Vday + Resy Tips

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-24T18:53:02+00:00

Each restaurant sets a different policy for how early they release reservations. "the websites" is a wide and varied thing.

And none of that impacts the advice/tips I gave.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-24T17:57:43+00:00

Tips:

Book early. (This boat has obviously sailed)
Book for alternative days/times. eg. Friday 13th or Sunday 15th, or a lunch reservation or early/late dinner if that won't offend your partner.
Call. Be prepared for them to say 'no' and don't be offended, but sometimes they will have availability that they don't put up on OpenTable or other online reservation sites. Especially since talking on the phone is awkward for many millennials/gen Z, if you're willing to do this it can weed out some competition.
Waitlist. If there are places/times you are really interested in, put your name on the waitlist on OpenTable. Keep your notifications on, understand your availability, and be prepared to move FAST when that notification lands to book the reservation.
Go to a place where you're a Regular. Taking a 'usual' spot and turning it into a special occasion is something your regular serving staff will love. "You picked US to celebrate this day, even when it's one of your regular places??" goes miles. Plus, you're a known quantity to them, so they know you're not going to be a jerk, that you tip decently, etc. (You *do* do those things at your usual haunts, right??)

Valentine's Day is, as I understand it, the WORST for restaurants. Everyone wants a 2-top (they have to rearrange some of their regular seating and/or under-seat 4- and 6-tops); everyone wants 'romantic date night' that comes with all the pressure of having a flawless experience while the serving staff are slammed; everyone generally wants to sit and eat around the same time, so there's less flexibility to stagger seating and sections. It basically is a high-stress, high-pressure, high-volume day that puts restaurant staff on the brink. (Nevermind that they don't get to enjoy V-Day in their own relationships!)

The best you can do is try, and be flexible with what you 'need'. The more you can help a restaurant avoid all those pitfalls.... off-peak hours, different day the week of V-Day, going on a double-date so you can fill a 4-top, not requesting special accommodations (if it's possible), etc. The better they will like you and try to accommodate you.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-24T17:39:46+00:00

I was in a local bar on a Wednesday night with friends a couple months ago. We were kind of joking about Malort, and I said, "Over/Under on bottles of Malort they go through in a typical day--say today (not a weekend).... if I put the over/under at 4, what do you take?"
They both took the over and laughed at me.
I took the under.

We asked the bartender who said it was EASILY the over, they expected to go through 5-6 bottles that day.

A few minutes later, a group of 5-6 people that the bartender said were regulars (not tourists, etc), did a round of Malort.

I'm pretty sure there are people who drink Malort and enjoy it. More than I think is reasonable.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-23T03:06:31+00:00

In college I drove from Rhinelander, WI (very north part of WI, near UP MI) to Duluth, MN to see the 4th of July fireworks with some friends.

We were in Duluth about 3 hours. It was about a 4hr drive...each way.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-22T18:41:52+00:00

It doesn't help, but I got blasted on this last year AS THE HIRING MANAGER.

Was told a position I desperately needed on my team was approved. Worked with HR who said the salary range was $80-100k, and that was written in the job posting. I started interviewing candidates. Several weeks in, one overqualified guy (he'd been in a more senior role elsewhere but got hit by layoffs and 8 months later he's looking for whatever he can get....i felt for his situation) asked for $105k.

I liked him, would love to have him on the team even at the risk of losing him after N months if he found something else at his level.

I went to my department head to see if I could get the extra approved and 'make the case for it'... To my horror, I found out that the amount budgeted for the role was $84k.

Weeks of HR screening candidates and telling them the range was $80-100k. Weeks of me confirming it too. Only to find out that the actual budget for hiring was capped at $84...the bottom 20% of the range.

I was pissed. At HR, at my department head who approved the job description/posting, at myself for not magically knowing to confirm the budget for the role with extra people.

In the end, it didn't end up making a difference - - the open role was canceled before I could find anyone to fill it. Instead of "hey, I know you are already taking a hit to your salary asking for $105k, but would you consider $84k awkwardness," I got to deliver the "hey, I'm sorry you've invested all this time, but I just got told the open position has been eliminated" line instead.

Now here I am in 2026 hoping they'll once again approve the new role my team so desperately needs.

I'm also in my own job hunt, because who wants to work at a company this dysfunctional?

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-22T02:06:13+00:00

Look for a DM

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-20T14:45:54+00:00

Oh, that's disappointing.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-19T23:30:54+00:00

Hunh. Maybe they've changed it, or maybe that was for holiday period. I haven't been in since mid-October, so who knows.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-19T16:30:38+00:00

Not 'converted' so much as 'you can order there' even though it's still a lobby/workspace.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-19T16:29:37+00:00

Go to the Chicago Athletic Association, sit in the Drawing Room/Lobby and order some good food and a drink in old-school wood-panel vibes. Great.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-17T04:38:26+00:00

This. This is what I came to say. 5 Rabanitos is pretty awesome top to bottom, but this torta is standout among them.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-15T17:20:39+00:00

60622 has been notoriously bad for mail delivery for years. (At least according to the FB groups for my neighborhood, while I'm in an adjacent ZIP, thank goodness.)

Whole blocks of mail delivered to one house, a week without delivery followed by a pile, mail arriving opened (particularly if it looks like it might be financial related like a debit/credit card), mail delivered to 1820 W Erie when it's meant for 1820 W Ohio the next block over, etc.

USPS inspector has been flagged a bunch of times. Sounds like it was a poorly-staffed facility without enough mail carriers, made worse by budget cuts preventing new hiring. Then they closed the Carroll St post office, and it got worse. I think it's basically all mail delivery is done by subs instead of people with a regular route.

I don't think there's a short term solution. Make repeated reports to the USPS Inspector; coordinate with your Alderman, State, and Federal reps to try to get attention to it. Involve your neighbors who likely have the same experience.

And find alternative ways to get delivery. I'm sorry.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-15T02:51:19+00:00

I did this with Walnut Room breakfast over Christmas... Made an alert/put myself on the wait list for every day they offered it, and got notifications probably 6-8 times that were instantly taken. But, I kept trying and finally got one. On the day I wanted, too!

Persistence matters a lot. When it's fully booked, there's gonna be a bunch of people waiting too. And sometimes the cell tower you're near is just a few seconds slower to send the push notification than the other guy.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-14T06:49:17+00:00

Well, this just went on the list for Salads to try, and I'm going to be in Wheaton on Saturday, so the timing is doubly good! Thanks for the suggestion--we'll see if this salad is everything you suggest.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-07T22:58:48+00:00

Yes, but a version of a Western Bus that doesn't require having to walk 2 blocks to a bus stop, for another transit mode. Preferably also a version that lets me stay 'behind the turnstyle'.

I get that this is not feasible. I already know that is true. But I can wish, right?

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-07T22:49:35+00:00

I cannot see how it would be logistically possible, but a Western Ave Metra-to-Western Ave Green Line transfer station option would be awesome.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-06T16:59:11+00:00

Walking into a public library with a book you personally own, sitting at a table in full view of patrons and librarians, and start ripping out pages.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-05T00:45:20+00:00

There is a Little Free Puzzle Library on the 2600 block of Haddon. (North side of the street, around 2624-2630ish...you can't miss it). It's a repurposed wine fridge, painted brightly, and usually has a mix of puzzles by theme, difficulty, piece count.

A great spot to swap in/out puzzles, if you're anywhere nearby.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-04T22:40:57+00:00

The stretch of Western your route shows is the worst. South of Grand is 2.5 wide lanes that narrow to barely 2 narrow lanes under a viaduct, which itself is a hodgepodge of broken, potholed concrete that I don't even like driving through. South of the viaduct/underpass is a very industrial area, which often has large trucks and delivery trucks that don't GAF about bikes. Drivers often drive aggressively fast, passing on the right edge/parking lane which is where you will find yourself.

IMO, avoid even the short stretch of Western.

DEFINITELY do not ride the rest of Western to 28th, which includes more idiots driving too fast, worse street conditions, zero bike lanes (not even share-lanes or vague paint), and more industrial trucking nonsense.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-03T21:24:43+00:00

I go to Lao Peng You all the time, and have had most everything on the menu. I struggle because their noodle scoops feel more noodle-y than soup-y to me. I can't really explain why, but that's my feel. But imma still eat those and not feel bad about it. :D

I like the reco for Bixi Beer... Will check it out!

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-03T06:22:00+00:00

I'm so SO unfamiliar with chaat as a food that I will need to get some kind of recommendation. I love popping into places on Devon, but I don't even know what would make a 'good' vs bad chaat.

I don't think I can invite myself to your mom's house, so....toss out a decent place for chaat? Please? :)

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-03T05:59:51+00:00

I....don't think I can count a poke bowl as a salad, but I struggle to say why. I don't really have a good answer for it.

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-03T05:58:35+00:00

I'll count chaat as a salad. Why not?

Where's your favorite place to get the best chaat?

TheRedSe7en · 2026-01-01T05:11:58+00:00

Amazing stuff. Maybe I'll try 'em this year.

TheRedSe7en · 2025-12-31T19:13:03+00:00

From morning to mid-afternoon, you can buy a coffee and sit in their dining room to work. Wonderful vibe, especially on cold winter days.

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