craigdonove

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/my-food-blog/info/a-few-tools-to-get-any-food-blogger-rolling-on-the-web

A Few Tools to get any Food Blogger Rolling on the Web

There are many tools of the trade that have helped us blog better over the years. We like to quickly spotlight a few of the tools that have helped us blog better. WordPress.org – Without WordPress we would be lost. The standalone platform found at WordPress.org is search engine optimized, extremely easy to use and [...]

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Central Florida: New Experiences and Attractions

With thousands of Virgin Atlantic passengers about to descend on the Sunshine State, we take a look at a handful of Central Florida's latest crowd-pleasers...
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Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/08/03/and-heres-one-more-reminder-of-whats-at-chow-town-1.php

Download The Complete Lollapalooza Chow Town Map, Exclusively Here

Download your Chow Town map.

One of the highlights of Lollapalooza, we know you'll agree if you're reading this site, is Chow Town, the selection of food vendors running the gamut of high to low, many of them selected by Lolla superfan and golden food rock god Graham Elliot. And with 100,000 fellow fans competing for an Edzo's Burger at noon, it'd be great to have a guide to exactly where the food you want is, right? As in, not just "It's in Chow Town North" but "It's right next to Lou Malnati's." Well, that's what Grub Street is happy to present. For the first time anywhere, we've got the stand-by-stand layout for both Chow Towns (subject to last minute changes and all that, of course), listing all 34 restaurants along Columbus Ave. in order, and all you have to do is download the jpeg here, put it on your iPhone, email it to your friends, tweet it to your peeps, whatever helps you and your friends get the chow that matters to you.

Lolla 2012: And Here's One More Reminder of What's at Chow Town

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/chicago-food-events/mccormick-live-cooking-class-with-gale-gand

McCormick Live Cooking Class with Gale Gand

Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 12:00 p.m Central Time, Join Gale Gand and McCormick for a live, interactive virtual cooking demonstration. Join Gale Gand, nationally acclaimed pastry chef, restaurateur, cookbook author, television personality and mother of three as she celebrates an iconic pairing of the holiday season: Vanilla and Red Food Coloring. This festive pair [...]

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Sunday, August 5, 2012

$10 Steak Salad and Lobster Bisque Special

Sam & Harry?s Serves Up Two Dynamite Dishes for Less – $10 for Steak Salad and Lobster Bisque Until January 21st In the midst of a chilly Chicago January, settle down with a hearty surf and turf meal that won?t break the bank. From now until Thursday, January 21, Sam & Harry?s Steakhouse is offering [...]

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Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/my-food-blog/info/specials-info-my-food-blog/steak-special-sam-and-harrys

FirstBites Bash Feb. 2 gives preview taste of Chicago Restaurant Week

Tweet United Airlines presents First Bites Bash, the official kick-off event for Chicago Restaurant Week, produced by the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau. Inside the magnificent Great Hall of Chicago Union Station, enjoy savory and sweet tastings from over 50 … Continue reading →

Source: http://www.dinewisechicago.com/?p=308

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/08/03/baume-brix-nabs-ben-roche-nate-park-for-kitchen-team.php

Chef Shuffles: Baume & Brix Nabs Moto/iNG Chefs Ben Roche, Nate Park; Homaro Cantu Stepping Back on the Line

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/my-food-blog/info/specials-info-my-food-blog/a-free-taste-of-panera-bread

A FREE Taste of Panera Bread

Panera Bread wants you to be its Valentine. To win your heart, all Chicagoland caf�s are offering a free taste of some of its new menu items, including coffee, bread and sweets. To get the goods, text BREAD to 46786 between today and Valentine?s Day, February 14. Don?t worry ? we absolutely won?t text additional [...]

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Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-Wire/June-2012/Dennis-Rodkin-Discusses-New-Home-Sales-Figures/

Dennis Rodkin Discusses New Home Sales Figures

Source: http://www.sportsbarnation.com/2012/1/11/2700179/sports-bar-nations-2011-12-austin-sports-bar-guide

Sports Bar Nation's 2011-12 Austin Sports Bar Guide:

Source: http://officialblog.yelp.com/2012/07/yelp-mobile-updates-lookin-good.html

Yelp Mobile Updates: Lookin? Good

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/my-food-blog/recipes/polish-italian-spaghetti-recipe

Polish Italian Spaghetti Recipe

Delicious with polish sausage in place of meatballs. Simply add sliced Lone Wolf polish sausage to your choice of pasta, favorite marinara and top with Parmesan cheese. Share Chicago Food: No related posts. Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

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Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/07/31/quartino-adds-new-2nd-level-outdoor-patio.php

Al Fresco Above: Quartino Adds New Second Level Outdoor Patio

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/07/30/citytarget-hits-the-loop-5-of-the-hottest-trainers-more.php

On the Racked: CityTarget Hits the Loop; 5 of the Hottest Trainers; More

Source: http://officialblog.yelp.com/2012/07/yelp-mobile-updates-lookin-good.html

Olga's Deli, This Is Your Media Moment

Four-story chicken schnitzel sandwich.

Just the other day we were toodling down Irving and our better half asked if we had ever been to Olga's Deli, at 3209 W. Irving Park. No, we admitted, just driven past it a million times, but at that moment we silently resolved to add it to our to-do list before it was suddenly gone (just the name tells you that the proprietor must be approaching retirement age, if not well past it). So we are relieved that Mike Sula had been in much the same situation before another blogger urged him to check it out— and he returned with two of the most astonishing sandwich pictures you've ever seen. (When you get to the blog post, click on the images to blow them up to their full screen glory.) Based on the images alone, we see the full foodie world future for Olga and her massive meat-stuffed sandwiches— LTHForum GNR, Kevin Pang profile, Time Out Q&A on 5 ways to use schmaltz, Bourdain's next TV visit to Chicago, serving up schnitzel sandwiches at Chow Town at Lolla '13, helming the BoKa Group's new schnitzel haus on Randolph Street... Anyway, check it out, one, just to see these amazing sandwiches, two, as a reminder, that there's always more out there to discover, and you're probably driving by it right now. [Reader]

Yelp Mobile Updates: Lookin? Good

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/chicago-food-events/mccormick-live-cooking-class-with-gale-gand

Saturday, August 4, 2012

McCormick Live Cooking Class with Gale Gand

Men, become impressive. Learn to cook!

You think you know why women love a man who knows how to cook but you have no idea. Men, survival (in health, with money in your pocket) is a good enough reason to know how to cook. If, by chance, you?re interested in upping the ante with the ladies, knowing how to cook is [...]

Source: http://www.rentcafe.com/blog/cities/atlanta-ga/cooking-classes/

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/08/03/dragon-ranchs-whiskey-bento-boxes-mks-new-pastry-chef-lolla-nellcote-more.php

Eaterwire: Dragon Ranch's Whiskey Bento Boxes; MK's New Pastry Chef; Lolla @ Nellcôte; More

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/my-food-blog/info/a-few-tools-to-get-any-food-blogger-rolling-on-the-web

A Few Tools to get any Food Blogger Rolling on the Web

�Viva Mexico!: Saveur's current August-September issue is all...

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/08/01/viva-mexico.php

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/chicago-food-events/mccormick-live-cooking-class-with-gale-gand

McCormick Live Cooking Class with Gale Gand

prospect heights best hot dogs best pizza yelp review

Virgin Atlantic Arrives in Vancouver

Our inaugural flight arrived in Vancouver yesterday, 24th May and to mark the occasion, Sir Richard Branson was joined on the steps of the aircraft by Amy Williams MBE...
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Island Hopper Diner Getaway

Aloha!

A few months ago, we asked some of our favorite Urbanspoon blogs in New York City to compete for a luxury guest writing gig in Hawaii. Our winner was Bradley Hawks who writes the food blog Amuse Bouche.

Right now, Bradley is travelling in Hawaii and sharing the experience on his blog. You can see his daily posts on www.bradleyhawks.com and we'll be sharing his updates on our own Facebook page and Twitter account.

But wait, it gets better... now you can experience Bradley's trip for yourself. Book and keep any reservation at a New York City restaurant through Urbanspoon and enter to win the Island Hopper Diner Giveaway.

This trip for two includes: first class tickets on Hawaiian Airlines, eight nights of accomodations on four islands through Marriott Hawaii Hotels, AND because this is Urbanspoon...

...dinner for two at a top-rated restaurant on each of the four islands.

And remember, every time you make and keep an Urbanspoon reservation at a New York City restaurant you can enter to win. That's right, you can enter multiple times! Good luck!

Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/86/Island-Hopper-Diner-Getaway.html

London: The Queen?s Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

If you're visiting London in early June, here's a selection of the best events and activities taking place over the four-day Queen's Diamond Jubilee weekend...
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Source: http://officialblog.yelp.com/2012/07/yelp-mobile-updates-lookin-good.html

Yelp Mobile Updates: Lookin? Good

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/07/30/watch-graham-elliot-sing-take-me-out-to-the-ball-game.php

Video Interlude: Watch Graham Elliot Sing 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game'

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/07/30/view-from-above-the-j-parker-is-now-open-take-a-look-around.php

Friday, August 3, 2012

Tamarkin Says The Sauce Is Boss at Pecking Order; Kramer Finds Zen at Kai Zan

David Tamarkin says, basically, that if you're focusing on the chicken rather than the sauces that the chicken is a vehicle for at Kristine Subido's Pecking Order, you're missing the real point: "There’s a sauce at Pecking Order I want to smear on everything I eat for the rest of my life. It’s made of soy sauce, vinegar, chicken livers and magic. It’s called P.O. (Pecking Order) sauce on the menu, and chef Kristine Subido refers to it as lechon sauce, which is the Filipino sauce P.O. sauce is modeled after. But considering the tweaks she’s made, I’m calling it Subido Sauce." As far as he's concerned, "The more chefery a dish requires—that is, the more opportunity Subido has to layer flavor over flavor—the better the dish. In the Pinoy eggs, a spicy and crisp take on the Scotch egg, Subido makes the longaniza sausage. In the arancini, she pairs fragrant garlic rice with a savory chicken adobo. For the chicken-and-egg noodles, Subido crafts a lovely and sophisticated broth.' [TOC]

Julia Kramer hops on the bandwagon for new sashimi star Kai Zan, praising the restraint with which it approaches maki: "There were one-bite 'rolls' of salmon-wrapped scallops (called 'Orange Rush') and shrimp tempura wrapped in strips of avocado (the 'Green Monster'). If these sound a little indulgent, they are. But this is the mystery of Kai Zan: The chefs veer close to excessive but never go anywhere near the grotesque cream-cheese realm that has poisoned many a neighborhood-sushi restaurant. Instead, their creations are positively refined." She finds the atmosphere equally delicate and entrancing: "This is the sweetest, tiniest restaurant on Earth. The room is seamlessly both contemporary (a video projector screens fish swimming around the floor of the entryway) and traditional (tiny plants and lovely ceramics turn the booths homey). And the service is as unpretentious as it is attentive." [TOC]

Untitled, the pseudo-speakeasy, surprises Mike Sula with quality, seasonal food: "The promise of seasonality seems remarkably true for an operation of this scale. There's arugula with firm but sweet grilled peaches, delicately battered and deep-fried squash blossoms filled with warm farmer's cheese, favas and mache sprinkled about with bloodred bresola shavings, and the ubiquitous beet salad with goat cheese, this one accented by golden raisins and pistachios." But the praise for the kitchen runs off the rails of inattentive and downright snafu'd service: "On each visit runners were on top of everything, but my table was abandoned by its assigned servers, who failed to check in, failed to inquire if I'd like to spend more money, and failed to return unless hailed in the manner of a drowning victim... The restaurant boasts 'the largest selection of American whiskey in the world'... but there's no printed list available, and some bartenders in other rooms don't seem to have been granted the power to access it." Along the way he buries one lede: Matthew "Choo" Lipsky, acclaimed MorSo bartender who joined the operation to help open it, has already departed. [Reader]

Phil Vettel retells the story of Chef Graham Elliot for four paragraphs before introducing Andrew Brochu and Bryce Caron, actually in charge of the food at Graham Elliot these days, and turning to consideration of what's different now: "If you're a fan of sharp flavors, as am I, you'll find Brochu's style delightful. If you're sensitive to high acidity, as is my wife (who begged off attending our follow-up visit), dining here could be less so." He says "Brochu's plates are so gorgeous they ought to arrive framed" and that "Caron's best dish is the one not listed on the menu"— "the brilliant intermezzo course for both tastings, a mini-terrarium (cleverly echoing the herb-garden centerpieces decorating each table) of sesame cream, powdered black olive, pickled cherries, chocolate and myriad herbs." [Tribune]

Kevin Pang uses Red Lantern, a Chinese restaurant (you'd never have guessed from the name, we know) in Rolling Meadows as a springboard for a longtime foodie question— how do the roundeyes get the good stuff in a Chinese restaurant with one "Pan-Asian" menu in English, and one in Chinese with the good authentic stuff? "Maybe there is truth in that 95 percent of non-Chinese prefer the crab rangoon, but perpetuating the two-menus-for-clientele philosophy is a self-fulfilling prophecy. It inhibits the remaining 5 percent from growing larger. I'm not ready to brand this as reverse discrimination (or simply, 'discrimination'), but it is, as George W. Bush coined, the soft bigotry of low expectations." He points out what we wind up missing, dishes like san bei ji: "Plump chicken chunks simmer in soy sauce, Chinese rice wine and sesame oil, a savory and sweet lacquer that's liquid manna on steamed rice. The chicken is cooked with scallions and ginger slices, plus whole garlic cloves that absorb as much flavor as they impart in the sauce... I'd gamble the contents of this stainless steel pot, its lid uncovered tableside with sauce still bubbling, is more satisfying than any other dish with a recognizable name." [Tribune]

Through careful study and years of experience, Nick Kindelsperger determines that the thing to order at House of Wings is... wait for it... wings: "Unlike most joints slinging the fried food, here the buffalo wings ($6.25, for 12) are small, crispy, and bathed in a seductive spicy, sweet sauce, which is a genuine pleasure to lick off your stained fingers... That said, wings only make up only a tiny part of the menu, and I couldn't wait to get back to see if anything else was equally good. The short answer is no. Nothing I tried was bad, but none of the items even came close to the glory of those wings." [SE: Chicago]

Eater Inside: View From Above: The J. Parker Is Now Open: Take a Look Around

Tipping is Customary: Do you have a hot restaurant...

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/08/01/tipping-is-customary.php

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/07/31/101-sad-food-photos-fast-food-breakfast-of-champs.php

Listage: 101 Sad Food Photos; Fast Food: Breakfast of Champs?

Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-Wire/June-2012/Emmet-Sullivan-Discusses-the-Best-Summer-Festivals-in-Chicago/

Emmet Sullivan Discusses the Best Summer Festivals in Chicago

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/featured/top-10-chicago-bars-to-visit-in-2010

Top 10 Bars to Visit in 2010

The best new bars to visit in the New Year Still looking for that New Year?s resolution? Why not vow to try all things new and in Chicago there is no better place to start then the ever evolving nightlife scene. From swanky hotel hotspots to dark wooden bars, the top 10 newcomers of last [...]

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Tokyo?s Best People Watching Spots

There are 32 million people in the greater Tokyo area so unsurprisingly it's one of our favourite places in the world for just hanging out and watching the crowds...
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Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-Wire/May-2012/Chicago-Magazines-June-Issue-Great-Escapes/

Chicago Magazine's June Issue: Great Escapes

Chicago Up High: Views From the Top

To appreciate the compressed nature of Chicago's dense vertical core, you'll need to gaze down on it from above. Two of Chicago's buildings compete to offer the best skyline views...Related posts:

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vtravelledblog/~3/4rOdlF4fXlU/

Great Beaches In and Around New York City

When the Big Apple starts to swelter, New Yorkers and visitors seeking a respite from the heat flock to the city?s beaches: here's a few of our favourites...
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Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/07/31/falafill-taps-lulas-jason-hammel-holding-lolla-contest.php

It's a Wrap: Falafill Taps Lula's Jason Hammel, Giving Away Lolla Tix

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/my-food-blog/recipes/polish-italian-spaghetti-recipe

Polish Italian Spaghetti Recipe

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Urbanspoon in 2011

Looking back at 2011, we're very happy to see how many people we've helped to find their perfect dining experience. Comparing 2011 to 2010, we've seen an 80% increase in overall traffic to Urbanspoon. But the economy was rough on the industry, which saw a second year of decline in the total number of U.S. restaurants.

2011 was also a year of changes for online restaurant marketing:

We saw Google snap up Zagat (right after we incorporated their reviews into Urbanspoon).
Foursquare tried to morph from check-in fad to local search tool.
Daily deals, led by Groupon, exploded and then died.
Search algorithms changed (again) and (most) restauranteurs got hip to this thing called social media.

On the mobile side, 2011 saw sales of smartphones finally exceed that of dumb phones, and the explosion of technology adoption among everyday consumers translated into more and more people using Urbanspoon. In fact, mobile visits to Urbanspoon more than doubled last year!

Along the way, Urbanspoon helped over half a million diners secure reservations at some of the best restaurants in the country. You can now book a reservation at more than 1,200 of America's best restaurants directly on Urbanspoon from the comfort of your iPhone or computer. We're now serving 29 million visits a month, and more people are coming back more frequently - repeat traffic grew by 15% last year.

Happy Eating!

Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/71/Urbanspoon-in-2011.html

A Picture's Worth 1,000 Yelps

Source: http://officialblog.yelp.com/2012/06/a-pictures-worth-1000-yelps.html

Source: http://mycityway.com/blog/2012/03/23/after-83-years-nyc%e2%80%99s-eisenbergs-sandwich-shop-finally-gets-its-close-up/

After 83 Years, NYC?s Eisenberg?s Sandwich Shop Finally Gets Its Close Up

Always the bridesmaid, never the the bride. Eisenberg?s Sandwich Shop has been a New York City staple since 1929, but it?s usually overlooked for the more tourist-heavy Katz?s Deli. But after years of (mostly) flying under the radar, the beloved sandwich establishment is finally getting its time to shine. Located across the street from the [...]

New Recording Studio at Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse

With so many top-class musicians choosing to fly with Virgin Atlantic, we've installed a professional grade recording studio in our Clubhouse at London Heathrow...
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Olympics Eats: Do you have Olympics fever? If...

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/08/01/olympics-eats.php

prospect heights best hot dogs best pizza yelp review

Congratulations to our Winner

As many of you know, Urbanspoon recently ran a Hawaii Food Fantasy Getaway! The trip included two first class tickets on Hawaiian Airlines, a four-night stay at the luxury Four Seasons Resort at Hualalai, and dinner at LudoBites 9 with visiting celebrity chef Ludo Lefebvre.

We are excited to announce that the winner is Maureen Salahshoor from Kirkland, Washington. Maureen entered the contest back in February while making reservations at Smash Wine Bar in Wallingford, and said she was shocked when she found out she had won the contest.

"I immediately called my best friend of 32 years, Kim Pipkin, to see if she would be available to travel with me to Hawaii next week because, 'I HAD JUST WON A TRIP TO HAWAII!' The scream that came out of Kim’s lungs could have been heard around the world!"

Thanks to our amazing contest sponsors, and to all of the diners who entered the giveaway. Maureen said winning the Hawaii Food Fantasy Getaway has made her and her best friend "Urbanspoon fans for life!"

Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/75/Congratulations-to-our-Winner.html

Marilyn Monroe's FBI files missing

In connection with the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe's death on Sunday, The Associated Press attempted to obtain the most complete record of the bureau's monitoring of Monroe. Nearly nine months later, obtaining a more complete record of how the FBI investigated Monroe in the months before she died have been stymied by an effort to simply find the files. They appear to be missing.

Source: http://dailyherald.com/article/20120802/entlife/708029838/

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Eight is great!

Source: http://officialblog.yelp.com/2012/07/eight-is-great.html

Rock out with your soil sample collector out at Planetfest

So, I guess we shot some machine into space and now it’s going to land on planet Mars or something? Whatevs, all I know is that Bill Nye and NASA are using that as an excuse to throw a big party called Planetfest, and it’s being advertised as the type of thing where you can [...]

Source: http://www.rentcafe.com/blog/cities/los-angeles-ca/rock-out-with-your-soil-sample-collector-out-at-planetfest/

Source: http://www.rentcafe.com/blog/cities/los-angeles-ca/henrys-tacos-in-noho-citys-next-landmark/

Henry?s Tacos in NoHo city?s next landmark?

Henry’s Tacos, one of the city’s favorite little stands, recently celebrated its 50th year in business and now there’s a movement afoot to designate the eatery as a Los Angeles historical-cultural monument. A taco stand as a city landmark? The idea has quite a bit of support from both the community and city preservationists. The [...]

prospect heights best hot dogs best pizza yelp review

The Winner of the best burger this year, ?The Oscar?

Patty Burger knows this sandwich will make you famous! What makes a burger the best of the year? What makes it Oscar-worthy? How about taking an all beef patty and putting Swiss, provolone, and cheddar cheeses, saut�ed onions and mushrooms, avocado slices, bacon and Patty sauce? That is what makes up Patty Burger?s The Oscar. [...]

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Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/local-restaurants/hamburgers/best-burger-this-year-chicago

Source: http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-0801-driving-in-chicago-20120731,0,2782360.story?track=rss

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Who cars anymore?

When Aaron Wilson moved from car-crazed California to commuter-friendly Chicago to attend the University of Chicago, he traded his driver's license for an Illinois state ID.

"I can get everywhere I need to go either by public transportation or on my bike," said Wilson, now 24, a research assistant who lives in Logan Square. "It's really expensive to have a car. It's something I can afford, but it would limit my ability to have a nicer apartment or not spend as much on food."

Once you factor in gas, maintenance, insurance and other fees, it can cost anywhere from $5,700 to $9,800 a year to own and drive a car 10,000 miles, depending on its size, according to AAA's national estimates.

In Chicago, drivers have to contend with higher gas prices, city stickers, parking meters and tolls. Don't forget traffic congestion, the struggle to find parking, and the constant threat of tickets. It all can be a headache for some drivers.

Is the flexibility that a car offers really worth it?

Maybe not, according to a recent report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund and the Frontier Group environmental think tank. Drivers ages 16 to 34 are driving less, as shown by a 23 percent drop in the annual number of vehicle-miles traveled from 2001 to 2009. At the same time, they are biking, walking and taking public transportation more often. Fewer Millennials had their driver's licenses in 2010 than did in 2000, according to the report.

"The trend away from driving is dramatic, and it's even more dramatic when you consider that trend is driven by young people," said Brian Imus, director of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group.

Getting a license at age 16 used to be considered a rite of passage. Not for Alexandra Hill, 22, who lives in Andersonville.

She took the driver's ed classroom instruction but didn't feel like doing the behind-the-wheel driving at another school or privately since it wasn't offered at her school. By the time she turned 18, she said, she felt like she never needed a license.

"For the most part, I've been able to carpool with people easily or take my bike and public transportation," Hill said. She took the train or bus or caught rides with friends to get home from college in Champaign.

There's no denying a walkable and bike-friendly city like Chicago makes it easier to get around without a car. The CTA is accessible, and a selection of mobile apps make it more convenient with bus and train trackers.

Chicagoans who switch from driving an average of 15,000 miles a year to riding public transportation can save $11,700 a year, according to the American Public Transportation Association, which uses a calculation that includes a monthly transit pass, monthly unreserved parking space downtown and the AAA cost-of-driving formula.

Geoff Dacanay, 34, a legal specialist who lives in Bucktown, thought it'd be hard to give up his car. He now saves $200 a month on insurance, gas and other costs since selling his Mazda3 in December.

"It takes a little bit more planning to do things," he said, but "in the end, it's freeing."

Dacanay rides the CTA to get to his West Loop office and admits he is dependent on a train schedule if he ventures to the 'burbs.

"I'm pretty happy about it. ... I don't foresee any time in the near future that I would have to get another car," Dacanay said.

Automakers are attempting to change the minds of young drivers like Dacanay and entice young buyers by creating fuel-efficient, tech-savvy compact vehicles "designed for urban environments," the Chicago Automobile Trade Association said in a statement. The association's Chicago Auto Show saw more than 20 percent of its attendees this year between the ages 18 to 24.

However, a variety of factors including high gas prices, maddening traffic gridlock and an uncertain economy are driving people to re-think their vehicle use, said Stephen Schlickman, executive director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois Chicago.

"I'm encouraged," he said. "I think it's a good thing that the report has found an indication that there is a shift in attitude among young people to support alternative forms of transportation. The congestion situation has shown it's beyond our ability to manage."

The allure of cruising the open roads has faded, Imus said. "The new generation today learning to drive - they're dealing with congestion and high gas prices and a lot of young people would rather be on mobile phones texting than driving. All this is leading younger people to drive less," he said. "The open road doesn't really exist anymore because we're all stuck in traffic."

lvivanco@tribune.com | @lvivanco

Source: http://www.chicagofoodblog.net/local-restaurants/sushi/shinto-japanese-steakhouse-offers-an-espresso-beer

Shinto Japanese Steakhouse Offers an Espresso Beer

Now coffee lovers and beer drinkers can have the best of both worlds. The Hitachino Nest Espresso Stout is a Japanese beer that is offered on Shinto?s extensive wine, beer and cocktails menu. In addition to Japanese beers, their drink menu boasts beers from China, Belgium, Amsterdam, Holland and Canada. The Hitachino Next Espresso Stout [...]

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Dineline on Facebook

Good news today for our users who have already tried and love Dineline to track where they?re eating out ? Dineline can now be added to your Facebook Timeline to allow you to share those dining experiences with your friends.

Now you can integrate your dining history into your Facebook Timeline to upload photos of memorable meals, connect with friends over favorite cuisines and help them discover great new restaurants. It also offers a snapshot of interesting statistics in your dining habits. What will it say about you, that you crave sushi every other Tuesday? That most of your dining budget goes to mimosas at brunch with friends?

To share your dining personality with your Facebook Timeline, get or upgrade the Urbanspoon iPhone app here.

Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/69/Dineline-on-Facebook.html

See San Diego In Time Lapse

How many San Diego landmarks can you spot in this time lapse video of the southern California city? It’s a fantastic look at the energy, beauty and vibrancy of San Diego.

Source: http://mycityway.com/blog/2012/03/23/see-san-diego-in-time-lapse/

Source: http://www.redeyechicago.com/news/ct-red-0801-driving-in-chicago-20120731,0,2782360.story?track=rss

Who cars anymore?

When Aaron Wilson moved from car-crazed California to commuter-friendly Chicago to attend the University of Chicago, he traded his driver's license for an Illinois state ID.

Is the flexibility that a car offers really worth it?

Getting a license at age 16 used to be considered a rite of passage. Not for Alexandra Hill, 22, who lives in Andersonville.

Geoff Dacanay, 34, a legal specialist who lives in Bucktown, thought it'd be hard to give up his car. He now saves $200 a month on insurance, gas and other costs since selling his Mazda3 in December.

"It takes a little bit more planning to do things," he said, but "in the end, it's freeing."

Dacanay rides the CTA to get to his West Loop office and admits he is dependent on a train schedule if he ventures to the 'burbs.

"I'm pretty happy about it. ... I don't foresee any time in the near future that I would have to get another car," Dacanay said.

lvivanco@tribune.com | @lvivanco

Source: http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/The-Wire/May-2012/Chicago-Magazines-June-Issue-Great-Escapes/

Chicago Magazine's June Issue: Great Escapes

Source: http://chicago.eater.com/archives/2012/07/30/citytarget-hits-the-loop-5-of-the-hottest-trainers-more.php

On the Racked: CityTarget Hits the Loop; 5 of the Hottest Trainers; More

Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/67/Urbanspoon-Travel-Guide-San-Diego.html

Urbanspoon Travel Guide: San Diego

Welcome to the first edition of the Urbanspoon Travel Guide, where we?ll visit a city and ask some of our top contributors for some personalized recommendations, as well as let you know about some upcoming food events. Our first stop is San Diego.

Urbanspoon Prime ?Roux? is one of our most-travelled diners, having reviewed restaurants and posted photographs in 27 different metro areas. We asked Roux for his favorites in the Gaslamp Quarter, one of the city?s most popular destinations, and home to some great restaurants. He recommended Searsucker: ?Top Chef finalist Brian Malarkey is the owner here. I enjoyed the small plates -- very flavourful. I also had a wonderful brunch. I really like the ?rope chandelier? in the restaurant.?

Barwachi Dosa photo by Roux

Roux also suggests Roppongi in La Jolla (?Talk about Asian fusion! I had Middle Eastern, Japanese and Indian dishes in one sitting. Had a great time and delicious food.?) and Bawarchi Dosa in Miramar (?Excellent Indian: so good that I even used my hands. Even the buffet selection is something to shout about.?)

Searsucker photo by Joanne A.

We also checked in with Steve from Food Smackdown, one of our top-ranked San Diego food blogs. When we asked for a Gaslamp spot, Steve also tagged Searsucker; no wonder it?s consistently in Urbanspoon San Diego?s Talk of the Town list. In his review, Steve called the burger ?one of the best we?ve had in San Diego? and loved the ?fun and relaxed atmosphere with an inviting design with a modern classic touch.?

Hash House a Go Go photo by Justin

For more classic American cuisine, Food Smackdown also suggests Neighborhood, which offers a large selection of locally brewed beers, and three spots in the Hillcrest neighborhood: Hash House A Go Go, the Tractor Room, and Bronx Pizza (well, we consider pizza to be classic American cuisine).

Upcoming San Diego Events

San Diego Restaurant Week
January 15-20
Specially priced prix fixe meals, both lunches and dinners, are being offered all across the region. The more than 180 participating restaurants include many from the top of Urbanspoon?s Fine Dining rankings.

East Village Grub Sprawl
February 13, 6 p.m. ? 10 p.m.
The next edition of this monthly event takes place in the fast-rising East Village. An assortment of local spots will be offering $5 signature dish specials.

Taste of San Diego Celebrates ?History Making? Beers
February 18, 6 p.m. ? 10 p.m.
This San Diego History Center event celebrates the history of brewing in San Diego and the local breweries making an impact on the national scene. The event includes beer samples, food tastings and an auction. Both general and VIP tickets are available.

Old-Fashioned BBQ Bash
Feb. 25, 11 a.m. ? 4 p.m.
This one-day festival takes place each year on the last day of the National Barbecue Association Conference and Trade Show. There will be cooking demonstrations, cookbook signings, games, live music and, of course, plenty of BBQ. Tickets are $20.

Five Hot Hotel Bars in Las Vegas

Unlike many cities in the world, the most exciting bars in Las Vegas are often found inside its hotels. Check out these five the next time you're in Sin City...
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vtravelledblog/~3/tZbkrkLsZSQ/

Dineline on Facebook

To share your dining personality with your Facebook Timeline, get or upgrade the Urbanspoon iPhone app here.

Source: http://www.urbanspoon.com/blog/69/Dineline-on-Facebook.html