Chicago MMXII

i will definitely soon, up until my wife's doctor appointment today i was planning on going tomorrow.

(xpost)

I will put in a firm "maybe" for pub quiz tomorrow -- I had last week off and so trying to dig myself out of all the work that went undone may mean I have to stay late tomorrow etc.

1) In The Year 2525 10 pts
2) You Transcribe Humus 11 pts
3) Match- Bang Slammer 13 pts
4) Chemical States Round 16 pts
5) Dead Or Canadian 11 pts
6) Pictures 15 pts
7) General Knowledge 24 pts

2 = ???
3 = MLB Managers

2 = Curb Your Enthusiasm

Neither of those rounds bodes well for me, I fear.

I watched all of the 1st three seasons of CYE back to back, but that was 4 years ago. Maybe a review of Wikipedia will help.

2 = Curb Your Enthusiasm

Just figured that out. I've seen every episode, including the most recent season, though I may not remember specific details. I'll study up.

I called in sick today. I'm only a little sick but Sarah is really sick and had to deal with Evie yesterday and I hadn't used any sick time at my current job yet so I just called in. And I'm glad I did because it's beautiful out and I took Evie to the playground. I'll still be at pub quiz tonight though.

http://www.complex.com/city-guide/2012/04/the-25-douchiest-bars-in-chicago#1

Perhaps not surprisingly, I have not been to a single one of those bars. Actually, there's some small chance I've been in the boundary, but I don't thinks o.

I've been to Fado, English, Sluggers, and Debonair Social Club. Of the three, I only have positive memories about Fado.

*four

Horrors, I've been to six: Nick's Uptown (possibly where I first had Malort?), Fado, English (for a work function), Casey Moran's (friend invited me b/c there were free drinks), Smart Bar, and John Barleycorn.

Didn't realize Fado was so bad, but then I've only been there early on Saturday mornings which I imagine is a slightly different crowd than what is being referenced there. Years ago I was dating a girl who's friends would always end up at Tai's at the end of the night because former Cubs pitcher Kyle Farnsworth used to hang out there, so I went there a couple times - even worse than described.

yeah English seems to be a "function" kind of place -- the two times I've gone were for a Fire thing and something organized for R's work

xp I didn't mind Fado, but the fact that it was, again, a Fire-related event, the goalkeepers and coach were bartending, and there were a lot of people I know and like there helped a whole lot.

I've only been to John Barleycorn, which seemed pretty average, but it was probably early in the evening.

Nick's Uptown and maybe Casey Moran's for lunch once long long ago. Was the Cubby Bear on the list? I've been there, too (during the day).

yeah, a lot of these places, especially the irish pubs, are probably fine before they fill up with assholes.

I would switch the rankings of Smart Bar and The Boundary.

I've had good times at the smart bar.

I think NIck's Uptown is the bar where I infamously slurred to Kr, "I'm old enough to be your motherrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!"

I've never been to Nicky's uptown lounge.

Nicks either.

Smart Bar seems pretty out of place on that list.

I first went to Nick's when Jeff and I came to Chicago on a pre-move recon mission. I met a cute Mexican dude on the train and we went to Nick's where we made out and dry humped the night away hangar-like main bar area. The bros were in force but nobody messed with us.

I mean, the guy writing the article sounds no less douche-y than the bars he describes, in his own way.

A lot of those bars are pretty bad, but that's pretty OTM, E.

yeah it's important to remember the list is in Complex which has its own inherent douchefactor

Somehow Jeff ended up with a subscription to Complex at our old apartment and every time I came tumbling out of our mailbox I would just get the rage.

This probably makes me a terrible person but this photo is cracking me up:

http://i.imgur.com/IVHlG.jpg

"Coll3tte Hylk@, religious education coordinator, shows the copper cross that was damaged outside the rectory at St. Mary of Perpetual Help."

You kind of have to see the photo in context of the other 1,000 photos of the damaged copper cross.

http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=11691504

"Okay, we've got 15 pictures of the cross, but let's get somebody out here to point at it."

That's some Pullitzer-level photojournalism right there.

Oh, I'd never heard of Complex.

That lady looks like she's in the process of bending the cross.

needs video of her saying "well isn't that special"

She looks like she twisted the cross herself, just by pointing at it.

does anyone know if Uri Geller has been in Chicago lately????

Btw, I posted about the 1940-era occupants of my apartment building here:
The 1940 U.S. Census

I'll be at the Globe at 7:30.

Me too.

The Lincoln bus goes all over all kinds of weird places.

I think I will not make pub quiz tonight as I am going to collapse in my bed right now. but good luck!

Hey, any recommendations for reasonably priced decent hotels in a location that might be good for first time visitors?

I'll be at the Globe at 7:30.

Just leaving work now, so I'll be there closer to 8.

I am on my way back to you, Chicago.

ENBB, You can usually stay in a boutiquey hotel in the mag mile area for ~$100-125 a night.

Public Hotel opened this past winter and has been running deals around that price. I think you could Priceline a room around $100 Loop/River North/Mag Mile and get a nice place. Also, the James.

Also, keep an eye on Jetsetter.

We totally won pub quiz, you guys.

Hi 5! Team name?

I Regret Eating My Placenta

:D :D :D

Aw yeah. Did it cover your bar tab? Did you slay the Curb round?

We each got about $20 off our tab, which didn't entirely cover it (drinks there aren't cheap, and a couple of us had food), but definitely went a long way.

And yeah, we got perfect rounds on both Curb and MLB Managers.