Belleville

WHAT: Belleville
WHEN: June 27 – August 25, 2013 (schedule)
WHERE: Downstairs Theatre, Steppenwolf (1650 N. Halsted St.)
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 40 minutes, no intermission
WHO: Steppenwolf Theatre Company
PRICE: $20-78

OUR RATING: Do It!

(steppenwolf.org)

Amy Herzog’s intriguing work about two Americans living fitfully in the French capital, albeit in a peripheral neighbourhood, uncovers for us one of the deepest fears we can have about anyone – what is a person’s true nature? While producing a facade of slightly Bohemian homeliness, Herzog illustrates that just under the surface writhes a secret world, waiting to be exposed.

Adam: Relationships are ongoing affairs – each one meanders in such a way as to make it totally indiscernible to the the outside world. Couples present visions of themselves, and to each other, and Herzog’s keen writing and knack for accentuating a fractious situation sheds light on the darker side of the individual – the part of us that is not truly known.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

Zack (Cliff Chamberlain) and Abby (Kate Arrington, Steppenwolf ensemble member) live in a limbo world in which neither of them belong: an all-American home thrust into a foreign city and, to make matters more confusing, they reside in a district populated by the scions of the Francophone empire. Perhaps it is this obviously different backdrop that allows Amy Herzog’s characters to love and fight so passionately, but there is also a sickness flowering between them, fueled by a need to escape, an escape from their very contained reality.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

This relationship is instantly illuminated as tainted by neuroses: both parties have much to answer for, and the unknowing juvenal nature of their behavior can take an audience from laughter, to repulsion, and finally, to shock.

Alicia: After reading the script for Belleville I was excited to see such a riveting play performed by a quartet of some of Chicago’s finest (and sexiest) actors. Amy Herzog’s script might have a few flaws, but she is a very talented writer, and what seems most important are the levels of suspense she creates. You’re not suspended in one feeling, but taken on a journey, so that once you reach the climax of the production, you’re on the edge of your seat just waiting for a fall, but what kind of fall that is, and from how high, is a mystery.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

My first impression of Steppenwolf’s production, however, was not quite so high, as I was immediately put off by James Schuette’s set design. Two young expats with two kids manage an apartment complex in the North of Paris, and two Americans with low-paying jobs are coming to live there. But the set is relatively extravagant, and seems not-quite-so affordable for these characters.

Nonetheless, the show as a whole was a definite thriller, and even though I already knew the suspenseful ending, the production and Anne Kauffman’s direction brought a whole new life to a complex and intelligent script.

(Credit: Michael Brosilow)

Final Thoughts: Be wary of who you go to see Belleville with. We’ve heard of couples having huge fights after the play, each identifying with different characters and viewpoints. But, if you can take that emotion home with you, then a piece of art has done its job.

P.S.: Despite our love for most Steppenwolf productions, we must admit we were furious with our seats. Steppenwolf should be ashamed to seat patrons in their box seats if there are sightline issues. We could not see the entirety of stage right. Luckily, most of the thrilling action occurs stage left, so we felt more sorry for the folks seating in the house right boxes. Nonetheless, disgustingly disappointing.

Fish Bar

fishbarchicago.com

WHAT: Fish Bar
WHERE: 2956 N. Sheffield Ave.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

David Morton and Michael Kornick, heads of the DMK Restaurant Group (including Ada Street, MK, DMK Burger Bar and the soon-to-open County Barbecue), bring Chicagoans Fish Bar, a casual seafood joint serving sustainable (buzzword) seafood goods along with cocktails in mason jars.

fishbarchicago.com

With the feel of a seaside fish joint that you’d perhaps find on the south-east coast, Lakeview’s Fish Bar is brimming with briny character that seems at once authentic and tongue-in-cheek. We recommend you try and snap up some of the outdoor seating, as its beautiful in the summer to eat fish en terraza, even if the nearby hospital sometimes makes this a noisy experience.

Adam: When I’m reviewing places, I try to shy away from the specials for two reasons: 1. they might not be available when you go there, and therefore you are left in a bemused state as to what to order, and 2. specials are secretly a way for chefs to get rid of surplus ingredients that don’t necessarily fit the bill. That being said, I was drawn to try Fish Bar’s special the day I went, reeling in a tasty lake trout for good measure.

But, for starters, starters. Our waitress was kind enough to provide us with a complimentary dish of crispy lemon, onion and jalapeno that has to be one of the oddest vegetable medleys to have passed my lips. Very interesting (the most adventurous part being the lemons), I would highly recommend it for the flavor, but be warned that it won’t fill you up.

My lake trout was nicely put together and steamed to a seething flakiness that made it clear that Fish Bar was truly a fish restaurant. Accompanied by greens and a delicious acidic sauce, I was truly sated after this, and would venture to say that it was a medium, rather than small plate.

Alicia: While Po’Boys and Maine Lobster rolls seem to be the most popular menu items, I instead tried Fish Bar’s seafood gumbo paired with their Octopus a la Plancha. The gumbo was slightly thick with the perfect level of spice with a healthy dose of blue crab and andouille sausage. I could have done with a bit more crab, but all in all this was a very filling and delicious start to my meal.

And now for the main event, the Octopus A La Plancha with grilled octopus, preserved lemon, fried caper, chili flakes and parsley. To be perfectly frank, the star of this dish, the octopus, wasn’t the best I’ve ever had. It wasn’t too chewy, but it was just a little dry and uneventful, and while the dressing for the dish proved light and with a nice bite, the seafood itself was just one-noted. And really, fried capers just don’t do capers justice, so I could have done without all of that extra oil and frying. Ultimately, however, I was pleased enough with the dish, and while I wouldn’t order it again, I’m glad to have given it a try.

Final Thoughts: Be warned that while Fish Bar advertises as a fully fledged restaurant, it is really a small plates affair, as the server will tell you when sitting down. We do take issue with this – such information should be made apparent to customers before dining and we consider it rather cheeky to only let your diners know of something of such import upon sitting. Let’s be clear – if you’re small plates, you’re small plates. Ultimately, the plates were relatively medium-sized, so all in all perhaps a bit overpriced. While reservations are for parties of three or four only and most media says that the place is packed out, we managed to comfortably sit five at an outside table with ease. Overall, definitely a yummy and unique take on seafood…for Chicago.

Irazú

WHAT: Irazú
WHERE: 1865 N. Milwaukee Ave.

OUR RATING: Do It!

Named after the mighty Irazú Volcano in Costa Rica, this lively, spirited and eclectic restaurant allows you to enjoy the unique cuisine from this little sampled country in Central America. Flavourful, mild and lots of fruits and vegetables clearly mark these dishes out as deriving from the lush rainforests of that country, which houses an astonishing 5% of the world’s biodiversity, while being only 0.25% of the Earth’s landmass.

With a colourful and light-filled interior and exciting buzz, you’ll be just itching to try to many rare delicacies that come at phenomenally reasonable prices.

Adam: Locked between the Mesoamerican and Andean cultures, with a good dose of Spanish colonialism mixed in, Costa Rica (literally Rich Coast) is most certainly true to its name when it comes to food and Irazú provides all the bounty that this nation has to offer. Brought straight to your table and served casually, steaming plates of traditional foods whirl in, with all the colour and verve of this canopied country.

Casado with tilapia

The menu is vast, offering breakfast items, appetizers, vegetarian options, tacos, empanadas, burritos, sandwiches and even shakes. The forefront of the menu, however, are the Costa Rican dinners. Being in the mood to try the most authentic dish on the menu, I opted for the Casado, a traditional full-plate meal.

Casado with steak

Choosing from steak, chicken or tilapia, you can really appreciate the full force of this diverse cuisine through this dish. I went with steak and was not disappointed. A heaping portion served with black beans, sweet plantains, a cabbage salad, rice and an over easy egg to top it all off, the portion was very large and I felt truly stuffed when finished. I actually had my meal upgraded to include gallo pinto instead of rice, a mixture of rice and beans which is exclusive to Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Watch out though: they won’t tell you this upgrade costs a buck when they offer it, although it’s worth all one hundred cents.

Potato Tacos

Alicia: One of the many things I love about Irazú is how vegetarian friendly they are. Some of the guests we went out to dinner with ordered the restaurant’s famed potato tacos: crispy corn tortillas filled with mashed potatoes (flauta-esque) and served with guacamole and mole sauce. The dish was gigantic, and also served with yellow rice, beans, deliciously cooked sweet plantains and a cabbage salad. Beware: the mole is not vegetarian, but it’s possibly one of the most delicious moles I have had in the city.

Avena Shake

What I wanted to try more than anything was Irazú’s Avena (Oatmeal) shake made with milk, which was the most deliciously complex consistency with beautiful hints of cinnamon. It was sweet and savory and an entire meal in itself, so I’m glad I only ordered a salad to go with it. They have a ton of other interesting shake flavors, including Pinolillo (Corn Meal) and Tamarindo. Definitely an adventure for the tastebuds!

Palmito Salad

Oh, and by salad, I don’t mean just any ordinary salad. I ordered a large (and boy was it large) Palmito Salad: Heart of palm steaks on a bed of cabbage slaw, tossed with beets, avocado, tomato, radishes, cilantro, splashed with vinegar, lime and olive oil. The salad was perfectly dressed and the dish in its entirety was a refreshing and adventurous journey. The vinegar and lime cut through the hearty heart of palm steaks and the slaw provided a fun crunch with every bite. I would order this dish again in a minute, but it’s imperative you go with someone else so you can steal a few of their delicious sweet plantains.

Final Thoughts: In a meal that’s like a rainforest on a plate, without any of the more slippery animals, Irazú immerses you in the warm embrace of the jungle. Excellent portion sizes at good prices, this BYOB (no corkage fee!) is a particular Chicago experience you can’t miss.

Angela’s Burrito Style

WHAT: Angela’s Burrito Style
WHERE: 2556 N. Clark St.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Cheap, giant burritos offered late at night in Lincoln Park. Their menu includes some relatively unique sounding burritos, including the California Burrito with fries hidden inside a flour tortilla. With burritos starting at a mere $4, and with hours going until 5am on the weekends, this place seems to be paradise. But maybe just a hungry drunk’s.

Adam: Burritos are the world’s earliest takeout food. When the Spanish arrived in the New World, they saw markets bustling with activity, as Aztecs accompanied their shopping with the purchase of a burrito or two. Due to its storied history, anyone who doesn’t appreciate these little gems is a little out of touch. Angela’s provides a solid burrito, but it’s honestly nothing special when compare to other takeout places (think Pepe’s).

I ordered the Grande Chicken Burrito, fully stocked with all the requisite ingredients, it was large, but was heavier on lettuce (a little wilted) than chicken and sauce. I needed to add a lot of hot sauce to this one, which suggests their certainly catering to less fiery tastes than mine.

For health reasons, a bean burrito might be more suggested, being high in protein and low in saturated fat. If it’s black bean, you get the added benefits of fibre and phytochemicals. But, chicken is just as good for those who don’t mind so much about such things. An OK burrito at a cheap price.

Alicia: This place is teeny tiny so the only real way to order is to order to go, but you might be able to snap up a seat if you really want to. What I really wanted to do on my visit to Angela’s however, was to get my food and plop on the couch at home and be the biggest couch potato you’ve ever seen.

I ordered a junior vegetarian burrito at a mere $4, and when I finally received the foil-wrapped burrito I thought I had just won the lottery. The burrito was gigantic, fresh, warm, and I spent mere pennies to get it. And when I opened the wrapping my stomach growled and I was ready to dive right into a succulent flour tortilla burrito with all the trimmings. Except…there weren’t many.

The vegetarian burrito came with your typical lettuce, diced tomatoes, cheese, sour cream and beans. Despite the sour cream and the cheese, the burrito was dry as a bone, and the old dry tomatoes and stale lettuce screamed for some loving. So I added their green tomatillo sauce, which helped balance out the dryness a bit, but really anything would, so this sauce wasn’t really anything special. It needed avocado, or guacamole, or really just some fresh produce would have been lovely. It was filling, but that’s about all I got out of it.

Final Thoughts: Don’t get us wrong. Angela’s has a lot going for it. If you’re on the northside late at night and have the post-drinking munchies and not a lot of cash in your wallet, you will be perfectly happy here. But if you’re sober and want a darn good burrito for dinner, this is not the place to get one.

Vinci

WHAT: Vinci (Italian)
WHERE: 1732 N. Halsted St.

OUR RATING: Do It! (Especially after theatre)

Providing a formal atmosphere with friendly, family service, and solid Italian cuisine, Vinci, located in Lincoln Park, would seem to have everything going for it. Definitely positioned to cater to the theatre crowd generated by Steppenwolf and the Royal George, Vinci’s prices are inflated for the demographic it serves, but its food tends to be quite excellent. One must order wisely, and we have this sagely advice just for you.

Adam: Vinci’s selection is quite vast. Excellent for people with varied tastes, but are perhaps not too adventurous, groups are welcome here and can sit at the long, community-oriented tables that are excellent for conversation and camaraderie. To start, I suggest you sit back with a Vinci Caprese Salad, made special by the addition of sun-dried tomatoes, not generally present in other local varieties of this dish. Actually rather filling it is slathered in balsamic and tastes divine.

Then, why not tuck into a lovely margherita pizza. With an emphasis on sauce rather than cheese, you can feel a little better about yourself afterwards, as well as satisfied that you’ve tried something quite simple and authentic. Of course, the preponderance of sauce also means that this pizza might not be to everyone’s taste, being more soft than crispy, but I wouldn’t let that deter you.

An Italian meal must be finished in Italian style: with panna cotta and Italian cookies. The panna cotta comes with a dried cherry balsamic sauce and sugared almonds, but seems too small to truly recommend itself, although the amount given is quite enjoyable. The cookies on the other hand are a treat, and go perfectly with the Italian dark coffee, in which they should be dipped for full effectiveness. In all, I crafted a decent meal at Vinci, but it didn’t come without its own surprises.

Alicia: Vinci is elegantly casual dining at it’s best, and super welcoming despite its high status in the Chicago restaurant scene. One of the things that impresses me the most about this place is the wide variety of atmospheric experiences you can have. You can enjoy a glass of wine at their bar, sit near the windows enjoying a fresh salad as you look outside, have a conversation with friends at their booths, or even go back into the cavernous wine room for a more intimate culinary adventure.

What Vinci also does well is balance your typical Italian ingredients of cheese, tomato and cream. To celebrate these ingredients I started with a sampling of their risotto of the day, which happened to be a spinach, caramelized onions, gorgonzola and walnut risotto, which was insanely rich and creamy with a savory saltiness from the chopped nuts and gorgonzola. I’m glad I just sampled this though, because this dish is beyond rich and heavy, and eating this dish in its entirety would be quite the undertaking.

To transition from cheese to more cheese I tried a piece of their 3 meat pizza with sausage, crispy prosciutto, applewood smoked bacon, fontina, tomato sauce and red onions. This was one of the most delicious pieces of pizza I’ve had in awhile, with the hierarchy focusing on the sweet and spicy tomato sauce and the thinly sliced onions, and then perfectly complimented with a healthy (but not too-healthy) dose of salty pork in three distinct and flavorful variations. Then, finally, came spots of fontina, which were lovingly placed instead of completely overwhelming everything else.

But perhaps the focal point of the evening was one of their staple dishes: the rigatoni. Perfect al dente rigatoni basked in tomato cream sauce that victoriously coated, rather than soaked, the tender pasta. But that’s not all. Parmigiano cheese, broccoli di rabe and herby Italian sausage changed things up a bit with every mouthful I took, and the variety of textures made for an adventure.

One visit I have taken to Vinci was actually a work holiday lunch, so when a large table of us ordered the tiramisu, we were flabbergasted when a GIANT sheet of tiramisu was brought to us, along with a few handfuls of berries that cut the heaviness of the tiramisu, but which failed to trick us into thinking we weren’t eating the most sinful thing in the world. The espresso and rum soaked ladyfingers provided the perfect cakey texture to balance a mascarpone and zabaione cream. Oh, and there was chocolate sauce too, just to top everything off.

Final Thoughts: Vinci seems like a great place to take the folks, out-of-town friends and long-lost acquaintances, as it combines the comfort of familiar food with fine stylings. Have fun, get some wine to start, and you’ll be well on to the via Italiana.

Head of Passes

(steppenwolf.org)

WHAT: Head of Passes
WHEN: April 4 – June 9, 2013 (schedule)
WHERE: 1650 N. Halsted Ave.
RUN TIME: 2 hours with a ten-minute intermission
WHO: Steppenwolf Theatre Company
PRICE: $15-$78

OUR RATING: Do it!

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

As is traditional, Steppenwolf Theatre Company continues to churn out a plethora of plays that one can classify as “living room dramas;” in other words most, if not all the action takes place in the homes of the characters, and that home becomes a central character in itself. Indeed, the house is one of the main protagonists in ensemble member Tarell Alvin McCraney’s newest work, set in the Louisiana marshes and brimming with superb oceanic symbolism. The home has a sense of fallen grandeur about it, as its dilapidation turns to ruin, much in the same way we see the decline and fall of the matriarch residing within.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Head of Passes, said by McCraney to be loosely inspired by the Book of Job, charts the course of dying Shelah (Cheryl Lynn Bruce), as she is swept up in the surprise festivities for her birthday, thrown by her adult children. Her life seems to be defined by only pain and devotion to God, one begetting the other, although it seems clear that the question of which came first weighs heavy on Shelah’s mind. Bruce’s depiction is solid and captivating, even if some of the scripting is rather long.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Similarly captivating is actor Chris Boykin, playing the Angel in Act 1 and a construction worker in Act 2. His charisma floods the stage and the parallel between his two characters is riveting and forceful. Our only complaint is director Tina Landau’s ignorance towards the house right audience in regards to staging Boykin, who is turned away from this audience for most of Act 1, leaving them in the dark in regards to many important physical gestures he displays.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Perhaps most powerfully, Scenic Designer David Gallo and Scenic Design Consultant Collette Pollard conjure up Mother Nature in their fantastically magical set design. You can feel the creaks and dampness of the Head of Passes and the ongoing storm outside the house is brought inside with great ferocity. Beginning with a few drips of water on stage, the set is catapulted by winds and rain, ending with the house subsiding chaotically at the end of Act 1. A true feat of engineering, and a wonder to watch.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Scott Zielinski’s lighting design dances hand-in-hand with the scenic design, and one can feel the power of the storm and the magic of what happens on stage with his strings of lights, extreme side-lighting, and the beautiful shadows cast within the home as Mother Nature shifts and does her work. Unfortunately, one is slightly distracted by Michael Bodeen and Rob Milburn’s sound design through it all, as the sound doesn’t seem real but rather far-off and full of static. Perhaps this was an artistic choice, but it’s far too dissonant for our liking.

(Photo by Michael Brosilow)

Ultimately, this world premiere of Head of Passes takes its audience on one heck of a roller-coaster, and leaves us pondering our life choices and convictions and allows us to contemplate how we define our family and our idea of home. Tragedy is an unfortunate yet exceedingly human element to every life. How one deals with it defines their character, whether they be resilient, avoidant, vengeful or forgiving. McCraney’s exploration of these ideas enhances our appreciation for the high complexity of everyday life and how we too must all face tragedy.

Insomnia Cookies

WHAT: Insomnia Cookies
WHERE: 2260 N. Lincoln Ave.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

Just as the name suggests, Insomnia Cookies are for those die-hard students up studying until the small hours who just need a quick sugar fix. Complete with a cute logo and accessible location near DePaul, Insomnia Cookies looks like it’s set to thrive, just so long as students continue to want cookies. And who doesn’t like cookies?

Adam: Insomnia Cookies is one of the most student-centric ideas I’ve seen for a long time. For those of us who attended university in the last five to ten years, the necessity to have a quick on-campus snack while furiously finishing a paper in the dead of night will be a familiar memory. At my college, we only had a few late night venues open, but I can remember frequenting a certain market more often than not, while trying to put off writing those last few paragraphs on Roman military formations for just a little longer. This particular strategy probably didn’t do much for my health, but at least the paper was finished and I now know the difference between a double envelopment and an encirclement.

Insomnia has a good variety of basic cookies, including chocolate, oatmeal raisin and simple sugar. But I’m a chocolate guy, so I immediately picked up one of their regular sized double chocolate mint cookies. With the addition of mint chocolate chunks, unsurprisingly in green, I didn’t regret the fact I had missed the Shamrock Shake this year, as Insomnia’s cookie was more than making up for it. I also tried the M&M variety, which provided a greater amount of sumptuous chocolate with every mouthful than even the previous cookie. Served warm and in an individual wrapping, these are darn good cookies, but I can’t help wondering if at $1.25 some savvy college entrepreneur might outcompete them. We’ll just have to wait and see, but for now if you’re roaming the streets late at night looking for a fix, Insomnia’s the way to go.

Alicia: With more than 30 locations, this Lincoln Park satellite is the first to hit the city, but I wouldn’t be surprised if some others sprout up in the Loop and even in Hyde Park and Evanston. Honestly, it’s not that Insomnia Cookies’ cookies are that special. I’d rather head to a local baked goods shop and pick up my sugar fix there, but with Insomnia Cookies’ convenience (they deliver!) and late hours (delivery goes all the way until 3am), this is a college student’s version of Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.

I’ve tried three flavors at this chain, including Double Chocolate Chunk, Peanut Butter and White Chocolate Macademia. All three were incredible. The key is not which cookie to choose, but to eating it as soon as you get it. The chocolate in the double chocolate chunk oozes devilish goodness, the peanut butter chips seep into the peanut butter batter, and the toasty macadamia nuts and melty white chocolate chips contrast in texture and sweet and savory glory. So as long as you don’t wait too long to gnash on these guys, they’re pretty darn yummy.

Other offerings on hand are deluxe cookies, including s’mores, cookie cakes, ice cream, and what will be next on my docket: cookiewich (ie. ice cream sandwich). Oh, and not to worry – they also provide skim, 2% and chocolate milk (but unfortunately no soy).

Final Thoughts: If you’re in the mood for a late night nibble but can’t leave your dorm/apartment/library because you’re knee deep in work, and your favorite local bakery isn’t open to satisfy your needs (and McDonalds just won’t cut it), all you need to do is dial a few numbers and some fresh baked cookies will be delivered straight to your door. This is also, obviously, the perfect solution on Christmas Eve night when you’ve discovered you forgot to leave out cookies for Santa…

Yogurtland

WHAT: Yogurtland
WHERE: 1 W. Division St. (new location opening soon at 2468 N. Clark St.)

OUR RATING: Do it!

(yogurt-land.com)

Yogurtland, a national chain, opened its first location back in 2006. While the only Chicago location is currently at State and Division on the Near North Side, there’s another one currently going up in Lincoln Park on Clark Street. With so many frozen yogurt shops already in the city, and with a ton more opening this summer, Storefront City gives you the lowdown on this unique franchise with super original flavors, including Salted Caramel Pecan, Dragon Passion Fruit Tart, Lychee Tart and more!

Adam: Those New Englanders are always coming up with something, and in the 1970s they invented frozen yogurt, even though I could have sworn it should have been invented in more health-conscious California. Yogurtland stands out as different to most froyo joints: clean lines, bright open windows and a killer location mean that it’s a pleasure to get your yogurt on here.

Definitely featuring an Around-the-World theme (although they don’t have 80 flavors yet), you are liable to be baffled by the strange combinations you can concoct, each flavor station having three levers, the middle one for a mixed variation on the other two.

(yogurt-land.com)

I tried several flavors, comparing them to the more regular fare you get elsewhere, and I can honestly say Yogurtland has done a marvelous job at keeping ahead of the trend. Starting with Spiced Chai, with ingredients sourced directly from India, I couldn’t help but think a maharaja might have prefered the froyo to the tea on a sweltering day in Jaipur.

Next, it was time to head down South to New Orleans for some Bananas Foster. Rich, creamy and with a dash of cinnamon, this is clearly one of the best yogurts they have and makes me wonder why I haven’t had more of these desserts in my lifetime. Red Velvet Cupcake Batter was also on offer, but I tend to prefer the more unusual varieties.

The final two were the best of the bunch: toasted coconut and taro. What’s taro, you ask? Grown in Asia, taros are little tuberous plants that taste a bit like hazelnut, but then again altogether different. Nutty and wonderful, they go great with chocolate toppings, like the chewy fudge brownie pieces on offer. The toasted coconut is also nutty, but in a more traditional way. The toasting seems to bring out a great new flavor, and after sprinkling some coconut flakes on top, you’ll want to come back for more and more.

(yogurt-land.com)

Alicia: If you have difficulty making decisions it could either be a good or a bad thing here. There are so many options and combinations, both in regards to the froyo itself, as well as the toppings. But you don’t have to choose just one – you can go as crazy as you want, and like other frozen yogurt shops, you can even sample a bit beforehand to make sure your tastebuds will be happy with the real thing.

Being relatively health conscious, Yogurtland definitely fits my desire for sweets while still being super health friendly. Their wide range of flavors are mostly nonfat and some have no added sugar, and at the same time they offer probiotics and live and active yogurt cultures to keep your body happy.

And while I love tart yogurts and sorbets, I don’t have to stick to these kinds of flavors at Yogurtland and still be healthy. I can go as creamy as I want. So on my first trip through the line of yogurts, I started with their Greek style frozen yogurt – Raspberry Banana. Creamy, delicious, extra protein, and a subtle sweetness. But I had to get some tartness in there, so I went a little wild and added some Boysenberry Tart (raspberry-blackberry-esque goodness), Maqui Berry Tart (all the way from the forests of Patagonia with high levels of antioxidants, and with some additional elements of pomegranate, black currant and blackberry), and then some Guava Grapefruit Sorbet (dairy free, but perhaps a bit too sour for my taste).

And while the majority of my cup was filled to the brim with frozen yogurt (I kind of forgot that there was a second phase including toppings), I give major props to Yogurtland over other frozen yogurt shops for their gigantic variety of fresh fruit, with more than 15 kinds available including kiwi, peaches, blackberries, and whole lychee! I may not have had much room left in my cup, but I made sure to get a lychee in there, and couldn’t have been happier for doing so.

Final Thoughts: With better tasting and more consistent yogurt choices than competitors, Yogurtland seems poised to steal a huge new market share in yogurtness. Load up, feel good and have fun!

Spring Flower Show at Lincoln Park Conservatory

WHAT: Spring Flower Show
WHERE: Lincoln Park Conservatory (2391 N. Stockton Dr.)
WHEN: Daily 9am-5pm (Jan 26-May 12, 2013)
WHO: Lincoln Park Conservatory

OUR RATING: Do It!

(chicagoparkdistrict.com)

We’ve been missing the blooms and colors of spring this April with this horrid weather we’ve been having, so we took trip over to the Lincoln Park Conservatory for their free annual Spring Flower Show. This year’s flower show features azaleas, which once upon a time bloomed at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. But that’s not all of course, as you’ll see a variety of other spring blooming plants, spring flowering annuals and spring flowering perennials.

(chicagoparkdistrict.com)

Adam: Conservatories are fascinating structures: the immediate change from cold barren weather to a lush rainforest is instantly appealing, all the more so because spring is so late this year. Wandering through the luxuriant foliage, spotting flowers here and there, it feels a bit like you’re in a scene from Jurassic Park, just waiting for the Velociraptors to strike. In fact, any Chicagoan knows that there are mini dinosaurs hidden in the fern room (and a wooly mammoth who would be far too hot), which are always a delightful little reminder of childhood – try and find them all on the left hand side of the fern room near the pond.

(chicagoparkdistrict.com)

The flower show itself is scattered throughout the different rooms, and not clearly labelled, but the bursts of color lead you directly to the blooms. Peonies cluster is beautiful garlands, while heliconia invitingly gape their mouths, wishing that a hummingbird would pass by and take a sip. The red clerodendrum seem to hang from their stems, appropriately enough at hand height, being used medicinally in India to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. Perhaps the most striking plant on display was the red-pink calliandra. It’s easy to spot this one: hanging from a large tree, they look like mini pom-poms.

(chicagoparkdistrict.com)

Alicia: All your senses are engaged at this annual flower show, providing a much needed pick me up from this past winter and the cold and grey beginning of spring. If the visual and olfactory sensory stimulation isn’t enough for you though, not to worry! Head over to the Fern Room for an auditory experience of Orniphonia 2 by Chicago composer Bob Snyder, running till May 31st.

(chicagoparkdistrict.com)

Orniphonia 2 is part of Florasonic, a series of sound installation presented by Experimental Sound Studio in collaboration with the Chicago Park District. Unfortunately, Orniphonia 2 happens to remind me of the gosh-darned bird-sound installation in the women’s restroom at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago which was up for far too long, so my experience of this installation was a little marred. Snyder’s soundscape may sound like real bird sounds, but in actuality he creates it electronically using analog synthesis. Circuits generate patterns consisting of cycles within cycles of sounds that interact and change, mimicking the rhythmic behavior of the biological life one would associate with the surrounding environment.

As for the plant life, I suggest you check out the flower of the Kru Banana, a native to New Guinea and rarely found in private collections in the United States. Super colorful, and definitely unique. Their hyacinths are also particularly vibrant and quite spectacular.

(chicagoparkdistrict.com)

Final Thoughts: With barren trees and cold temperatures, Chicago is in much need of some loving from good ol’ Mother Nature, and what better way to enjoy the colors and blooms of spring than in a secret garden complete with the colors of the rainbow, streams and fountains, and some relaxing sounds of the outdoors. But indoors, of course.

P.S. For those of you who want to learn more about the iconic part of Chicago history that was the World’s Fair, we recommend The World’s Columbian Exposition: The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, which has fantastic visuals and amazing materials from the time. For the more horticulturally inclined, you can now order the seedlings featured in the show online, including azaleas, heliconia, clerodendrum, calliandra, and hyacinth. Before you know it, you’ll have your very own conservatory!

Sweet Mandy B’s

WHAT: Sweet Mandy B’s
WHERE: 1208 W. Webster Ave.

OUR RATING: Chance It!

This bakeshop is typically sweet, like the many that have sprung up around Chicago due to the current cupcake craze. The difference is that Lincoln Park’s Sweet Mandy B’s was thoughtful enough to realise that it was Passover this week, and has produced a non-leavened menu for all those observing the holiday. That being said, once you are seated in the child’s room decorated interior, these sweet treats may or may not seem to be unique enough for this much-loved bakery.

Adam: Passover is a great time of year: Spring is coming, the birds are singing, food is plentiful and wine is free flowing. Unfortunately, it also means the limiting of ones diet to non-leavened goods, and sometimes that isn’t compatible with eating out and partaking of regular enjoyments. Sweet Mandy B’s has crafted an exclusive menu especially for Passover, including chocolate turtles, macaroons and matzah s’mores. Yum!

(sweetmandybs.com)

I gravitated towards the matzah s’mores, simply because s’mores are great and matzah is delicious. Two huge pieces of matzah seal a massive marshmallow between them. Chocolate is liberally dribbled on top of this, and, for the adventurous, nutella can also be added. The first crunch is excellent, making me wish that I was taking a camping trip. However, if you eat these s’mores in-store they are served cold, which I do not believe is the correct way for them to be consumed. For best results, take one home with you, pop it in the microwave and let the marshmallow and chocolate melt together, like they’re meant to. Very sweet and large, one can easily be shared between two people. So, next time you’re wandering in the forest and don’t have time to pack graham crackers, pack matzah instead and you’ll have a jolly good time.

(sweetmandybs.com)

Alicia: Dark chocolate, pecans and lots and lots of caramel. Sounds simple, but Sweet Mandy B’s turtles pack a whole ton of flavor, and the serving size is pretty big (about the size of your generic cookie). Their turtles are pretty run-of-the-mill, but nonetheless delicious, and they are certainly unique in that they are more deconstructed than your average turtle. Instead of the caramel and nuts encased within a shell of chocolate, it looks like Sweet Mandy B’s started with a small pile of nuts, then dripping caramel on top to make it all come together. Then, after waiting for it to harden, that’s when they dropped a whole mass of chocolate on top, allowing for a thick chunk of chocolate to serve as the final top layer.

(sweetmandybs.com)

Not a dark chocolate fan? … … … Now that we’re done judging you (not really!), not to fret: these babies also come in regular milk chocolate and white chocolate. And while probably big enough to share, you’ll end up wanting to hoard it all to yourself. Delicious! Again, pretty normal for a turtle, but turtles are yummy nonetheless.

(sweetmandybs.com)

Final Thoughts: If you can’t make it to Sweet Mandy B’s for Passover, don’t fret! The bakery has numerous sweet treats all year-round, including giant cookies, a plethora of cupcakes (which is what they’re best known for), enormous candied apples and of course cakes galore if you’re in for a slice. And while you’re chomping down on some chocolate or savoring the last remnants of icing off your fork, you can view their ‘art gallery’ in their main ‘dining’ area, with art from local students, where proceeds go directly to their annual Read-A-Thon promoting literacy among children and their families. So stop in for a quick cookie and take a look around!