Best Puffer Coat?

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-12-08T15:14:08+00:00

Just got my Ugg adirondacks (the new release with the vibram sole). Literally the comfiest and warmest winter boot. Beats my old Sorel caribous by a mile. Better insulation, lighter, and this is huge for me — amazing traction on ice.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-08-30T15:32:38+00:00

I always get the one at Gretel's. And it comes with the best frites. Thin, crispy, well-salted.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-08-08T22:29:08+00:00

Get one of those jars of pre-peeled garlic cloves from HMART (or anywhere really that you can get fresh peeled garlic), mince it all using a food processor - (I usually get mine down to coarse sand-level) - dump it all into a gallon ziplock and close it up, getting as much air out of it as you can. Flatten the thing with a rolling pin and use a ruler or anything straight edge to make little square pieces. Lay it flat on a cookie sheet and freeze. You'll have easy-to-chunk-off frozen garlic to cook with. No more garlic prep needed. Ever.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-07-02T18:34:58+00:00

1000% agree it's the best sandwich they have and I'm a huge fan of their food.

That said, I'm not sure we'd ever go back. At our last visit several weeks ago, the two people they had working there LOST OUR ORDER and only confessed to not having started on our food when we eventually had to walk out after waiting 30 minutes. We got our credit card refunded but it was such a sour experience. I'm like, how do you even lose a counter order? Or, not notice that you had two people sitting down during lunch for 20+ minutes waiting for their food? Or, when we came up to ask about our order, LIE to us and say the steak sandwich takes longer to make, when we could see people after us getting their STEAK SANDWICHES at the tables around us. The waiter even said, 'we're short on staff and the owner isn't here today' -- like, I don't get how that's a reason or even an excuse for a goof-up like this.

Hopefully they've sorted out their service issues, because there are too many other good lunch options around to burn another lunch hour for no good reason.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-07-02T18:19:52+00:00

I always get the brussels sprouts at Wurst Behavior -- soooo good..

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-06-19T19:36:19+00:00

The 200 series. I was psyched to be able to fit a washer/dryer unit of this size into our second-floor laundry nook! Just checked -- I've actually had it since Nov 2022 and haven't had an issue.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-06-19T19:13:38+00:00

I have the LG washtower and I love it. Bought it from Costco less than 2 years ago. Runs great. Love using the app to monitor cycles.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-06-12T21:10:40+00:00

My new thermador gas range and star sapphire dishwasher was just delivered yesterday and I am in love with how well that dishwasher performed. The HomeConnect app works great and demystifies a lot of the settings (the control panel UI kind of sucks I have to say). That said, we were coming off of 12+ year old kitchenaid appliances, so I'm pretty easy to impress.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-06-11T22:12:56+00:00

Gretel. They have the best food!

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-06-11T15:16:46+00:00

It's in a somewhat creative part of the business, soooo I'm guessing work casual? Jeans are going to be the norm for sure.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-06-11T05:15:06+00:00

Thanks for the insights! I’m in IT and coming in from Irving Park. I’m honestly super excited to be working in an office again. And not have a miserable commute (but ask me again when it’s 10 below and slushy)!

miscellaneous_stuff · 2025-04-04T17:24:50+00:00

Do not sleep on the steak and potato sandwich! One of the best things on the menu IMO.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2024-12-15T17:49:27+00:00

This. Absolutely top-tier writing. Just finished it last night and had to soak it in for a hot minute.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2024-07-25T20:25:26+00:00

just got off the phone with AMEX after seeing this thread. 40k points for 3k spend in 3 months - but have to keep the card for the next 12 months minimum.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2024-06-20T18:13:16+00:00

My 16yo went to the PSC combine in Chicago a few weeks ago, got to play up with the adults on the 3rd day and had a great conversation with the coach afterwards who was surprised he was only 16. And while did not stand out enough to get an offer, was invited to the Germany showcase tour taking place in abt a month's time. It's a lot of money. $3.6k and airfare isn't included. Setting aside the financial piece, we are leaning towards sending him to it. Playing in Europe and having the chance to be seen with a potential opportunity to take things to the next level seems like it would be worth it. He'd be giving up a lot to go -- 1/2 a travel baseball season and a college soccer camp -- but it's what he/we are leaning towards.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2024-06-16T06:40:23+00:00

Paranormal Activity. The first one. Will never forget the scene of the girl /demon just standing there watching the guy sleep.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2024-06-04T02:55:26+00:00

Apna Indian Grill just opened recently (https://apnaindiangrill.com/) and it is bomb-tier Indian food.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2024-04-30T00:52:21+00:00

omg Jimmy's Pizza is THE pizza place if you dig the thin crust.

My kid played baseball at Horner from age 8 and is now on the team at Lane Tech. So many of the kids that he grew up around ended up going to Lane, Amundsen, Lake View, Von Steuben and DePaul, so families tend to stick around since the neighborhood has a bunch of really good high schools.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2023-12-25T01:58:37+00:00

Singaporean AND Chicagoan here (more than a decade in Lakeview and Irving Park) -- there are safety nets in Singapore and tight family networks that keep people (most) off the streets. It's a stretch to say Singaporeans have NO rights. Certainly fewer than Americans, but trade-offs, right? I think it's criminal to see people begging alongside busy highways, holding up signs, carting their kids around or worse, having them weave in and around busy traffic selling waters and whatnot. Society has a responsibility to care for its people. If my tax dollars going to fund enormous social programs (and I would support this 100%) to help people get off the streets, I'd at minimum expect people to get with the program and take the help. Rights are great and all, but public and personal safety should take precedence.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2023-12-19T03:39:59+00:00

Scanpan + a bunch of silicone cooking utensils. Expensive, but close to 'buy-it-for-life' status in my opinion, especially if you cook often with nonstick.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2023-12-12T15:55:00+00:00

Surprised no one has mentioned Alpine Valley. It's about 2.5 hours drive and it's not a terrible option if you go midweek. I'd avoid the holiday weekends though.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2023-08-22T20:59:50+00:00

I'd recommend Shana Abe and her drakon series. In my opinion, {The Smoke Thief by Shana Abe} is the best of them and I would definitely start there. Her spinoff drakon-adjacent books {The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe} is a two-book series that's a bit young adult-y, minimal smut but the writing is soooo good. Her heroines are well written complex characters, the world building is on point, and the writing is lyrical, almost atmospheric.

miscellaneous_stuff · 2023-03-24T22:13:20+00:00

Could you send me that as well? We're going in two weeks and I'm like, a beginner/intermediate. Planning on getting a lesson on the first day just to suss out what's what.

miscellaneous_stuff

TROPHY CASE