Tastiest brown stew chicken we tried all year: Why, the cleverly named brown stew chicken at Uncle Joe’s Tropical Cuisine (8211 S. Cottage Grove Ave., plus two other locations; 773-962-9935, www.unclejoesjerk.com). Tender pieces of chicken bathed in a savory, tangy sauce over rice — what’s not to love? This is comfort food at its best.
Best hour spent coated in algae: The Arctic Algae Body Treatment Wrap at Jon N Ric Salon and Day Spa (1603 N. Aurora Rd., Suite 101-103, Naperville; 630-983-8400, www.jonricnaperville.com). Who knew being painted with stinky green algae and inserted into a futuristic pod to bake for an hour could be so soothing?
Yummiest bowl of oatmeal: The bowl of steel cut oats at Su Van’s Cafe & Bake Shop (3351 N. Lincoln Ave.; 773-281-0120). Warm and rich and a little bit chewy, this is the quintessential bowl of oatmeal.
— Trine Tsouderos
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Best way to get to know the Chicago River and the backs of familiar buildings while working out: Cardio Kayaking classes with Chicago River Canoe & Kayak (773-704-2663, www.chicagoriverpaddle.com). They will start again in the summer.
Heavenly-est smelling coffeehouse in the city: Metropolis Coffee Company (1039 W. Granville Ave.; 773-764-0400, www.metropoliscoffee.com) serves their own coffee but also roasts for some of the city’s top cafes. Whenever we step in the door, we close our eyes and say mmmmm.
Best dressed cow in the city: The ssam bap at Elephant (Kokeeri) (4346 W. Lawrence Ave.; 773-205-5680), featuring at least four different leaves (cabbage, red leaf, sesame and napa) to wrap marinated beef, rice and delicious condiments along with a side of outstanding warm mackerel in a cayenne sauce
Best fast-food guacamole in the city: At Burrito Beach (200 E. Ohio St.; 312-335-0668, burritobeach.com), the guac tastes fresh and boasts nice chunks of tomato, avocado and onion. And chips too for an excellent price of $2.89.
— Monica Eng
Truest European bakery: At Bonjour Bakery in Hyde Park (1550 E. 55th St.; 773-241-5300), the pastries are pretty and delicious, the sandwiches are simple and fresh, and the employees are proficient in French.
Furriest regulars: We love four-legged fixtures that hang out at area venues. The bulldog at Flower Flat Cafe (622 W. Addison St.; 773-871-0888) and Radley the black cat at the Empty Bottle (1035 N. Western Ave.; 773-276-3600) are fine representatives for these loyal mascots.
— Fauzia Arain
5 most amazing-est outdoor moments
1. Walking through a forest preserve on a winter night, the full moon throwing shadows onto the snow, with a line of fellow hikers carrying red Chinese lanterns. An amazing moment created by Windy City Hikers, a group of outdoorsy folks who could also place in the Outdoors Friendliest category (along with all the area’s nature restoration volunteers). Check them out at www.windycityhikers.com.
2. Watching birds so close up that you can see bits of seed falling from their beaks as they chew. The ultimate in both bird-watching and comfort, because you are watching from indoors, behind one-way glass at the Gibson Woods Nature Center in Hammond, Ind.
3. Sandstone bluffs and swooping swallows on the lower Fox River Dells, 80 minutes from Chicago. See it by canoe, which you can rent at River Adventures in Ottawa or Ayers Landing in Wedron, but avoid summer weekends unless you like your nature with lots of beer-drinking-while-canoe-paddling company.
4. The feel of a tiny ruby-crowned kinglet in your hand. You get to hold it, and other migrating birds snared in nets, if you volunteer with the Shaw Woods Avian Monitoring Project, an annual research study conducted every may in the Skokie River Nature preserve. Find out more at www.lakeforest.edu/academics/faculty/gordon/swamp/default.asp.
5. The moon, bright white with sharply shadowed craters, and bright planets like ringed Saturn, as seen through a telescope near the intersection of North Avenue and Wells Street. The jaw-dropping views, courtesy of Sidewalk Astronomy, will be available once the weather turns warm. For the schedule, visit www.sidewalk-astronomy-club.com/chicago.
— Barbara Brotman
Fast-food’s greatest tastes
After hundreds of fast-food bites, our former “Chain Reaction” writer Kevin Pang chooses his favorites.
1. Steak ‘n Shake’s “The Original Double” Steakburger with Cheese
Steak ‘n Shake, the Normal, Ill.-based chain, makes as delicious and manageable a hamburger as it gets around these parts. It begins and ends with the spectacular beef: cut from the sirloin, round steak and T-bone, formed into medallions then griddled. The result is a patty with an incomparably crispy sear, and a big, bold flavor that yells out beef in capital letters. Splash on a dash of the restaurant’s Green Amazon Pepper oil for added complexity.
2. McDonald’s French Fries
There will be no argument over this: McDonald’s serves the most satisfying french fries the world has ever tasted. Their pomme frites thickness are tailor-made for picking up three at a time, which when dunked in the slightly sweet ketchup makes for a sublime pairing.
3. Cold Stone Creamery’s Sweet Cream Ice Cream
Don’t let all those candy-coated chocolate toppings gild the lily of this simple, luscious, utterly divine ice cream. The flavor of fresh whole-cream milk makes me swoon every time.
4. Culver’s Pork Tenderloin Sandwich
Its genius is in its plainness: a flattened piece of pork loin coated in cracker crumbs and fried, then served on a toasted thick, five-inch diameter Kaiser bun.
5. KFC Original Recipe Wings
Other chains may fry up their chickens crispier/crunchier, but flavorwise, there’s something familiar and satisfying about Colonel Sander’s “11 herbs and spices” recipe. The wing portion is the best — the meat around the bones retains the most moisture.
6. Boston Market’s Rotisserie Chicken Carver Sandwich
Unlike the chains that pre-slice and pre-weigh their proteins, Boston Market tears the meat from its terrific rotisserie chicken to order for their Carver sandwiches. The super-moist chicken (usually breast meat) takes on a Dijon-mustard tang, and the toasted roll holds everything without sogging up.
7. Wendy’s Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger
The best 99-cent burger deal around. A soft, fresh-tasting bun, well-balanced flavor of beef, cheese, bread and bacon, and the best part — it’s practically grease-free.
8. Chipotle’s Chicken Burrito
The Chipotle folks can talk about their vegetarian-fed, antibiotic-free, “naturally raised chicken” all day long, but how does it taste in a burrito? Great. The chipotle pepper marinade imparts a smoky, resonant flavor. Chopped cilantro and lime juice accent the rice. Add in the roasted chile-corn salsa for sweetness and the tomatillo salsas (red and green) for a swift uppercut to the taste buds.
9. Burger King’s Whopper Jr.
The back-yard taste of beef char-grill is why Burger King has found success the last 50 years with its Whopper sandwich. Consider the Whopper Jr., which has nearly half the calories, fat and sodium levels as the original version.
10. Pollo Campero’s Campero Beans
Pollo Campero’s beans are hearty, spicy, and as side dishes go, as good as you can order at a fast-food restaurant. Pinto beans are stewed in a piquant broth with diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and cilantro. Bacon and pork sausage add a smoky finish.
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— Kevin Pang
The nerdiest
One might say 2007 was pretty good for At Play’s nerdier readers. Here are some highlights:
Science nerd moment: You’re not a true nerd until you’ve obsessed about something made with chemicals, potentially explosive and requiring at least a minimal knowledge of some sort of science to create. Enter model rockets. The Northern Illinois Rocketry Association told us it’s about the countdown, the blast-off and the height. It’s all about space in the end, isn’t it? www.coolrockets.com, www.nira-rocketry.org.
Lonely nerd moment: Nerds at Heart wants people to celebrate that inner geek with like-minded singles. Play sci-fi trivia, talk software, share your love of stamp collection — anything goes at Nerds at Heart. And hey, you might even find love. www.nerdsatheart.com.
Anime nerd moment: Yeah, we wondered too. But the folks at the College of DuPage Cosplayers Club really know how to take an obsession and dress it up — literally. Focusing on Japanese anime and manga characters, as well as video games, the cosplayers create costumes from the ground up, in exacting detail, and then hang out (in character). It’s a little bit acting, a little bit costuming and a lot of geeky fun. codcosplay.suddenlaunch3.com.
‘Release your inner spaz’ nerd moment: Dance Dance Party Party. This girls-only event lets you cut loose and gyrate to some really awesome tunes, from ’80s standards like the Waitresses’ “I Know What Boys Like” to modern jams like “Rafiki” by Zap Mama. And you don’t have to worry about trying to dance in heels or making sure your eyeliner doesn’t smudge; at DDPP knee socks are de rigueur, and there’s no one for you to impress because everyone’s busy getting down. www.dancedancepartyparty.com.
— Cheryl Bowles
The year’s best hotel bets (with no reservations)
Hotel with the best downtown location: Tie between the James Chicago (55 E. Ontario St.; 312-337-1000, www.jameshotels.com/chicago) and the Hotel Cass (640 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-787-4030, www.hotelcass.com). The James and Hotel Cass give guests a range of lodging options, from affordable and cozy to decadent and luxurious. And both are a five-minute walk from the Magnificent Mile, Nordstrom, and dozens of restaurants.
Coolest hotel bar for people watching: The Bar at The Peninsula Chicago (108 E. Superior St.; 312-337-2888, chicago.peninsula.com). Sometimes, it’s just nice to sip a martini and watch the big-money guys go to work.
Coolest suburban hotel: The Westin Lombard Yorktown Center (70 Yorktown Center, Lombard; 630-719-8000, www.westin.com/lombard). Let’s see … fitness center with heated lap pool? Check. 24-hour room service? Check. Heavenly bed? Big ol’ check.
Best hotel Sunday brunch (otherwise known as the “where-to-impress-your-in-laws-with-a-single-meal” place): Seasons at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago (120 E. Delaware Pl.; 312-280-8800, www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs). Just the thought of veal piccata in a lemon-caper sauce is enough to make my mouth water.
Coolest bed & breakfast: Harvey House in Oak Park (107 S. Scoville Ave., Oak Park; 708-848-6810, www.harveyhousebb.com). This is one of the best-kept secrets in the area, but not for much longer. Book a room, now. And get the Chalet suite if you can. You won’t be disappointed.
Wettest opening planned for early 2008: KeyLime Cove (1700 Nations Drive, Gurnee; 877-360-0403, www.keylimecove.com). The mammoth water park (65,000 square feet) and resort (414 rooms) is set to open on Feb. 29. Look out, Wisconsin Dells.
Funniest hotel item: That the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago (401 N. Wabash Ave.; 312-588-8000, www.trumpchicago.com) would open Dec. 3 when fire-safety work had yet to be completed. Seriously, that was funny.
— Glenn Jeffers
5 under-the-radar-est games worth a look
The Eye of Judgment — It’s a little like playing Dungeons and Dragons in front of a camera, which captures your card battles then uses the PlayStation 3 to illustrate the outcomes. Innovative.
Stranglehold — You don’t just shoot gang members, you do it in stylish slow-motion moves befitting this sequel to John Woo’s cult classic movie, “Hard-Boiled.” Don’t just fire at your enemies; score more points by felling the neon sign over their heads so that it crashes down. Fun. The movie is on the same disc as the PlayStation 3 game.
All-Pro Football 2K8 — Take your 11 retired greats against a friend’s group of legends in this smooth-playing answer to the “Madden NFL” franchise. All these years later, Gale Sayers still rules.
Zack & Wiki: Quest for Barbaros’ Treasure — Wave around the Wii remote control to find hidden hot spots on screen, and help a young boy in his quest to become the world’s best pirate.
Konami Classics Series: Arcade Hits — Rush’n Attack, Track and Field, Time Pilot. Oh, and Gradius. ‘Nuff said.
— Eric Gwinn
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From At Play section, Page 1
Largest collection of Toby jugs around: The American Toby Jug Museum (910 Chicago Ave., Evanston; 877-862-9687, Britishcollectibles.com), which has 6,000 of them. Never thought much about Toby jugs? Visit this museum and you’ll get a greater appreciation for these jolly little pouring vessels.
Revenge of the nerdiest: Sci-fi nerd moment: The “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” xhibit at the Museum of Science and Industry (www.msichicago.org).In addition to seeing actual costumes, enjoying video featurettes and even building robots, we got to sit in the Millennium Falcon, Han and Chewbacca’s ride. What else is there to say?
Eco-friendliest bar in Chicago: Butterfly Social Club (722 W. Grand Ave.; 312-666-1695, www.butterflysocialclub.com). Both the decor and the drinks, many of which include fresh organic herbs and fruits, are environmentally sound, thanks to the owner and his wife, who have a real passion for organics and healthy living.