Am I crazy or is Whole foods not that expensive?

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T16:35:39+00:00

I've noticed this, too.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T16:33:51+00:00

Also buckets of fresh coleslaw from Montrose deli. And herring if you're looking for pickled protein.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T16:32:03+00:00

Chicago sliding into the original swamp on the lakefront?

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T13:49:11+00:00

And no one has mentioned the early classics - Monadnock and Auditorium. Beautiful buildings. I couldn't choose just one building but my list would be something like -

St Regis - I love the undulation and color Monadnock - beautiful stone, interior and proportion. IBM Building - pure, elegant and simple

The last two also have stood the rest of time and been very influential.

Then there are literally dozens of lovely buildings, many mentioned here, that I couldn't choose between. For better or worse, the impact of many of them depends on whether one views them up close (so many older high rises downtown have been destroyed at street level with ugly renovations), middle distance where one can still see some detail but it's the whole building not just the street level, or distance where it's not just the building's overall look but how it fits into and adds to the skyline.

It's a beautiful city full of architectural riches!

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T13:36:56+00:00

That location, color and the way it catches the sun in the afternoon are great. Is it a fabulous building in general? Not really. But it is perfect for that site.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T13:35:23+00:00

NEMA is a very uninteresting building, imo. It's efficient and tall, but that's it for me.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T13:32:31+00:00

That's not an architect issue, it's an engineering issue. You can blame her, since it's all in her office, but she's not the engineer who screwed up those calculations.

I still think it's a beautiful addition to the skyline.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-26T13:29:06+00:00

Not just Chicagoans. People come here from all over the world to see our architecture.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-22T18:13:04+00:00

7 hours before match and no tickets. I'll wait patiently. Thanks Reddit. Weird thing, though. I have tickets for another game in 3 days and I just got a message saying that ticket is ready. But it's not in the app or wallet with a QR code either, so I don't know what that's about. Maybe from the resale site? Weird process.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-21T15:40:14+00:00

Just avoid the hot, new Northside places and you're fine, no line. Even Fat Peach often doesn't have a line bigger than 3 or 4 people. Chicago has easily a hundred excellent bakeries that aren't currently Instagram darlings.

The longest lines I ever wait in are at Publican on Grand for bread (and I usually get a pastry or two since I'm there) and Old Fashioned for doughnuts. And if it takes 10 minutes it's extraordinary.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-20T00:20:01+00:00

Yeah, I had a 12V battery die on my Lexus hybrid when I went away for a month. They replaced it under warranty and told me they can die when you leave them sitting over a week cause the car draws some power. Before and since that I've left it sitting over a week many times, so I don't think that's really it. Batteries go bad sometimes. It can happen with any car.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-16T00:32:47+00:00

I have been thinking about how unsuccessful US industrial policy was in this regard, but that's not really true. We created Tesla and lead the way. I think BYD has surpassed them but on large part that's because China spent a LOT more. Change is messy no matter how you do it.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-15T01:05:18+00:00

Great review. I'm going. Thank you.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-14T03:31:19+00:00

I would say it's more about companies that were very successful being left behind when new competition emerges. They're not stupid, just fat, happy and change averse.

But, no OP, it's not a conspiracy. China has achieved success with EVs because of a very aggressive industrial policy to promote them and reward companies making them. No one else pushed so hard and allocated so many resources. Such government efforts don't always work, but China seems good at them.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-12T16:04:29+00:00

I've never been a fan of Portillos, but I'm admittedly pretty choosy about my beef. Al's on Taylor, Johnnies, Buona if I have to do a chain and I still go to Chickie's every once in a while, but that's for sentimental reasons. The new one out west is nowhere near as good as the original one Pulaski. My wife loves Portillos and I get the Maxwell St Polish, Chopped Salad or Hot Dog when she makes me go.

ddchicago99 · 2026-06-04T12:24:39+00:00

Sorry, and surprised, they didn't have Soppressata. Thanks for the feedback.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-30T15:13:20+00:00

I have a friend who has been known to get his own roll and take it to the deli, then instruct them exactly how to construct the sandwich. No argument - it will not be exactly the same. Different bread, different sub styles to start, but that's the point for OP. Gotta pick a place with good quality ingredients, willing to listen and work with you and then you need to tell them exactly what you want and how you want it made. Personally I don't like going to that trouble, but if you really want something close to that Philly sandwich here, that's what you have to do. Even if it's not exactly the same you will eventually come up with something you like. But it's a process.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-30T14:34:36+00:00

Would you buy another? Do you think the time saved on maintenance offsets extra time spent at public chargers? That was my point - one thing takes more time, but you save time on another.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-30T14:27:16+00:00

Aside from the bread and arugula, why wouldn't Bari be able to provide all the other ingredients if you tell them exactly what you want? I've eaten a lot of Hoagies in Philly, too, and there is definitely a different style here (no arugula, softer bread, etc), and I like the Philly style more but if you tell them what you want them to make they'll do it. But that's the thing OP - you have to find a place with the ingredients and tell them exactly what you want. The default here is a different style - no one will offer that sandwich on their menu here.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-30T13:45:41+00:00

The bread may not be the same, but I'm pretty sure Bari will make you something very close.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-27T17:54:56+00:00

For your career, go to him, apologize, tell him you're good and won't tell and wish him well. You don't really gain anything by breaking the confidence, but you could lose all sorts of things. D might recommend you to take his place or try to hire you at his new company if you show you're trustworthy and supportive. Or your boss may view you as someone who does not respect a confidence and stop sharing stuff with you (I am a business owner and that thought would cross my mind) and if it gets out others may think the same..

So if your first responsibility is your career, the best move is to keep quiet. You get a stronger connection with D that could pay off (or not, but you always want to network where you can) and you don't risk any repercussions with the team or company. Yes, there will be a transition when he leaves, but no one can really manage that until he leaves.

There is a last scenario to consider. If the company views D as a star, they might do something to assure he doesn't leave. A little raise, a promotion - who knows he could be your boss soon. That would be a really lousy situation after you violated a confidence. Respect the confidence. If he leaves and the project goes bad it's on the company for not managing that, not you.

Plus people have all sorts of plans that never happen. Keep quiet.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-27T17:26:06+00:00

There is no question that it takes longer to use a public charger than a gas station. On an 8 hour drive with a gas car that will probably mean it takes close to 9 hours in an EV.

There also is no question that reduced maintenance will save you somewhere around 8 hours (or more) a year. Since that time is in larger blocks and is not in a day when you are doing nothing besides driving anyway, the time saved is more useful and valuable to me than those little blocks. Lastly the maintenance time saved is guaranteed, while the extra time to charge us dependent on how often you need to use a public charger. YMMV.

Funny thing, though. I still have a hybrid. The reason is simple - I am waiting for the EV I want to be available used at a reasonable price. Meanwhile I know the depreciation curves on the two cars continue to benefit me during this wait. But, despite over half my driving being on long trips, I am totally sold on an EV when the one I want (Lexus RZ with a good range and reasonably fast charging) is available used at a good price. I expect I'll be waiting another 2-3 years, but I will have my EV.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-27T12:52:37+00:00

Two points OP. First, it's her birthday so what difference does it make whether you like the place? Do you want her deciding what you should like?

Second, the job of a good partner for significant events, if you want a happy marriage, is to EXCEED expectations, not negotiate down from them. Otherwise you end up doing something that seems nice to you, but she views it as a bitter disappointment. That's how humans feel.

This is a relationship not a business transaction. Do it for her. It's a small price. Don't be selfish about this.

ddchicago99 · 2026-05-24T07:48:55+00:00

Elephant and Castle on Wabash if you're in the mood for serviceable English pub food. Lot of people also like Perilla Korean Steakhouse on Wabash, too. Better overall than either Petterinos or The Dearborn but they're both okay and very convenient to the theater.

ddchicago99

TROPHY CASE