So we at LoveforChicago.com love brunches and Sunday Fundays. (For the record, we kinda dig Saturday Funday too. Come to think of it, we just like to go out in general). There is just something about Sunday morning bloody’s and omelets that make us happy. There is also something about the taste of Nino Franco Rustico poured into a stemmed glass of orange juice at 11am, that’s just a win/win situation.

Here are ten of our favorite brunch spots around the city picked by Love for Chicago
staff and members of our Chicago Socialites Meetup group…cheers!;

Red Velvet Waffle at @hutchchicago

Hutch, Lakeview
I’m not just saying this because I got an awesome bottle of cabernet and carrying bag for my birthday. I’m saying it because their red velvet waffle is just a damn good time. I mean I could make an entire post about their red velvet waffles with whipped cream, but I digress. No really, we had a large group at Hutch, and they accommodated us very nicely. Our server was awesome, and the food was great. Just a quick note, that if you have a large group, they will require that everyone is there before you’re seated. That’s fairly common in Chicago however so not a huge deal. We highly recommend Hutch for Brunch if you’re ever in Lakeview.

Twisted Spoke, Near West Side
If you haven’t had a bloody mary at Twisted Spoke then you aren’t living the #ChicagoLife. At TS your bloody mary is basically a salami sandwich placed on top of a cocktail. (Don’t forget the beer chaser) They do have the bloody mary thing down, the brunch menu is solid as well.

Road Rash Bloody Mary @ Twisted Spoke with Beer Back

Zia’s, Lakeview
Nice spot with great brunch fare. Go there for the unlimited bloodies/mimosas and stay there because it’s a great spot in the city. With winning menu items like Banana’s Foster French Toast and Breakfast Pizza, it’s a win/win.

Rockit Wrigley, Wrigleyville
I’m a fan of having egg white omelets and an American Pale Ale while chatting with a hot bartender at 8am. (But who isn’t right?) Rockit Wrigley has a great brunch selection in an awesome Wrigley location. Not to mention, Melanie is an awesome bartender that is great to talk to. Go and check them out for brunch and tell ’em we sent ya!

Derby Chicago, Lincoln Park
Derby has awesome American fare. The last time we went with a large group, we got great service and had a great time. Contact Ashley at Derby if you have an event to setup and she will take care of you.

The Original Pancake House, Kenwood
So yes it’s a chain, but there’s a reason this chain does so well. When you need a good hearty comfort meal, you should go to the Original pancake house. From the famous apple pie pancakes baked with brown sugar and granny smith apples to the Dutch Treat filled with
bananas and strawberries, you won’t be disappointed.

LOKaL, Wicker Park
Comfort food, crafted cocktails and a DJ. What more could you ask for? Wicker Park has become known for hipsters and a great place to socialize. LOKaL adds a great brunch spot to Wickers’ growing social status.

Bongo Room, Wicker Park
This place has creative trendy menu items galore and a great vibe. With items like chocolate pretzel pancake and white chocolate pancakes, they’re sure to some quite a few choices you’ll love. Of everyone we surveyed Bongo room popped up on several short-lists. The Wicker Park location is a popular spot, so bring your patience hat if you go during peak times.

Pl-zen, Pilsen
Who knew that a basement level “gastropub” in Pilsen could pack so much flavor.
From cinnamon sugar doughnut holes served with nutella to the meat omelete,
Pl-zen is certainly worth checking out if you’re ever over on the Lower West Side.

Ann Sather, Edgewater
If you’re a fan of large gooey cinnamon rolls and exploring the far north, then you will love Ann Sather’s in Edgewater. This location is fairly new, right on the corner of Granville and Broadway, but is a welcome site for sore eyes. If you want a cocktail, you may want to go next door to Revival, since the closest thing you’ll get to booze at Ann Sather is OJ.

Bull & Bear, Loop
You’re thinking the exact same thing that I used to think. Bull and Bear has brunch? I thought it was just a fun place to hangout after work for happy hour. Come to find out, they have a great brunch as well. We were there a while back with a large group and they did a great job of accommodating us. Oh yeah, did I mention they have the beer tap right at the table. So you can pour yourself cold bubbly Stella and not even leave your booth. Talk about #winning!

Thanks to the following friends of LoveforChicago.com that helped us to compile this list. Cheers to Nirav, Kimm, Marquecia, Katie, Kari & Natalie.

LaRon
Edgewater, Chicago
LoveforChicago.com
Instagram: @photosbylaron

Link: Ollie’s Lounge – Edgewater
Link: Umami Burger: The King of All Burger Joints
Link: Cesar’s – Home of the Killer Margaritas

Wicker Park at night

I work in Wicker Park, so I am definitely in that area enough to give you an accurate depiction of this charming little area in Chicago. Wicker Park is mostly known as the land of the Hipsters, and that is very much true. When you’re walking down Milwaukee Ave, you won’t be surprised to see people wearing flannel’s tied around their waists, the bulky Doc Martins, those studious round glasses and a beard that looks like it belongs in the 1800’s. But, I have come to notice the longer I’ve been going there that the place has a lot of odd-balls as well, and in all the best ways possible.

I have decided to make a list of some of the strange things I have seen in Wicker Park, some I will elaborate more than others.

1. The Upside-Down Bicycle Man

Wicker Park upside-down bicycle man. Flickr image by Oscar Arriola.

You will know if you saw this bearded gentlemen (..maybe a hipster?) when you see the vibrant colors on this mans bike and outfit. Attached to this bike is this crazy lit up circular bar/wheel that allows him to go upside down and spin a multiple of times. Every time you see him he has a different flashy outfit on and always is a crowd pleaser. You will see him most in the summertime!

2. The Comedian with the Jeri-Curl That Draws Things

I always see this guy after sun down on Milwaukee. He looks and dresses just like “Thriller Era” Michael Jackson, and you won’t be able to miss him because he’s got a loud James Brown kinda voice and one electric personality. If he sees you he will most likely want to talk to you, and tell you he works for Second City and is a striving comedian that rocks the jeri-curl like no other. He will then show you all his silly cartoon drawings that poke fun at pop culture icons. With each one he shows you, he will give you his best comedic performance that certainly won’t leave you bored one bit.

3. The Short Old Man with a Stick of Cotton Candy

This one is pretty self-explanatory.

4. The Group That Looked Like They Came Out of the Movie “Tron”

I was out one Saturday night in Wicker and when I turned a corner I saw this group dressed in these blue glow up costumes, decked out in outer space/futuristic gear and make-up/hair. It was not even Halloween, or
a holiday, nothing. It was awesome.

5. The Humanitarians With The Binders That Are Bugging You

You might not think they should be categorized as weird, but I do when they start to get creepy desperate sounding, and you know exactly what I’m talking about!

“Hey you look like someone I’d like to talk to!”

*cringes* *tries to escape without seeming like a huge jerk*

6. Drunk People Who Can’t Get Up Off of the Sidewalk

I’ve seen way to many of these people after 11pm in Wicker Park. It is thoroughly entertaining.

7. The Lady Holding a Heart in her Hand with White Balloons Tied Around It.

Yes, I did actually see this. This is definitely by far the weirdest thing I’ve seen in Wicker Park. It was during the summer and I saw this woman in white repetitively squeezing what looked like a real, bloody heart. Human or animal? I don’t know, but it immediately made me stop everything I was doing to take in the absurdity of what I was seeing. When I saw her she was talking to a civilian, I tried to listen, but I didn’t make anything out. So who knows, my only guess is that she is trying to raise some sort of awareness for some heart issue? Or she escaped the hospital and stole someones heart… that’s also a possibility.

So I hope you enjoyed learning about some of the wonderfully strange people that come out in the Wicker Park area. You gotta know a neighborhood is a great one when you can always be surprised with what you see and experience. Wicker Park is a place of vibrancy and the celebration of fun and creativity. Don’t leave Chicago without visiting there! It is truly one of a kind.

Alyssa
Pilsen, Chicago
Contributor, LoveforChicago.com
Instagram: @lyss_lou

Whoa baby! Can ya feel that heat wave? Chicago just resurrected from it’s icy cold coffin a couple days ago when it hit 45 degrees! The last time it was 45 degrees we were carving jack-o-lanterns and sipping pumpkin spice latte’s like it’s sweet warm goodness was a necessity to live. Now we have shamrock shakes and St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, the Chicago river will be green as well as the trees soon! Yay!

Winter in Chicago. Photo copyright @irina_a_

So, since Spring has given us a warm welcoming kiss, I thought it be appropriate to reflect on all the shit about winter we are so ready to say goodbye to.

1. The Tundra

The moment you open that door you know an uncomfortable arctic adventure awaits you, and this is for all you Chicago folks who don’t have a car. There have been multiple times where I literally take one step out onto the sidewalk and I immediately slip and fall hard on my backside. That’ll for sure wake you up and get you started for your day! Then, there are the bumpy-stomped-on snow paths that someone poorly shoveled that you can barely balance on that guide you through the Alaskan wilderness that Chicago has become. We also can’t forget the giant slushy puddles that you have to leap over to cross the cross-walk and all you can do is hope you clear it without feeling the icy cold liquid flood into your shoes.

2. Waiting for the train/bus

This is the worst when it’s an above-ground station. For some reason, at most stations they only put heating in only one shelter, and I haven’t got a clue why. It ends up being a bunch of us Chicago civilians all huddled together like a bunch of penguins that just want to get where we need to go, and if that train is delayed then you best rely on that body heat!

3. Parking

I’m not a driver or originally from Chicago, but I have never seen how ridiculous this whole calling dibs on a parking spot with a chair thing was until this winter. In my Pilsen neighborhood I’ve seen so many of saved spots. From just a wooden plank standing up on a bucket, to a traffic cone, to even a folding chair with a hunk of ice on it – like adding the ice was going to stop someone from taking your spot. Pfft… Please. But, ironically, it kind of does. I’ve heard stories about cars getting trashed because of this. This dibs thing is taking seriously here, so people aren’t going to mess with that unless they have a death wish!

The 7 weirdos you may come across in Wicker Park

4. Face hurting

That wind chill, man… that damn wind chill. We all know that disheartening feeling when we look at the weather on our phones and it says a not so bad 15 degrees and we are like “okay, I can handle that!” but then we look at how cold it feels including the wind chill and it says -10. Like damn! And then when you’re out there you are all bundled in layers upon layers and you think the wind isn’t that bad until you turn onto Wabash and experience the icy cold wind tunnel that is smacking you in the side of the face feeling like a thousand tiny needles pricking at your face. Not fun!

5. How much money you waste on Uber

I am literally terrified to even know how much money I have spent on Uber this entire winter. I’ve heard there is a way to find out, but who would want to find out something like that? That has guilt and shame written all over it. I can’t tell you how many times I have opened up the Uber app just because I didn’t want to deal with the arctic tundra shenanigans that awaited me outside that would start my day off with nothing but struggle.

6. Mice Becoming Your New Roommates

This was my first ever encounter with having a mice issue in my apartment, and oh my was it unpleasant, but I know how common it is in the city, I mean, hey, they just want somewhere warm so they can at least survive this winter. They probably have more to complain about than us, but see… you’re in my house. Ew. Once you see that mouse for the first time, you don’t want to believe it, and then after that you will be one paranoid mofo. You will hear any sudden sound and want to jump on the couch, and when you have to set up those traps and one gets caught, it will most likely horrify you forever.

Isn’t it great that we can almost say goodbye to all of this? Soon enough the flowers will bud, the birds will chirp, and we can finally crawl out of our hibernation caves while rocking our spring jackets instead of our ginormous puffy parkas. Let’s hope this nice weather continues (knock on wood).

AlyssaPilsen, ChicagoContributor, LoveforChicago.comInstagram: @lyss_lou

It’s hard to believe that summer is already halfway over and winter is coming! So what have you done this summer? Me personally, I’ve been obsessing over getting and staying fit that I have barley done anything. I want to see more live music this summer, luckily there are quite a few options around the city this summer.

Here is a list I have complied of things to do this summer to make it worth remembering;

• Head to a music festival
  With Lollapalooza, The Jazz fest and Riot Fest among others coming up, the city is sure to be rocking with great music talent. The summer music fest scene in the city is always a great time.
  Click here for a list of the remaining music festivals. 
• Check out a neighborhood fest
  In addition to upcoming festivals like Fiesta Del Sol & Air and Water show, there are still a few summer neighborhood festivals remaining this season such as Edgefest in Edgewater and who can forget the Wrigleyville Summer Festival. I attended the Wicker Park Festival this weekend.
  Here’s the entire list!
• Jazzin’ at the Shedd
  Jazz. Cocktails. The lake. Fireworks. And 32,000 animals. That’s Jazzin’ at the Shedd! Jazzin’ at the Shedd is held every Wednesday night until September 9th.
  I will definitely be attending this.
  Check out the details!
• Adler After Dark
  Enjoy some drinks under the stars at the Adler Planetarium. Exclusively for the 21+ and up crowd.
  Click here for details and to purchase tickets
• Go to a Chicago Landmark you’ve never been to.
  I have never been to the top of the Sears Tower (I still refuse to call it the “Wllis Tower”).  Even though I am afraid of heights I do want to go on the SkyDeck.
  I would love to have a full bird’s eye view of my favorite city. http://theskydeck.com/
• Night Out In the Parks / My Chi Parks App
  If you want something a bit more low and free, definitely check out the My Chi Parks app. The app features the full schedule for Night Out in the Park. It features plays, movies, and live music in parks all over the city.
  Check out the App!

It doesn’t matter what you do really just take advantage of as many activities as you can and enjoy the great weather.

Ronni
Hyde Park, Chicago
Contributor, LoveForChicago.com
Instagram/Twitter @ronnilt

Also read:
Link: 5 Reasons Summertime Chicago is Great for Losing Weight
Link: Chicago Kayak Tours

There are very few ways to better represent your city than creating a song that pays homage to it. Especially when those songs go on to become monumental successes and people forever associate those artists with the songs and the city.

Here are ten of our favorites tracks that are So Chicago;

1. Southside, Common ft. Kanye West
This southside anthem by two of Chicago’s most popular rappers Common and Kanye West, had the city rocking in the summer of 2007. Common being from Calumet Heights, and West from South Shore set out to show the southside some love in this track on Commons’ grammy award winning album “Finding Forever.”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=k0kohtU2_1k%3Ffeature%3Doembed

2. Sweet Home Chicago, Robert Johnson
This Chicago anthem recorded by Robert Johnson in 1936 is a staple of every Chicago lovers music collection. A song so iconic that it has been covered by many greats such as Eric Clapton and featured in movies such as the Chicago classic Blues Brothers. You pretty much can’t go to any social scene in Chicago without hearing it at least once.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=m0zyuc_2UVg%3Ffeature%3Doembed

3. Tonight, Tonight, The Smashing Pumpkins,
A song so Chicago that the strings were recorded with the Chicago symphony orchestra. The Smashing Pumpkins were formed in Chicago and credited by many with as re-birthing the alternative rock scene in the city. With lyrics like “And the embers never fade in your city by the lake, The place where you were born,” its clear that frontman Billy Corgan clearly had Chicago on his mind when making this song.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=NOG3eus4ZSo%3Ffeature%3Doembed

4. Angels, Chance the Rapper ft. Saba
Not only has he not changed his number since the 7th grade, Chance the Rapper is pretty good at putting out hits that feature Chicago. Angels features Chance (West Chatham), and Saba (Austin) flying through the city and rocking on top of an L car. Any song that includes the lyrics “City so damn great I feel like Alexan” is a winner in my book.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=eedeXTWZUn8%3Ffeature%3Doembed

5. Frank Sinatra, My Kind of town
Quite possibly the most iconic Chicago song ever recorded. Originally composed by Jimmy Van Heusen, with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, Sinatra made this song an international hit when he sang it as a score for Robin and the 7 Hoods. Today it is a jukebox must-have in bars all over the city.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=2vE2FmiBHCg%3Ffeature%3Doembed

6. Homecoming, Kanye West
Love him or hate him Kanye West is a musical genius. Homecoming, the legendary track featuring the Kanye West (South Shore) laying bars at the Bean, Millennium Park and Marina City coupled with beautiful vocals and piano play of Chris Martin (ColdPlay), make this song a Chicago favorite. It’s a virtual Chicago lovefest and on almost every Chicago-song-top-10-list. If you love Chicago, you just might love this song.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=LQ488QrqGE4%3Ffeature%3Doembed

7. Chicago Winds, Dave Hollister
It’s not unlike Chicago-native Dave Hollister (Blackstreet) to include references to the city throughout his music catalog. (ie “Chicago 85, The Movie) This track references how the world renowned Chicago-native travels the world and experiences things that most of us only dream of, yet when it’s said and done, Chicago is always on his mind.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=XQSshgzAyEI%3Ffeature%3Doembed

8. Go Cubs Go, by Steve Goodman
Whether screaming it from the inside of Sluggers while throwing back free popcorn or after a Cubs win at Wrigley Field most Chicagoans would agree (Okay, maybe not Sox fans) that this catchy ode to the Cubs baseball team written by Northside native Steve Goodman is So Chicago.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=A9XtDyDUjIU%3Ffeature%3Doembed

9. Back to Chicago, Styx
With lyrics like “Let’s go walking by the beach tonight, and watch the sun come up on Lake Shore Drive” there is no doubt that rock band Styx loves the Windy City. This awesome song is a must have in any Chicago-lovers music collection.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=of6JVn8i934%3Ffeature%3Doembed

10. King Cole Trio, Windy City Boogie Woogie
Chicago just isn’t Chicago without a history filled with old school gangsters and prohibition Speakeasies. What better tunes to embody that sound than old school swing jazz sound of Windy City Boogie Woogie by Nat King Cole and the King Cole Trio.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=5hwhQJMqRyI%3Ffeature%3Doembed

LaRon
Edgewater, Chicago
Founder, LoveforChicago.com
Instagram: @photosbylaron
Instagram: @loveforchicago312

Link: 9 Great Places to Visit in Chicago
Link: 5 Great Hyde Park Bars
Link: Chicago Kayak Tours

As you may have known,  January 22nd-Febuary 4th was Chicago Restaurant Week 2016! I needed to get out and visit some new restaurants in the city. So I hit the town with friends that love food as much as I do and hit the town tasting some of the best food that Chicago has to offer!

Below are six restaurants that I visited for Restaurant Week 2016;

1.)  Nacional 27
http://nacional27chicago.com
Latin, Dinner for $33

A great value for the price and delicious food! Received three courses plus chips, salsa, guacamole and corn for the table.

First course: Three empanadas which were excellent.
Second course: Latin Skirt Steak which as Amazing! Huge piece of steak with potatoes and tomatoes with great blend of Latin seasoning and spices.
Third course: A generous serving and delicious piece of Flan

2.)  Tortoise Club 
http://tortoiseclub.com
American, Lunch for $22

Very nice lunch with variety of choices on a prix fix menu.
First course: House salad which was very large and included apples, candied walnuts and goat cheese with a wonderful light dressing of vanilla vinaigrette. Second course: I selected the fish and chips which were very good. Beer battered cod but not too heavy.
Third course: Tortoise pie which was my favorite!  Large piece of chocolate cake with walnuts and caramel sauce!

3.) Coco Pazzo
http://www.cocopazzochicago.com
Italian, Lunch for $22 Filling and very good Italian lunch for the price.
First course: Mozzarella di Bufala which was excellent and very tasty!
Second course: Rigatoni alla Buttera which was also very good. Included a huge portion of pasta with sausage, red tomato sauce, and peas.
Third course: Panna Cotta which I enjoyed also. A much needed light vanilla custard with a huckleberry sauce. A great end to a wonderful meal.

4.)  Le Colonial

http://www.lecolonialchicago.com/
French-Vietnamese, Dinner for $33 or $44 (Two different menus for the week. I chose the $33 menu) Exceptional meal full of authentic Vietnamese flavor.

First course: Banh Uot which was beef rolled in wide rice noodles. Very good! Second course: Mi Xao Do Bien which was seafood medley over egg noodles in an oyster sauce. Simply amazing and a huge entree.
Third course: Caramelized lemon tart which was also very good!

5.) Travelle
http://www.travellechicago.com/#/home
Mediterranean Lunch for $22  Very good meal with top notch presentation.
First course: BBQ Octopus which was excellent! Served with a pork belly and bean sauce.
Second course: Salmon served with a tomato stew. Very flavorful with
touch of mint.
Third course: chocolate cake with German chocolate icing and chocolate covered corn flakes.

6.) Chicago Q
http://chicagoqrestaurant.com/
Barbecue, Dinner for $33 Wonderful dinner with perfect sides to accompany your huge portion of BBQ. Chips and sweet pickles were brought to the table immediately after being seated.
First course: Fried hush puppies which were cooked perfect!
Second course: The granddaddy of the meal: a full slab of baby back ribs. WOW, WOW were these amazing! Extremely tasty and cooked perfectly.
The meat fell off the bones instantly. Served dry but accompanied with 4 different sauces.
Third course: large piece of carrot cake which was very moist and good!

After two weeks and six restaurants, I have eaten so much amazing food!  All the six places I went to were well worth the price. Having a three course meal at all these six restaurants would cost much more than $22 or $33. I cannot wait until Chicago Restaurant Week 2017. Now its time to hit the gym. I think I have gained 5 plus pounds from eating out. No complaints though. Would do again next year and visit even more places!

Natalie
Lakeview, Chicago
Partner, LoveforChicago.com
Instagram: @partyprincesschi
Link: 8 Things to LOVE about Chicago

Chicago is rich with museums, skyscrapers, breathtaking parts, and countless other attractions that make this city great. When taking a tour of the windy city, no matter your interests you’ll never find yourself short of things to do. With a booming tourism industry, this is one of the best places to travel at any time of the year. Following are nine top picks of great places to visit in Chicago for couples, professionals, and families alike.

Grant Park
Take a tour of one of Chicago’s finest lakefront views by visiting Grant Park. This park spans 319 acres and contains a number of notable landmarks like the Buckingham Fountain and Millennium Park. It’s a great place for an afternoon stroll or grab some great Chicago food and enjoy the views. Native Chicagoans know this is the place to be on a warm, sunny day.

Brookfield Zoo
With an impressive 216 acres to explore, Chicago’s Brookfield Zoo is a must-see for all animal lovers. The Great Bear Wilderness Exhibit spans 7.5 acres and is a massive replica of common habitats for bison, Mexican gray wolves, bald eagles, and polar bears. There are more than 3,000 invertebrates, 6,000 animals and a total of 436 species to take see.

Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. Capture by @photosbylaron

Navy Pier
A “must-see” for any tourist. This popular attraction of Chicago highlights local tourism at it’s best. Navy Pier features an IMAX cinema, Children’s Museum, countless opportunities to dine and shop, and a number of sightseeing boat tours that let you tour the lake up close. You can also play mini-golf, ride the Ferris wheel, and complete your tour with an old-fashion swing-style ride.

Movie Box
Some of the best films are hosted at the Movie Box, despite the fact that many of the movies featured here aren’t your traditional blockbusters. This two-screen theater boasts breathtaking decor and regularly shows the latest art house and independent films.

Wrigley Field
Catch a baseball game of course! This legendary stadium always has something fun for tourists to do, even outside of baseball season. During the winter months, lace up your skates and enjoy the ice rink that’s right out side. Seasonal tours and other events are commonly hosted here as are charity events and ice-hockey games. After a game, skating, or a tour, don’t forget all the great bars and restaurants just waiting for you outside Wrigley Field’s doors.

Chicago Riverwalk
Architecture buffs will love the Chicago Riverwalk. It offers expansive views of some of the best-known architecture of the city. Water taxis and boat tours will allow you to recline in comfort and style as you learn more about the history of the area and enjoy the many waterfront restaurants and cafes.

Chicago Riverwalk @lindahoffenberg. Tagged at #loveforchicago312

Museum of Contemporary Art
Take in one of the largest collections of modern art in the country by visiting the Museum of Contemporary Art. With a picturesque garden, a gift shop and a restaurant, this is a great way to spend a relaxing afternoon learning more about the local art scene.

DuSable Museum of African American History
One of the country’s most important, cultural museums, this establishment hosts centuries of exhibits that highlight the lives African Americans and their unique history. Art connoisseurs and history buffs alike will be dazzled by the collections of art and memorabilia that are housed here.

Shedd Aquarium
Located on the Museum Campus near downtown, the Shedd is a must see stop for the young and old. It is home to over 80 habitats, 32,00 animals, award-winning exhibits, and lots to see and do. From dolphins to jellyfish, from to turtles and frogs, from sharks to the belugas, there are so many water-loving creatures from around the world!

A Fan of Chicago
Contributor, LoveforCity.com / Chicago

Spring is in the air, and now that the temperatures are rising… and falling back down sometimes (thanks Chicago), baseball season is back. Wrigley field has opened up its gates and we’re so excited for the Cubs new season, that they forgot the bathrooms didn’t work, but pshh, that will never stop us Cubs fans. We stood by our team, got boozed up, and peed in our empty cups to be able to watch the opening game. We are that loyal, yo.

Outside of Sluggers at night.

We Chicagoans love our Cubs baseball so much (Ok, minus Sox fans) that we have a sports bar in Wrigleyville that has an actual batting cage inside it. It’s called Sluggers, but the full name is “Sluggers World Class Sports Bar.” The name fits like a glove, because world class it sure is. When you walk in you are greeted to an atmosphere that can only be described as a sports pub on steroids. The place is generally quite large compared to a normal bar but the energy of the people keep it feeling cozy. The place is buzzing with all different kinds of people from all over the city, although, naturally, you will notice that most of these people are sports fan types (the cubs jersey’s and/or attire will give it away).

As you walk down there is an entrance that leads you to the batting cages. You go upstairs and there is a booth to buy your tokens. Half the time the line for the cage isn’t even that long, and you’ll be drunk anyways so it doesn’t even matter. You’ll also find it extremely amusing to watch drunk people try to hit a ball with a bat. When it’s your turn, it is required that you put on a helmet (for obvious reasons) and then hey batter batter, you’re up!

Surrounding the batting cages are a bunch of arcade games glowing all of their colors and making all of their beeping sounds. These games included the classics, such as Skee-Ball, air hockey, Pac-Man, Super Shot, and many others, so you won’t every find yourself bored. It’s like adults are revisiting their childhood, except this time they are drunk while they play games instead of on a massive sugar high.

Sluggers also has this super cool thing called “Dueling Pianos” which is this awesome interactive musical show that heats up Wrigleyville every weekend and every night after a Cubs game. These piano duelers play songs ranging from rock & roll, oldies, top 40, and everything in between! There is even a “Dancers Pole” in between the two piano’s for anyone daring enough to climb up and dance on the piano’s and really turn the party up! People will be singing, dancing and laughing at the wonderful show of entertainment that you won’t find anywhere else.

With all this of combined, it gets us excited to finally go to a Cubs game on a nice and sunny warm day, knowing that after the game – win or lose – we can go get hammered and hit a bunch of baseballs, shoot some hoops, and even dance on top of a piano if we really wanted to. Sounds like a great way to welcome back Spring to me!

Alyssa
Contributor, LoveforCity.com / Chicago
Instagram: @lyss_lou

What could be a better warm up to your Saturday night than a bunch of tough roller derby girls wrestling in a mini pool of spaghetti? Beats me! (Haha, get the pun?)

Double Door Liquors – a live music venue that has been holding live concerts, events, and many other varieties of entertainment – hosted The Chicago Outlet Roller Derby’s spaghetti wrestling competition, which seems nothing but completely appropriate given the venue’s edgy and underground type of vibe. But, nothing was edgier than the roller derby ladies, who were kicking major ass and shoving spaghetti into each others faces with nothing but smiles plastered on their faces.

These girls weren’t just rolling around in spaghetti for shits and giggles either, everyone there came to support the derby for their annual fundraiser. The skaters who weren’t up to fight were weaving through the crowds in different themed costumes holding signs to join the $1 raffle, whichever raffle you chose was the lady you bet on to win.

Every girl was decked out in a different costume, and they weren’t at all shy to lose themselves in their characters. I saw someone dressed as Jesus, a pizza, a zombie, satan, a ninja turtle, Darth Vadar, Elvis… someone had a freakin’ toilet rim over their head, so basically there was just

a bunch of awesome and entertaining ladies who weren’t afraid to get wild and dirty!

Spaghetti was flying when the referee’s blew their whistles for the matches to begin, and the next thing you know hair is whipping and legs and arms are flailing in all different directions. This was way better than WWE. With all of that, and including the hard rock blasting through the speakers all night, you almost feel half as badass as these chicks rolling around in the spaghetti pool. The crowd was also so lively and fun that I would be lying if I said that The Outfit Roller Derby didn’t have a strong and loyal fan base. Double Door was packed to its maximum compacity that night, and it felt like I was in the midst of a very vibrant and close knit community that was welcoming to anyone as long as they were down to have a good time. How can you not when you are witnessing a ninja turtle wrestle a pizza in a pool of spaghetti?

Copyright. Chicago Outfit Spaghetti Wrestling.

If your interested in checking out a game to support The Chicago Outfit Roller Derby, you can buy tickets for their next home game here! http://chicagooutfitrollerderby.com/events

Alyssa
Contributor, LoveforCity.com / Chicago
Instagram: @lyss_lou

Dealing with stress is a another big part of wellness, so its important to  have those special places where you can go and relax.  Too much stress can wreak havoc on your body and mental health. Learning what triggers your stress and managing it properly is another major component to having a healthy life. I work in customer service and nothing works the nerves like stupid people. Not to mention the other stressors we face outside of work. I am so determined to lose weight that I have begun to obsess about it. I read articles, I change my eating habits , working out more. I really want to make this goal this year. 

When I tell people how disappointed I am over losing so little weight this summer one of the fist things they say is that I  maybe stressing out too much. Stress can effect weight loss as well. I have a friend at work that takes a ten minute walk during his lunch to help center himself before going back. I like to read or watch a TV show on my lunches but he insists that taking a short walk outside would be better. I join him sometimes and it is nice to be outside!
I’d better do it more often while the weather is so nice.

One of my favorite things I like to do to relax is go somewhere that is outside my daily routine and just sit and chill. Living in Hyde Park I don’t lack for places where I can just relax. However, I will limit this list to top five places in Hyde Park to Chill.

• Sip & Savor
  This is actually the first cafe I patronized to in Hyde Park. I went there for a writing Meetup on Wednesdays and I enjoyed the low key vibe. The Sip n Savor is a fantastic place to order a good cup of tea or coffee and relax.  It’s quiet and not crowded like the Starbucks around the corner. It’s a great place to write and do some studying away from all the distractions at home. They have some snake foods and some really good cakes on a daily basis. I also have the Tumblr from them and now it only cost me a dollar for coffee and tea for life!
• Bridgeport Coffee
  Bridgeport Coffee is another great place to hangout, read a book, and study. It is located on the side of the Hyde Park Art Center. So after browsing through the art I like to have a cup of tea and read a book. This spot is one of those quiet hipster spots. I love that they have have loose teas and a very colorful staff more than happy to recommend a new great tea or coffee. Their pastries and sandwiches are delicious too!
• Harper Theater
  This place s a local gem. You can see a new movie for $8 dollars – tops and the matinee is $6. It’s small theatre with only three screens but it’s a great place to catch a matinee on a day off. I don’t recommend going on a weekend night because it’s a big teenager spot (unless of course, that’s your crowd) since it’s right in the neighborhood.
• Promontory Point
  Ok, so it’s not technically in Hyde Park, but I love Promontory Point! It is simply-put, one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces I have seen all around Chicago.
  I make it a point to end all my runs and biking trips here just so I can sit and enjoy the view of the Chicago skyline and just marvel that this is where I live. There are plenty of benches to sit on and even fire pits for barbecues. You will have to wake up pretty early on a weekend or holiday in the summer to snatch up one of the pits, trust me. At any given point the grass is filled with people just hanging out and relaxing with friends, family, and pets to watch the sunset. I’ve even got up and run to see the sunrise. It’s beautiful!!!
• Litehouse whole food Grill
  Now that I’m trying to be more conscious about what I’m eating I had to find a go-to place for when I want to eat healthy and chill outside of home. This brought me to Litehouse. It’s at the end of the 53rd street stripe but worth the walk. BTW, I say stripe because 53rd in Hyde Park is the most popular street, and it reminds me of Las Vegas where I went to college. There is music playing not to loud but definitely sets a vibe of a productive groove. The food is delicious and they have a very creative menu. Many of the dishes can be made into a wrap, salad, or in a bowl. FYI…The Caribbean Mango Jerk Salmon is great as a wrap!

These are my favorite spots in my hood, all you have to do is find yours and relax.

My next post will be about my favorite local bars in Hyde Park to go when you had a really bad day at work or when you don’t want to lose your parking spot and decide to chill with friends close to home.

Ronni