A.S. "Fastnbulbous" V.'s Profile

Korean tacos is my favorite new development in fast food. I first had one at Del Seoul , just 3/4 mile down the street on Clark, but I had to wait forever, and the location isn't quite as convenient. So when La Tacorea opened right at Clark & Belmont last year next door to the venerable Nationwide Video, I was stoked.

And the food doesn't disappoint. The ingredients are fresh and portions healthy. I've been going nearly once a week for nearly half a year now, and I haven't grown tired of it. I've tried everything on the menu, and my favorite is probably the Honey Soy Chicken taco & burrito. Many would probably prefer the pork and beef, but I usually don't eat that stuff. Vegetarians have the Sesame Garlic Soy Tofu option, which is good. My second favorite is the Garlic Lime Shrimp Burrito.

The Mandu dumplings, Bi-Bim-Bop, even the Kimchi, I love it all. I really hope they can open one of these in the Loop someday!

I'm giving them an extra star for old-time's sake, for when back in the mid-90s, they had their incredible coupons in Illinois Entertainer where you could buy an unlimited number of albums priced up to $14.99 for only $5.99 each. I would make the 15 mile round trip down Irving Park Road on my bike and come back with my backpack bulging. But even way back in 1999, their inventory started getting reduced, and I had trouble finding indie bands they used to carry. Then the coupons stopped, which is understandable. It was too good to last. However, when demand drops off, shouldn't prices also? That's how it usually works, in everything but the damn music biz. Since their sister store Rock Records withered and died, I'm thinking I'll stop by for old time's sake.

The last remaining chain record store that refuses to die. For that, I'm impressed. Located across the street from where Musicland once lived a generation ago. A couple years ago they offered their entire inventory for $9.99. That was pretty cool, and I filled some holes in my collection with some surprising finds, mostly hard rock and metal, but also some reggae, soul and African. I figured it was just a matter of months before they closed. Instead, they simply creeped the prices up. The $9.99 price applied to fewer and fewer items. Imports shot back up to atrocious $30+ price tags. For whatever reasons, their business bounced back and they raised prices accordingly. Unfortunately, the inventory lagged behind. They wouldn't stock the most obvious new releases, as if they really don't want to sell music anymore. Yet somehow people still keep coming. For now.

It's amazing that the place only just moved from its suburban location three years ago. It looks like it's been there for over 40 years, growing like mold. Upstairs from Reggie's Rock Club, it has an abundance of t-shirts, posters and other rock 'n' roll paraphernalia that, along with its generous space and slightly musty, weedy smell, gives it a classic record store vibe. For this I award it an extra point, because although there is a ton of space, it's not used wisely, using out-of-date clunky hard plastic cases that are difficult to browse through. The three times I've been there, I'd spend nearly an hour searching through, and did not find a single item worth buying. The selection is bad and the prices are high. But it's a perfect place to escape a bad opening band. I wish all concert venues had one of these! Hopefully they'll hire a new buyer worth their salt who can prune and shape up their sorry inventory.

I'm just glad to see a new store open on Belmont that isn't another bank. It's a good idea to mix it up with games along with CDs and DVDs. The music  inventory is small, but the quality is good. Their buyers seem knowledgeable enough not to buy too much crap. The used prices are good too, averaging at around $6-7. I'd go more often if they put their inventory online though. I've been in four times and they've never had anything on my wantlist.

In an era when record stores closing is the norm, it's heartening to see a new independent shop open up and thrive. It's a positive sign that having a passion for music in retail doesn't have to go the way of the dodo bird. Permanent gives me flashbacks to other long-gone small shops like Blackout and Ajax, which also inhabited a space nearby on Chicago Ave nearly a lifetime (16 years) ago. It has friendly, knowledgeable owners and staff, a critter, and a small but well thought-out selection of music.

This was my first genuinely horrible moving experience. I'm glad the people below had better luck, because no one deserves the treatment I got.

Had a large, heavy treadmill that I made a point to tell them ahead of time that it's difficult to move. It's been moved successfully three times, so not impossible. Despite my precautions, they came unprepared, puzzled over it for an hour and gave up. Moved the rest of stuff into storage, and charged for the hour they wasted. Had to spend another $150 to have someone else move it.

Because of their incompetence, I wanted to hire different movers to move out of storage a few weeks later. Ah, but they don't allow anyone else to enter their facility. Lesson learned -- always use self-storage. These people will hold your stuff hostage. Okay fine, they can move it into the other moving truck in the parking lot, it'll take 15 minutes. Nope, they have a 2-1/2 hour minimum charge. So I was forced to use them again for second move. They said they'd discount an hour because of the time they wasted the first time.

So moving day they said they'd start the move at 9 a.m. Showed up at the facility and they said oh, they started loading at 7 a.m., and they arrived at the new place at 9. 2 hours to move the stuff to the truck? Give me a break. Another half hour wasted fighting rush hour traffic to get to the condo to let them in. They then proceeded to demand payment for 4.5 hours, even though it shouldn't have taken more than 2.5, otherwise the stuff doesn't leave the truck. They wouldn't include the promised discount, said I'd have to speak to the manager about that.

45 minutes later the truck was emptied. Funny how it should take 45 minutes to carry through yard and up two flights of stairs, but 2 hours to empty the storage facility. Even with the padded hours, they took 3.75 hours, and refused to refund the difference, and left. Minutes later, to my horror, I found the front door was ripped off the hinges, hanging on the lower one. Talk about a huge security risk -- which two other condo owners (hi, I'm yer new neighbor, sorry about the door!) were subjected to. Called the office and first they said the movers denied it and said the door was fine when they left. Then they said they'd send someone to fix it, but never showed.

I had to scramble to find someone who could come on short notice and fix the door. They said they would refund the other money, but complained that $120 was a lot for the door. A week later and nothing has been reimbursed so far.

I've heard bad moving stories, and this isn't the worst, but I wouldn't wish this stuff on anyone. What a miserable experience. I'm glad the others below didn't have problems, but if they do occur, the only thing you can count on from On Time Moving & Storage is that they'll lie, cheat, and hold your stuff ransom until you pay their falsely inflated charges.

As of 9/18 they're not refunding the $ or paying for the door. They're not taking calls. Will be contacting ICC to complain.

I've got a half dozen new places to try out, and Yolk was the most conveniently located. Unfortunately, so it is for the throngs of tourists staying in hotels near the museum campus. I can't blame Yolk, it makes good business sense to be insanely busy. The best they can do is run super-efficiently, and offer the best food and service they can. We showed up at 1:45 on Sunday, and it still looked like a peak crowd. They said it would be 20 minute wait if we were willing to sit at the bar. The wait ended up about 30 minutes. There's a great view of Grant Park and one of the sculpture gardens outside, with plenty of places to sit outside during the wait. Unfortunately it started raining and the temperature dropped ten degrees (ah, April in Chicago), so it was back into the crowded waiting area. Either way, bring a book and a bottle of juice.

The menu is huge. I was tempted by all the Eggs Benedict variations, but miss a good crepe, so I tried one with avocado, eggs and I forget what else. I have to say it was the best breakfast crepe I've had in recent memory. The potatoes were good, and the strawberry-orange juice was fresh. Wheat pancakes with fruit were good but not exceptional. The open kitchen was loud and hectic with much shouting, so don't expect a relaxing brunch.

Prices are more reasonable than a lot of brunch hot spots, and service was good despite the crowd. It would be interesting to see if they add outdoor seating when the weather ceases to be apocalyptic. I might show up at 2:30 next time for a late, late stab at eggs benedict.

Similar to The Breakfast Club, and located fairly close to it, I've only been to Ina's twice in a decade. I don't understand all the haters on this --- it must be a reaction to hype. I loved the pancakes, and would go here more often if it wasn't so far out of my way. Maybe some day I'll actually get up early and go before work if they're open.

Out of sight, out of mind. This place has haunted me for years. I first went back in '95 or so, and promptly forgot its name and location. I was excited to located it again last year and took a long hour and a half walk to get there. I was starving, but the food didn't quite measure up to my hazy memory of this place being this magical out-of-the-way breakfast joint. However, I love the ambience and am willing to wager the food will be better next time.