their start.

Lombard at this time: it’s the lilac capital of the state (maybe even country), its an amazing place in May.

Long Grove: a quaint little town with cutesy shops. Not a place for most men. They have an apple cider mill and they make the BEST apple cider doughnuts. Get the day old doughnuts for half price, they’re better than the fresh ones. Also, hit their chocolate confectionary (which is world renown).

Ithaca will be next....