CHICAGO is TOTALLY AWESOME

Next time you find yourself wandering the streets of Chicago, cold and naked, looking for a jacket or just a nice place to warm your buns, you should check out Michael and Louise's Hopleaf Bar. They probably won't let you in if you really are naked, so put some pants on already!

My friend Natalie from North Carolina (go Tarheels!), recommended this place, so I can't take credit for the discovery, but I can tell you that it was AWESOME. Awesome if you love Belgian beer. Awesome if you love mussels and frites and large plates of meaty food. Awesome if you love cigarette smoke wafting in from the front room bar.
Yeah, I don't love that one either, but some people might. Hi Mom!
Their extensive beer menu - focused mainly on Belgian beers but also hitting up a couple other countries - was THIRTEEN pages long.
Burrrrp.

We also got to check out the new party spot and kitchen studio from the Food Network's Hearty Boys. SWALLOW! You're on HBTV! That's their slogan, I'm just reporting the facts.

Stop laughing at their picture.


Damian's sister Liz rented out the spot, her pastry chef boyfriend made a crazy coffin birthday cake with layers of pumpkin bread, mocha buttercream and chocolate ganache, and there were fancy party snacks like polenta with escargot; and pizza with eggplant, feta and chocolate. All low fat and approved by Jenny Craig and Curves.

Other things about Chicago approved by me: lots of pretty brick buildings; wide streets with fallen leaves;
and really long mani/pedis.
We're talking two hours of cuticle trimming, foot soaking and pumice scrubbing. I had a chance to "read" every Us, People and Star magazine and am now fully caught up on all the breaking celebrity news, like the grueling Spice Girls reunion tour schedule, and what type of burrito Drew Barrymore eats when she's depressed. Thank you Chicago!