One of my favorite weekends ~ Artropolis Chicago 2010!

If you’re looking for something to do this weekend, look no further. This is one of my favorite weekends of the year, when the Merchandise Mart opens its doors and shows all its glory, becoming the beautiful venue for Artropolis.

There are not one, not two, but three main shows which start today and go through Monday. As a press release often says it best, here you go: Attendees will have the opportunity to experience a fabulous collection of contemporary art, emerging artists and timeless antiques, all the while enjoying a wide range of world-class programming and performances from over 85 cultural partners across the city.

How does that sound to you? To me it sounds splendid. Coming from a family of artists and art enthusiasts, I attend year after year. I love perusing the art showcased in the largest building in Chicago (and once upon a time the world!) until my feet are badly blistered and I must sit down in the lovely café for a café au lait until I can manage to move again.

Visit http://www.artropolischicago.com/ for more information on show hours and ticket information.

This is where I’ll be this weekend~

[all pictures are works from previous years I particularly enjoyed]

ART CHICAGO®

Art Chicago, the renowned international fair of contemporary and modern art, will once again bring together the world’s leading emerging and established galleries.

Located on the 12th floor of The Mart, Art Chicago will feature events throughout the weekend, enticing both the novice and experienced collector.

Throughout the four days, cutting-edge speaker programs, Art Chicago Speaks and Converge Chicago: Contemporary Curators Forum will feature an international roster of artists, writers, curators and critics, discussing current trends and provocative issues confronting the contemporary art market.

In addition, the fair will also feature onsite exhibitions including New Insight, an annual exhibition of rising MFA students from the country's most influential art programs, curated by Susanne Ghez of The Renaissance Society; Partisan, a display of works that critically explore social and political ideas; and Survey America, a floor-wide exhibit that highlights extraordinary works by artists living and working in the United States.



THE MERCHANDISE MART INTERNATIONAL ANTIQUES FAIR™

Thousands of spectacular pieces and more than 100 of the top national and international dealers will converge on the 8th Floor of The Mart during Artropolis for the 13th annual Merchandise Mart International Antiques Fair.

Recognized as the premier antiques shows in the Midwest and offering an eclectic mix of vintage finds and exquisite antiques, The Antiques Fair hosts an attractive roster of high-profile speakers, charitable special events, designer consultations and services and an engaging lecture series for both experienced and novice collectors.

A wide range of antique genres to shop from, including: 20th Century Design, Americana, Architectural Design, Asian Art & Antiquities, Barometers, Books, Ceramics, Clocks, Clothing and Accessories, Decorative Arts, Folk Art, Furniture, Glass, Jewelry, Paintings, Posters, Prints, Maps, Sculpture, Silver, Textiles and Tribal Art, will be showcased.



NEXT

More than an art fair, NEXT is the critically acclaimed complement fair to Art Chicago, which debuted in 2008 at The Mart. NEXT is an invitational exhibition of emerging art includes which features a showcase for the world’s talents and an adventure in cutting-edge culture.

Located on the 7th Floor of The Mart, NEXT offers guests to Artropolis a portal to seeing contemporary art in new, innovative, eye-opening ways, and will include works from both commercial and non-commercial arts organizations. NEXT is dedicated to placing the newest developments in contemporary art in a truly global context, and will be showing galleries from Antwerp, Dublin, London, Melbourne, Tenerife, among others, as well as galleries from around the United States.

NEXT is a unique model for experiencing the best of contemporary art – carving a niche for presenting brilliant if as yet under-known work.

Hope you'll join me~

Can we call it Tasty Thursday this week? A Healthy Alternative to Fried Chicken

I know it doesn't have the same ring, but this week is a Tasty Thursday kind of week. Work and life have prevented me from fun and blogging. But not today ~ today's recipe is hopefully bookmarked by many as I've discovered it's a sure way to please the taste buds when craving crispy chicken and savory bacon (or in this case, prosciutto).

This Chicken Marsala recipe is derived from one I found in Men’s Health magazine. I’ve discovered this mag to be a great source for creative meal options ~ for one, it focuses on health. It also focuses on what men like to eat, thus making it easy to please the hubs. And the icing on the cake? I think they purposely make the recipes really simple, with ingredients that most have around their kitchens. Perhaps they’re trying to persuade their bachelor readers to pick up a pan and get cooking? Whatever the reason, I like it!

Chicken Marsala

Ingredients:

Boneless skinless chicken breasts (1/person ~ this recipe serves 4)
1 cup flour
1 Tablespoon EVOO
2 oz prosciutto, sliced into thin strips
8 oz cremini mushrooms (or any other variety you like ~ shitake, portobello and oyster all work really well), sliced
¾ cup marsala wine
¾ cup low-sodium chicken broth
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Salt & pepper to taste (careful with the salt! Prosciutto can be very salty naturally, so make sure to taste your dish before adding salt to avoid over-salting)

Instructions:
Season each breast with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow bowl or plate, and coat the chicken pieces evenly, shaking off any excess flour.

Heat the olive oil on medium in a large non-stick pan. Add the chicken and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until the breasts are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Transfer to a serving plate and keep warm (top with foil).

Add a little more oil to the pan if needed, and sauté the prosciutto for 1-2 minutes or until it begins to crisp. Add the mushrooms and sauté until they are well browned.

Stir in the marsala and broth, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan (this is instant extra flavor!) Cook until the liquid had reduced to about ½ cup. Season the sauce with salt and pepper (taste first!) and add the parsley.

Serve the chicken with the marsala mushroom sauce poured over.

Scrumptious!

Tasty Tuesday, Tasty Turkey Burger

You won’t believe how simple yet scrumptious this easy weeknight meal is. Ok, maybe you will. I’m hoping by now you recognize how much I enjoy cooking great food with simple ingredients. This is one of my top weeknight meals ~ it’s easy, tasty, easy, and did I mention tasty?

This recipe combines the husband's master grill skills with my need for a great burger year round. Only, substitute the beef for turkey please, add in all the seasonings and secret ingredient, and a simple version of sweet potato fries, and you have one heck of a meal that is pseudo-comfort food without all the calories or fat. Perfect for a Tuesday night after a stressful, er, exhilarating day at work.

[the husband takes his with swiss cheese and a little Ranch dressing, on toasted bun of course]

The perfect Tasty Turkey Burger

Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground turkey
Worcestershire sauce to taste
1 egg (secret ingredient!)
Dash of garlic salt
Breadcrumbs (about a Tablespoon)
Dash of Italian herbs and seasoning
Salt & pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients (or have someone else, wink wink) in a bowl including the egg. The meat will feel very very cold after adding the egg. I’m not sure why this is ~ some sort of chemical reaction. If anyone can explain extra bonus points for you! Form patties (I typically buy 1 lb of turkey and make 4 burgers ~ freeze 2 and cook 2 that night). Cook on stovetop on grill or frying pan until desired doneness (or outside on grill, even better!). The egg will keep the turkey moist and succulent and oh so yummy.

Sweet potato fries au natural

Ingredients
1 sweet potato per 2 people, cut into French-fry size strips
Extra Virgin Olive oil (EVOO)
Sea salt & pepper to taste

Line baking sheet with tin foil and place sliced sweet potato evenly on sheet
Drizzle with olive oil (EVOO) and roll sweet potato strips around to evenly distribute
Salt with sea salt and pepper to taste
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 min on lower rack of oven, turning / flipping once.

Happy Tasty Tuesday~

West Loop Sushi Three Ways

Maybe it was due to celebrating Lent these past recent 40 days, or maybe it was due to the fact that I do love me some sushi, but I found myself exploring just about every sushi joint within walking distance from our new digs these past few weeks.

Here I bring you my favorite three in the neighborhood - all for very different reasons. They're each great in their own way and have distinct perks and reasons to frequent.

The hip, delicious, and nutritious: Sushi Wabi. I had high hopes venturing over to Sushi Wabi ~ I had heard many a good word and I was looking for a replacement to our former favorite neighborhood sushi gem Wakamono. (Unfamiliar? Read about my opinion of Wakamono here). Sushi Wabi has delivered. Perhaps a bit pricier than what I’d like to spend on my weekly sushi fix, what I appreciate about Sushi Wabi is their ability to have a wide range of prices, sizes, ingredients and flavor combinations within their maki roll menu alone.

The see-and-be-seen atmosphere is not overly pretentious and keeps things cozy as you sit shoulder-to-shoulder with your neighbors. Sleek décor, less than sparkling service. Go for a fun night with date or friends, or order in to enjoy exquisite sushi and save on drinks.

[all pictures taken at Sushi Wabi]

No frills fish:

Sushi Pink. It’s kind of in the West Loop’s version of a strip mall, sandwiched between a Dunkin Donuts and Chase bank, but don’t let this fool you. Sushi Pink has some of the best service I’ve seen so far in the West Loop ~ complete with a bow as they hand you the receipt. The rolls are simple ~ no exotic combinations or flavor profiles, but you can find the staples at a very reasonable price. Not to mention the atmosphere is somehow super cute ~ a place you'd pop into on a whim and end up being pleasantly surprised with the straightforward sushi and a couple cosmos. No frills is sometimes a good thing.

And the place in-between: Izumi. Somewhat of an identity crisis going on here – as the soundtrack changed from Britney Spears to a remix of The Beatles – but who am I to knock a place or person trying to figure out who they are? I’m in my twenties people, that’s what this age is all about. When my g-friend and I arrived, I was somewhat concerned we would be the loudest in the small quiet little joint. (And just so you know we are two pretty soft-spoken people.) However, a couple glasses of our BYOB vino, and my concern had dissipated. The perks? BYOB with no corkage fee, great maki roll flavor combinations for a very affordable price.

I'm sold on all three. Is it dinner time yet?

Today's Chicago Groupon ~ Cooking Class for 2

Today's Chicago Groupon is one I advocate - Cooking Class for 2 at Cook Au Vin.

I've yet to go to Cook Au Vin, but every class I've been to has been great fun, in every venue. It's a chance to spend time with family, friends, or your hottie, and bond over food. What's more fun than that?

P.S - For those unfamiliar, Groupon brings great local deals to you every day. Each day brings a new "groupon" and they are only valid if enough people sign up for the deal that day.

P.P.S - A slew of West Loop restaurant reviews are on the way... I've been so busy ingesting in my new neighborhood I realized I now need to pause and reflect on all I've ate. Coming soon. :)

Happy Foodie Friday~

Tasty Tuesday ~ Top Chef Masters Returns!

On this Tasty Tuesday, it's all about gearing up for tomorrow's premiere of Top Chef Masters for me. Watch this clip for a chance to get to know the 6 chefs who will compete tomorrow night!

Today is a great day ~ An interview with CGC and a New Weekend Warrior!

Today is a great day. Not only is it Good Friday, superb weather, and a day off work - but it's also the day I'm featured on fashionable friend Whitney's blog Fauxshionable, including an interview with me on my style. If you don't already know Whitney's blog, and even if you do, hop on over and check it out!

AND we also have a fabulous new Weekend Warrior post with you from the design diva Alaina at Live Creating Yourself. Alaina and I became blog buddies immediately when I discovered she was packing up and heading to the city to create a life for herself here. It's been a blast following Alaina in her journey, and she's obviously had plenty of fun in the city already as here she shares her excellent ways to be a warrior in our beautiful city of Chicago:

Favorite restaurant fit to bring a foodie: Honestly, I'm not a foodie and I don't know any so I can't say for sure. That being said, I have dined at Japonais a couple of times and the food is out of this world (so are the prices). Both times I've had an array of sushi and both times looooved it. The first time there, I tried octopus and eel for the first time, and I've been hooked ever since. They're also famous for The Rock: an appetizer dish comprised of raw seasoned steak and a scalding hot rock about the size of my palm. Customers cook the steak on the rock. It's pretty fun, not to mention delicious! And the outside patio area along the river is pretty fun to sit and enjoy a cocktail - before or after dinner.

Favorite place to imbibe: Not to be lame and give the same answer twice in a row, but I'll have to say the riverwalk/lounge/outdoor patio at Japonais. It's swanky, the view is industrial and kind of grimy which I think makes it cool, the sunsets are breathtaking, and the cocktails are delish. That being said, I've also been dying to try the Rooftop at the Wit - all my gf's have been and we keep trying to plan a girls' night there. I've seen pictures and the white contemporary decor is pretty fantastic. Plus it's fun to have an excuse to get all glammed up just for a cocktail (or two... or three).

Most loved romantic date night consists of: My favorite thing to do for a date consists of dining and a show. There are so many great live theater venues in Chicago, you can find something going on almost any night of the week. Two suggestions: dine near the River (Smith and Wollensky if you want to be on the River) and follow it up with a musical or concert at the Chicago Theater or the House of Blues, both nearby. Or I suggest dining in Old Town or Wrigleyville and go to a comedy show at Second City or Improv Olympics, respectively. Add a bottle of wine with dinner, and you're guaranteed a night to remember! : )

Elected ladies night out agenda: Drinking, dancing and laughing. We typically start out at Mad River on Sheffield. We grab a booth, order cocktails and chat. Another favorite bar is Kirkwood, across the street - they have a great patio for hanging out in the summer. After that, we almost always end up dancing - The Hangge Uppe being a favorite place although it can get insanely crowded or Shenanigans in the Gold Coast neighborhood. We almost always end up stopping at Burton's Place in Old Town and grabbing Bacci's Pizza before heading home in the wee hours of the morning.

Preferred place to shop fashion: I love shopping on Michigan Ave. although I don't do it nearly as often as I should. The Saks, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom are great, and it doesn't get more fun than peeping in the windows of all the designer boutiques around Michigan and Oak St. The Ralph Lauren store is also the most beautiful store I've ever been in. You can't help but get lost in what feels like an old mansion. Try it sometime.

Favorite place to shop for fun: Andersonville. This cute neighborhood up North offers an array of thrift stores, furniture shops, and boutiques all along the N. Clark Ave. strip. Heaven for a design junkie on a budget.

Ideal place to shop food: In the winter: Jewel Osco. It's cheap, close to my apartment, and they've got everything. In the summer, however, I hope to hit up the Farmer's Markets - notably the Southport Green Market - more regularly for fresh items.

Best place to sightsee: Walk Michigan Ave. And I'm not just referring to the streets surrounding the old Water Tower. I mean start at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, take in the view of the Lake and the Sears Tower, then walk toward Millennium Park, see the Bean, and start heading north up Michigan Ave ALL the way until you reach Oak Street Beach. This way you'll see it all: the parks, the skyscrapers, the architecture, the river, the Wrigley Building, the shopping, and the lakefront. Just wear comfy shoes. The OTHER best option for sightseeing is getting on a boat and going out on the Lake on a sunny day. It. Is. Breathtaking.

Favorite way to enjoy Chicago culture: Cubs game. Hands down. And to REALLY experience it, you have to sit in the Bleachers and follow it up with a bar crawl through Wrigleyville. I've never had a more fun day in Chicago than with my girlfriends in the Bleachers on a day when the Cubs win. It's loud and exciting, and everyone you meet is your friend. I recommend it to anyone visiting Chicago.

Favorite way to enjoy a Chicago weekend:

Friday night - sushi with the boy - either Tank in Lincoln Square or Coast in Bucktown, the latter of which is BYOB but insane to get a reservation for (call at least a week in advance) - followed by a movie at home. I know. We're crazy.

Saturday morning, we wake up early, grab Starbucks, and head to Wiggley Field in Lincoln Park with the dogs (or Belmont Harbor dog beach in the summer). After a good hour of watching the dogs frolic and cover themselves in mud, we head home, hose them off, and get ourselves ready for the day as the two four-legged friends settle in for a long nap. I then normally do some shopping. My favorite option is to head to the Brown Elephant thrift stores - both their Lakeview location on Halsted and their Andersonville location on Clark - to scour for new, cheap finds. I also like trekking down to the North Ave. shopping district to stop into my favorite chains: West Elm, PB, J.Crew, and CB2. Nighttime normally consists of cracking open a bottle of wine, cooking dinner with Nate, and getting ready for a night out with our friends. That can take place anywhere from Sheffield Street bars I mentioned, to Old Town, or the Southport Corridor (Blue Bayou or Southport Lanes being two faves for a group hang out - the latter of which used to be a speakeasy during prohibition, so the bowling lanes were added as a front).

Sunday = me sleeping as late as possible before the pups wake up and want to go to the park again. If I need a big breakfast, we head down the street to Julius Meinl for the most delicious chicken salad sandwich in the world or Southport Grocery for the French toast. Delish.

Thank you to Alaina and Whitney, and may you ALL have a fabulous Easter weekend!

Think you can cook? Film it and you could win!

The National Restaurant Association is calling all culinary professionals and enthusiasts ranging from professional chefs to amateur home cooks, culinary school grads and foodies. Show off your cooking skills and enter the 3rd annual NRA Hot Chef Challenge 2010 for the opportunity to experience culinary stardom during this year's NRA Show, May 22-25 at Chicago's McCormick Place.

How to enter: Film an original two minute (or less) video demonstrating your recipe and submit your video to their YouTube page by Thursday, April 29. Recipes must include at least one fresh produce item, plus any other ingredients of your choice. For inspiration, competitors should refer to the National Restaurant Association's "Chef Survey: What's Hot in 2010" for ideas ranging from super fruits to black garlic, ancient grains to heirloom tomatoes.

How to win: YouTube users will view and rate each video submission. One lucky winner will be chosen by celebrity chef and Top Chef Masters Season 2 participant, Marcus Samuelsson, last year’s Hot Chef Challenge winner, as well as a panel of food critics and foodservice industry professionals.

The Grand Prize: One grand prize will be awarded and will showcase your creation alongside celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson in the World Culinary Showcase at the NRA Show 2010. You'll also receive three days and two nights at the Affinia Hotel Chicago during the NRA Show, a special wine-paired dinner at Chef Marcus Samuelsson's acclaimed Chicago restaurant C-House, in the Affinia Hotel Chicago!

Readers, do let me know if you enter. I don't have a chef's kitchen or anything, but I am thinking through the logistics of it... wouldn't it be neat to film from the other side of my stove, to see the face of the chef as they cook? Anyone want to borrow my kitchen? :)