From Chicago Tribune:
"When I mention our family's village in Greece, I usually write that Rizes is the most beautiful village in the universe. And it is. Your family's village might also be the most beautiful. This is possible. I understand that. But this village is mine.
"Don't be embarrassed," said my cousin George Ganios, who was up there with me. "You think you're the first man to cry here? They all do it, my boy. You're in Rizes. You're home."
I asked my Thea Tula, the only one of my father's siblings who remained in Greece, for the reason Rizes is so beautiful.
"Because your father was born here, and your grandfathers and their grandfathers and their grandfathers," she said. "That is why it is beautiful. Do you understand me?"
View Larger Map
Rizes, Greece
References:
Photos: Greek village of Rizes
Going home to Rizes
Showing posts with label Chicago Tribune. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Tribune. Show all posts
Map of the new Illinois toll hikes
Breaking down the toll hikes (map) from ChicagoTribune and Illinois State Toll Highway Authority (click to enlarge the image):
Madrid's new face
From Chicago Tribune:
Today's Madrid is modern sprawl surrounding an intact, easy-to-navigate historic core
Anyone can join the paseo. Even past midnight on a hot summer night, entire families with little kids are strolling, greeting neighbors and enjoying little beers and tapas in a series of bars. A favorite local snack is sauteed pig's ears.
Spain has a reputation for partying very late, not stopping until offices open in the morning. If you're people-watching early in the morning, it's hard to know who is finishing their day and who's just starting it
One reason people stay out late, especially in summer, is to escape the day's heat. During the summer, Rick Steves was assessing restaurants by the quality of their air-conditioning.
Attractions
- Retiro Park is a 300-acre green-and-breezy escape. Once the private domain of royalty, this majestic park has been a favorite of Madrid's commoners since King Charles III decided to share it with his subjects in the late 18th century. In its center is a big lake (El Estanque), where you can rent a rowboat.
- Royal Botanical Garden (Real Jardin Botanico), just south of the Prado
- Parque de la Montana
Throughout Europe, energetic governments are renewing green space and turning formerly car-congested wastelands into public spaces.
References:
Bit by bit, Madrid's new face emerges. Chicago Tribune.
Related:
Three Perfect Days: Madrid http://1.usa.gov/1NMyL3U
Today's Madrid is modern sprawl surrounding an intact, easy-to-navigate historic core
Anyone can join the paseo. Even past midnight on a hot summer night, entire families with little kids are strolling, greeting neighbors and enjoying little beers and tapas in a series of bars. A favorite local snack is sauteed pig's ears.
Spain has a reputation for partying very late, not stopping until offices open in the morning. If you're people-watching early in the morning, it's hard to know who is finishing their day and who's just starting it
One reason people stay out late, especially in summer, is to escape the day's heat. During the summer, Rick Steves was assessing restaurants by the quality of their air-conditioning.
Attractions
- Retiro Park is a 300-acre green-and-breezy escape. Once the private domain of royalty, this majestic park has been a favorite of Madrid's commoners since King Charles III decided to share it with his subjects in the late 18th century. In its center is a big lake (El Estanque), where you can rent a rowboat.
- Royal Botanical Garden (Real Jardin Botanico), just south of the Prado
- Parque de la Montana
Throughout Europe, energetic governments are renewing green space and turning formerly car-congested wastelands into public spaces.
References:
Bit by bit, Madrid's new face emerges. Chicago Tribune.
Related:
Three Perfect Days: Madrid http://1.usa.gov/1NMyL3U
The Great Greek Goodbye
From Chicago Tribine columnist John Cass, son of a Greek immigrant grocer:
References:
'Foreigners' guide to Greek Easter feast. Chicago Tribune, 2011.
"It's the Great Greek Goodbye.
Americani say goodbye by standing up, shaking hands, saying, "Adios," and walking out the door. But that makes too much sense for us.
The goodbye is an art form in a Greek household. First you stand up in the family room and say it's late, the kids have to go to school tomorrow. You kiss goodbye. Then you talk for 20 minutes. Then you move to the foyer, where you talk for another 20 minutes.
Then you stand in the doorway. And what do you do while standing in that doorway? You talk for another 20 minutes.
A proper Greek Goodbye takes at least an hour."
References:
'Foreigners' guide to Greek Easter feast. Chicago Tribune, 2011.
The French wines explained by Rick Steves
From Chicago Tribune:
Terroir is a French concept. Terroir is "somewhere-ness," a combination of the macro- and micro-climate, soil, geology and culture. The French don't call a wine by the grape's name - 2 wines can be made of the same grape but be of different character because of their terroir.
Grapevines are creepers, with roots going through the topsoil and into the geology layers deep down, commonly 150 feet. A vintner can influence the topsoil but he cannot change the deep geology layers. This gives the wine a distinct character. The French do not allow irrigation, thus forcing the grapes to search deep for water.
There are 2 kinds of wine in the world: that of big growers and that of little growers. Big business works better for wine in places such as Argentina and Australia (where 3 companies dominate the wine industry). Most French wine still is made by thousands of small, independent vintners.
The French are not enthusiastic about the oaky taste of American wine. "I don't like oak shaping my wine", said one French vintner.
Because of global climate change and higher temperature, the grapes become sweet many days before the tannin level is ready (they used to "mature" at the same time). The average wine was 11% alcohol in the past; now it's 13% because of the higher sugar content.
References:
Put a cork in intimidation over French wine. Rick Steves, Tribune Media, 02/2011.
Terroir is a French concept. Terroir is "somewhere-ness," a combination of the macro- and micro-climate, soil, geology and culture. The French don't call a wine by the grape's name - 2 wines can be made of the same grape but be of different character because of their terroir.
Grapevines are creepers, with roots going through the topsoil and into the geology layers deep down, commonly 150 feet. A vintner can influence the topsoil but he cannot change the deep geology layers. This gives the wine a distinct character. The French do not allow irrigation, thus forcing the grapes to search deep for water.
There are 2 kinds of wine in the world: that of big growers and that of little growers. Big business works better for wine in places such as Argentina and Australia (where 3 companies dominate the wine industry). Most French wine still is made by thousands of small, independent vintners.
The French are not enthusiastic about the oaky taste of American wine. "I don't like oak shaping my wine", said one French vintner.
Because of global climate change and higher temperature, the grapes become sweet many days before the tannin level is ready (they used to "mature" at the same time). The average wine was 11% alcohol in the past; now it's 13% because of the higher sugar content.
References:
Put a cork in intimidation over French wine. Rick Steves, Tribune Media, 02/2011.
Interesting articles from Sunday edition of Chicago Tribune
Here's help if you're in a spot for a good place to park
Pregnant in the United States? Welcome to reality in the working world
Rebranding the minivan
Trips are for kids... … but they don't just happen you need a plan and gelato
Travel in Europe: If you lose everything, keep your cool
Airline wine: Keep that airsickness bag handy
Airlines: The battle overhead
Homeopathy prospers even as controversy rages - Critics say there's literally nothing in the medicine
Pregnant in the United States? Welcome to reality in the working world
Rebranding the minivan
Trips are for kids... … but they don't just happen you need a plan and gelato
Travel in Europe: If you lose everything, keep your cool
Airline wine: Keep that airsickness bag handy
Airlines: The battle overhead
Homeopathy prospers even as controversy rages - Critics say there's literally nothing in the medicine
Chicago residens place dibs on snow-covered parking spots with chairs, cones, milk crates, etc.
With temperatures in the city rising and snow thawing, the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation is calling an end to dibs, for now:
References:
'Dibs' are done, city says. Chicago Tribune, 2011.
References:
'Dibs' are done, city says. Chicago Tribune, 2011.
Mapping the Midwest by favorite food
Some examples include:
Chicago-style hot dog - soft, poppy-seed bun topped with a frankfurter, layered with yellow mustard, nuclear-green relish, onions, tomato wedges, pickle spear, peppers and celery salt. It's considered more of a snack than a meal to natives and should be consumed sans ketchup.
Cincinnati-style chili - This distinctive breed of chili is so popular in Cincinnati that there are parlors dedicated to it —chili parlors, that is. The Cincinnati version of chili tends to be a sweeter, soupier dish than traditional non- Ohio chilis. It's served with noodles and is distinguished by spices such as cinnamon or chocolate.
Indianapolis Breaded pork tenderloin sandwich - Hoosiers love their pork, and they love it deep-fried.
Omaha Reuben sandwich - Omaha stakes its claim on this pickled delight, which involves corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye bread.
Read about other food cities in the Chicago Tribune article below.
References:
Mapping the Midwest by favorite food. Chicago Tribune, 2011.
Chicago-style hot dog - soft, poppy-seed bun topped with a frankfurter, layered with yellow mustard, nuclear-green relish, onions, tomato wedges, pickle spear, peppers and celery salt. It's considered more of a snack than a meal to natives and should be consumed sans ketchup.
Cincinnati-style chili - This distinctive breed of chili is so popular in Cincinnati that there are parlors dedicated to it —chili parlors, that is. The Cincinnati version of chili tends to be a sweeter, soupier dish than traditional non- Ohio chilis. It's served with noodles and is distinguished by spices such as cinnamon or chocolate.
Indianapolis Breaded pork tenderloin sandwich - Hoosiers love their pork, and they love it deep-fried.
Omaha Reuben sandwich - Omaha stakes its claim on this pickled delight, which involves corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye bread.
Read about other food cities in the Chicago Tribune article below.
References:
Mapping the Midwest by favorite food. Chicago Tribune, 2011.
Condiment culture
From Chicago Tribune:
Did you know that ketchup, that all-American dunk, was created in Asia, with nary a tomato in sight, at least for a century or two.
These flavor boosters add the taste of home to everyday meals around the world:
Dijon mustard - Made by mixing powdered mustard or mustard seeds with a liquid, often vinegar, water or wine, and adding herbs, spices.
Olive oil
Pickapeppa sauce - Called "Jamaican ketchup," it is aged one year in oak barrels for a taste.
Fish sauce - As ubiquitous in Southeast Asian cooking as salt is in the West. Made from fermented, salted fish, the sauce is intensely briny and smells pungent.
Hot red pepper sauce - Latin hot sauces give heat to all sorts of dishes, from chili stews to tamales.
Harissa - From North Africa, a spicy blend of oil, chilies, garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway and other spices.
Piri-piri sauce - from the small, incendiary bird's eye chilies of Africa. That gives you a clue to the fire in the sauce.
Major Grey's Chutney - Salute Major Grey, whoever he was, for though the sun long ago set on the British Empire, this Raj-era condiment remains popular around the world.
Sriracha sauce - A thickish hot chili sauce from Thailand.
Worcestershire sauce
References:
Jazz up your cooking Condiment crazy Condiment culture. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
Did you know that ketchup, that all-American dunk, was created in Asia, with nary a tomato in sight, at least for a century or two.
These flavor boosters add the taste of home to everyday meals around the world:
Dijon mustard - Made by mixing powdered mustard or mustard seeds with a liquid, often vinegar, water or wine, and adding herbs, spices.
Olive oil
Pickapeppa sauce - Called "Jamaican ketchup," it is aged one year in oak barrels for a taste.
Fish sauce - As ubiquitous in Southeast Asian cooking as salt is in the West. Made from fermented, salted fish, the sauce is intensely briny and smells pungent.
Hot red pepper sauce - Latin hot sauces give heat to all sorts of dishes, from chili stews to tamales.
Harissa - From North Africa, a spicy blend of oil, chilies, garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway and other spices.
Piri-piri sauce - from the small, incendiary bird's eye chilies of Africa. That gives you a clue to the fire in the sauce.
Major Grey's Chutney - Salute Major Grey, whoever he was, for though the sun long ago set on the British Empire, this Raj-era condiment remains popular around the world.
Sriracha sauce - A thickish hot chili sauce from Thailand.
Worcestershire sauce
References:
Jazz up your cooking Condiment crazy Condiment culture. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
From Chicago Tribune:
"For generations — since the Ute American Indians lived on the land — the springs have been said to have healing powers ("Pagosah" is Ute for "healing waters"). The sulfur, chlorides and magnesium have been said to cure everything from arthritis to paralysis."
References:
Winter plunge: At Colorado hot springs, it's swimsuit weather even as snow flies. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
"For generations — since the Ute American Indians lived on the land — the springs have been said to have healing powers ("Pagosah" is Ute for "healing waters"). The sulfur, chlorides and magnesium have been said to cure everything from arthritis to paralysis."
References:
Winter plunge: At Colorado hot springs, it's swimsuit weather even as snow flies. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
Nature books for kids and parents
From Chicago Tribune:
- Nature Explorer" (DK, $14.99)
- The Nature Connection (Storey, $14.95)
- The Practical Naturalist (DK, $19.95)
- Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth (DK, $50) - Starting with an overview of Earth and climbing the evolutionary ladder for 648 glossy pages, this hefty reference book presents the thousands of plant and animal species we share the planet with. In addition to a photo, a short copy block gives descriptions of the items and tells where they're found.
References:
Exploring the world, one book at a time. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
- Nature Explorer" (DK, $14.99)
- The Nature Connection (Storey, $14.95)
- The Practical Naturalist (DK, $19.95)
- Natural History: The Ultimate Visual Guide to Everything on Earth (DK, $50) - Starting with an overview of Earth and climbing the evolutionary ladder for 648 glossy pages, this hefty reference book presents the thousands of plant and animal species we share the planet with. In addition to a photo, a short copy block gives descriptions of the items and tells where they're found.
References:
Exploring the world, one book at a time. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
"Parking guru" Prof. Shoup believes inexpensive space for cars is at the root of urban problems
From Chicago Tribune/LA Times:
According to Shoup, free parking is at the root of many urban ills: congestion, sprawl, wasteful energy use and air pollution.
City governments contribute to all these ills, he says, by requiring too many parking spaces for all development. The high cost of the required parking increases the prices we pay for everything else, including housing. "We have expensive housing and free parking," he says. "We have our priorities the wrong way around."
The city of Ventura's meter rates were set at $1 an hour for the first two hours and $1.50 for each hour after that, with the aim of achieving 85% occupancy. Put another way, 85% occupancy — which Shoup considers ideal — would leave one or two open spaces per block. The city said it plans to adjust rates as needed. If parking use drops below 80%, the prices will be lowered until the 85% goal is achieved.
References:
He puts parking in its place. Chicago Tribune/LA Times, 10/2010.
According to Shoup, free parking is at the root of many urban ills: congestion, sprawl, wasteful energy use and air pollution.
City governments contribute to all these ills, he says, by requiring too many parking spaces for all development. The high cost of the required parking increases the prices we pay for everything else, including housing. "We have expensive housing and free parking," he says. "We have our priorities the wrong way around."
The city of Ventura's meter rates were set at $1 an hour for the first two hours and $1.50 for each hour after that, with the aim of achieving 85% occupancy. Put another way, 85% occupancy — which Shoup considers ideal — would leave one or two open spaces per block. The city said it plans to adjust rates as needed. If parking use drops below 80%, the prices will be lowered until the 85% goal is achieved.
References:
He puts parking in its place. Chicago Tribune/LA Times, 10/2010.
Chianti wines
From Chicago Tribune:
"Italian wines still make me nervous, with all of the country's regions and subregions; the plethora of hard-to-pronounce grape names; inconsistent labeling, with some wines named for the region, others for the grape.
"Chianti can reflect the essence of Tuscan wine". Chianti is a region in central Tuscany, roughly from Florence to Siena. Chianti Classico is an area in the central part of the Chianti region; its wines are generally considered to be superior.
To be called Chianti, the wine has to be a blend of grapes with at least 75 percent sangiovese. Traditionally, other indigenous grapes were blended with the sangiovese.
References:
The essence of Tuscany. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
"Italian wines still make me nervous, with all of the country's regions and subregions; the plethora of hard-to-pronounce grape names; inconsistent labeling, with some wines named for the region, others for the grape.
"Chianti can reflect the essence of Tuscan wine". Chianti is a region in central Tuscany, roughly from Florence to Siena. Chianti Classico is an area in the central part of the Chianti region; its wines are generally considered to be superior.
To be called Chianti, the wine has to be a blend of grapes with at least 75 percent sangiovese. Traditionally, other indigenous grapes were blended with the sangiovese.
References:
The essence of Tuscany. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
Wayne, Illinois
From Chicago Tribune:
Other Chicago suburbs gentrified or decayed their way through the 20th Century, while multiplying their populations. Meanwhile, Wayne persisted, the tortoise to their hare.
"We are frozen in time by intention," said Wayne's village president, "We have no Starbucks or McDonalds because people move here for a different kind of life. We want open space, large lots, wildlife and the equestrian heritage." Indeed, Wayne has long been the village of choice for the horsey set.
Located 30 miles west of Chicago's Loop, Wayne straddles the Kane and DuPage county line. Wayne's population inched up to 2,407 by 2009.
What keeps housing developers at bay is Wayne's 1- to 4-acre lot size minimums. And, the village has no city water or sewer lines. Even the older houses in the center of town, whose smaller lots were grandfathered in, have wells and septic fields.
Prior to 2000, the Wayne Post Office did not deliver. Since it added delivery, many residents still pick up their mail so they can greet neighbors.
Typical of Wayne home sales is the four-bedroom, rehabbed 1800s estate that sold for $1.75 million. It includes a guest house, horse barn and tennis court.
While many Wayne residents keep horses at home, others board them the village's stables.
References:
Wayne: Certainly not a one-horse town. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
View Larger Map
Other Chicago suburbs gentrified or decayed their way through the 20th Century, while multiplying their populations. Meanwhile, Wayne persisted, the tortoise to their hare.
"We are frozen in time by intention," said Wayne's village president, "We have no Starbucks or McDonalds because people move here for a different kind of life. We want open space, large lots, wildlife and the equestrian heritage." Indeed, Wayne has long been the village of choice for the horsey set.
Located 30 miles west of Chicago's Loop, Wayne straddles the Kane and DuPage county line. Wayne's population inched up to 2,407 by 2009.
What keeps housing developers at bay is Wayne's 1- to 4-acre lot size minimums. And, the village has no city water or sewer lines. Even the older houses in the center of town, whose smaller lots were grandfathered in, have wells and septic fields.
Prior to 2000, the Wayne Post Office did not deliver. Since it added delivery, many residents still pick up their mail so they can greet neighbors.
Typical of Wayne home sales is the four-bedroom, rehabbed 1800s estate that sold for $1.75 million. It includes a guest house, horse barn and tennis court.
While many Wayne residents keep horses at home, others board them the village's stables.
References:
Wayne: Certainly not a one-horse town. Chicago Tribune, 10/2010.
View Larger Map
Pasteurized eggs
From Chicago Tribune:
Pasteurized eggs are heated to minimum required temperature (usually 130 to 140 degrees) for a specified time. This destroys Salmonella but does not cook the eggs.
In the plant, the eggs ride a conveyor belt into a hot, humid room. Workers load the egg trays onto an industrial dumbwaiter that gently lowers the eggs into what some call "the Jacuzzi." The eggs spend an hour moving through a tank of hot, bubbly water, which slowly raises the temperature of the eggs to kill bacteria. The water churns to prevent the eggs from cooking as they're heated.
After the bath, an egg cracked into a bare hand feels about as hot as a warm mug of coffee. The eggs are considered safe to eat, even if they don't reach 160 degrees — the temperature at which an egg is considered fully cooked.
The heat causes proteins to link together - a side effect that makes it more difficult to whip pasteurized egg whites into peaks.
Chickens that are free-range might get some bugs or some weeds in the yard. It affects the color of their yolk — it's much richer and darker. A lot of people who are used to supermarket eggs don't like them because they're too 'eggy.'
References:
Pasteurized eggs put to test: They're safer, but do they taste and cook the same? Chicago Tribune, 2010.
Pasteurized eggs are heated to minimum required temperature (usually 130 to 140 degrees) for a specified time. This destroys Salmonella but does not cook the eggs.
In the plant, the eggs ride a conveyor belt into a hot, humid room. Workers load the egg trays onto an industrial dumbwaiter that gently lowers the eggs into what some call "the Jacuzzi." The eggs spend an hour moving through a tank of hot, bubbly water, which slowly raises the temperature of the eggs to kill bacteria. The water churns to prevent the eggs from cooking as they're heated.
After the bath, an egg cracked into a bare hand feels about as hot as a warm mug of coffee. The eggs are considered safe to eat, even if they don't reach 160 degrees — the temperature at which an egg is considered fully cooked.
The heat causes proteins to link together - a side effect that makes it more difficult to whip pasteurized egg whites into peaks.
Chickens that are free-range might get some bugs or some weeds in the yard. It affects the color of their yolk — it's much richer and darker. A lot of people who are used to supermarket eggs don't like them because they're too 'eggy.'
References:
Pasteurized eggs put to test: They're safer, but do they taste and cook the same? Chicago Tribune, 2010.
A simple visual guide to eggs http://goo.gl/h8Gxt
How to grill-roast peppers
From Chicago Tribune:
1. Prepare a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium-high heat. Wipe the peppers clean. Rub lightly with olive oil. Place on the grill directly over heat source. Cover grill. Cook 5 minutes, turn and continue grilling and turning until peppers are evenly blackened and blistered, about 15 minutes total. Remove to a platter and let cool.
2. Gently peel off the charred skin and discard it. Use your hands to pull the stem and seeds out, then tear the peppers into large sections (they'll pull apart naturally at their creases.) Refrigerate covered for up to a couple of days.
Note: Peppers also can be roasted under the broiler: Put the oiled peppers on a baking sheet positioned 6 inches from the broiler's heat source, turning often, until skin is blistered.
References:
Peppers in the hand. Chicago Tribune, 2010.
1. Prepare a charcoal grill or heat a gas grill to medium-high heat. Wipe the peppers clean. Rub lightly with olive oil. Place on the grill directly over heat source. Cover grill. Cook 5 minutes, turn and continue grilling and turning until peppers are evenly blackened and blistered, about 15 minutes total. Remove to a platter and let cool.
2. Gently peel off the charred skin and discard it. Use your hands to pull the stem and seeds out, then tear the peppers into large sections (they'll pull apart naturally at their creases.) Refrigerate covered for up to a couple of days.
Note: Peppers also can be roasted under the broiler: Put the oiled peppers on a baking sheet positioned 6 inches from the broiler's heat source, turning often, until skin is blistered.
References:
Peppers in the hand. Chicago Tribune, 2010.
A flood of plant-based milks on the market
From Chicago Tribune:
Plant-based milks flood the market. Can they replace the real thing?
In addition to almond milk, the most popular new variety in the category, you can find milk made from rice, coconut, oatmeal, hazelnut and even hemp. Many of these varieties also have "light," chocolate and vanilla options. Most contain fewer calories and most have less fat than dairy milk, with the notable exception of coconut milk, which contains saturated fat.
"Light" versions of these milks don't taste as good because they're watered down and save only 30 or so calories. Vanilla- or chocolate-flavored versions contain more sugar than the "original" versions.
Almond milk, with its lightly toasted almond flavor, has gained 88 percent in the category.
"There's a milk for everybody. Milk is better for people than pop or soda."
References:
Health watch: Maze of milks. Special to Tribune Newspapers, 2010.
Plant-based milks flood the market. Can they replace the real thing?
In addition to almond milk, the most popular new variety in the category, you can find milk made from rice, coconut, oatmeal, hazelnut and even hemp. Many of these varieties also have "light," chocolate and vanilla options. Most contain fewer calories and most have less fat than dairy milk, with the notable exception of coconut milk, which contains saturated fat.
"Light" versions of these milks don't taste as good because they're watered down and save only 30 or so calories. Vanilla- or chocolate-flavored versions contain more sugar than the "original" versions.
Almond milk, with its lightly toasted almond flavor, has gained 88 percent in the category.
"There's a milk for everybody. Milk is better for people than pop or soda."
References:
Health watch: Maze of milks. Special to Tribune Newspapers, 2010.
Fast-casual restaurants chains continue to grow - Pei Wei arrives in Chicago
From Chicago Tribune:
Chicago's North Side is getting a new takeout option with Pei Wei Asian Diner. The average cost per person at P.F. Chang's is $17 to $18, vs. $10 a head at Pei Wei.
As Americans continue to be cautious with their eating-out dollars, full-service restaurants have been suffering, while many fast-food chains have seen sales slip, even as they promote dollar menus. The segment that continues to grow: fast-casual restaurants, which typically offer consumers a more sophisticated menu that's made to order in a more upscale atmosphere, without having to leave a tip.
Chipotle's expansion from one location in 1993 to more than 1,000 restaurants today may make it "the fastest-growing restaurant chain ever but Five Guys Burgers and Fries is right on their heels."
The location of the first Pei Wei Asian Diner in Chicago North side:
View Larger Map
References:
Fast times in fast casual. Chicago Tribune, 2010.
Chicago's North Side is getting a new takeout option with Pei Wei Asian Diner. The average cost per person at P.F. Chang's is $17 to $18, vs. $10 a head at Pei Wei.
As Americans continue to be cautious with their eating-out dollars, full-service restaurants have been suffering, while many fast-food chains have seen sales slip, even as they promote dollar menus. The segment that continues to grow: fast-casual restaurants, which typically offer consumers a more sophisticated menu that's made to order in a more upscale atmosphere, without having to leave a tip.
Chipotle's expansion from one location in 1993 to more than 1,000 restaurants today may make it "the fastest-growing restaurant chain ever but Five Guys Burgers and Fries is right on their heels."
The location of the first Pei Wei Asian Diner in Chicago North side:
View Larger Map
References:
Fast times in fast casual. Chicago Tribune, 2010.
Rick Steves: In Europe, strip off all your inhibitions
From Chicago Tribune:
Any traveler to Europe who has visited a bath, perused a newsstand, hung out at a beach or park on a sunny day or channel-surfed broadcast TV late at night has noticed that Europeans are more relaxed than Americans about nudity.
In the south of France, sunbathing grandmothers have no tan lines. In Norway, young children play naked in fountains. On summer days, accountants in Munich head to the park on their lunch break to grin and bare it, trading corporate suits for birthday suits. It's quite a shock to Americans (they are the ones riding their bikes into the river and trees).
Any traveler to Europe who has visited a bath, perused a newsstand, hung out at a beach or park on a sunny day or channel-surfed broadcast TV late at night has noticed that Europeans are more relaxed than Americans about nudity.
In the south of France, sunbathing grandmothers have no tan lines. In Norway, young children play naked in fountains. On summer days, accountants in Munich head to the park on their lunch break to grin and bare it, trading corporate suits for birthday suits. It's quite a shock to Americans (they are the ones riding their bikes into the river and trees).
References:
In Europe, strip off all your inhibitions. Chicago Tribune, 2010.
Airstream International - Futuristic RV
From Chicago Tribune:
Since Airstream first set up shop in L.A. in the 1920s, the manufacturer, which has since moved to Ohio, has become synonymous with luxury and style. The creme de la creme of trailers, an Airstream is the sort of thing that inspires lust in those who wander. The owner of a 34-foot Holiday Rambler motor home stopped me at the campground where we stayed and said with a sigh, "I've been wanting one of those for 60 years."
Airstreams are prized for their aerodynamic architecture and unmistakable " Lost in Space" silver siding assembled from studded sheets of metal. Their exteriors look like lunar modules whose hard corners were melted into round forms during atmospheric reentry. Their interiors are equally NASA'd out, with more storage space and cubbies than seems possible considering their dimensions.
References:
The 2010 Airstream International RV: Nature, meet man-made wonder. Chicago Tribune, 2010.
Since Airstream first set up shop in L.A. in the 1920s, the manufacturer, which has since moved to Ohio, has become synonymous with luxury and style. The creme de la creme of trailers, an Airstream is the sort of thing that inspires lust in those who wander. The owner of a 34-foot Holiday Rambler motor home stopped me at the campground where we stayed and said with a sigh, "I've been wanting one of those for 60 years."
Airstreams are prized for their aerodynamic architecture and unmistakable " Lost in Space" silver siding assembled from studded sheets of metal. Their exteriors look like lunar modules whose hard corners were melted into round forms during atmospheric reentry. Their interiors are equally NASA'd out, with more storage space and cubbies than seems possible considering their dimensions.
References:
The 2010 Airstream International RV: Nature, meet man-made wonder. Chicago Tribune, 2010.
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