Category: Chicago Dining

Such a ‘Bler: I Thought I’ve Seen Chicago

Such a ‘Bler: I Thought I’ve Seen Chicago

Going on my third year in Chicago now, and having been a tour guide several times to an abundance of family and friends who have visited me, I thought I was almost an expert. However, it wasn’t until this Summer when I tried my very first Chicago hotdog (I loved it.) 

With this embarrassing realization, I set out to re-explore some of my favourite spots. The hotdog was enjoyed at the Park Café at Millennium Park, one of the first touristy destinations when I arrived in Chicago in 2017. I often just drop by to show my friends Cloud Gate, the huge structure at Millennium Park and Crown Fountain but boy have I been missing out on some good food. Don’t get me wrong, I had been searching around town for a place to finally experience this world-famous treat. But why was I searching anywhere else for this famous hotdog? It was right here!!! The café also has other hotdog options if Chicago isn’t your style, and really yummy ice cream too. 

This summer, I also set out to venture on CTA lines other than the red, such as the brown, purple, green and pink lines. Going to Loyola has definitely familiarized me with the redline (to the point of remembering the order of its stops) but now that I live off campus, I discovered that the purple Loop takes way less travel time to go downtown! Other lines also offer much faster routes to my favourite places. I guess I just had to get over the initial hesitation to explore. 

Strolling around the Chicago Riverwalk is another one of my favourite activities. It only took a wrong turn whilst trying to find my way back to the L one pretty afternoon for me to realize that I could love it even more. Just look at this beauty of a structure. I honestly stopped and marveled in awe. It also made me wonder whether I had been looking up at my city enough, and this is coming from the wanderer of the group. 

Perhaps you already know all of the above and I’m just being silly. I guess this is my way of saying keep venturing. Because I thought I knew most of Chicago as well. 

HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS! 

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Such a ‘Bler: Andersonville

Such a ‘Bler: Andersonville

Welcome to Andersonville (of course I would introduce this place eventually.)  

I am deeply obsessed with SoHo, New York and often compare Wicker Park to it. However, I knew that if I was going to spend four years of my life in Chicago, I need to find Chicago’s own beauty. And it is Andersonville.  

It’s this neighbourhood that’s a short walk off of the Berwyn Redline stop and honestly one of the best places to enjoy your day off, or even a day that you just want to work outside. I’ve had my fair share of both. There are so many cute coffee shops and restaurants sprinkled around, each with its own unique Andersonville touch. One of my personal favourites is A Taste of Heaven. My newly alumni friends, Andrea, actually took me there after learning about my deep appreciation for breakfast food. The restaurant serves breakfast food all day (I’m squealing) and has a really fun blue and white tiled floor – a twist on your conventional black and white chess checkered spread. And that’s just the thing about this area! 

It seems like any other little town, with cafés, a Starbucks and shopping destinations but if you take your time and really stroll, you’ll thrift stores, antiques places, plant shops, resale bookstores and several up and coming local businesses. My first time around, Andrea even took me to a place that sold old x-ray clips of people’s teethes.  

My friend Sam, whom I wrote about in an early blog about our growing excitement with farmer’s markets, has also recently brought to my attention that on Wednesday from 3-8pm, Andersonville also has a farmer’s market! And you know it’s already now also scheduled on my calendar. 

There are also occasional street books and knickknack resales out and about. I found this mirror at one of them. I also found this little picnic basket brief case thing at one of the antiques stores FOR $5!!!! Next to it, a young jewelry crafter set up her own little table and I got myself some new funky earrings. Being an artist myself, I love being able to support other local artists and personally learn the story behind their work. 

I am now going to leave you now with an aesthetic array of photos because Andersonville itself is just a gem to capture – trust me, take the trip and you’ll be leaving with the same. 

HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS! 

HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST: 

Such a ‘Bler: Loyola Farmers Market

Such a ‘Bler: Loyola Farmers Market

Well, here we are. I’m hooked! Yep, I’m officially a member of the Farmer’s Market fan club. And lucky for me, Loyola has one right beside the campus during the Summer months!! It’s literally right outside the Loyola Redline CTA stop!!!  

Follow other events that happen there here: https://www.instagram.com/rogersedge/ 

Now that I’ve moved out of the dorms and am living off campus, the produce that I buy has become a higher priority amongst my purchases. It’s wonderful to be able to go to one right after, or even between classes during weeks where I’m too packed to trek down to Wicker Park these Summer/early Fall months. I think it’s also a good venture for sophomores because second year dorms have kitchens and you can challenge yourself to cook a new dish during weekends! And honestly, everyone should come by because it’s a just lovely time!!!! 

Okay, I’ve ranted enough about how wonderful farmers markets are in my previous post (do give that a read though hehehe) but I will mention that the extra special thing about this market is the featured street performances!!! I’ve only been to this one once, but if I’m not wrong, there are different ones featured each time. You’ll just have to come by and see then – the market opens every Monday from 4-8pm.  

Loyola Farmer’s Market: https://www.instagram.com/loyolafarmersmarket/ 

Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/437135203526254/ 

There is also occasionally a gelato truck parked next to the market. TRUST ME WHEN I SAY YOU NEED TO TRY IT. I had some earlier sophomore year when the weather was warmer, and I haven’t forgotten it since. I’m so glad it’s back!!!! I also just love that it is aggressively pink.  

I remember from my UNIV 101 course during freshman year that some TAs organize weekly visits to this farmer’s market (or at least mine wonderfully did.) If yours does, you should definitely give it a go. I never did as a freshman and I very much regret it. But hey, at least now, I can possibly see you there? We can geek out about fresh fruits and flowers together. Happy Summer Ramblers! 

HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS! 

HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST: 

Such a ‘Bler: Wicker Park Farmers Market

Such a ‘Bler: Wicker Park Farmers Market

Just look at those blueberries!!!!!! I had the absolute best time at my very first farmers market (wow that’s a lot of first this Summer haha.) I’d always been very curious about farmers because I know they are not only great for the environment but also a chance to support local farmers. My mum and I planned to go to the one in Logan Square but unfortunately got rained out 🙁 so I was ecstatic when this one popped up! 

There was wide variety of freshly grown and picked produce. You can also find things such as homemade spices, pastries, ice cream and homegrown flowers!! I did squeal quite a bit when I saw tubs and tubs of colourful fruit because I basically live off of fruit. The even better news is that the prices were too crazy compared to those found in supermarkets. I brought along my own big tote for my purchases, and also bought some new reusable market bags for specific produce! 

The shop I bought my bags at (it’s a new, and apparently first zero-waste store in Chicago too – the owner is very very nice!!): Zefirowaste. They’re only at Wicker Park offline but you can definitely get your sustainability act started via their Instagram.

This is my friend Sam Bejarano (she’s vegan!) She’s also a rising Junior at Loyola and is very involved in our Student Government, so feel free to reach out and ask her questions! The other beautiful feature of this photo is a chimichanga!!!!!! It’s basically a deep-fried burrito, and yes it’s vegan. Sam took me to this beautiful vegan/vegetarian restaurant called The Handlebar afterwards, which was also in Wicker Park. It was only short walk from the farmer’s market, so it was a nice way to continue enjoying the lovely weather. 

We then also decided to sit outside for lunch! The space was very decorated with posters from music events. I even found a sticker from Loyola’s radio station, WLUW, in above the sink in the bathroom so that’s was extra exciting! I just got a mushroom omelet with fries on the side because I’m not vegan nor vegetarian, but there were so many tempting options!  

For dessert, we got a slice of cake that was a new added feature at the café. This Lemon Raspberry Cream Cake is actually from a one-woman vegan bakery called Pie Pie My Darling. The owner, Heather, is on her way to opening her own space but is still taking orders from individuals customers and restaurants like The Handlebar. 

Honestly, this cake is a must try because after this experience, I think I’ve officially hopped on the vegan desserts train.

I hope this little snippet of my adventurous Sunday in some way inspired you to go out and try new things! I’m definitely coming back. Catch you at the next farmer’s market? 

HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS! 

HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST: 

Such a ‘Bler: Teamo

Such a ‘Bler: Teamo

There was this time during my senior year of high school when mum went to Europe for a month-long business trip. I lived off of occasional dinners I’d cook for my dad and brother, but mainly bubble tea (how am I still alive?) So you could tell how ecstatic I was when Loyola announced the brief visit of Te’amo Boba Bar. 

Don’t get it wrong, I love the drink available from campus – everything from the best coffee at Center Stage Café in Mundelein College to healthy smoothies at Rambler Express. I often go to Tbaar if I had a specific craving, which was only a ten-minute walk from campus. This is fine, but less convenient during busy back to back class days. Hearing that bubble tea would now be available at Rambler Express was some exciting news.  

Te’amo is very different from any bubble tea brand I’ve had in Chicago thus far. It currently comes very close to Bingo Tea (my favourite, that’s all the way in Chinatown.) Appearance and variety wise, it is superior. The staff were also very friendly and quick even with the tsunami of excited students. It also gave me more reason to pass by the Damen Student Center – a hot spot I spent much of freshman year in but rarely visited now that I live on the other side of campus. 

I also appreciate that there was an appearance of a more traditionally Asian treat on campus, even if it was only for a little while. I get quite excited to hear thoughts from my non-Asian friends whenever they try a new flavour and being able to tell them all that I know about it. What really surprised me was that this pop up was so well greeted by our campus that the partnership actually ended up getting extend til the end of the academic year! 

I’m not sure if Te’amo will be back Fall 2019, but I do hope so. I heard it may be an added feature of one of our new dorms?? But if your cravings are like mine, here’s where you can find it for now! 

  1. Lao Sze Chuan restaurant bar area, 520 Michigan Avenue 
  1. 1115 E 55th St 

Teamo. 

HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS! 

HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST: 

Local Fave Restaurant: Sushi Burrito

Local Fave Restaurant: Sushi Burrito

Boy do I have a restaurant I want to tell you guys about. Like a few of the others I’ve mentioned, it’s ‘local’ in the sense that it’s in the Chicago region, although many native Chicagoans will tell me that it is most certainly not in Chicago – it’s in Evanston. I’m pretty sure there were locations actually in Chicago, but I went to the Evanston one to make an adventure out of it.

Sushi Burrito, ever since I heard of it, really piqued my interest. I mean, what could be wrong about taking a sushi… and making it huge?

Well, lots of things, some people told me – firstly, that it was too big to get your mouth around so you were left without the greatest quality of sushi. They mean, of course, you get all of the flavors in one bite. Which is fair, of course. But I still wanted to try it.

The second complaint was that it was too big to eat at one sitting but unlike a regular burrito it wasn’t good as leftovers. This, I ignore, because I was determined to eat it all. As one does.

After a few years of not going, I finally got around to going to it recently. It was late in the evening, so I didn’t get a chance to drop by my other favorite places in Evanston, such as the bookstore that charges by weight like a deli, or the huge Barnes and Noble, or get bubble tea from Joy Yee’s, and so on, but that was fine.

I had a great time at Sushi Burrito. This is their website: https://sushiburritochicago.com/ I got the Chitown (I think), pictured below, because I asked the guy at the counter what was the most popular since I certainly couldn’t decide with so many options. Plus the cost – not too bad!

Overall I would recommend Sushi Burrito if you’re looking to try something unique. It’s a little far away to go often, but how fun!

Starbucks or Dunkin Coffee?

Starbucks or Dunkin Coffee?

 

Just writing this makes me so stressed because I ask myself everyday, do I like Starbucks coffee more or Dunkin Donuts? First off, what do I even order to make that judgement, right? Well, I am basing this off of pure black coffee y’all. Before I get into which one is ‘better’, lets explain why I even drink black coffee. For many years, I was that person who would say “ew! You drink black coffee???” So I would get my regular cream and sugar with a typical sweet flavor added into it and that got me through the day pretty well. Yeah… it wasn’t long until it started making me really nauseous and uncomfortable. (Lets keep in mind, I am lactose intolerant). So how do I know which chain is the real deal when it comes to black coffee? We can add the fun syrups and flavors later, but lets base this judgement on the actual coffee now.

Well for starts, if you are in the mood for just a regular cup of coffee, then it depends on your taste of the companies’ original coffee blend. Starbucks’ coffee tends to be very strong while Dunkin Donuts’ coffee tends to be more watered down. I personally prefer a Dunkin’ Donuts cup of plain coffee compared to Starbucks IF its just for my daily routine. I usually grab a Starbucks if I need something a bit more strong, like for an exam, quiz, or long day.

When it comes to the special-flavored drinks, I definitely have to give it to Starbucks. Starbucks offers a wide variety of flavored coffees. I personally love the pumpkin spice and caramel brulee latte. Dunkin’s special flavored drinks aren’t that great to me.

Hands down, Dunkin’ Donuts definitely beats Starbucks when it comes to the iced coffee. When I would drink flavored coffee, I survived on caramel iced coffees.

Dunkin’ Donuts is cheaper than Starbucks so it wins in this category. Starbucks drinks can be really expensive and sometimes you need to rely on those Starbucks gift cards to get you through these difficult times.

So to be honest, I can’t say one is greater than the other. I have apps for both of them. I go to both of them. I spend a lot of money on both of them. I enjoy both of them (at different times). If you need recommendations as to what to get from either one of them, let me know! I definitely have had more than just black coffee!

Local Fave Restaurant: XO Marshmellow

Local Fave Restaurant: XO Marshmellow

 

How do you like your marshmallows?

If you say: I like them when there’s a whole store dedicated to them, then you’re in luck! I may have written about this place years ago, when it first opened up, but I think it’s always good to bring the attention back.

XO Marshmallow is, at best, a ten minute walk north of campus. It has sweet treats and photo-ready decorations for anybody! Although the space is small, it manages to feel a lot bigger with the airy lightness of the colors and the delicious, fun treats they have for sale. A friend recently brought me a marshmallow pop from there and it was so good. A sign of a true friend, bringing me something just because!

Truth be told, I think they are a little magical in there. They invent all sorts of delights, from funfetti marshmallows to marshmallow turtles – and foods for those with dietary restrictions as well, so nobody has to miss out on the happiness. I’m always tempted to go up there and get a coffee or a hot cocoa, especially on days like these!

Check out their website here or pop by yourself when you come visit. Be sure to check their hours first, since it’s a small business they’re not exactly open all hours of the day, but it’s a local Rogers Park business that’s totally worth a visit.

Chicago, Loyola, Libraries

Chicago, Loyola, Libraries

What sort of classes do they teach here at Loyola? Well, a bunch, and they’re all fun (at least, to me!)

This semester, I’m taking a class called the Newberry Library Undergraduate Research Seminar. What does that mean?!? It’s a class they hold every year with a different topic and a different set of professors, teaching students from all over the Chicago area – Roosevelt, UIC, DePaul, you name it! It takes place at the Newberry Library (where I’m interning, but that’s for another post) which is located downtown. This semester, the focus is on Chicago art and literature from 1900-1960, taught by Professor Bradshaw from Loyola and Professor Pohlad from DePaul, a creative writing professor and an art history professor respectively.

The class has been a lot of fun, because I’m certainly learning and reading a lot about a time period I didn’t really know a lot about before. Plus, we get to use the Newberry’s enormous archives to supplement a research project on a topic of our own choosing. How cool!

We regularly get curators and historians from the Newberry giving us guest lectures about topics with archival materials such as Ernest Hemingway’s actual letters to a Chicago publisher, or Ben Hecht’s Oscar, which is super interesting and also the only one they have in the entire library.

Have you ever wanted to go around a museum with someone who actually knew a lot about the pieces? Because that’s what we got to do. I mean usually I do alright in the classical art section (history major, that’s me) but we were focusing on the modern art stuff since the class is about Chicago, 1900-1960. I admit, I wouldn’t probably even go into the modern art section without Professor Pohlad going like: come on, it’s interesting, just look, okay? I’ll tell you about it and why it matters and so on.

 (There he is, explaining a DuChamp. DuChamp is the very same guy who infamously said that a urinal he bought and put on its side was art.)

So the class did. If you haven’t heard, Loyola students get into the Arts Institute for FREE, and I always wish I went more. Tragically within the class time we only had enough time for the Modernists, and barely enough, really, but I fully intend to go back soon and look at the Roman and Greek marbles for as long as I want.

I haven’t been on a class field trip in a long time – once in Tai Chi class in China, and a few times in Rome for history class, but it’s always refreshing to get out of the classroom. Keep the Newberry Seminar in mind when looking at classes, and for sure don’t forget about Chicago’s art!

Such a ‘Bler: My Second Lunar New Year in Chicago

Such a ‘Bler: My Second Lunar New Year in Chicago

It was a day in my Vietnamese áo dài (our traditional costume), Vietnamese food and non-Vietnamese friends!

I am an international student. I was born and raised in Vietnam and have been in Chicago for almost two years for university. In Vietnam, we celebrate Lunar New Year, which tends to come around early to mid-February – whenever the moon decides to finish its cycle haha. It’s a tradition in countries that celebrate Lunar New Year to gather with their family and friends for food and celebrations.

Noon on Monday, February 4th was when the clock hit midnight signifying the walk into the new Lunar New Year 2019 in Vietnam. I, as usual, was in class. Last year, I was able to wish my parents and brother on Facebook under the table (shhh) but this year, noon on a Monday meant THTR 266 – Acting I and so, my found sat on silent in my bag as the fireworks crackled back home.

Right after class ended at 12:10pm, I had a 25 minute break before my next class THTR 352 – Design II and so I quickly called my parents. I was running from Mundelein in my áo dài, wrapped in my winter coat and holding a Starbucks. I felt very cultured. It was nice to hear their stories about celebrations back home, though things were a little quieter with me being in Chicago, and with my dad being under the weather this year. Seeing them smile upon my call home from class in my traditional costume, made me even more homesick.

Later that day, my friends and I took the L to Argyle and had Vietnamese food at Nhà Hàng Việt Nam. I let them choose their order though they insisted on my recommendations. To my surprise they all chose VERY special and authentic dishes – it was a proud moment for me. They their first shared reactions to the food whilst I shared stories of traditions back home. Chicago was still chilly that day but my heart was warm. 

Here’s a throwback of my áo dài from last year on the beautiful steps of Mertz Hall: 

I made sure and will continue to wear my culture with pride each year. Don’t forget traditions even when you’re half way around the world from where you learnt them. Besides, it’s always fun to answer the questions that people ask when they pass by. Happy Lunar New Year everyone!

HEY, I ALSO MAKE VIDEOS!

HERE’S THE SUCH A ‘BLER PLAYLIST: