Milk and Honey in the Heartland [Chicago Food]
Last week, I went back to Chicago to visit K. While I <3 SF, a part of me is a bit sad that I won't be spending another summer in Chicago.
I find it always refreshing to be back in the heartland of Chicago, where the portions are.. well.. hearty. I've always wanted to check out Milk and Honey over on Division whiled I lived there. But, every time I walked passed it during the weekend, it was brimming with people.
Given the fact that its cafeteria style, hunting down seating is always rare when the place is full. I got a chance to check it out last week. The weather was a bit brisk, but warm when sitting outside--like San Fransico. K ordered the Crabcake with Chipotle Mayo and Shredded Lettuce. There was a nice kick thanks to the Chipotle mayo. I got the grilled Pastrami and swiss with horseradish-mustard spread on Dark Rye.
All is all, a great place to brunch!
Milk and Honey Cafe
1920 W. Division Street
Chicago, IL 60622
773.395.9434
Go K! [Pride]
So while K is out in Chicago, she's been making big waves. Most recently, she's been at the Renaissance Society at University of Chicago, where she has helping with their digital strategy.
But it seems like her work at UIC's Gallery 400 is still getting play. First, there was her soundbite on Chicago's own WBEZ for her show.
But just the other day, she got a shout out in ArtNet Magazine. In an article called "Chicago Buildup," they profile her handiwork.
Tear. I'm so proud!
This post is a bit of promotion [Gallery 400 Exhibit]
This Shadow is a Bit of Ideology, gathers a group of artists working against the darkness cast by a long, drawn-out war, a rancorous spirit in politics, a social landscape obscured by rampant information retrieval, and a crumbling economy. The artists in the exhibition do not turn their backs on current socio-political issues, but neither do they embrace propaganda. Rather, they harness anxieties—political, economic, personal—as productive generators for form. Introspection, reflective criticism, oblique commentary and cohabitation of past with present are just a few of the tactics by which these artists navigate progressively through the twilight.
Pedigree Ad [Agile Advertising]
This ran in USA Today the Thursday right after the election speech. Much props for the ad guys...
Source:Adsoftheworld
Here's a wordle of Obama's victory speech:
Chicago on election night
Let’s get Photo Synth-ical, Synth-ical
Since Blaise Aguera y Arcas first presented a demo of Photosynth at a TED conference back in 2007, I've been salivating at the opportunity to play with the technology.
A couple weeks ago, when Tommy and Ashley came out from NY, I took the opportunity to grab my camera and get a couple shots in.
Bonus: Try to find the first image in this blog post in the photosynth walkthrough.
Hope springs eternal
As I was walking home today, I happened to glance into the window of an open retail space and saw floor plans for a dunkin donuts. What else could someone ask for than a dunkin' donuts across the street from the office.
Beantown-style coffee with double sugar and double cream galore!
Zoom Zoom Zoom… (Chicago’s Air & Water Show)
I went to check out the 50th Annual Chicago's Air & Water show on the lakefront yesterday. A friend of mine lives across the street from lakeshore. Let me tell you, watching it from the 22nd floor is a lot better than having to deal with the insane crowd.
There were some amazing acrobatics:
cluster
Chicago loop
The B-2 "stealth" bomber flew by. It wasn't that hard to spot.
stealth
Originally uploaded by VinceHuang
And some old skool flybys:
drop
Check out more pics here. It's not too late, if you have time, I recommend a flyby.
Scorching a Baked Alaska
When it comes to food, many chefs need to differentiate themselves from the competition. While we would all love taste to be the differentiating factor, gimmicks are a lot easier. We've all fallen victim to the flash bangs of the world. Whether it's the chef at Benihana or some of the gastro pubs, there are times when chefs go too far.
Chef Homaro Cantu's interpretation of a Baked Alaska is anything but subtle. It's way too heavy handed.....
Watch the video at chicago foodies.
Emerging Artists showcased in Chicago
I went back to Atropolis yesterday to get another high-impact dosage of art. Yesterday, I spent most of my time checking out NEXT, the emerging artist show.
One of the must-see's at the NEXT show is Jonathan Schipper's installation "The Slow Inevitable Death of American Muscle." Over the course of four days, two American muscle cars slowly collide into each other. K remarked that halfway through the day, there was a thunderous explosion as the glass from the cars shattered under the stress. It definitely drew in a ton of people. I love the use of red, white, and blue colors.
Rory Donaldson's Sqelemental also made a lasting impression. From afar, the piece a mod-like quality.
But I realized as I zoomed into the center of the picture, what it represented. Rory's piece seemed took a casual scene put through a space and time warp. Here's the closeup:
You've still got 2 hours left before it closes down for the year!