Top Five Things In...Chicago: January

So I was in Chicago the past few days for work, and it was my first trip in the Second City with snow & ice. It was not too cold, but the wind was the worst!

1. Pat's Pizza: originally located on N. Sheffield for over 50 years, the family decided to move to a building on N. Lincoln Ave.; the thin crust pizza is good, but the pasta is better; I recommend the gnocchi

2. Mr. Beef: if you want a legitimate Italian beef sandwich, go to this small restaurant in the River North area; I was the only person that did not work at a construction site placing an order; they also have hotdogs, burgers, and chicken sandwiches.

3. Delilah's Bar: this small bar on N. Lincoln (just a few blocks north of Pat's) is a what a dive & a punk rock place look like; local artists have their works displayed along with some "adult" films on the TV....definitely not your sports hangout! The best feature is the daily specials board. My favorite night is Friday: $2 Maker's Mark! Delilah's also claims to have 200+ and numerous bourbons.

4. The Bourgeois Pig Cafe: I was a bit confused by the title, but this coffee shop (actually, it serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and tea snacks) appeared to be a crowd favorite for the large population of DePaul University students. I had a chai tea latte that I must admit is better than Starbucks. The cafe is located on Fullerton near the intersection of Halstead & Lincoln.

5. Willows Hotel: due to the fact that all hotels in the Loop were booked (thanks convention attendees), this quaint hotel in Lincoln Park was surprisingly nice. I would consider staying there in the future. Its a four story building on a street called W. Surf about 4-5 blocks from the Diversey el. Their elevator is the kind with a cage & you have to "call" it to your floor. They also serve a complimentary breakfast w/a newspaper and coffee & cookies at night.

Bonus: the WC (a.k.a Wiener's Circle): great char-dogs, cheeseburgers, & fries with a side of a-t-t-i-t-u-d-e by the kitchen staff; my idea of a fun Friday night: a long stay at Delilah's followed by a Chicago dog at the WC. And it has to be after 1.00 a.m.