Happy Hanukkah!

Light the menorah, spin the dreidel, give the gelt, and fry the latkes. It's Hannukkah! Enjoy Debbie Friedman's celebration of the holiday with pictures put to the music by someone with too much time on their hands.

I Was Told There'd Be Cake

Essayist Sloane Crosley's first published collection is an entertaining read. While the writing is not as sophisticated as David Rakoff's, the stories not as memorable as David Sedaris' early works, or the accounts as informative as Sarah Vowell's, the essays are still enjoyable. In this clip she is reading selections from her book. Remember the Oregon Trail computer game? So does Sloane! You'll also find out the origin of the meaning of the title: I was Told There'd be Cake.

Deleece - Chicago, IL

Caramelized salmon, pan roasted served with Chinese

sticky black rice, spinach, leeks and pear-ginger sauce

Deleece (4004 N. Southport) was a pleasant surprise. Going only because of a discount coupon, I enjoyed the interesting combination of flavors served "curb-side" on the sidewalk. I would definitely go again... and I have another coupon, too!

Nickel & Dimed

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America is an interesting and thought-provoking book to read. Written by Barbara Ehrenreich in the late 1990s, she recounts her experience working low wage jobs in Florida (waiting tables), Maine (house keeping), and Minnesota (retail). She tries to make ends meet without using her savings and documents the difficulties of the effort. All the stories are well-written, the outcome is expected and Ehrenreich doesn't provide many new insights into how we can really make life better for the working underclass. Nonetheless, I would recommend reading the book if only to remind you of the substantial efforts of those we can sometimes overlook. She is the author of many other books which I just might have to read if I have a chance!

Kitsch'n on Roscoe - Chicago, IL

Since 1998, Kitsch'n On Roscoe (2005 W Roscoe St.) offers a relaxed & casual neighborhood-style space offering an award-winning brunch and comfort food menu available all day, plus a full bar with a hip 70's "funk-ploitation" theme & too many tongue-in-cheek cultural decor references to mention (beer can collections, lava lamps, Billy Dee Williams "Colt 45" lighted signs, vintage lunchboxes, H&R Puff'n Stuff action figures, etc). [from restaurant webpage]

Fried Chicken & Waffles

Two pieces of Belgian Waffle served with fried chicken and a side of ancho-honey.

The place definitely lives up to it's name: There is "kitsch" galore!

Fargo, ND

North Dakota is home to the largest city named "Fargo" in the United States. Fargo, North Dakota, is home to approximately 100,000 residents and the core city of the Fargo-Moorhead area with nearly twice that population. Fargo, Arkansas (pop. 188); Fargo, California (now abandoned); Fargo, Georgia (pop. 380); and Fargo, Oklahoma (pop. 326) do not come close in size to the city made (in)famous by the 1996 movie.

Broadway in downtown Fargo. Condos are developed by

the Kilbourne Group. The Fargo Theatre marquee on the right.

View of downtown Fargo from the public library.

Circulation desk at the new Fargo Public Library

(Designed by Meyer, Scherer & Rockcastle)

Patrick's Bakery & Cafe - Minneapolis, MN

Set amidst the floral, garden, and gift selections of Bachman's flagship store, is one location of Patrick's Bakery & Cafe (6010 Lyndale Ave.). After looking over the cases with a variety of pastries and other goodies, customers order at the counter and then relax at a table among the flowering plants until the food is served. It is unexpectedly pleasant considering you're dining in a garden center!

Patrick's promotes themselves on their website: The cafe features an amazing selection of Patrick Bernet's made-fresh daily selections of French breads, baguettes, country bread, 7-grain breads, petites and grandes boules; and speciality breads like Tomato Provencal and Roasted Red Pepper. Croissants, pain au chocolat, apricot soleil and glistening pineapple danish (Patrick's personal favorite) will be available every day. The individual pastries offered are irresistible. You'll find wonderful standards, like eclairs, napoleons, fruit tarts and creme brulees, and tantalizing Patrick's specialties that are beyond description, including the Trilogy Chocolate cake, Feuillantine Pralinee and Tiramisu.

Bouchee a la Reine: Flaky puff pastry filled with chicken, chives,

mushrooms and dumplings in a creamy sauce

Apple Chibouste Tart

Nearly vacant just before closing

Between the Folds

"Between the Folds" chronicles the stories of 10 fine artistis and intrepid scientists who abandoned careers and scoffed at hard-earned graduate degrees - all to forge unconventional lives as modern-day paperfolders. The film paints an arresting portrait of the remarkable artistic and scientific creativity that fuels this ever-changing art form, fusing science and sculpture, form and function, ancient and new.

I arranged with Vanessa Gould, the writer/producer/director of the film, to have a screening at a conference I recently coordinated. It was very interesting! I have also met or been in a conference session with some of the featured artists/scientists: Erik Demaine (and his dad), Tom Hull, Robert Lang.

Africa

Toto's Africa (arranged by Tomaž Kozlevčar) performed live at Vokal Xtravaganzza (October 2008) by Perpetuum Jazzile, an a cappella jazz ensemble from Slovenia.

Egg Harbor Cafe - Lake Geneva, WI

Egg Harbor Cafe (827 Main St.) is a small chain of 15 locations in NE Illinois (and SE Wisconsin). They describe their "concept" as follows:

The concept of Egg Harbor Café is a restaurant specializing in gourmet

breakfast and lunch creations from 6:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. daily, in a warm,

charming country setting, with fast, friendly, and efficient service.

From my experience at the Lake Geneva location, I say they mostly achieve their concept. The breakfast I ordered was delicious and, although "gourmet" might be a bit of a stretch, it was topped with fresh fruit. It was quite busy but the wait wasn't too long due to the "fast, friendly, and efficient service." There was nothing pretentious about the restaurant. It seemed like a place equally comfortable to old and young.

Lake Geneva, WI

Lake Geneva is a resort city on the shores of Geneva Lake in southeastern Wisconsin. Railroad access from Chicago made the area a popular summer retreat for the barons of wealth in lumber, cattle, oil, steel, cement, manufacturing, and durable goods (Morton Salt, Wrigley Chewing Gum, etc.), with mansions and large homes built on the lake during the heyday of the roaring 20s.

A path along the lake allows visitors to observe several of the large homes built overlooking the water. Geneva Lake is 8.6 square miles, 9 miles long, and between 3 miles and ½ mile wide. It is 152 feet at the deepest point.

Stone Manor (below), officially Younglands, the 18,000 square foot Italianate palace with a 250' veranda and an expansive lawn, is visible from downtown Lake Geneva. The estate was built in 1900-1901 by Otto Young, a man who made his fortune buying real estate along State Street in Chicago following the great fire of 1871. It was constructed for over $1,000,000 and has features such as gold-plated fixtures, a basement bowling alley, and a third floor miniature golf course. The property was a single family home until 1939 when it was presented to the order of St. Anne to be used as an Episcopalian private school for girls. The school was discontinued after only a few years. Later the mansion housed a French restaurant. Around the 1980's the mansion and remaining property were purchased for back taxes, reportedly for $74,000. It has recently been restored and converted to 6 condominiums ranging in price up to $1.6 million.

Original Pancake House - Madison, WI

I am typically a fan of the complete experience at the Original Pancake House (5518 University Avenue). I have been to the original Original Pancake House in Portland, OR, in addition to dining at locations in Chicago, Champaign, and elsewhere. Each one has a little different decor - not a typical "cookie-cutter" franchise - but the food is usually reliably satisfying. Their specialties - Apple Pancake or Dutch Baby - are always considered. On my last visit, I thought I'd branch out and try something new. It turned out to be a mistake as I didn't care much for my choice. Next time I'll stick with something familiar.

Scrambled Eggs with a mushroom Gravy & Potato Pancakes

(I can't remember the flavors in the gravy, but I didn't care for it)

Web Site Story

Anyone who has used google earth, hulu, twitter, facebook, pandora, eharmony, evite, or a blog might find this amusing. (Click on graphic to watch video)

Flesor's Candy Kitchen - Tuscola, IL

Tucked away on a corner in downtown Tuscola is Flesor's Candy Kitchen (101 West Sale St.). This is a resurrection of a family's locally famous soda fountain and confectionary business located in its original site. In addition to hand-dipped chocolates and other candies, a soda fountain and bistro are housed in the store.

Italian Beef Sandwich

The shop is long and narrow with dark woodwork and booths, a tin ceiling, and hanging lamps. It is a nice change of pace from food fast joints normally located along the interstate.

María de Buenos Aires

I attended the Allerton Music Barn Festival at Allerton Park this week. This was the third annual festival, held over Labor Day Weekend, but my first time in attendance. The performance space is the second floor of a century-old barn. Folding chairs are set up and musicians perform on a temporary stage. The musicians were mostly from the University of Illinois (faculty and students). This was my introduction to Astor Piazzolla's music and the tango operita, María de Buenos Aires, in particular. The youtube clip gives you a taste of the musical style with one song from the production. (These are not the performers I saw.) One of the signature sounds of Piazzolla's music is from the bandoneón.

María has been added to my personal list of (concert length) "classical favorites" which also includes Porgy & Bess (Gershwin), Carmina Burana (Orff), Mass (Bernstein), and Suite for Klezmer Band & Orchestra (Sid Robinovitch).