Chicago tips

Try Al-Khyam For Delicious Yogurt And So Much More

food and drink, culture, shopping

Taking a hint from Peter Condic (see post dated April 2)  I high tailed it to Lawrence and Kedzie as quickly as possible to check out a swell Midddle Eastern food resource, Al-Khyam at 4738 N. Kedzie.  Armed with a variety of brands in quart containers, I approached the man at the counter for his expert opinion, settling on the Tazah brand.  It's really excellent.  Check out the photo at left so that you can pick it out easily from its' bretheren.

A mainstay in this largely Middle Eastern neighborhood, Al-Khyam has been in the area since 1986 and takes up a large portion of  the block with a daunting array of exotic foods.  There are fig and quince jams, both rose and orange blossom water, pomegranate molasses and impressive looking 6 pound cans of vegetables, including one of grilled eggplant pulp.

The pastry assortment is astonishing, including date, walnut and pistachio mammoul, a semolina-based filled pastry or "moon cake."  Many varieties of baklawa and other luscious looking temptations fill a huge display case in the front of the store.

A handmade-looking metal store fixture with numerous windows affords views of all kinds of seeds and nuts at reasonable prices.  A large quantity of spices are also well-priced for budget minded shoppers.  In the same area is a display of traditional Turkish water pipes, the perfect off-beat gift for those who have everything.

Al Khyam grocery and bakery, 4738 N. Kedzie.

Russian Music Thrives This Week At DePaul

current calendar, music

Right now they're in the midst of a terrific Russian music celebration at De Paul University's Lincoln Park campus.  Get over there tonight and hear this event's organizer, grande dame and artistic director of the music school's AmerKlavier music program, Eteri Andjaparidze, at right, show her stuff.  She's the Keyboard Programs Co-ordinator at the university's School of Music and she's invited some other musical stars to join her this evening for piano, vocal and instrumental music par excellence.

The concert begins at 8PM at the DePaul Concert Hall, 800 W. Belden.

Other events continue every evening this week, culminating in a 4PM musicale and painting exhibition on Sunday the 22nd at the Belden Stratford Hotel, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West.

For complete program details, visit www.musicdepaul.edu, where you can avail yourself of all kinds of DePaul music info via their email list.  All these events are free and open to the public.

Peter Condic Is My Urban Hero

culture

This afternoon I was driving north on Elston between Armitage and Fullerton when Peter Condic appeared, rapidly driving his exceptional tricycle in the bike lane.

It was hard to miss it with its' American flag and flashing yellow light up top.  I waved frantically at him frantically to stop, which he did graciously.   That's how I discovered that he was driving from his home near 31st and Halsted to Kedzie and Lawrence where he likes to buy yogurt at Al-Khyam.  This is a relatively short trip;  he has gone south to Indiana for lottery tickets and north as far as Dempster, all on this magical vehicle.

You might be able to tell that the trike's storage area consists of an old filing cabinet.  Peter has added homemade fenders and has rigged up a strobe with a 12 volt battery.  It has a 22.32 sprocket (but I'm not sure what that is), a speedometer/pedometer and a clock which is a wrist watch attached to the handlebars.  He's somehow tilted the rear wheels 9 degrees to provide additional stability and if you approach from behind, that's quite apparent.  He wears a sturdy woven straw hat from China.

If Peter encounters bad weather he takes temporary shelter under the overhang of any nearby building.  He pointed several out to me and it's clear he's got an eagle eye for these refuges.

He participates in the Critical Mass Bike Ride, the group ride that takes place the last Friday of every month, leaving from Daley Plaza at 5:30 PM.  He told me about another participant he particularly admires, a woman who rides through the rain with one hand on the handlebars and another holding an umbrella.

I'm not sure of Peter's age but I'd bet he's a senior citizen and as such, even more of an inspiration for us all.

We said goodbye.  "Have a good day and a good life," said Peter.