In my experience the best Chinese Food in the city comes from a little place on North Broadway. It is completely unpretentious and has a tiny seating area. But the cuisine does not disappoint. Hunan Egg Roll King provides everything I want from a Chinese restaurant. They feature excellent recipes, quality ingredients, fast delivery times, generous … Continue reading Chinese Food that is Above the Rest→
It seems like the Chicago Teachers Union has been able to get at least a good portion of what they want by striking in the past. Having kids out of school for too long puts them behind and that is powerful leverage. I am not sure that will be the case going forward. It looks … Continue reading Has the Clock Run Out on Chicago Teachers Union Strategy?→
How can selling the Chicago Stock Exchange to a Chinese Investor Group possibly be a good idea? There are frequently stories in the news about Chinese cyber-espionage attempts. Now it is permissible to sell them a trading hub which must be connected to many key financial computer systems? I cannot believe the transaction will be approved by … Continue reading A Chinese Chicago Stock Exchange seems Incomprehensible→
I am not a fan of the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, the proposed new venue between McCormick Place and Soldier Field. It seems like a misplaced priority, insisting on this particular site seems needlessly destructive, and the design is horrendous. Vocalizing that usually means hearing from one of its supporters. “Why wouldn’t you want something that creates green … Continue reading Why Is Narrative Art So Important?→
Frequently in recent months my cab rides have turned into conversations about Uber. It is possible that drivers are fishing for a sympathy tip. But I sense real frustration. I have heard from more than one that ride-sharing has taken 20-30% of the market. A lot of people in that industry came to America from … Continue reading Taxi Drivers Need Not Worry About the Future→
How much longer will people be willing to pay sky-high rates? I believe there has been a bubble in higher education costs for many years. It has been fueled by free availability of student loan funds. These loans are near-impossible to charge off in bankruptcy. Financial institutions have been willing to loan huge sums of … Continue reading College Tuition is Still Going Up→
A recently published map from KIG Analytics says it all. The mayor’s proposed property tax increase could not be more blatant. For the benefit of those from out of town: affluent areas of the city are getting property tax increases, everyone else is not. The less fortunate of Chicago do not deserve to be turned into … Continue reading Robin Hood has Nothing on Rahm Emmanuel→
Re-purposing Finkl Steel’s site is the latest chapter in a forty-year transformation. Their now-demolished factory had been a presence on Cortland Street at the Chicago River my entire life. Driving through you could often catch glimpses of heavy machinery and steel making in action. I had not been by since before they moved. So I visited yesterday … Continue reading The Changing Face of the North Side→
I thought the Webster Place Shopping Center, located at Clybourn and Webster, would be in trouble by now. I read a few months back that L.A. Fitness closed the long-time health club operation there. Last I knew the other anchors were Barnes and Noble and Regal Cinemas. Barnes and Noble is struggling to change with the times. … Continue reading Webster Place is Alive and Well→
Going to Hackney’s on Lake today is the same as it was back in the 80’s. My grandmother loved the place, my parents love the place, and I love the place. The same is true of the original Hackney’s location on Harms. I haven’t visited their other restaurants. But my guess is you would find a … Continue reading Hackney’s – Finding Success by Staying the Same→
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