Chicago tips

Swell Sandwiches, Really! Right In Lincoln Park

food and drink

It's in an unlikely location on Clark Street near Fullerton, which lately has been an anti-destination for interesting businesses. Besides it boasts the unlikely name of Deli Boutique.  Nevertheless these two elements disguise a real treasure in central Lincoln Park.

We were late getting out of town last week so we knew we'd have to stop for lunch en route, but "where?",  my husband asked.  I stunned him with the perfect answer.

The freshly made to order grilled panini and aptly dubbed "gourmet sandwiches" are terrific and I don't even like sandwiches!  We ate at one of five small tables, but there is a large take-out business growing and hearty.  I was pleased with my choice of a "Coliseum" panini, an assemblage of prosciutto, sopressata salami, fresh mozzarella and basil, with olive tapanade and a fresh herb dressing.  There were five other panini choices, each just $6.95.

In addition to the above there are freshly prepared meals which vary daily.  I've spotted crab cakes, chicken marsala, meatballs, vegetable ratatouille, grilled vegetables, lasagna, fruit salad, a couple of pasta salads and more.  Everything looks marvelous and a good deal more appetizing than generally unappealing grocery offerings. Prices are reasonable and generally less than in supermarkets.

The owner, pictured here moved to Chicago relatively recently from Ireland and he's recruited a European staff that is exceedingly pleasant to deal with and completely without "attitude."

Actually there is a deli counter too, offering cold cuts, cheeses, etc.  Their bread is freshly baked daily.  I'm guessing it is par-baked ahead and finished on site.  One day I stopped in for some and the woman behind the counter explained that they'd sold out but if I'd return in 10 or 15 minutes they'd have a fresh loaf ready for me.  I did and my dinner guests loved it.  Good looking pastries tempt for dessert.

A year ago when I found this place the selection was quite limited but now it's become a food bonanza for us all!

Deli Boutique is at 2318 N. Clark St.  Hours are 8AM-8PM, seven days a week. 773.880.9820.

Two Terrific Exhibits Just A Bit North In Wisconsin

art, culture, travel

There are two unusual art exhibits going on right now in Wisconsin.  If you have a bit of extra time off during the holiday season this is a perfect  and adventuresome way to spend it.  Check out their January closing dates below so you don't miss out!

One of the best art exhibits I've ever seen (and you can guess I'm a veteran of many) is at the John  Michael Kohler Arts Center in Sheboygan, about 2.5 hours from Chicago entitled Sublime Spaces. & Visionary Worlds. The Kohler has made it a special mission to save environmental art.  They've salvaged sites that were threatened with demolition and restored others enabling them to remain in place.  This wondrous exhibit (you can get an idea from these two photos, courtesy of the Center) takes up the whole museum, located in downtown Sheboygan.  You'll see in depth work from quite a few artists including a whole and very unique house belonging to Loy Bowlin, the self-proclaimed Rhinestone Cowboy who lived and dressed the part, even riding around his hometown of McComb MS in his similarly themed Cadillac.

There are woodcarvers represented and a mind-boggling assemblage of "healing machines" (photo at left) fashioned by Emory Blagdon, a reclusive Nebraska farmer.  The whole exhibit has the aura of fantasy lands come to life via the massive efforts of chief curator Leslie Umberger and her staff.

If you're lucky, Leslie herself may be giving a tour.  Call ahead to find out.  However, printed info on each artist is available on site, a user friendly device that I wish were used more frequently in museums.

Another exciting exhibit is on view in Milwaukee at the Santiago Calatrava designed Milwaukee Art Museum.  That's the one you've been meaning to visit anyway, the one with the sunscreen  that opens at noon daily, emulating the wings of a bird overlooking its' perch on the shores of Lake Michigan.

The current exhibit is of the work of Martin Ramirez;  a collection of (mostly) large drawings by this Mexican immigrant to California in the early part of the last century.

Ramirez was recently called "simply one of the greatest artists of the 20th century" by The New York Times.  Mr Ramirez spent most of his adult life in a mental institution that became a kind refuge for him to pursue his artistic obsession.  A doctor at the hospital recognized his genius and saved some of his drawings.  More were recently discovered, causing a small furor in the art world.  Now some drawings (photo at left) are in the permanent collections of both the Whitney Museum and The American Museum of Folk Art in New York.

There was a recent exhibit at the latter that has traveled to Milwaukee with some particularly marvelous additions from the collection of Jim Nutt and Gladys Nilsson, Chicago artists who were early admirers of Ramirez' work.

Warning:  The exhibit at the Kohler, www.jmkac.org closes in sections, beginning January 6 and the Ramirez exhibit at the Milwaukee Art Museum, www.mam.org closes January 13.  There are plenty of lodging accommodations and good restaurants in both cities.   Have fun!

Recycled Pencils Point Way To Innovative Gifts

shopping, culture

You just knew, didn't you that the Intuit store, a discreet but lively corner of the non-profit outsider art organization Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art would save the day for you re those hard to please but special people on your holiday list. 

Sue Lowenberg has fashioned great looking bracelets, necklaces, picture frames and more from ordinary but colorful pencils.  It's not just anyone who'd be lucky enough to enjoy this amazing but utilitarian pencil covered wastebasket in their home or office.  Then there's the tie on necktie for the off  beat tie wearer;  photos of both shown.  Prices range from $38 for the bracelets to $175 for the wastebasket and $330 for the necktie.

Lou Robinson, another local artisan has carved handsome spoons and other wooden items including hair sticks, letter openers and cheese spreaders which are also available at the store.  Many other gift suggestions here that you won't find elsewhere in town.

While at Intuit, enjoy the current exhibit of drawings by AG Rizzoli, a California outsider artist who began work in 1936 as a draftsman for an architectural firm in San Francisco.  His large renderings are minutely detailed to depict his very personal  and surprising ideas.  People he knew and loved have been transformed into buildings by his careful hand!  The image at right is courtesy The Ames Gallery, Berkeley, CA.  Although Rizzoli died in 1981 his work lives on through the efforts of Intuit and others including San Francisco art dealer Bonnie Grossman.  Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art is at 756 N. Milwaukee Av., and is open Tues.-Sat. from 11AM-5PM and Thursday from 11:30AM-7:30PM.  Street parking available.

Check out Intuit's shockingly cool domain name plus at http://www.art.org   for a list of choice activities now and in the future.

Scary Sounding Shoe Sale December 13

shopping

You don't have to be Imelda to love shoes.

Within the last few years I've discovered the best selection of shoes in town is always at Nordstrom on Michigan Ave.  I usually check them out before I buy a pair of shoes since I want to consider all possible style options within reason.  Normally I buy comfortable black shoes that I can wear all day long to most places.  If they're a bit weird, so much the better.

This Thursday, December 13, Nordstrom State Street Rack will open their doors at 8AM because they'll be offering over 3000 pairs of women's shoes from their Michigan Ave. store at 50-75% off their original price.  I have visions of hundreds of women knocking each other over to get that perfect shoe.  Who knows?

So if you're brave enough to deal with the crowds that will no doubt gather at this fairly ridiculous hour you might find something special at a great price.  I'm thinking hard about seeing you there which entails confronting my claustrophobic tendencies.

This is a semi annual event you can put on your calendar.

Nordstrom State Street Rack is at 24 N. State.

Christmas Is Aglow At This Logan Square Landmark; Try Lula Cafe Nearby

culture, current calendar

For many years the large house on the Northeast corner of Logan Boulevard and Washtenaw has been decorated for the holidays.  Halloween is impressive but Christmas is over the top!

We love to take our out of town holiday guests to see this busy amalgam of decorations which never fails to impress.  The house itself, front and side and the adjoining yards are deluged with embellishments.  This time colored foil has been added so it looks resplendent in the daytime too.  It's such fun that you'll definitely want to return after dark to for a totally different experience.

There's a rumor that the house is owned by someone in the outdoor decorations business which, when you see this marvelous environment, you'll agree is entirely possible.  In the evening you'll see groups of people stopping by to enjoy the display.  For us it's an important part of the holiday season.

The other day we were headed out of town so we stopped at Lula Cafe for lunch.  This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.  It's welcoming and low key.  The staff is pleasant and helpful and the customers look like you'd like to have them as friends.  That's pretty much a rarity in these days of hip.  Lula is definitely an outpost for the Logan Square area and beyond.  There was a short wait last Friday, so arrive by noon if you want to be seated promptly.  Check out the art too...I liked the work currently on view and I'm really picky.

Lula opens at 9AM daily and serves breakfast until 2:30.  This enables some to segue into lunch while others begin their day.  I had a delicious tofu scramble with ginger miso sauce.  There's always a homemade soup.  The pan seared celery root with spaghetti sauce sounded good too.  There's lots to choose from including more serious entrees for dinner.  Not surprisingly there's a special brunch menu on weekends but a prix fixe "Farmer's dinner" on Monday evenings  is a novel twist.

For more on Lula Cafe look on our archives  under "food and drink", noting "This Is Lula"  on January 22 of '07.

The Christmas House, Logan Blvd and Washtenaw;  Lula Cafe, 2537 N. Kedzie, 773.489.9554.  Lula is closed on Tuesdays.