Chicago MMXII

Very mild spoilers here but: one of the things I love about f&g is how they consistently take side characters who seem like stereotypes and then flesh them out into three dimensional characters (Kim Kelley, the gym teacher, even the bully).

Los Nopales is an interesting one on that list--Mexican on Western in Lincoln Square.

I'm guessing you're watching it on Netflix but the DVD commentary tracks are pretty great.

He's drinking beer out of a little plastic baseball hat. Man, this show is hilarious.

Yes Netflix. It popped up in the recommended list along with My So Called Life, which I have never seen, tried to watch, hated almost immediately, and turned off. I find these nerds and stoners much more relatable for some reason I cannot imagine why.

Los Nopales is a weird one -- we've eaten there a few times and it's good and affordable and byo and whatever, but we'd never go there if it wasn't in our hood.

I forget where I read it, but someone pointed out that the Bib Gourmand list is a weird mix of trendy places that aren't quite worthy of a star and cheap ethnic standbys.

Just realized that Antique Taco got a nod over Big Star -- I think their tacos do stand up to their competitor's, but I had a lousy margarita there.

New stuff coming to Chicago transit. Sound cool (though who knows what dark forces come with it, vis paying private company recurring and per- use fees, etc).

Press release.

Basically, cta and pace will be on one system, the new card will also be a refillable debit card, you can use bank cards to pay fares directly at buses and stations (best part IMO) and also cool: Customers will also eventually be able to use compatible mobile phones to pay for train and bus rides.

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That's a new one to me. It's a normal URL AFAICT. http://www.ventrachicago.com/get-the-details/

The press release http://www.transitchicago.com/news/default.aspx?Month=&Year=&Category=2&ArticleId=3088

They should bring back tokens instead.

As much as I live technology, none of this really excites me. I just want more frequent service and better coverage of the city.

otm

OTM OTM

guys i have a REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION: can you think of anywhere in the loop i might be able to buy bulgar? they don't have any at city target. only idea i have is that health food store on wells.

btw trader joe's considers bulgar a winter seasonal item

Trader Joe's seasonal designations bug me. Like the absence of baking powder year-round, as if people only bake in the winter.

Never been in there and they don't appear to have a website to check, but maybe that Kramer's Health Food place on Wabash near Adams?

oh that's the place i meant above, i said wells instead of wabash. thanks.

gotcha.

I have been I there and they do have some food items so maybe. You could call them and find out. Unless you take a train to Whole Foods (Roosevelt or Chicago red lines) that's probably your best bet.

cool well i'll check kramer's after i go to the library to pick up the new david byrne book that finally arrived on hold for me

Middle eastern mkt has bulgur

Hey guess what?!

http://i.imgur.com/hIo5B.png?1

This may be the year I buy heated pants.

the first apartment I had in Chicago is for rent: http://classifieds.chicagoreader.com/chicago/ViewAd?oid=oid%3A4081614

Apparently the low might be 26 degrees on Tuesday. That's actually cold.

Yeah, but it's going to be 60 this weekend. That's not cold.

you guys this is awesome
white/light playing maggot brain (live @ whistler)
why can't that place not be a zillion miles away from where i live?

oops http://soundcloud.com/jeremylemos/white-light-plays-maggot-brain

has anyone here ever done out-of-state interlibrary loan? is it a hassle? expensive?

i dunno but i have to mail packages to japan and poland and i can't say i'm looking forward to it

i posted that maggot brain thing on the soundcloud thread but i don't think anyone actually uses that thread.

kramer's is kind of cool, they have a lofted cafe area in the past where you can buy vegetarian sandwiches and salads and soups, might go back there for lunch sometime. also i bought vegan jerky which was pretty gross.

also the library didn't have my hold book despite sending me an email saying they had my hold book. second time this year that's happened.

they did have bulgur at kramer's but it took a while to find

they have a lofted cafe area in the past
time travel cafe loft super cool!

ha ha oops

i thought that would be a cool cafe
no oops

When I worked at Jackson/Michigan in 2004-05, I ate lunch at Kramer's all the time.

BEFORE IT WAS COOL

I used to buy toothpaste at Kramer's when I was in law school, then they opened a Whole Foods by our apartment and I bought toothpaste there, but now that I worker much closer to Kramer's than I live near Whole Foods, I will probably buy toothpaste there again.

worker much closer
liver much farer

they have a lofted cafe area in the past

I'm going back to early 2005, get some lunch, and tell myself to study harder in criminal law and property class.

iO moves to North/Clybourn area:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-ent-1110-halpern-move-io-20121109,0,287403.story

what's up

we bought a new (used) car this weekend. it's exciting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F33TWZJ5Ic

what kind of wheelz

honda fit, kind of inbetween hatchback and wagon. feels way bigger inside than it looks from the outside. mainly just crazy driving a car that isn't 17 years old and that has a stereo.

Fit is go.

kinda wish I had a fit instead of a yaris, but the grass is always greener etc.