Melanie "that sh*t cray" V.'s Profile
DateChicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-2081
The Pain Stop Massage Therapy
Categories:
Massage,
Chiropractors
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
2 Previous Reviews:
-
9/22/2010
Rave #2:
Amazing.
Two Words: Miracle Workers
Everyone needs to come here if they're in any type of pain. It's the best hour massage anywhere and it's completely worth the $65. Although this time was a little more painful, the man definitely was trying to get rid of the knots in my shoulders. As soon as I got outta there, I could feel the difference. The best part is still when they put the hot towels on you at the end of the massage. Yessir.
Cash only now, but it's soooooo worth the trouble of stopping by an ATM. Words just don't express how much I love this place! -
1/23/2010 ROTD 6/23/2010
Best.Massage.Ever
Hands down. I'm swearing off those frou-frou spas. Who needs them when you have Pain Stop?
As soon as I walked in, the nice lady stated matter-of-factly, "You're Korean, right?" Sorry to burst your bubble, but I'm not.
After explaining that my shoulders and lower pack were in terrible pain, she said that "everyone's been having those problems". Really? I wonder if she was just trying to make me feel better.
What ensued was the absolute best hour of my life. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but it was really close to it. I admit - at the beginning, I was anticipating a painful experience, but everything was very comfortable. And, if it did hurt, it wasn't THAT bad and well worth it in the end!
Yes, you have to take EVERYTHING off. (I was considering negotiating this, but I realized that I probably wouldn't win that argument.) Yes, there are no doors (only curtains) to the massage room. Yes, you might feel a little uncomfortable with how intimate you become with the person giving you a massage. But, honestly, it doesn't matter because, after the first five minutes, you seriously float away into massage bliss...and repeatedly think how you never want the masage to end.
They mean business when they talk about deep tissue massage. My lower back and shoulders feel a million times better after going this morning. Plus, the lady massaged my neck at the very end. Loved it. As other reviewers mentioned, the best part of the massage is probably at the end - when they put the hot towels over you and massage away. Amazing. Heavenly. Relaxing.
$65 for 60 minutes. Such a value! And, they do take credit cards, but I'm pretty sure they'd appreciate cash. I love this place.
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 292-9992
Nori Sushi
Categories:
Sushi Bars,
Thai,
Japanese
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
We ordered probably 10 different rolls, ranging from unagi, spicy shrimp (my fav!), yellow tail, spicy tuna, salmon, dragon and banana (different, but so good!). Everything was delicious, ingredients were fresh and the price was amazing (with the discount, average price of the mai was $3.50!). The three of us polished off everything (dont' judge!). With two teas, three miso soups (spicy is good!) and all the above mentioned rolls, the total was $50! Hellllllo, steal!
BYOB. Friendly service. Cute interior! Definitely be back to take advantage of the Monday special!
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 880-9623
Sweet & Sassy
Categories:
Hair Salons,
Nail Salons,
Party & Event Planning
Neighborhood: DePaul
They offer a variety of packages (some of the include runway shows!), but I wanted to go with the mini-mani, mini-pedi, and updo. This package was $40/person. (FYI - Deposit of $10 required when booking the party and 18% gratuity is automatically added for groups of 3 or more).
When we arrived, the place was beyond crowded and blasting all types of catchy pop songs...namely, Justin Beiber. (Can you believe my nieces don't like him?! Strange.) Anyway, the first stop for the girls was their updo, so the stylists led them to the hair area. The girls got to tell 'em how they wanted their hair and even had the option of getting glitter spray in their hair at the end. Shout-out to one of my niece's stylist who redid the updo because my niece didn't want it all the way up in a bun. All the hair turned out lovely.
The mani/pedi's were next and the stations were pretty impressive as they had those whirlpool tubs. My nieces commented that they "LOVED the tub so much!" Adorable. They also have a pretty big selection of ZOYA* nail polish, so the girls got to choose whatever colors they wanted. Oh, and part of the package is that they get one toe ring, one ring and nail art on their finger and toe. The nail art was FAB! I wish I could find nail techs who could make such pretty designs! Talented, for sure.
Great "spa day" overall and all the girls were excited/happy at end of it! Win.
*I LOVE Zoya nail polish and can't find it anywhere in stores, so when I found out they carried it at Sweet and Sassy, I was super excited. They have a couple colors for sale in the store for $8, but one of the employees told me that I could have them order a specific color for me if I was in dire need of one.
These fries are like a heart attack waiting to happen, but sooo good. Go with a group of people and make 'em split them with you because....these kimchi fries ($5.50) are a must try. Cheese, bacon, chives, kimchi on a pile of fries. Add in some Sriracha and you're in on your way to loaded fry heaven.
Other than the fries, Bop N Grill has some unique burger combinations. (Kuma style, maybe?) I finally settled on the kimchi burger ($6.50) which had a fried egg, kimchi mayo, kimchi, and cabbage. Great burger overall (like, the burger itself had a great flavor and was really juice!), but I would do without the cabbage next time. Since my friend wanted something simple, she just ordered a basic burger ($4) and raved about it multiple times, mid-chew.
If you're not in the mood for a funky burger, there's also rice dishes - spam and eggs, katsu, spareribs, After staring at all the dishes that came out to other tables, I decided that everything looked really good.
The restaurant is cute, bright and had a good amount of tables. Since we got there at an off-time, the place was pretty empty, but by the time we were leaving, the tables started to fill up. Easy street parking!
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 281-0656
Kelly's Pub
Category:
Pubs
Neighborhoods: Lincoln Park, DePaul
1. Friendly bartenders
2. Cheap beer specials
3. Shots of makers
4. A place to discuss/reflect on life goals with friends
5. A way to escape the complete obnoxiousness that is State.
Friday night win!
One drawback: Kelly's stopped talking debit cards. Minimum on cc's is $10, but they do not take Discover or Amex. They do have an ATM on site if you find yourself in a cashless, visa/mc-less bind. (Thankfully, the fee is only $1.75!)
There's a 'Davis' feel to this place, so it was pretty apropos that my BFF and I were going here together as Davis was the hotspot of our childhood. It has that really homey feel, so that's appreciated in the days of these huge movie houses. Employees were all reallly friendly, too.
Concessions were pretty basic - popcorn, hot dogs, nachos, candy, pop...but there's also a full bar! Beer and mixed drinks were cheap ($4 - $7)! I also noticed that a large popcorn and two drinks only cost $10. Nice! They also have those popcorn seasonings (you know, white cheddar, nacho cheese, ranch, caramel) and you can use 'em for free. (Sidenote: My friend and I basically tried all of them and only really enjoyed the parmesan garlic. )
Theaters are old school and small (ie, no stadium steating), but clean and cozy. Granted, there are some seats that still look tragic, but this place has character, ya know? Since there weren't many people here, my friend and I could enjoy this movie in peace and without interruption. These theaters are cute...and a nice alternative when you're looking for a cheaper and not so crazy time out at the movies.
*Parking pretty easy on surrounding side streets!
Chicago, IL 60609
(773) 523-0200
The 12 Days Of Yelpiness at Zhou B Art Center
Category:
Local Flavor
Neighborhood: Bridgeport
Let's discuss why:
-Spicebox Whiskey (sooooo goooooood!)
-Beard Papa strawberry cream puffs (my fav!)
-Asian food galore (Isla Pilipina, Wow Bao, Sushi!!)
-Sprinkles Red Velvet...omg.
-Remy Marin cranberry shots
-Dewars, of course
-Discounts (union sushi, ra sushi, flavor 180)
-Chimney Cakes!
-Great dj's (Otis + Christmas Music + Dougie, nice!)
-Beaaautiful venue, freals.
-Amazing swag!!
THANKS Yelp team! So much fun! This event was simply amazing. Happppy Holidays! ;)
Vernon Hills, IL 60061
(847) 362-3042
Yelp's Black + White Holiday Ball
Category:
Local Flavor
"Turn up the lights in here baby/Extra bright/I want ya'll to see this."
Um, hello amazing Christmas lights at Cuneo! They even have their own radio station that you can listen to while you're driving thru and admiring the lights. Dancing reindeer, Kermit and Miss Piggy, penguins, SANTA - loves!
The Cuneo Pavillion was beautifully decorated...hello, stunning flower centerpieces! And the mansion itself was huge, with a billion rooms lavishly decorated! Who knew someone actually lived here? So glad we had the chance to walk around...'cuz it was certainly a treat.
So, the Dewards and the Lulu B. wine were my favs...as were the champagne chicken and the pork tenderloin...and cheese selection. Food, ftw!
Loved seeing Yelpers all dolled up! Fun event in the 'burbs! Thanks Yelp crew - you're the bestest! ;)
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 392-2509
Madame Chou Chou
Category:
French
Neighborhood: Santa Monica
Oy.
Yes, 2-9. (Where did the time go?!)
This year, I was beyond determined to deny the fact that my birthday was occurring. Best way to do that? Leave Chicago and head to LA.
After a lovely day of basking in the great Cali weather, my friends and I headed out to dinner at Madame Chou Chou. When you first walk in, the restaurant appears to be tiny, but when the hostess/owner lead us to the back, we realized there was a covered patio with more seating. The lighting fixtures, furniture and color combinations are soooooo cute! Decor win!
Since I'm a little late writing this review (2 months...oops!), I can't remember everything that we ordered. However, the vegetable risotto (carrot, onion, zucchini) was the most delicious risotto ever! For drinks, I tried the Lillet (white) and loved that it was sweet....moscato-esque.
Towards the end of dinner, I was smiling to myself, thinking that I had come out of this unscathed - no mentions of my birthday, no waiters popping out with candles. No more than 5 minutes later, who appears at the table? The owner...with tarts (namely goat cheese!)...and candles...singing. Not only for me, but also for my friend who had her birthday a week prior. Annabelle C. is so sneaky, but the gesture is appreciated, of course. That's what friends are for, right?
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 326-3577
Chinese Champion Book & Gift
Neighborhood: Chinatown
Stuffed animals? Useless.
Clothes? Too played out.
Disney Princess themed things? Meeeeh.
I was drawing a blank when I stumbled upon this shop....and it finally hit me. Books! I can get her books!
My nieces have been taking Mandarin classes for awhile now, so books would definitely help them utilize what they've been learning, right? Obviously, I had no idea what these books were about, but the nice shopkeeper somehow knew what I was looking for and directed me towards the children's books. They had a cute selection of fairytales (Sleeping Beauty, Emperor's New Clothes, Swan Lake) which were in Mandarin, but also had the English translation on the same page! Genius! At $3 each, I thought this was a total bargain,
They have a HUGE selection of books, from cookbooks to Chinese folklores to Harry Potter to a guide to roulette (seriously...I considered buying it). In addition, they have the usual "gifts" you find in Chinatown (pretty chopsticks, umbrellas, fans, bamboo and fake purses). This place is worth checking out if you're nearby!
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Chicago, IL
Yelping SinceSeptember 2006
Things I Lovethe nba, vitamin water, crab rangoon, lychee bubble tea
Find Me Ineast lakeview, bronzeville, west town
My Hometown60659, ya'll.
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...i'm checking in on foursquare.
Why You Should Read My Reviewselite since 06!
My First Concerttearin' up my heart
My Favorite Movieanything muppet releated
My Last Meal On Earthscrambled eggs, vienna sausage, rice
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...i blast hip-hop at work shamelessly.
Most Recent Discoveryhotpowerfusion
Current Crushcp3