Inappropriate Men
Chicago Places
Four Moon Tavern
1847 W. Roscoe 773-929-6666
Review
http://centerstage.net/restaurants/four-moon-tavern.html
Sidney says … a favorite hangout, whether avoiding marital problems or recovering from a night of great sex, this is the place to be.
Stacey says … a favorite hangout, period. I recommend the grilled cheese and tomato soup if you are nursing a broken heart, the meatloaf and mashed potatoes for winter comfort food, and the sloppy joes for pure nostalgia. The chicken gyros is my favorite healthy option, especially if I am really good and sub out a salad for the fries. And I crave their chicken tenders fortnightly. Tell ‘em I sent you.
Trotter's To Go
1337 West Fullerton Avenue 773 868-6510
Sidney says … a perfect place to splurge when cooking to impress and in need of luxe ingredients.
Stacey says … no one does it like Charlie Trotter, and his take on take out is no different. Tough on a non-for-profit budget to be sure, but the proof is in the pudding. (Or the Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with Seasonal Fruit, as the case may be.) If you are not a great cook yourself, and want to have a really special dinner for someone you love, let them do the hard part, you cannot go wrong. And if you are a great cook you can find some wonderful things to play with for your pantry. Last time I was there I picked up a honey vinegar that is unbelievable! I splash it on fresh peaches and chopped mint in the summer, yum.
Gepperth's Meat Market
1964 N. Halsted St. 773-549-3883
Sidney says … if you are going to cook, know your purveyors. The best preparation will suffer from substandard ingredients.
Stacey says … it is always nice having a butcher you can trust, and one who makes great homemade sausages and prepared foods to boot is a real find! They are also good about making recommendations to fit your budget, so if you want to know a reasonably priced option to substitute for filet mignon, they are the guys to ask.
Whole Foods Market
www.wholefoods.com
Chicago Locations: 30 West Huron 312.932.9600
3300 N. Ashland 773.244.4200
1000 West North Ave. 312.587.0648
Sidney says … another key stop for shopping, especially for special items like the giant green Cerignola olives and the roasted Marcona Almonds I offer Geoff to nibble on while waiting for his dinner.
Stacey says … they don't call it Whole Paycheck for nothing, the prices are high, but so is the quality, so you always end up with far more than you anticipated. Their produce is always top notch, and their breads are excellent. I try to stay away from staples, because that is where you can really get slammed at the register. But for an active single girl (or guy), the prepared foods section always has some great options for meals on the go.
Maggiano's Restaurant
www.maggianos.com
516 N. Clark St. 312-644-7700
Sidney says … it is an easy place to pick up dinner on my way out to Oak Park to see Geoff.
Stacey says … a family style restaurant that does it better than most, I tend to prefer them for take-out since most of their food travels pretty well. There are other places I go in town for Italian, but when it comes to picking up a quick meal at a reasonable price, they are a great option. I especially like the rigatoni with eggplant marinara or the veal piccata, and the chocolate zuccatto cake will put you in a coma of delirium.
Far East Restaurant
514 W. Diversey 773-935-6550
Sidney says … if you are hanging out with your friends watching bad tv, better have good Chinese!
Stacey says … the Sunday night take out dinner of choice for my family since I was a kid. The only restaurant phone number I know by heart. The best egg rolls in the city, I also swear by their potstickers, their bbq ribs, the Chicken Almond Din, Mongolian Beef, and pork fried rice. Possible arterial blockage notwithstanding, they never disappoint me.
The Zephyr
1777 W. Wilson Ave. 773-728-6070
Sidney says … Doug abducted me for ice cream and brought me here, so it will always have a special place in my heart.
Stacey says … also nostalgic for me, a big hang out in high school (we were all mad for a cute waiter named Patrick), I can always be talked into one of their hot fudge sundaes.
Boulevard Café
3137 W. Logan Blvd. 773-384-8600
Sidney says … location of my first date with Doug, some things may in fact be worth waiting for.
Stacey says … walking distance from my house, and a good meal at reasonable prices.
Café Ba-ba Reeba
www.cafebabareeba.com
2024 N. Halsted St. 773-935-5000
Sidneysays…disastrous Reader date Mike takes me here for dinner.
Stacey says …my favorite place for tapas, order a paella for the table to share, and while you are waiting, keep the nibbles coming. The baked goat cheese is a must-have, and be sure to get the wonderful homemade sangria to wash everything down.
Chief O'Neill's
www.chiefoneillspub.com
3471 N. Elston Ave. 773-IRE-LAND
Sidney says …another unfortunate Reader date, but at least the evening improves when I meet up with a colleague from Columbia.
Stacey says …great traditional Irish pub, with really good food. Check out their website to find out about events, live music, and Irish celebrations.
The Reader
www.chicagoreader.com
Sidney says … Chicago 's free weekly paper, I had no luck with their Matches Personal Ads, but maybe you would fare better…
Stacey says …turn immediately to News of The Weird for a laugh, but save Savage Love till you are done with the rest of the paper, that way you will always end on a good note.
Shedd Aquarium
www.sheddnet.org
1200 S. Lakeshore Dr. 312-692-3355
Sidney says … Geoff and I have our first unusual encounter in this elegant museum on the shores of Lake Michigan . I don't blame the fish for what happened later.
Stacey says … one of my favorite Chicago spots, great for a spontaneous ditch-work-early afternoon date.
ColumbiaCollege
www.colum.edu
600 S. Michigan Ave. 312-663-1600
Sidney teaches at this local college.
Northwestern University
www.northwestern.edu
633 Clark Street Evanston , IL 847-491-3741
Sidney and her husband Mark meet as freshman on the Evanston campus of this University.
The Four Seasons
www.fourseasons.com/chicagofs/
120 East Delaware Place 312-280-8800
Sidney says … Dad has his 60'th birthday party at this elegant downtown hotel, giving me an opportunity to sneak a note to Geoff about a rendezvous.
Stacey says … one of the most lovely places to stay in Chicago . Their events are spectacular, whether it is a black tie wedding for 500 or an intimate dinner for four in one of their private dining rooms.
Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation
www.lynnsage.org
750 N. Lake Shore Drive Suite 542 312-926-4274
Sidney says … mom and her cronies all support this wonderful foundation.
Stacey says …I had the good fortune to know Lynn and her family when I was growing up. I remember her as a warm and vibrant person who was always laughing. She was diagnosed with breast cancer at 33, and succumbed to the disease at 39. Her family created this world class research foundation in her honor.
Kiva Spa
196 E. Pearson St. 312-840-8120
Sidney says … mom springs for full spa days when my sister Naomi comes to town.
Stacey says … the pedicures are pretty great, but splurge on the hot stone massages!
The Beat Kitchen
www.beatkitchen.com
2100 W. Belmont 773-281-4444
Sidney says … Joe's band Notorious played here the night we made our intriguing connection.
Stacey says … great place to see local bands, and they have a surprisingly good private room upstairs which is really reasonable for parties.
Fulton Lounge
www.fultonlounge.com
955 W. Fulton 312-942-9500
Sidney says … one of the sites of an infamous Matches date, gentlemen, please pick up the tab!
Stacey says … swank spot for a cocktail, weekend nights can get a little crowded for my personal taste, but if you get there early, snag a couch and watch the people.
The Goodman Theatre
www.goodman-theatre.org
170 N. Dearborn 312-443-3800
Stacey says …mentioned in reference to their exceptional annual production of Dicken's A Christmas Carol, Time Magazine's pick for the Best Regional Theatre in the country is a Chicago mainstay. Come check out a show, buy a subscription, make a donation…
Sidetrack
www.sidetrackchicago.com
3349 North Halsted Street 773.477.9189
Sidney says …I ask Joe if he wants to meet me for some loud singing of showtunes on a Monday night.
Stacey says …this Boystown landmark has been a staple of the gay scene in Chicago for years, and their Monday Showtunes Nights are legendary. Very straight-friendly, grab a bunch of friends and head out to sing along. And take a break from your usual martini sensibility, and order one of the slushy fruit drinks.
Ravinia Festival
www.ravinia.org
418 Sheridan Road Highland Park , IL 847-266-5100
Sidney says …everyone in the Reader Matches ads seems to mention this in their list of favorite things.
Stacey says …if you like live music in a charming North Shore outdoor amphitheater, this is the place to be in the summer. Pack a picnic and sit on the lawn and enjoy every type of music, from classical to jazz to rock and roll. There is something of a ‘see and be seen' feel on the lawn, so it is fun to check out who has brought the crystal and china for their picnic. Bring bug spray, and get there early.
Signature Room
www.signatureroom.com
875 N. Michigan Ave. 312.787.9596
Sidney says …my first Reader date, with Mike, the view out the windows was far better than the view across the table.
Stacey says …the 95 th floor of the Hancock building offers some of the most beautiful views of the city. An elegant place to have a quiet drink.
