filtered friday. the goonies.

Cannon Beach, Oregon.

lincoln ave is pretty great

We looked at our condo on day one of Chicago’s Ribfest.  Both the condo and Ribfest happened to be on Lincoln Ave.  That day, we walked down the street peeking in restaurant windows.  We walked to Lincoln Square.  Walked to the Coonley school, where Eloise will go K-8.  We talked to strangers.  One woman told us that she and her husband plan to retire, right here in North Center.  Everyone we spoke to raved about the neighborhood.  A few weeks ago, I read this post about Lincoln Ave being Chicago’s best drinking street.  After living here for 6 months, I’m convinced that there is no better street for living than Lincoln Ave.

Here are some of my Lincoln Ave favorites.

Julius Meinl:  Proper cafe.

The Grind:  Cafe from a proper hipster. (flannel, thick rims, beard, they’ve got it all)  There’s also soup.

Huettenbar:  A great local.  Blackhawk games.  Music.  Spaten.  Gets packed.

Fork:  Duck confit everything.  Go there.  Eat duck.

The Grafton:  Proper Irish Pub.  Irish music in the corner.  Jameson.  Just like being in Dublin.  (less fights and cursing)

Gene’s Sausage Shop:  European market/sausage.  The cookies Amy and I bring back from Paris.  They have those at Gene’s.

Cafe Selmarie:  Pastries, brunch.

Lincoln Avenue rocks.

abandoned

I wonder if this bike was abandoned because of the snow, or if someone actually planned to ride home in this weather.

filtered friday. year of the dragon.

Happy New Year bitches.  The year of the dragon.

finding a parking spot

When it’s 10 degrees and I see people riding their bikes to work, it makes me love Chicago more than I already do.  Just the other day I had a tough time finding a spot to lock my bike on Lincoln Ave.  Every rack and light post was occupado.  Made me think of Amsterdam.  How the hell do you find a place to lock your bike in Amsterdam?

filtered friday. an escape route.

A Jason Bourne style escape route.  European cities really are second to none when there’s no other way to elude danger by jumping out of your hotel window and running across rooftops.

lamarck-caulaincourt

the chicago picasso

I was showing a friend around the Loop and happened upon the Picasso sculpture at Daley Plaza.  The art and the architecture are quickly becoming my 2 favorite things about living in Chicago.

filtered friday. drinks on southport.

Picture taken whilst drinking at a cafe on Southport.

a picture window

My favorite Chicago skyscraper has always been the John Hancock building.  Lately, because of the new job, my focus has shifted to the Willis Tower.

Each time I see it, I look up amazed that one day I’ll get to work up there.  Naturally, that day can’t come soon enough because the commute to Elk Grove Village is very quickly getting old.  What keeps me going is the knowledge that next spring my commute will be a very short train ride, instead of a maddening I-90 commute from hell.