Chicago tips

This Is An Art Car

culture

Well, you're right, it's really a van.  I'm always looking out for these relatively hard to find vehicles and this one is a doozy as you can readily see.  I found it 1/30/06 about 11AM parked in the large strip mall with tenants, Micro Center, Cub Foods, etc on Elston between Fullerton and Diversey.

Gosh, there's lots of space for assemblage on these big vans.  Among other treasures displayed on this one I saw a couple of women's high heeled shoes, a fan of some kind, part of a chairback...you wouldn't believe the quantities of  great stuff that's been rescued from oblivion by this innovative driver/artist. 

Houston has an art car parade once a year and I keep hoping Intuit will organize one here in Chicago.  We'll all just have to wait and see.  BUT, if you see one, send the info to me in a comment.  If you can get the owner's name all the better but I think if you take note of the license plate that might do the trick for the "dream parade" I hope is in our future.

Anyway, this will give you something to look for while you're driving around town.

The Belden Stratford Is A Hotel Too

services   

The Belden Stratford is a ca 1924 Beaux Arts grande dame updated and listed on The National Register of Historic Places. It's wonderfully located across from a beautiful section of Lincoln Park near the Shakespeare statue and the always lush offerings at the Lincoln Park Conservatory. The Lincoln Park Zoo is right there as well and the lake is only a few blocks away.

Most of the hotel's rooms are residential, 250 apartments in all but there are 50 others kept open for transients. This seems to be a well kept secret, especially from those not living in the Lincoln Park neighborhood who might be inclined to suggest it to visitors.

Depending on your lifestyle you might find the Belden Stratford a perfect base for a Chicago visit, particularly if you want to avoid the more frenetic pace downtown.  The 151 bus, just a block away in the park, goes to North Michigan Avenue in 10-15 minutes and makes it to the loop in 20-25.

I noted on the hotel website that some guests were very pleased and others less so.  As I say, you won't be getting high luxury but the rooms are good sized, decently furnished and very clean and the staff is responsive enough, especially when well treated.  Ask for a room overlooking the park or if that's not available, overlooking the spectacular roof.  Rates begin at $89 during the week but escalate for larger suites and on weekends.

A fine restaurant, Ambria is on the premises, specializing in French cuisine that utilizes fresh ingredients with a light touch.  Definitely worth a visit.  I'm not wildly enthusiastic about the bistro food across the lobby at Mon Ami Gabi but it's passable.  Many other better bistros in town.

The valet parking is a separate entity.  The attendants will park your car on the street and tell you the location says an ex-Chicagoan friend of mine, Myra Gotoff who visits a couple of times a year for extended periods.  It's far less expensive than a parking lot.

Sue Saunders, the manager is extremely pleasant. She worked for some time in a variety of  managerial capacities at Marshall Field's and is obviously devoted to customer service.  I met her recently when I attended a small concert in the lobby that she helped to organize.  If you have a special need or question, I'm sure she'd be happy to help.

There are some fairly basic businesses within a couple of blocks including the oddly named grocery store, The Big Apple. They have a marvelous meat market and terrific produce including hard to find herbs which you sometimes must ask to have brought out from the back.  This is handy if you plan to use the kitchen in your hotel room. Walk west for two short blocks to find Clark Street.

The Belden-Stratford Hotel is at 2300 N. Lincoln Park West.  773.281.2900.  or www.beldenstratfordhotel.com.

Gas For Less

services

Sure, why not know where to get it.  Gas prices seem to fluctuate a great deal lately in fine tune with the ups and downs of the oil market. 

The place pictured here, despite its messy appearance seems to be the best consistently for miles around.  It's at the junction of Diversey, Damen and Clybourn on the northeast corner.  When I checked very recently there were neighboring stations not too far from this with competitive prices but often this one is at least 10 cents a gallon less expensive, sometimes even 20 cents, if you're into this kind of saving.  They are also just north of Costco and not too distant from Target so you can do all your bargain shopping at one time.

The day I checked comparisons were:

                                                              unleaded                           premium

Diversey, Damen, Clybourn                   246.9                                259.9

Shell, Ashland & Diversey                      251.9                               261.9

Shell, Diversey & Lincoln                       247.9                               258.9

Mobil, Lincoln & Seminary                     257.9                               268.9

BP, Eugenie, Clark & LaSalle                 269.9                               279.9

As you can see from the photo, they're also open 24 hours which can be helpful.

Do remember, these stations generally are not consistent with their pricing (who knows why not?) but the station featured here is.   

 

Get Fed At Feed

food and drink

Pushing the geographic boundaries of coolness once again, restaurant owner Donna Knezek who's previously been behind Leo's Lunchroom and Bite Cafe has, along with partner Liz Sharp opened Feed at 2803 W. Chicago Av.  She says it's the reasonable rent that she can't resist.  Besides, she lives nearby.  Feed has been open since August.

It's a "chicken" place and more so there's chicken paraphernalia all over the place to add to the theme.  I 'd spoil the fun if  I describe it.  While we were there a small boy kept quietly putting toy (chicken) eggs in a basket and returning to his parents for encouragement, an endearing scene, I thought, and planets away from the "entitled" parent/child/restaurant owner turmoil that's recently gained so much press.

I liked the sidewalk sign at right;  look for that and you can't miss Feed.

Besides all this the home cooked style food is delicious.  I had a pulled pork sandwich which was marvelously tangy, best one ever, and I'm a real pulled pork fan.  It came with very fresh slaw and fries that I didn't try because I had to sucumb to the corn pudding instead, a wise decision.

Dave Kargl and his wife Beth introduced us to this place and Dave said his gumbo was just fine.  A local restauranteur we know was there with some friends and told us he liked everything he tried very much but thought the mac and cheese needed improvement.  (I'll never know.)

The menu isn't huge but the choices are all tempting and the prices are very reasonable.

Hours are Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 10PM.  It's BYOB.

Feed, 2803 W. Chicago Av, 773.489.4600.

At Last It's Nifty to Be Fifty

services

You must be 50 to take advantage of the great computer classes at the Northeast Levy Senior Center sponsored by the City of Chicago.

If you know a bit about using a computer it's better than if you've never tried one at all but total novices can also benefit enormously.  My own opinion is that, particularly if you are getting up there agewise it's a really big disadvantage to be computer illiterate, especially because the use of these marvelous but intimidating to some machines is becoming ubiquitous.  Honestly, soon it will be akin to being illiterate.

A basic tennant of these classes is to teach you to "play", i.e., fool around so that you can clue into the wonders of the technology and stop being scared that you're going to break something.  It helps to know how to type but it's not actually essential for the beginning class.  If you're really scared go over to your local public library in a quiet moment to practice on one of their machines.  You may find a kind soul ready to assist a bit but you really need a class.

This website wouldn't be up and running with photos if it weren't for the class I took at the Senior Center with Court Chilton, a patient man with a sense of humor who seems to really enjoy the marvels possible using digital imaging.

The classroom is new and pleasant and is equipped with 12 computers, all IBM compatible, running Windows XP-Professional.  All class material is provided including books and disks.

Here's a list of the classes offered which range from 8 weeks for the introductory class to 4 for the Internet and Digital Imaging Classes.  A class on computer graphics is 5 weeks.  All sessions are at least 2 hours which helps to fix your new skills in your mind.  The cost is extremely reasonable.

Basic Introduction to Computers.  Includes word processing, database and spreadsheet.  $65.

Get Hooked on Internet. Includes e-mail and sending and receiving attachments.            $50.

Digital Imaging. Work with a digital camera and scanner (provided in class)                   $65.

Computer Graphics.  Design and create greeting cards, flyers and calendars.                   $25.

Call either Mike Toma at 312.742.2622 or Court Chilton at 312.742.2623.  You'll be thrilled that you did this the moment you begin.

The Northeast Levy Senior Center is located at 2019 W. Lawrence Ave., just west of Damen.

William Dawson Exhibit; A Chicago "Outsider" Artist

culture

Intuit:  The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art, the non-profit gallery at 756 N. Milwaukee Avenue is proudly presenting an exhibit of one of Chicago's own outsider artists, William Dawson.  Mr. Dawson began to make art, at first primarily wood carvings, when he retired from jobs in the South Water Market and as a security guard.  He lived and worked in a rent subsidized apartment on North Avenue in the Old Town area of the city.  In the 70's my friend Susann Craig and I discovered his work featured in glass vitrines at a Chicago Library branch at Fullerton and Sheffield.  Roger Brown, the late imagist artist discovered him at that time or earlier.

We all began paying visits to Mr. Dawson, chatting with him about his story and work and buying pieces we liked.  In 1982 the Corcoran Museum, a part of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. included his work in a landmark exhibit, "Black Folk Art In America, 1830-1980. Mr. Dawson went to Washington for the occasion.

Dawson was proud and confident.  He may have begun whittling as a security guard to help pass the time.  He discovered a senior center close to his apartment and went there to take advantage of its facilities but shunned the input of staff members who wanted to make suggestions.  His wife was unhappy about the mess in the apartment created by the wood shavings so a small bedroom became a studio of sorts.  He would walk over to the Lincoln Park Zoo, not too far away to "get it right" when he wanted to carve an elephant.  He'd often make a small sketch to help with the task.

Of course the wonderful thing about Dawson's work is that he never did quite get it right.  His own  stylistic imprint appears indelibly on every piece he made.

Eventually a photograph of Dawson with Nancy Reagan appeared in the studio, the result of the Corcoran exhibit.  Dawson took it all in stride, seeming to expect this kind of acclaim once his pieces attained a slightly wider audience.

The current exhibit, broad in scope, is curated by John Cain and opens with a reception on Friday, January 13 from 5-8PM.  The public is welcome.  A "conversation" about William Dawson and his art will take place at Intuit, Thursday, February 9 at 6PM.

"Accidental Mysteries: Extraordinary Vernacular Photographs" from the collection of John and Teenuh Foster will open the same evening and will extend through April 29.  Coffee and conversation with the collectors will be held on Saturday, January 14 at 10AM.

Intuit, a most welcoming place, is at 756 N.Milwaukee Av., just south of Chicago Av.  Hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11AM-5PM and Thursdays from 11AM-7:30PM. 312.243.9088.

Fan Si Pan For Fine Fast Food

food and drink

Clean, green and cheery, this small eat in cafe is in neighborhood that's just beginning to take off, Chicago avenue west.  Fan Si Pan, named after a mountain in Viet Nam, is on Chicago just west of Ashland, nestled among some large discount clothing places.  It's a perfect place for a quick lunch or an afternoon or early evening snack.

Susan Furst, shown here has been cooking since she was 14 and she's 40 now.  She began cooking for a family and has been working professionally for many years.  She's devoted to the idea of high quality fast food;  there's plenty of the opposite out there.  Here the concept is simplified and offerings are very fresh.  MSG is never used.

Identical fillings can be made into spring rolls or salads.  Choices are aromatic chicken;  beef marinated, seared, served with peanuts; veggie and traditional shrimp.  I chose the latter accompanied by garlic chile sauce.  Delicious. 

Soups, perfect for a chiily day,  are Pho, the traditional Vietnamese soup and a vegetable yellow curry broth, both with yummy additions.  Banh Mi, Vietnamese sandwiches are available too with a variety of fillings including pate.

Other interesting things to sample as well.  I love to take friends here because it's still a kind of oasis in a changing neighborhood and a fun surprise.  Don't miss the wonderfully refreshing Honey Dew Limeade,  Susan's concoction of kefir lime, ginger and lemongrass with honeydew bits.

Fan Si Pan is at 1618 W. Chicago Av., 312.738.1405.  It's open Monday through Saturday from 11AM to 8PM.