Kristina "it is fine. period is fine." B.'s Profile
DateChicago, IL 60622
(773) 235-8800
The Bedford
Category:
Bars
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
1 Previous Review:
-
1/6/2012
Door guy was funny. And engaging. I called him mittens. Can you guess why?
The inside is pretty swanky, trendy, overall fun. It used to be an old bank so there is a private party room inside one of the old bank vaults. How fly is that? The crowd is not annoying (yet) so three cheers to that. Schlitz is cheap. Four cheers to that. And the bathroom? Um...amazing. The wall color and the couch and the huge mirrors...love this. I could have spent all day in there, prepping my pretty little face as if it was my own private room with my own private vanity. But, it wasn't. Lots of randoms walking in and out. Wah wah.
All in all, I definitely dig the vibe of this place thus far and will hit it up again, willingly (that is the key word nowadays). I simply MUST try the food next time I'm there.
Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 243-4846
Hoosier Mama Pie Company
Categories:
Desserts,
Bakeries
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
Pecan pie...standard.
Why the four starts, you ask? Oh, I'll tell you why the four stars. Three reasons:
3) Suuuuuuuuuper friendly staff (I originally wrote starff...I suppose if they had a starff, it, too, would be super friendly)
2) Hoosier Cream Pie -- when you first look at it, you think 'Really? I'm going to like THIS?' Visually, it's 100% ok but not the kinda pie that you'd jump for joy over just by looking at it. Does. Not. Matter. Get it. So, so tasty and worth the money.
1) I can't even talk about number one. But I will (didn't take much, did it?). Ginger Custard Pie. I don't know when they have this thing, I don't know if it's going to be a seasonal thing only (I should probably call and ask) but Harry Caray's HOLY COW doesn't do this pie any justice. Part of me didn't even want to mention it in fear of throngs of people swooping in and stealing it from me on the days that I want it. But it's too amazing to keep a secret.
Go here now. Eat their pie. Keep them in business so that I can get my fix when I need it. I need my GCP like meth addicts need...well, meth. Duh.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 529-5277
SpaDerma
Categories:
Skin Care,
Medical Spas,
Laser Hair Removal
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaul
1) Friendly front-desk staff. Efficient and professional, too. They call two days in advance to remind you about your appointment that you booked over a month ago (thank goodness!). Gotta love that!
2) I typically make my appointments right after work (so...5:45/6 ish?) and never have a problem finding metered parking in that area within one block. That really helped a few weeks ago when it was FREEZING and I would have surely collapsed had I been required to walk any farther than the 15 feet I DID walk.
3) Alison. She's awesome. If you're doing any sort of hair removal, ask for her. She's nice, sweet and just seems like an overall great person. I very much enjoy my sessions with her. Couldn't ask for a better person to get me through a not-so-amazing feeling process! (PS -- it's not the worst thing ever, but it's no walk in the park)
They've been getting my biz for over half a year now and will continue to do so...at least until my Groupons and Yelp deals are through. But let's be honest, even after that, I'd still commit my follicle extraction to these people based on the three above-mentioned points. Yee-haw!
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 274-9733
Trader Joe's
Category:
Grocery
Neighborhood: DePaul
- pizza dough (cheap AND delicious)
- frozen mac and cheese (throw some sriracha on that and zOMG, it's delish-balls 2k12 up in your mouth...haha, balls...mouth)
- cheese, cheese, cheese! So much to choose from!
- cheap and tasty wines (for the alcoholic in you...come on, you know you can't deny it)
But the 5 stars is not only for TJ's as a business but for this specific location. Everyone here is amazing. Smart, funny, friendly, helpful...what more do you need in a staff? They make small talk but mean it. They guide you down the aisle to find chick peas and couscous (true story). They chase you down in a loving manner just to give you a free sample. Love love LOVE everything about these people. I very much look forward to every single TJ's trip I take based on this store alone.
Haven't been to a TJ's yet? Start with this one. You'll be hooked before your shopping cart/basket is full. I gua-RON-tee!
As far as food goes -- standard CB ish here. Nothing to write home about but nothing to complain about either. Well...
I wish there was more seating. This is a really busy CB (for business people and tourists alike) and there is just not enough seating. I want to rework it somehow to maximize space. Not sure how I'd do that, but yeah. People that stand around waiting for their food just seem so miserable because they can't situate themselves at a table with 2 of their closest friends and coworkers. Which brings me to my other, RANDOM comment.... Stop going to lunch in 3's, people. That is one extra place at your table of 4 (2 tables of 2) that you are hoarding while the rest of civilization wants to sit down. Please just limit yourself to one friend or coworker, or befriend a 4th. Just sayin'.
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 586-0523
Brezel
Categories:
Specialty Food,
Bakeries
Neighborhood: Short North
Great addition to North Market! I've only sampled two pretzels + a cream cheese dipping sauce and I'm sold. Or hooked. Or both.
Bravo, Maria and Brittany! Thanks for rockin' my socks since 2011. :P
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 221-4444
Firdous Express
Categories:
Greek,
Mediterranean
Neighborhood: Short North
Mmmm...nope. Not the same.
The chicken was dry, the spicy rice was not that spicy, and the food prep inside the container was overall messy. Food was 'leaking' out of the container. I watched as the person scooped it inside and noticed that he didn't wipe off the edges and just put it in a bag. Great. Thanks.
It wasn't the worst thing in the world but in all honesty, I'd be ok with never eating this again. North Market has better options. Shoot, I'll just go eat scoops and scoops of Jeni's for lunch. Sugar high, anyone?
Columbus, OH 43215
(614) 220-9070
Pistacia Vera
Categories:
Bakeries,
Desserts,
Coffee & Tea
Neighborhood: German Village
1 Previous Review:
-
5/18/2009
I can't even talk about this place.
No, really. I can't even talk about it. But I will.
Strolling through the German Village, Mitch H. and I made this place a reality on Sunday afternoon. It's adorable inside. Very non-chaotic, very clean. Lovely staff. We purchased the ginger sable cookie, the chocolate chunk pistachio cookie, and various macarons (lavender honey, caramel, chocolate, vanilla, pistachio). Upon completion of our purchase, we proceeded to have lunch. I'm pretty sure all we could think about were the desserts that sat beside us on the table in that cute little white box.
Lunch = over. To the park! We sat under a tree and basically devoured everything we bought. I wouldn't get the chocolate macaron again (kinda bland) but the other ones listed above were phenom. Beyond phenom. You could tell that the vanilla macaron was made with real vanilla bean flavoring. The honey was so subtle yet present in the lavender honey. The pistachio had this amazing green color inside when you bit into it. Ugh. And who doesn't love a good sugared ginger cookie? So tasty.
So...if you came across two crazies sitting in the grass, eating desserts, pointing and laughing at everything (and potentially smacking each other on occasion), well...yah. Me. Mitch. Ha.
PS -- They have this awesome pistachio 'bust' by their front door. It's pretty much amazing. It's like a shrine to the delicious nut. Make sure to bow down and pay your respects to it as you leave the shop.
Columbus, OH 43230
(614) 475-1300
Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Category:
Fast Food
Neighborhood: Gahanna
1) the food is the same deliciousness at all other locations
2) PARKING LOT!
3) staff = awesome; the man who took my order was nice, funny, basically everything I could ever want in someone taking my fried chicken order!
That's all I have to say about that.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 697-4804
The Anthem
Category:
Sports Bars
Neighborhood: Ukrainian Village
Pros:
- big screens for game watching
- wasn't horribly crowded on a Friday night (though maybe it was still too early)
- .......mmmm, that's it.
Cons:
- bartenders were weird. One was just straight up annoying, talking to friends that were sitting at the bar even though people were waiting to be served. Another didn't even bother telling a customer that the price he was paying for 4 Bud Lights could have gotten him a bucket of 5. I mean personally, I'd be more likely to buy more alcohol if I knew I was getting a deal. Just sayin'.
- layout is good enough but the same as it's predecessor. Kinda boring overall.
- some of the crowd that night was just..........well, anywhere you go in the hood can be hit or miss. I'll just give you a taste of what I overheard one person saying to another:
Guy w/ lame hair and leather jacket, very blatantly trying to hit on girl: "Yeah, I've never had a real job my entire life."
Girl w/ obvi extensions and...oh my...a leather jacket: (later in the convo) "I'm Czech and sorta speak it. You'd never know it, though." (the guy was surprised by all of this)
What am I supposed to do with that, people?
Anyway, I'd come back to watch a game if my friends really wanted to. I am not, however, dying to go back.
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"I mean seriously -- have you MET me?"
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365 Useful, 273 Funny, and 237 Cool
Chicago, IL
Yelping SinceOctober 2006
Things I Lovewine, cupcakes, flowers, scarves, chess, laughing, whiskey, Chicago Bears, Southwest, chapstick, hoodies, Sriracha, Fox & Obel, Ursula from the Little Mermaid, Chopin vodka, Chicago Bulls, fingerless gloves, farmer's markets, 'Cooking' by James Peterson, Cholula
Find Me Inoversized sunglasses and flip flops
My HometownThe Chi. Wicka-wicka-wicka Park.
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm booking a plane ticket for another weekend vacay.
Why You Should Read My ReviewsThey're addicting, much like massive amounts of cocaine.
My Second Favorite Website Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I used to think that Donnie and Marie were married.
Current Crushthat bartender........at that place.....oy.
Still giving you a solid 4 stars, Bedford. I like you! I really, really like you!