Have you tried a Beyond Meat burger yet? By now most everyone has heard of this trendy new idea: a mass market burger that is made from 100% plant-based products. The vegan burger industry has been booming lately, as consumers look beyond traditional meat products. This attitude comes from both environmental and health concerns. Beyond … Continue reading Where to Get a Beyond Meat Burger
The orange and black “FALLOUT SHELTER” sign, with three triangles inside a circle, in the photo above is a reminder of a frightening time now past. It is on the southwest corner of the former Immaculata Catholic High School building at Irving Park Road and Lake Shore Drive. Starting in the years after World War … Continue reading Chicago Seems to Have Forgotten the Meaning of Fear
Looking for an exciting place to be for the New Year’s Eve countdown? It does not get any better than the fireworks on the Chicago Riverwalk. Chicago’s government definitely knows how to put on a great show. It tends to be cold on New Year’s Eve. But that really is not an issue. You can … Continue reading Happy New Year from Practical Chicago
Millenium Park ice skating, now in its eighteenth season, is a great way to spend Christmas Day. The rink is surrounded by onlookers and the towering Millenium Park Christmas Tree. Holiday music is played over the public address system. It is all very festive. This year’s Christmas Day hours were 10AM – 8PM and admission … Continue reading Merry Christmas from Practical Chicago
Here are some things that could happen if you take your clothes to be altered at the local cleaners: They might use fluorescent green thread to alter the sleeves on a blue shirt. They might sew the thread to alter your clothes in a zig-zag pattern. They might alter your sleeves by cutting them off … Continue reading Tired of Mediocre Alterations from Your Cleaners? Try Nordstrom
The holiday parade on State Street is a great tradition. If you have not gone down to view it consider making the trip next year. There are bands, dancers, representatives from various cultures and areas of the City, and other interesting sights. Everything from luxury cars to ponies can appear in the parade. As you … Continue reading Happy Thanksgiving from Practical Chicago
In recent years the number of people riding loud motorcycles through the City has gone up significantly. If you get a close look at one they almost never look like any kind of menacing Hell’s Angels-type character. It is almost always exactly the opposite. Usually you see somebody of average appearance who is not in … Continue reading It is Time for a Strictly Enforced Motorcycle Noise Ordinance
Give the Lady What She Wants is required reading for people with interest in all things Chicago. It is also a great read for those interested in business. It tells the story of what may be the greatest retail success in the city’s history. Retail executives of today could also stand to look it over. … Continue reading Give the Lady What She Wants
Politicians care about what their constituents think. They want to be aware of situations where public opinion could cost them their jobs. They want to be aware of situations where public opinion could stand in the way of their agendas. The short-lived sweetened beverage tax is a great example. Cook County levied a penny per … Continue reading Send Your Thoughts to the Mayor of Chicago
Everyone in the photo above is glued to their phone: people of different genders, races and ages. They happily browse the web, watch YouTube videos and respond to text messages while riding a northbound train in the State Street Subway. What they may not realize is that their activities send valuable streams of data back … Continue reading Chicagoans are Addicted to Their Smartphones