Chicago MMXII

why why why why why did I look at the comments on the trib story about the egyptian soccer riot, it's like some kind of self-flagellation punishment

i somehow tore the elbow on my favorite/nicest work shirt. rip work shirt.

anyone got any recommendations for a restaurant in the loop where i can host a dinner for members of the association i'm in? preferably not super-expensive?

I've always found it's hard to go wrong in greektown but that's not in the loop

I don't host a lot of association dinners, mind

Italian Village?

Not State and Lake.

we're probably going to be doing a bigger event in Greektown in March. this is probably only going to be a few people so it doesn't have to be anywhere huge or somewhere with private rooms

The only midrange places I can think of in the Loop are, like, Indian or Thai joints.

Walnut Room
Siam Rice

Can you go over the river? What about Maggiano's or another of LEY's fine restaurants?

i like thai food. siam rice looks good.

Yes, River North opens things up considerably. Cafe Iberico. Slurping Turtle. Mercadito. Etc. There's also a good no-frills sushi place on Wells I can't remember the name of.

here is a super bowl article that may be of interest to jaymc. it's by ken jennings: http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7528909/jeopardy-super-champion-ken-jennings-10-best-super-bowls-trivia-history

or maybe not. it's kind of dumb. sorry.

I love Siam Rice. It's very affordable and tasty. They are kind of oriented towards their lunch business, which is very busy, and so tend to kind of rush you in and out of there. Or they make you feel kind of rushed. Depending on the size of your party, you might want to call ahead.

xp Yeah, I would've preferred more sports facts. But thanks for the tip, anyway! The only thing I ever read on Grantland is Hollywood Prospectus, and mostly just Mark Harris's Oscar columns.

Only things I've read there are Colson Whitehead's World Series of Poker diary and Klosterman.

i check it, i like their more analytical/stats-based stuff though i don't always understand it. simmons is a doofus and the little i've read of klosterman's stuff i find v. v. irritating. but i liked whitehead on poker a lot. they have good articles about professional wrestling too (not that i know anything about professional wrestling - that's why i like these articles).

is siam rice mellower at dinner? this is supposed to be a social/discussion thing so i don't want us to feel hurried after like half an hour.

sorry i'm being so needy. i can figure this out on my own.

I was going to suggest the Dead Wrestler of the Week feature on Grantland, but that is actually on Deadspin. Still: highly recommended, even if you don't care about wrestling as a thing to watch/follow.

You're not being needy! I would not recommend Siam Rice as a place for socializing/discussion. They're not going to kick you out, but they will just stop coming to the table. It's also kind of loud in there.

Are you opposed to Italian Village? Because that might be the ticket.

well i already picked siam rice. apparently i CAN'T figure this out on my own.

j/k it'll be ok.

Yeah that Dead Wrestler of the Week feature is fantastic.

http://www.suntimes.com/10392900-417/downtown-chicago-target-store-to-open-july-29.html

Quicker than I thought. They got a lot of building to do in there.

This is my favorite song from the last 10 years. I think.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-d6b1yn-YhQ&sns=em

Weird.

I heard Gucci Gucci for the first time the other day. That's probably my fave of all eternity.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-man-asks-police-if-hes-wanted-and-ends-up-facing-weapons-charges-20120202,0,2069895.story

this story is ridiculous and scary, gonna make me think that every jerk in a big SUV is probably armed to the teeth now

also loooool dude you're dumb as shit

o_0

Everything about that story reads some sort of mental breakdown or break with reality.

A coworker sent me an Outlook calendar event to mark the July Target opening. Ha.

Pretty much going to avoid that block until September.

Ran into T0n1 Pr3ckw1nkl3 and she let me on the escalator in front of her. Class act. Glad I voted for her.

Apparently PQ is skulking around here today, too.

alan salami

lol

wait I don't think we saw this one

http://discoverycenter.cc/classes/il3451.htm

Alan Salami is a psychotherapist and collector of religions. He has been studying the esoteric for over 30 years and knows many of the movers and shakers in the field both locally and nationally.

bahahahahaha

ok now i clearly know that i have to take one of his classes

the one that tells me how many kinds of druids there are!

dying!

"I saw it on the web!"

3451 INSIDE THE OCCULT: A SHORT SAFE JOURNEY
When you mention the occult, most people are either scared or curious. Either way this class will enlighten you as to the different facets of the occult in a safe and open environment. We will talk about wicca, alchemy, voodoo, spells, astrology, tarot cards and other topics most people avoid in regular company. Do unicorns exist? How many kinds of Druids are there? What's the REAL story behind Halloween? Come prepared with questions and learn where to find a Voodoo Priestess in Chicago, how many Wiccan Covens there are locally, and many other venues where you can delve deeper into occult studies that are right at your doorstep. Mat Fee: $10.00
Alan Salami is a psychotherapist and collector of religions. He has been studying the esoteric for over 30 years and knows many of the movers and shakers in the field both locally and nationally.

collector of religions

"Dude I'll totally trade you Taoism and Wicca for that Judaism!"

holy shit

it's only $10!! i think i'm going. that's it.

oh no, it's $50 :(

even the esoteric comes with a price in this economy

their website is truly appalling

i like the list of classes for FRIENDS AND LOVERS

0023 Chicago Sex Tour
3556 Talk To Anyone Anytime, How To
3606 Coffeemating
3608 Pain Management
3627 How To Meet And Attract Women
3630 X-Tasy Spot, How To Find The
3651 Bondage And Domination, An Introduction
3666 Networking For Kinky People
3676 How To Get A Second Date
3687 The Art Of Pompoir
3688 Black Women's Dating Boot Camp
3689 Internet Dating Success For Men

http://discoverycenter.cc/index/frndlove.htm

INSIDE THE OCCULT: A SHORT SAFE JOURNEY

really loving this combination of title and subtitle, it's like "SCARY!: but not too scary"

0023 Chicago Sex Tour - sounds like my prom night
3556 Talk To Anyone Anytime, How To - sounds like my prom night
3606 Coffeemating - sounds like my prom night
3608 Pain Management - sounds like my prom night
3627 How To Meet And Attract Women - sounds like my prom night
3630 X-Tasy Spot, How To Find The - sounds like my prom night
3651 Bondage And Domination, An Introduction - sounds like my prom night
3666 Networking For Kinky People - sounds like my prom night
3676 How To Get A Second Date - sounds like my prom night
3687 The Art Of Pompoir - sounds like my prom night
3688 Black Women's Dating Boot Camp - sounds like my prom night
3689 Internet Dating Success For Men - sounds like my prom night

Host Serpent Libertine will take you to some of the sexiest spots in Chicago

Networking for Kinky People

3651 Bondage And Domination, An Introduction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dddAi8FF3F4

alan
salami

Would like to see the first day of that Pain Management class: half S&M-ers who saw it on the Friends & Lovers page, half people who've had terrible surgery and are trying to keep it together.

and one very confused window installer