Colleen "Shorty" M.'s Profile

I was too busy taking pictures of the décor to snap any good photos of the sandwich I ate on Saturday at Melt, a new sandwich joint in Bucktown. As toddlers ran around and wrote on the chalkboard-paint walls, I enjoyed my Provence:

Ingredients: a pleasant but not exceptional blend of herbed mushrooms, truffled cheddar (though I couldn't taste any truffle flavor), oven roasted tomatoes and sourdough bread.

Accompaniments: bland tomato bisque that tasted like Imagine brand boxed soups from Whole Foods.

Environment: the warm grilled cheese smell hits you right when you walk in the door. VERY kid-friendly, aloof service (no public restrooms, cash only).

Overall: 3 stars. If I attempted this one at home, I'd serve it on Foccaccia rather than sourdough, and substitute the tomatoes for roasted red peppers.

I'm still in love with the custom engagement ring that my fiancé bought from Hurst's, so it was our logical first stop when we started looking for our wedding bands.

At first, I was a bit skeptical about whether the drive out to the 'burbs would be worth it, but from the moment we walked in the door together, I knew this place was special. The staff greeted him by name, and helped us figure out what we liked and didn't like. On a return visit, Eduardo patiently showed us the same rings again, plus many more, but we still settled on the bands that we saw on our first visit. While we shopped, Eduardo and his team made us feel right at home, and even took my engagement ring to the back room for a good polishing.

Before you stop in a chain store to pick out jewelry that really means something, I'd recommend visiting Hurst's for a locally owned option that delivers exceptional service.

What a wonderful place to celebrate a special occasion!

I came here for my birthday a few weeks ago and we ordered from the 3 course prix fixe Sunday brunch menu. Despite the limited selection (3-4 choices per course) everything that we tried was outstanding and memorable, including a starter with shrimp and grits that reminded me of Louisiana with subtle but not overpowering Creole seasoning, and a caramel apple tart for dessert that I simply didn't want to finish because that would mean it was the end of a perfect meal.

Service was perfect -- informative, friendly, unobtrusive.

Sitting on the patio means sunlight in your eyes, but that was really our only complaint.

Note: We were glad we didn't wear jeans and that we had made a reservation. Also, if you're driving, go ahead and valet park ($8) rather than trying to find a spot. It's worth it. (Drop-off is at the corner of Lakeview and Deming, on the west side of the park.)

This Family Dollar location is my go-to store for household items like cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and paper towels.

Not only is it within walking distance of my house, but they have most of the same name brand products I'd buy elsewhere and they're typically cheaper than Target.

The line always seems long because there are only 2 cashiers, but usually I'm in and out pretty quickly.

Since it opened a few months ago, Roots has joined our rotation of a small but select group of nearby restaurants that we consider when we're looking for a consistently reliable place for dinner on our occasional lazy no-cooking nights.

The pizza may have some detractors. First, it's definitely pricey. Unless you want one of their few predetermined combination pizzas (like Taco or BLT), each topping for a build-your-own will run you $1.50 apiece. As for the crust, I can understand why it's so polarizing, but I'm a fan of its almost sweet taste. Same with the Northerner's Salad that's topped with cherries and candied walnuts -- you can set them aside and eat them for dessert.

The drink menu definitely needs improvement -- if you don't want beer, you can choose from a few wines by the glass or "adult sodas" -- full-sized plastic glasses of flavors like Big League Chew or Sour Patch Kid that set you back 12 bucks. Seriously, can we get some grown-up drinks, please?

I'll stop my whining, though, because when ordered right, Roots really hits the spot. Also rounding up to 4 stars for having rehabbed an abandoned storefront and for helping to bring Bleeding Heart Bakery (right next door) to the 'hood.

I first noticed Farmhouse while passing by on the Chicago Avenue bus several weeks ago. What once was a small coffee shop now bore a large "Farmhouse" sign with barn animals and a warm glow of happy people eating emanating from the front window. I was intrigued.

So a few weeks ago, we ventured over to check out Farmhouse on a Sunday night. We weren't sure if we needed a reservation, but we made one anyway -- and good thing, too, because the place was pretty crowded for the end of a weekend. The noise level, coupled with the TVs at the bar, actually made for a much more boisterous night out than we had anticipated.

Our server, too, had lots of energy, and was super-enthusiastic about nearly every item on the menu. I ended up trying a skin-on trout fillet with leeks and potatoes that was moist and flavorful, and my date loved his burger, which was cooked to his ideal level of doneness.

Our two-top table was so close to the next one that I often felt tempted to interrupt their conversation, so I wouldn't recommend this place if you prefer more privacy when dining out. Otherwise, it's definitely worth checking out while it still has the aura of relative obscurity.

After 3 years of living in Chicago without owning a dresser, I finally had to bite the bullet and buy one recently. I looked all over town, but just wasn't happy with anything I saw at IKEA, Crate+Barrel, CB2, etc. For under $500, you're pretty much looking at something wood veneer that'll last a few years, tops.

My search for a new dresser ended at Reform Objects. The store itself is really cool -- a small, well-curated selection of mostly mid-century pieces that are either in great condition or have been restored to be good as new. The staff was really helpful, and pointed out a dresser that didn't initially catch my eye, but upon closer inspection was actually exactly what I needed. It was solid wood and in great shape, cheaper than another dresser I had been eyeing from CB2, and delivery was only $20. Score!

I'm so happy with my new dresser, and I know I'll be back to Reform Objects once it's time to replace our sofa...

Walking up to the lookout point near the top of Mont Royal was a highlight of our trip to Montreal.

The park itself is gorgeous, and was designed by Frederick Olmstead, who also designed NYC's Central Park. In September, it was lush, verdant and filled with just enough people to remind us that we weren't in the middle of the forest -- although we did spot a raccoon hiding in a little hole in the top of a tree!

After walking on the path for a few miles (oops, kilometers) and noticing we were slowly gaining altitude, we took a staircase up (maybe the equivalent of 5 minutes on a StairMaster) and emerged at the Kondiaronk Belvedere (what a badass name), a lookout point -- not the tippy top of the "mountain" but definitely near the summit. From there, we had a great vantage point to take in the whole city, especially the skyline. Fortunately, there was also a chalet open to the public with nice, clean restrooms.

It was only a short walk from the chalet to the Smith House, which sells gifts, and more importantly, sorbet.

Once we made it back down the stairs and down the hill, we emerged back into the city at the doorstep of the McGill campus, enabling us for more urban exploration (i.e. a lot more walking).

To balance out the poutine we ate while in Montreal, we sought out some restaurants on the healthier side of the spectrum.

Aux Vivres was one such restaurant that was not only healthy but truly satisfying. My Thai sandwich wrap was really flavorful and filling, and the Creamsicle smoothie tasted sweet but not sinful.

Prices are pretty reasonable, too, with dinner for 2 coming out to about CAD$30.

Service was pretty laid-back -- for the first 10 minutes, we wondered whether we actually had a server. Perhaps they were just making the Americans chill out for a minute...

I've never seen a bookstore with so many darn good-looking books. The storefront is well curated and definitely worth the trip, even for a traveler staying downtown.

My only regret is traveling with a small suitcase -- so tiny that my only purchase could be the equally tiny "Scenes from an Impending Marriage" by Adrian Tomine.