Old Style Has Never Tasted So Good!

I know all of you are dying to know how Chicago is going, so I will fill you in!  It's been fantastic.  Old Style has never tasted so good.  It snowed lightly in my face the first night, which I thought was the most beautiful thing I had ever experienced in my life.  The four Old Styles and two shots of tequila probably had something to do with that. You know, if I had to guess.


The next morning was breakfast at the HANDLEBAR!  My favorite restaurant ever!  Of course our hipster waitress had the cutest hair I had ever seen.  At least for the day.

I got my usual, the buffalo 'chicken' wrap, complete with vegan ranch dressing.  Okay, the side was new for me - garlicky collard greens!  So delicious.  I couldn't stop smiling the entire time I was there.  I only took this one crap picture because Handlebar is soooo hip, I was totally embarrassed to be taking pictures of my food.

Next on the agenda was...seeing my old friends and coworkers at Sweet Mandy B's!  What happens when work is over for my friends and I'm in town?  The bars!  So what if it's four in the afternoon?  That's when bar service is the best!

Flounders in Lincoln Park is where the night (early evening?) took us.  Let me explain why there are no pictures up from last night - it's impossible to look cute and photogenic when drinking all afternoon.  I did however, wake up with some souvenirs.  Two incredibly large bruises.  I know I didn't fall!  What happened??  Erin chalks it up to lots of hugging without letting go.  Nora says "Flounders happened.  It's not for the faint of heart.  Congratulations!".   I think both of those answers are 100% accurate.  (I would also like to point out that I'm the one that introduced everyone to Flounders.  I had to pee really bad on my walk home from work one day, so I went to this bar.  Sometimes ordering a PBR is cheaper than buying food somewhere, just to use a bathroom.  Of course, I had to pee again 15 minutes after leaving. But then knew of a cool dive bar to bring people to!)

The weather is cold, but not brutal.  The food still tastes amazing but sits in my stomach like a brick.  Most everything looks the same and I feel like I never left.  I have missed my friends terribly and it has been the absolute best to see their cute faces again. Pick Me Up Cafe has new vegan options on their menu and I have to say their bbq seitan pizza with soy mozz is super delicious.  That pizza, coupled with Jalapeno poppers - filled with whipped tofu- and you have one happy vegan.

 Pick Me Up Cafe leftovers.  Does it look appetizing?  It sure does to me! 

I was also reminded tonight that I don't like Midwestern beers.  Old Style yes, but when you spend your early drinking years in Northern California (Humboldt County), you get spoiled and you get snotty about it.  Sorry Midwest breweries.

 Outside of Pick Me Up with some of the cutest grrls I know.

Pick Me Up Cafe has a tofu scramble called the 'Humboldt County".  Love it.  First thing I ever ordered there.

Tomorrow's agenda includes brunch at Lula Cafe (YES!!) and a party at Happy Village. Happy Village IS Chicago's Ping Pong bar and workplace of one of my oldest and best friends, Stephanie.  She's known around these parts, Humboldt County and Seattle for her ping pong skillz.  It's true.  You are nothing til you've played against her, which I haven't because I'm terrified.

 Stephanie playing ping pong about 6 years ago in a garage in Arcata, CA.  She's been honing her skillz for awhile now.

August 2010 at The Shanty in Eureka, CA.