DW's Loop

“How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren’t in the Loop?”

By DW

Friday
Garfield Park Conservatory's Botanical Fashion Show - Fleurotica
300 N. Central Park Ave
Art Institute's millinery students transform flowers, plants and leaves into such closet accoutrements as wraps, hats, clothing and parasols.
Time: 7pm – 10pm
Cost: Tickets $100, $150
For more information: http://www.garfield-conservatory.org/shows.htm#f

Saturday
GEN ART's Shop Chicago Shop. Drink. Chic.
A day long extravaganza of shopping, selling and pampering at the Great Hall at Union Station to benefit Gen Art’s Chicago Fashion Program.
Features more than 80 emerging accessory and clothing designers
Complimentary cocktails, music and pampering at the Shop Chicago Beauty Lounge.
For more information: http://www.genart.org

Sunday
Collaboration’s 5th annual CARNAVAL
201 S. Ashland
Theatre-based artist collective will present live music, visual and performance art, and two dance floors.
Complimentary cocktails
Time: 9pm
Cost: $25 & $75 (VIP lounge)
For Tickets and more information: http://collaboraction.typepad.com/
Tickets will not be sold at the door.

Cocktail for the Week
SKYY Fruit Cocktail
1 oz. SKYY Melon
1 oz. SKYY Berry
2 oz. Cranberry Juice
Splash of Triple Sec
Enjoy over ice in a rocks glass.
Bonus of the Week
Singleton of Glendullan Single Malt VIP Event
Experience the newest Single Malt Scotch to make it to the US along with complimentary appetizers
Socca
3301 N. Clark St
Date: April 1, 2008
Time: 7pm - 10pm
Cost: Complimentary

Dating Dimes* on a Dime in DC

*slang noun in relation to physical beauty in place of a "perfect ten"

By Westmoreland

04. The Bucks Stop Here

Wonder woman and I are no longer super friends. I may get around to recounting the why, but presently, I have much bigger fish to fry. For example, I would really like some fried fish.

But, I turned over my American Express Card to my attorney last night so that I cannot have access to it. I already miss the old Centurion. We have been through some good times and some bad times. Any purchases that we have made have been good times. Any payments that I have made have been some bad times. But if you love somebody, you have to set them free.

I had a vision (now a plan) to buy a four-unit building in The District of Columbia. The plan depends on my attorney holding my Amex until September or October. For the next six months, I am living with cash, or not living.

DC is currently the fifth most expensive city in the United States. You have to put some cash aside to buy a house here. To buy a building, you need to put your ego aside. To save the right number, you have to put consumption aside --- and stay inside.

So, its lunchtime, and I am hungry. I ate. But since I am on a (man, I hate this word) budget, I only had one sadwhich (not a typo). You wouldn’t expect a single turkey burger to look so lonely. But I have to overcome the conditioning to eat a double-burger, $15 lunch everyday. I inherited a supersonic metabolism. I have to eat like a running back just to maintain my current weight. The last time I crammed grands I lost 15 pounds and was teased for the weight loss by my (so-called) friends who are already homeowners.

I am saving 42.5% of my income for the next six months. I have done this misery before. Last year. I was all good, too. I had assembled the appropriate war chest to ride into the real estate market like Hannibal from Carthage -- who conquered Rome on the backs of African elephants. But then I got greedy and bought some stocks whose value was kicked down a hole like the Persian ambassador in that scene from 300. I lost $8K in 16 minutes. So, I will be fundraising and hell raising in parallel. My goal is $9350 by Halloween. That will get me where I want to be with some buffer. Doable.

So for the coming months I will share with you what it is like to be a bachelor in D.C. on a beggar’s budget. I have projected a disposable income of $725.00 per month. That looks like a reasonable number (in theory), but a foxy woman can move that decimal to the left faster than MathCAD running on a MacPro. But I have a timeline, so precision is critical. But if it comes down to my wealth or a woman, I will be one money grubbing monk in my four-unit monastery.

O's corner: Tips that Make Life Easier

Sharper Edge
Good care will prolong the life and sharper edge of your cutting knives. Don't put knives with wooden handles in the dishwasher. Wash in the sink and dry them immediately. Prolonged exposure to water can corrode the blades and damage or loosen handles. Don't cut on hard surfaces like glass, marble, granite, ceramic or stainless steel, which will dull a knife quickly. A countertop or cutting board made of wood - particularly maple - or plastic is best because it gives a little. Instead of keeping knives loose in a drawer, store your knives in inexpensive plastic sleeves or blade savers, such as wooden blocks.

Preventing Annoying Sweat Stains
Baby powder can help prevent sweat stains on white shirts/blouses. Sprinkle a little powder on the underarms and the collar of a shirt, then iron. The powder will form a barrier that keeps oil and grime from seeping into the threads. I don’t recommend using scented powders, because they will leave a residue. In the past, cornstarch was recommended, but baby powder is better.

The Space: 3 Stars

903 N ST. NW, Washington D.C.

By D.C. T$

I would give The Space 5 Stars on atmosphere. It has a very exclusive vibe. It’s tucked away in a semi-residential area near the new convention center. The rooftop deck is great even in the winter. And there's a glass floor on the roof deck that overlooks the main bar.

However, I would only give the crowd 2.5 Stars. There weren't very many people there the first time I went and those that did come out seemed like they may have been from the neighborhood. After giving it a second chance, I have determined you have to take the party with you because there may only be a few other people.

Also, you never know what music they will have. On one visit it was the radio (yes, the radio!), which transitioned into an open mic rap session (which was really bad). The other time they had a house DJ that played nothing but house (which is cool, if you know that's what you're getting into in advance!).

I spoke to one of the people on staff there and there was mention of converting The Space to a private club with 24 hour access to members where you can keep a private bottle of alcohol and any other perks that come with this type of membership. I think this would be worth investigating.

The Space is a nice venue that is definitely worth a look for a private event.

DW's Loop

“How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren’t in the Loop?”

By DW

Friday
Off the Street Club Junior Board's 6th Annual March Mania Party
The Varsity Club (formerly John Barleycorn Sports Bar)
2142 N. Clybourn Ave.
7p.m.-11p.m
Catch first round NCAA Tournament games on a selection of 32 HDTVs.
$30 package includes all you can drink beer, well drinks and soda.
Raffle tickets will also be available at the door for Final Four tickets w/ airfare, Bulls
tickets, Blackhawks tickets, flight vouchers, a bottle of Dom & Tiffany champagne flutes, 1 nights stay at the Hyatt, Gap Gift Cards, and a JVC Camcorder (worth $1,299).

Saturday
The Little Black Dress Affair @ Flirty Girl Fitness
1325 W Randolph
DJs: Ron Troupe and Vince Adams
9pm – 2am
Admission $25, Champagne Special $100
Chic Black Mandatory Attire Mandatory
Event features Complimentary Hors D’oeuvres and Flirty Girl Performances
RSVP @ thelittleblackdressaffair@gmail.com

Sunday – Happy Easter
Easter at Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club
3700 N. Halsted St.
773-525-1111
11am – 3pm
$29.95 four-course, prix-fixe brunch menu. Includes mimosas and live music by Diva Madame X.

Cocktail for the Week
Absolut Flavorful Cosmo
2 parts of your favorite Absolut flavor: Peach, Ruby Red, Raspberry, Mandarin, or Citron and 1 part DeKuyper Triple Sec
1 part Cranberry, Splash of Lime Juice, Shake ingredients with ice, and strain into cocktail glass.
Garnish with a twist of fruit.

Bonus of the Week
Thursday & Friday, March 27 & 28
The Johnnie Walker Striding Man Society™ & Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue Men’s Store
717 N Michigan Ave
Making of the Modern Man: The Best of Everything for Men of Style
Featuring an Exclusive Tasting By LJ Heffernan, Master of Whisky
Cocktails & Hors D'oeuvres
5:30pm – 8pm
RSVP by Tuesday, March 25 @ 312.799.5129

Le Passage & The Drawing Room: 5 Stars

937 N. Rush St., Chicago

By Neonu

This is an upscale hot spot. Le Passage is the nightclub and The Drawing Room is the lounge. The Drawing Room serves American contemporary small plates. What you need to know is that the kitchen is open from 4pm to 4am Wednesday ��� Sunday, open until 5am on Saturday. So next time you need a late night bite, you have another alternative to the Rock & Roll McDonalds or pizza.


It is the cocktails at The Drawing Room that earned this spot a 5 star rating. The cocktail menu includes a selection of pre-prohibition era cocktails, prepared as they would have been back then, and contemporary cocktails created by The Drawing Room���s Master Bartenders. The Drawing Room seeks to provide its guests the ���Perfect Cocktail.��� The ice cubes are made using a specialized ice making system designed to cool faster, melt slower, and not affect taste. Cocktails are made with fresh ingredients. The fruit juices are freshly squeezed and the bitters are made from scratch. If you order a drink with a cherry, you don���t want to lay this cherry to the side. They are brandied in house. Signature cocktails can be prepared tableside by one of the Master Bartenders who can also describe the history of the cocktail. The Master Bartenders at The Drawing Room are experienced, skilled, and recognized in the field. They are friendly and create a very welcoming atmosphere at the bar. The Team - Charles Joly is the Chief Mixologist and creator of ���The Nooner.��� Debbie Peek is a Master Bartender and the creator of ���The Perfect Poire.��� Lynn House is a Master Bartender and the creator of ���Almost Summer.���

Le Passage has its own entrance but is actually separated from the Drawing Room only by a short hallway. So you can hear the music in the Drawing Room too, which is good. The DJs spin a mix of hip-hop, R&B, and other popular music. Bottle Service is required if you want to sit. Here at least you will get the exclusive experience. Most of the reserved seating is located in the back half of the club. You can see the dance floor, but you don���t have to worry about dancers falling into your seats. And unlike some other clubs, you don���t have to try and stuff your 8 friends into 4 seats or share seating with your VIP neighbors. Several sofas or large booths surround each table. The night I went the crowd was diverse, both in age and ethnicity.

Note: Le Passage & The Drawing Room is owned by Three Headed Productions who also owns Salud Tequila Lounge (see review).

$$$

Gibsons: 5 Stars (Celebs Love it Too!)

Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
1028 N. Rush St, Chicago
(312) 266-8999

By Neonu

There are so many reasons why I love this Chicago institution. First, it changed my life. Not in a Eckhart Tolle, A New Earth, way, but changed. When I first visited Chicago many years ago, two of my closest friends took me to Gibsons and insisted I order my fillet cooked medium (I admit previously I had always ordered red meat medium well or well done). It was absolutely delicious and I have preferred my steak cooked medium since that awakening.

Gibsons is known for its flavorful food and dramatic proportions. Everything here is supersized. You want to try at least a couple of the sides and a dessert in addition to you entree. Don't imagine that you can finish it all (doggie bags are perfectly acceptable). The dessert portions are so large you'll laugh. Order one for the table.

The service at Gibsons is above average and at times exceptional. I have found them to be highly trained, professional, and very friendly.

Gibsons is great for all occasions, but I highly recommend it as a place to take visiting friends, colleagues, clients, or family members. In the summer, Gibsons' outside patio is hard to beat for great food, drinks, and people watching.

The Bar
The bar at Gibsons is an experience. Gibsons is a very busy restaurant. The bar is frankly overcrowded, but this is the Gold Coast vibe. Know it, accept it for what it is, and have fun. Chicago's elite flock here for drinks and people watching. Somehow the restaurant also manages to squeeze a piano player into the bar area.

Celebs
Celebrity sightings at Gibsons are not uncommon. I was there this past week and saw John Corbett, who was the character Aidan Shaw on "Sex in the City," having drinks with Jerry O'Connell, the character Woody Hoyt on "Crossing Jordan." Katherine Heigl from "Grey's Anatomy" was also recently seen at Gibsons.

Reservations Strongly Recommended. $$$$

DW's Loop:

���How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren���t in the Loop?���

By DW

Friday
Top 100 Nightclubs Celebration @ Stone Lotus
873 N Orleans
Stone Lotus's celebrates being named one of 2008's Top 100 nightclubs in the country
RSVP for complimentary cover before 11PM @ rsvp@www.stonelotuslounge.com
Contact Michele for table reservations: Michele@stonelotuslounge.com
DJs for the night: Jesse Seely and Dante the Don.

Saturday
Whiskey Blue and PM Chicago Present Saturday Nights at Whiskey Blue
W Chicago - City Center
172 W Adams St.
Hosted by Cedo & DJ Uncle Milty
Begins @ 10pm
Table reservations - 312-782-4933
Discounted Valet Parking

Sunday
Exclusive Showing of HONEYDRIPPER from director and writer John Sayles
DuSable Museum of African American History
740 E 56th Place
3pm
$5.00 Admission
HONEYDRIPPER is an uplifting and loving portrayal of Southern Life in the 1950's.
Stars Danny Glover and Charles S. Dutton
Free Parking is available
Rated PG13
www.honeydripper-movie.com

Cocktail for the Week
Make a Classic: Long Island Tea
�� oz. Vodka
�� oz. Light Rum
�� oz. Gin
�� oz. Triple Sec
1 oz. sweet and sour
Splash of Cola

Combine alcohol and sweet and sour mix together in a glass. Add a splash of cola and garnish with a lemon or orange wedge.

Bonus of the Week - DW���s Heads UP
Stay
101 W Erie St
Opening in late April/early May
The Stay velvet rope will open a new era of 4am night life. Select Manor (642 N. Clark) party goers will be invited to the very exclusive Stay with the ability to revel until 4am while poppin' bottles (That���s the catch to ���STAYing���, if you ain���t poppin��� bottles you���ll be pooped)

So get to know the folks at Manor because I���m sure there will be a lot going down besides bottles of the Goose, Belvedere and Patron.

Dating Dimes* on a Dime in DC

*slang noun in relation to physical beauty in place of a "perfect ten"

By Westmoreland

03. Make The Tears Stop

God designed women with certain undocumented features (software engineers call these Easter Eggs*) that men are supposed to discover through trial and error (or word of mouth). I don’t mean a recent discovery that your lady likes chocolate. The fact that women like chocolate is well documented.

One example of an undocumented feature is the impact of gravity on a woman’s tears. To me water falling from a glass, rain falling from the sky, or a waterfall over a cliff appear to work differently than the tears falling from a woman’s eyes. When the water in a tear is set loose to descend a woman’s cheek, it runs slowly enough to be dramatic, but sufficiently fast to make room for more tears. I wonder can a woman cry on the moon? Or orbiting the Earth in a Zero-G environment.

It did not take me long to wish I had been on the moon when my colleague stopped me in the hallway (where I work), to cry to me about our project. Let me be clear. I do not mean cry-out. I mean weep. She was actually sobbing as she recounted the latest bit of weirdness on our project. I was almost too embarrassed to move, but too terrified not to offer that we find a conference room. A conference room for her to have a good cry. She declined and suggested we continue to the cafeteria where I had been heading. I felt very uncomfortable walking into a crowded, lunchtime cafeteria with a sobbing woman at my side.

I am a computer programmer. There is nothing related to computers that is actually sad. Bad bugs in programs can be stressful or depressing, but never have disappointments in my work risen (or fallen) to the level of sorrow. And if ever I come across a problem in my code that pushes me to tears -- those tears have to drop, silently, into the commode of a locked stall in the men’s room.

Man. Did I have ants in my pants. My loafers felt hot. I paid for my turkey burger and chicken breast and followed the distressed coworker to a lunch table where she (nervously?) wiped tears away and ate her baked chicken. Me? I cannot cry and eat.

After she complained about the unfair team lead, we threw away our trays and made the slow walk back to the foyer of the building. She wept and I fidgeted and scratched my neck. There is nothing more alienating than waiting for a woman to stop crying. At least she was not crying because of something that I had done. That, I would experience later in the day…


*A computer programmer “joke” that is inserted into a piece of software intended to entertain the development team. Some easy examples are http://www.google.com/intl/xx-klingon/, or Google/type: “French military victories” and select the I AM Feeling Lucky button.

O's Corner: O's Beach Chicken

This recipe is truly spectacular and one of my family’s favorites. This recipe is for 8-12. For 2-6 people, divide the amounts in half. I served this dish to a nutritionist who loved it. I have also served this meal at a seminar for cooks and received raves.

Ingredients

• 8 single chicken breasts, boned (Perdue sells 9 individually wrapped in a package), or turkey cutlets or 4-6 boneless pork chops (remove fat)
• 1 large jar chipped beef
• 8 strips of bacon, raw (if using pork chops use turkey bacon)
• 1/2 pint sour cream-regular or fat free
• 1 can golden mushroom soup, undiluted (or reg. mushroom soup)
• 1/4-cup sherry or apple juice
• 1 small can mushrooms, drained or 6 lg. white mushrooms sliced

Preparation (10 minutes)

• Wrap each piece of meat in bacon. Pull apart chipped beef, place in the bottom of an oven safe casserole dish. Place bacon wrapped meat on top of beef. Combine sour cream, soup, wine and mushrooms and pour over chicken and bottom of dish. If you prefer your meal “hot”, add your favorite hot sauce. No additional seasoning is necessary.
• Bake uncovered at 300 degrees for 2 hrs. (While your meal is cooking, shower, dress, or have a cocktail and relax knowing you have an awesome meal soon to be served.)
• Let sit for 15 minutes after removing from oven.
• Serve with jasmine, white or brown rice; risotto; or noodles.
• For an extra touch add some sliced green onions or parsley to top after removing from oven.

Tonight at The Drawing Room at Le Passage

Le Passage
937 N. Rush St Chicago IL 60611
The Drawing room is open 4pm - 4am Wednesday thru Sunday, 5am on Saturdays
For Dinner Reservations Call (312) 266-2694

Absinthe Dinner Wednesday, March 12th, 7:30pm
Enjoy an evening with Chief Mixologist Charles Joly as he dispels the myths of Absinthe and walk you through the history, flavors, and truths of this very misunderstood spirit.

$45 per person includes:

• 3 - course dinner



• Cocktail pairings with each course



• Absinthe discussion and tasting

Make your reservation today! Or call 312.255.0022


1/2 Price Bottles of Wine & Champagne
Every Wednesday in The Drawing Room

Ayo: 5 Stars

By Neonu

I had the pleasure of attending Ayo's performance at Red Kiva this past Tuesday. Ayo is a true artist. Her sound is her own. Her songs tell the tale of her life with a quiet passion. She does not neatly fit into any music label. For me her music is a bit soul, a bit folk. She reminds me of two artists I Love - Tracy Chapman (back in the day) and Me'shell Ndegeocello. Ayo has been very successful outside of the United States, but is just beginning to build a career here. If you have been complaining about the lack of good new music, you should check out Ayo and support her as she goes up against the animal that is the American music industry.

Buy her album. I did. (also available on iTunes)

Ayo has had several TV/radio appearances including the Late Late Show and David Letterman.
Her video "Down on my Knees" is in regular rotation on both VH1 and BETJ. Currently, it is in BETJ's Soul Sensation Top 20 Countdown.

For more information about Ayo including samples of her songs and upcoming performances check out her site:
http://ayomusic.artistes.universalmusic.fr/?WT.mc_id=105

DW's Loop

“How can you stay in the Loop, if you aren’t in the Loop?”

By DW

Friday
Dee Jay Jesse De La Pena First Fridays Residency, spinning an eclectic mix of Jazz, Soul, Funk, Latin, Reggae, and House
Cuatro
2030 S. Wabash Ave, Chicago
10pm - 2am
No Cover

Saturday
Funky Couture Second Year Anniversary Party
Hotel Victor
311 N Sangamon
8:00 - 10:00 Private VIP Reception
Victor Hotel Signature Sushi and passed Hour d' ourves Champagne & Effen Vodka
After-party at Vision
RSVP @ funkycouture.net or going.com/funky2 for reduced admission

Sunday
Smart Bar Industry Sundays
3730 N Clark
$3 Effen cocktails$4 Heineken Premium Light Bottles$5 "Shot + A Beer" Effen & Heineken Premium Light
RSVP required (Individual RSVPs only no +1's)Email first/last name & event date to theend@smartbarchicago.com no later than Sunday @ 8pm.

Cocktail for the Week

Berry Breeze
Ingredients:
1 oz Chambord Raspberry Liqueur
1 oz Bailey's Irish Cream
1 oz Kahlua
Top with Cream
Ice Cubes

Instructions:
Fill highball glass with ice. Add 1 oz. each of Chambord, Kahlua, and Baileys.
Top with cream. Short Shake.

Bonus of the Week
Paramount Room "Tax Relief" Promotion
415 N. Milwaukee
Get 50% off Lunch at Paramount Room
Valid Monday through Thursday from 11:30am - 2:30pm
Discount applies toward the food portion of bill
Not valid with any other discount or promotion.
No Coupon Necessary - Promotion runs through April 15th only.

Dating Dimes* on a Dime in DC

*slang noun in relation to physical beauty in place of a "perfect ten"

By Westmoreland

02. Shaquille O'Neill

What about rebounding, though, right? Is there a risk that I will prematurely transition into selection (see previous entry) without having purged the recently failed relationship and the bad blood cursing through my muscular frame? Well, yeah. But, again, the empty apartment is empty, unless you count the books and the bathtub. I need a puppy, but in the meantime, I have got to mingle.

So, this is where we will track the dating phases.

Actually. I guess I have met someone who is beautiful and impressive. She has the characteristics that typically entrap me. Super Southern, deep brown skin, seriously self-assured, statuesque (uh, try to picture what Wonder Woman would look like if she were from the Mississippi Delta), nice teeth, and well educated. God knows that I am (weak, weak, weak) weak for the dark brown woman. Then she has the nerve to have a distinct regional accent (which I will not disclose) that resonates through my sternum and down my spine. This girl looks like 5 feet and ten inches of Hershey bars melted down and poured into a snug sweater and tight slacks. And I already like chocolate. And here is me: completely off my game with miserably slow defenses. Think Abdul-Jabbar in 1989.

This is where we will track my dating phases and outcomes.

I am taking the Godiva-dipped Wonder Woman to dinner. And me? Well, I am fly. But I am not the Superman that I have historically been. I am not even Batman. I am more Aquaman. All underwater and chasing fish all over the place -- until I can dry out. It is real. None of us are perfect.

O's Corner: Serving Pound Cake with Flair

To make a wonderful meal sensational or a simple meal sophisticated, end with this dessert. This dessert is relatively easy and makes a great presentation.

1. Slice into serving sizes a pound cake (from your neighborhood bakery or local Grocer’s bakery).
2. Choose one or more of the following: Grand Marnier, Chambord, Malibu Rum, Kirsch, Cointreau, or other liqueur or brandy of your choice.
3. Place in a small serving dish peaches, seedless dark cherries, whole strawberries or blackberries (fresh or previously canned or frozen).
4. Add, to taste, one of the liqueurs, rum, or brandy to the fruit. You can get creative and prepare several different variations in separate dishes for your guests to sample. All of the liqueurs taste great with the listed fruits.
5. Put a large container of pre-whipped cream and some vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt into a food processor or blender with 3 tbs. of brandy or rum and whip.
6. Place the slices of pound cake on a beautiful serving dish. Surround it with the individual dishes of your fruit toppings and spiked whipped cream. Let guests help themselves. If you like you can add dishes of chopped almonds or another nut of your choice. Be creative. Make it your own.

This is also a great time to serve coffee, or an after dinner aperitif. I would not choose a flavored coffee. Too many flavors confuse the palate.

Ayo at Red Kiva Tuesday

Tuesday, March 4th, catch acoustic soul singer Ayo at Red Kiva, 1108 W. Randolph, at 8pm (Doors open at 6:30pm).
Ayo has had several TV/radio appearances including the Late Late Show and David Letterman.
Her video "Down on my Knees" is in regular rotation on both VH1 and BETJ.
Currently, it is in BETJ's Soul Sensation Top 20 Countdown.

For more info. about Ayo check her sites:
http://www.myspace.com/ayo
http://ayomusic.com/

If you miss her at Red Kiva, you can check out her special "Live in Monte Carlo" on PBS.
Check your local listings or www.pbs.org/tvschedules to find the airdate(s).