Joy’s Noodles in Lakeview

After the Halloween Parade the group headed over to Joy’s Noodles and Rice for some dinner.  I’d never actually eaten in the restaurant, I’d only had the food at the different street fairs over the summer.  It’s a pretty big place with two separate rooms, great for larger groups (there were five of us and, even though the restaurant was packed, we were still able to hear each other and enjoy the conversation).

The outside of Joy's Noodles in Lakeview

The food was great.  All five of us ordered one of two dishes.  I opted for the Chicken Pad Thai as did the Canadian while the Captain and the others ordered the Rama Special with Chicken.  The portions are generous; I was only able to finish half of the noodles and chicken on my plate.  I tried the Captain’s rama chicken – very tasty peanut sauce on it.  Overall, I’d definitely recommend Joy’s as a great sit down restaurant where everyone could find something they liked.

Joy’s Noodles and Rice
3257 N. Broadway St.
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 327-8330

Price: $8-$15
Median Age:  31
Public Transportation: Red Line to Belmont
Type:  Date, Group
Kinsey Gay: 1

Chicago Halloween Parade 2011

Everyone knows that Halloween is gay Christmas (it’s really more like gay Chanukkah, but whatever), and there’s no better way to celebrate than with a parade!  Every October 31^st the North Halsted Business Alliance hosts the Chicago Halloween Parade.  The parade starts at the intersection of Belmont and Halsted and heads north to Bradley.  It’s a pretty short route, but the entertainment value per linear foot far exceeds any of the other holiday parades coming up in the next few months.

This was my first year, so I didn’t really know what to expect and kind of went in expecting it to be somewhere between the Pride Parade and a Thanksgiving Parade – I wasn’t too far off.  I met the Captain and the Canadian at the Starbucks on Clark and Belmont before the parade.  I’d suggest meeting up somewhere beforehand because it gets a little crowded and crazy before the start.  Also met my new friend Tall J from A at Starbucks with his friends.  He was enjoying his last night in Chicago from Austin and is probably moving here this winter (crazy!).  We all grabbed hot chocolate for the parade route and headed over.

This parade is a lot tamer than Pride and overall very family friendly.  It’s organized into different groupings of costume, ie. original (homemade) costumes, group costumes, scary costumes, cartoon characters, etc.  Below is a family that dressed up as Elvises, pretty awesome!

Chicago Halloween Family of Elvises

If you want to dress up and walk in the parade you have to register, which begins a few hours before the start.  People along the parade route are dressed up as well and the atmosphere is really fun without the need for drinking (though all the bars are open and ready for the rush after the parade).  Probably my favorite part of the parade was a group of fire breathers and jugglers.  Check out the video below, the crowd really liked them!

Chicago Halloween Parade
Begins at Belmont and Halsted
Every October 31
Registration at 4 PM
Parade Begins at 7 PM

Price: FREE!
Median Age: 35
Public Transportation: Red Line to Belmont
Type:  Date, Group
Kinsey Gay: 2

Calo in Andersonville

The Captain wanted me to meet his friend, The Canadian, before he moves back to Toronto next month, so we decided to go to Calo up in Andersonville for dinner and drinks. The plan was actually to hit up Marty’s beforehand, but I had to nix that idea for fear I’d pass out from one martini (I hadn’t eaten lunch) and embarrass myself in front of The Canadian.

Calo has been in Andersonville since 1963 (at least according to the website), and The Captain confirms that he went to the restaurant on Sunday visits with his grandma, who lived in the area when it was more Swede and less gay yuppy. There were a half hour wait for our table on Friday night, so we decided to head to the bar to get some drinks pre-dinner (risk). The Canadian ordered a martini, which, though not as large as Marty’s classic, still looked like it packed a punch. I stuck to rum and coke (I needed caffeine people!) and The Captain had a vodka drink. The bar is comfortable and, though packed, not so loud that we couldn’t carry on conversations.

Our table was ready in fifteen minutes, so we headed to the dining room next door, which is what I’d call modern Italian. The menu, like the room, offers a new spin on traditional Italian recipes, with lots of pasta, pizza, and fish dishes. The wine menu is extensive and reasonably priced, we had a bottle of red (I think it was a cab but wine makes me forget what kind of wine I’m drinking oops). The entrees come with soup or salad; I opted for the salad which was good. The Captain and Canadian both got the minestrone, which looked hearty. I stuck to one of my favorites at any restaurant, Ziti al Vodka, and it didn’t disappoint, though there was a mound of sun-dried tomatoes at the side of my dish by the end. Our server was great and played along with our jokes, which is always a good thing. The dining room was large but personal, plenty of space yet private, lots of energy but again, not too loud that we couldn’t get to know each other.

All in all, another great dining experience in Andersonville, highly recommended for groups and dates.

Calo Ristorante
5343 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 271-7725

Price: $15-$25
Median Age: 36
Public Transportation: Clark Bus to Balmoral
Type: Date, Group
Kinsey Gay: 1

Villains in Printers’ Row

I’ve officially made Villains the unofficial South Loop gay bar, at least in my head.  The first time I went to Villains, after all, was for a guerrilla gay bar (GGB for those in the know lol) almost two years ago.  GGB is when a group of gays decide to take over a usually straight bar for the night somewhere outside of Boystown/north side of town.  Usually GGB’s are in the Loop, South Loop, or River North.  Villains lends itself to large groups – that night there were more than 200 gays – with a long bar area up front and then opening up to a larger seating area with pool tables in back.

Big Bar, Great Atmosphere

The Captain and I decided to check out Villains this past Saturday night after an afternoon of writing and job postings.  The bar hasn’t changed much.  The booths up front overlook the main bar, which is plastered with a repeating Elvis (hot not bloated) screening; two TVs over the bar were playing the Blackhawks game without sound.  One of the best things about Villains is the huge, huuuuge beer selection.  If you’re a Belgian beer drinker, you will love this bar.  Switchblade Saturdays means $2 off all Belgians, so drink up.  The food at Villains is tasty; the Captain and I both got burgers, big and juicy with tater tots on the side.  The bartender, who was also our server, was very friendly and helped explain some of the beers on the menu.

The vibe of Villains is def hipster, lots of Smiths playing which is fine by me.  A great thing about hipster is the short crossover to gay.  There were a few neighborhood couples there, easy attitude and very laid back feel.  Villains would be a great place to bring a date or even a mixed gay/straight group since it has a little bit for everyone.  Will be back there soon.

Villains
649 S. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 356-9992

Price: $15-$20
Median Age:  28
Public Transportation: Red Line to Harrison
Type:  Date, Group
Kinsey Gay: 1

Coffee is Cute Again

I had Monday off for Columbus Day and I chose to celebrate as any Italian would, by drinking coffee and writing a short story.  My friend Captain Fabulous suggested we go to Kitchen Sink in Edgewater.  When he said the coffee shop was off the Berwyn stop of the Red Line he wasn’t kidding, it’s literally ten steps east of the station.

Kitchen Sink is Close to the Red Line

There is a small outdoor seating area, which is great for an autumn day, but because we had our laptops we chose to sit inside.  The shop is long and relatively narrow, with seating up front and booths and tables in back.  The middle part of the coffeehouse has the bar, food display, and condiments.  Let’s start off by saying this is no ordinary coffee bar menu.  This owner-operated establishment offers a variety of sandwiched and wraps, all of which sound amazeballs.  The Captain suggested I order The Mayor, which is essentially a turkey bacon club, but Kitchen Sink lives up to its name, throwing in brie, fig jam, and peanut butter.  I was skeptical of the combination too, but when grilled, the flavors mix together and make warm delicious goodness.  My mocha was chocolatey and strong, just like I like it.

The coffee shop looks like a converted single family home, brick walls and wood ceiling.  We sat at the back of the bar, and the shop was busy with what looked like regulars from the neighborhood, working on laptops and enjoying the quiet space to get their work done.  Speaking off, Kitchen Sink does provide just enough background noise in the form of an awesome mix of music, The Smiths, Stevie Nicks, Bad Religion and The Cure to name a few.  The owners showcase local artists’ work and rotate collections every few months.  Very laid back and casual atmosphere, perfect for a date, getting to know someone, and passing the day away while still getting work done.  I noticed some board games in the corner which could be fun if you stop by with a larger group.

All in all a great four hours up in Edgewater.

Kitchen Sink
1107 W. Berwyn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 944-0592

Price:  $5-$10
Median Age:  33
Public Transportation: Red Line to Berwyn
Type:  Date, Group, Solo
Kinsey Gay: 1

Martinis as Big as Your Head

Last Friday we decided to go to Marty’s in Andersonville for some after dinner cocktails.  Roro and Nono had a friend, Jojo, in town and wanted to take him somewhere off the beaten.  I’d never been up to Marty’s but had heard good things – I wasn’t disappointed.

Marty’s is tiny, so don’t go there if you have claustrophobia issues.  Do go there if you like strong drinks and have a steady hand, you’ll need it as you navigate your way through the crowded bar.  We had our first drink on the outdoor patio, which is really just a fenced in area next to the parking lot.  Steve, our server, had a big mouth but a quick wit, so that made ordering fun.  The patio is a great place to sit if you want to catch up with friends over a drink – especially on a perfect fall night.

After our first drink we decided to head inside and sidle up to the bar, which took a second but was worth the wait.  The bar area was a great mix of people, diverse backgrounds and age ranges, mostly guys on dates it seemed, but there were a few girls mixed in with friends.  We had one of the larger groups, eventually seven of us, but never felt overwhelmed and no spilt drinks.  The bartenders and wait staff dress in white, long-sleeved fitted shirts with vests and bowties.  Hot.

Marty’s is a great date place but also ideal for after work pick-me-ups.  Their signature martinis are enormous and range anywhere between $10 and $15.  You can buy one and split with a friend, which is what Rando and I did on our second.  BTW, if you like it dirty, don’t miss the Dirty Bird, but BIG warning – their drinks sneak up on you.  Two drinks and you’ll be on your way to Mary’s Attic across Balmoral for some dancing.  Fun times.

Marty’s Wine & Martini Bar
1511 W. Balmoral Ave. (1500W, 5400N)
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 561-6425

Price:  $20-$30
Median Age:  36
Public Transportation:  Clark Bus to Balmoral
Type:  Date, Group, Solo
Kinsey Gay:  2