|
 |
September 18th, 2009
We get the strange sensation that at times, life is exactly like a classic game of Monopoly. We picture ourselves the tiny silver Scottie dog, just making our way round and round the square. It’s two steps forward, two steps back. So perhaps Monopoly meets vintage Paula Abdul. You take a Chance card, maybe even find yourself falling a bit for someone, and then boom—it ends in one single text message. (Um, is it just us or did technology kill the radio star, and like everything else?) You get a new job, make more money. You buy a new car, pay more bills. Round and round, trying to own Park Place which gets scooped up by the silver thimble. Who also happens to be your new boss, who coincidentally you grow to loathe. And here you are, chasing another top hat type who ends up being a total skeeze when all the while you really should have been after that nice, harmless wheelbarrow that sat next to you at work and had solid family values and a nice bum. And ya wake up, collect $200 and do it all again. Oh, Parker Brothers, when will our net worth be more than a few game pieces and pair of dice? |
||
Chicago Picks: |
|||
| 1 | South Side Sweetener If we had a mascot here at Chicago Picks, we’d name her Tomboy. We'd spoil her rotten with chic vests, boyfriend jeans, lots of plaid, and … femme baseball jerseys. Because when is chilling at a White Sox game not a fashionista’s thinly veiled excuse to break out her cutest accoutrements? So here’s a shout-out to our South Side ladies: we know Jim Thome getting traded is coming out of your wardrobe budget! Sweeten the sorrow—without striking out on your taste buds—at Mother Butter's. The pickier set may want to linger by the wall of bulk candy and nuts because this new mom-and-pop storefront absolutely sizzles with Southern-style sweets we’re big fans of the chocolate-covered caramel pecan patties (called “gophers”) and Louisiana-inspired popcorn seasonings like Cajun, Bayou, and Chipotle Cheddar. Their treats are indulgent enough to make happy, clapping mascots out of even the mildest sports fan, while turning her Teen Spirit into team spirit in summer’s last rays. Go maple walnut, go! Mother Butter's Popcorn & Confectionary |
|
|
| 2 | Get Your Fill Not since our last trip to Israel have we tasted falafel this delicious with toppings this, well, divine. And the best part? We didn’t have to travel thousands of miles to find it! That’s right, the newly opened Falafill in Lakeview serves up tasty falafel sandwiches and salads, and the most impressive add-ons bar this side of the Red Sea. Here’s how it works: we order our falafel at the counter and have the option of adding tasty toppings like hummus, baba, feta, and most importantly, fries. Fries can be ordered on the side, but we recommend putting them right on the falafel sandwich—that’s how they do it in Old Jerusalem and trust us, it’s delicious! Especially since Falafill offers both regular and sweet potato fries. Once we’ve received our tasty falafel, we can saunter over to the toppings bar which offers tabouli, beets, and tahini, to name a few. Yum! And at five or six bucks for a huge falafel sandwich, we know we’ll be coming back for more deliciousness soon! Falafill |
|
|
| 3 | Princess for A Day We’d love to be a princess for a day—pampered from the moment we wake up to the moment we lay our head on one of those fluffy pink pillows. But while there aren’t any “Princess” openings on Career Builder, we have found a way to feel like one for thirty minutes to an hour-ish. The newly opened 2 X 10 salon in Ravenswood offers manicures, pedicures and other spa services that leave you feeling like royalty. The atmosphere is clean, comfy and adorable, the staff is lovely, and the gossip magazine selection is superb (it’s no secret that nails dry the best while you’re reading about Brangelina). But our favorite thing about 2 X 10 is the amazing massages they throw in with the services. We lavished in the hand and shoulder massages during our manicure, and we couldn’t get enough of our mid-pedicure foot massage (2 X 10 even offers slightly extended massage services for a little extra moolah). And with the extremely reasonable prices, you don’t have to be a Princess to feel like one. Now all we need is a tiara! 2 X 10 Nail and Spa |
|
|
| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | Head Gear Mock us if you may, but we have always wanted to be a bridesmaid—we blame missing prom (ahem, geeks)—so when we were tapped for big-day duties we were stoked! We began searching for a signature piece that would make us stand out, and we hit the style lottery with Bethany Lorelle. This ultra-talented local gal handcrafts gorgeous headbands, hair clips, and barrettes, adorning them with things like brilliant feather plumes and silk organza blossoms that positively exude an ethereal, romantic vibe. |
 |
|
| 2 | What’s Old Is New We harbor a mini-obsession with Marilyn Monroe. The platinum hair, the curvy figure, the bevy of men at her beck and call… what’s not to love? Alas, we’re brunettes, and the men are mysteriously absent, but luckily our curves can rock similar threads thanks to Posh Girl Vintage. This expansive vintage site is loaded with high-quality apparel and accessories including stunning period wedding and cocktail dresses, tough leather motorcycle jackets, and even lingerie to channel our inner pinup. |
 |
|
| 3 | Those Amazing Animals We have a weak spot for uncommon interpretations of the ordinary, especially when it comes to our beloved pets. Phoenix-based artist Laurel Morley is brilliant, offering original paintings of your furry friends in Elizabethan or Renaissance costumes. Check out her online shop for a taste of her amazing talent! |
 |
|
Hip Happenings: |
|||
| 1 | Slip into Something More… Comfortable Does your week ever look like this: laundry, school drop-off, cleaning, bills, cooking, grocery store, house repairs, car repairs, school pick-up? Or maybe: coffee, meeting, presentation, meeting, coffee, lunch meeting, phone calls, conference call, meeting, coffee, networking? Hit up Spa Week Chicago—participating spas include Ruby Room, Continuum Studio, Elizabeth Adam Salon and Day Spa and more! What: Spa Week Chicago |
 |
|
| 2 | C'mon, Ride the Trolley C'mon get happy, everybody. Shake up your typical happy hour Friday-evening cocktails with something that expands your mind. Plus, you get to hop on and off a trolley to tour the Gallery Guichard. See Faie African Art and the South Side Community Art Center while being carted around by your own personal chaffeur (kinda). What: Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour |
 |
|
| 3 | I Wear My Lifejacket at Night Afraid of kayaking? Don't be. We are way below the amateur level, and when we went it was calming and easy breezy! Kayak along the Chicago River and take in views of the city lights. It includes a lesson on safety and operation, so you'll feel confident and ready to boogie down the river! What: Night Paddle |
 |
|
| Don’t let your friends and family miss a stylish beat: Sign them up at www.ChicagoPicks.com! | |||
Be sure to visit www.chicagopicks.com and check out past issues in our archives. If you like what you see, forward to a friend and encourage them to check out www.chicagopicks.com and subscribe for free! It's easy--there's a box in the upper left to enter your email address. If you would like to make a suggestion, please email us at contribute@chicagopicks.com. Share your favorite ideas for Picks, tell us about terrific products or services, announce a sale or event, or let us know what you think of Chicago Picks! Website and weekly issues maintained by Studio Ridge.com. |
|||
