Recommended

Food and Drink in Chicago Il.,

 
Music

 
Recipes

 
 Films

Food and Drink in WASHINGTON D.C.

  

Head Chef John Manion JohnManion_200x200.jpg  is my favorite chef in the world:      

(legendary from the mighty MAS Restaurant & Savannah's to name a few).

He loves food like I love Music. He loves music deeply, and I love good food... we became fast friends. We have nick named him Captain Manion, because he is "The Captain" - we are proud to serve on his ship, and 'the food is always better at the Captain's table'.  Personally; I trust this man with my life, he's a blood brother.  I'm just one of his many dedicated shipmates, ready to go on every adventure. We know we're in the very best of hands. I am  happy to see him at the helm of his New Restaurant: LA SIRENA CLANDESTINA - OPENING SPRING OF 2012!!! DETAILS SOON                 


CHICAGO AT A GLANCE:

VISIT THE CENTRAL DOWNTOWN AREA :
Millennium Park, Cloud Gate "The Bean" & Pritzker Pavillion, 
VISIT the museum at the Art Institute of Chicago.
(they are all walking distance in a wonderful part of the city) 

Check out AVEC restaurant - I love this place.... 
I would say kinda a french, spanish, moroccan, italo, porto, greek 
mediterranean cross section - in a modern dub style 
one of My favorite restaurants in Chicago
http://www.avecrestaurant.com/
615 W Randolph St / 
Chicago, IL 60661 / (312) 377-2002
 
Some other suggestions:
 
Lunch or dinner or wine / cheese & cocktails  
Terzo Piano Restaurant
above the Modern Wing Art Institute of Chicago
159 E monroe st /  Chicago, IL / (312) 443-8650 
http://www.terzopianochicago.com/
 
Honest good french food.
Le bouchon: French bistro: 1958 N Damen Ave
http://www.lebouchonofchicago.com/
 
Le Colonial ~ French Vietnamese fine dining restaurant: 
937 North Rush Street
 
Frontera Grill |  Rick Bayless’s spot
445 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654
 
Bob San Restaurant: Sushi : 1805 W Division St
http://www.bob-san.com/
- try the hamachi with jalepeno and house salad.
 
CHEAP EATS:
 
Song do : Korean B.B.Q. : 4918 N Lincoln Ave 
(table side / cook it yourself... good.
 
La Pasadita: The best steak Tacos: 1141 N. Ashland Ave / 
street food - the best.
 
BEST COFFEE HOUSES IN CHICAGO:
 
Milk & Honey Cafe
1920 W Division St / Chicago, IL 60622 (773) 395-9434
(between Winchester Ave & Wolcott Ave)
www.milkandhoneycafe.com
 
 
 
 
BEST COCKTAIL BARS IN CHICAGO:
 
"Curio" (in the basement of Gilt Bar)
dark and candle lit, underground basement 
high end cocktails, sometimes Jazz
230 W Kinzie St / 
Chicago, IL 60654  / (312) 464-9544
Near North Side, River North
 
The Violet Hour: A proper cocktail bar, swank and delicious,
1520 N Damen Ave
 
THE GREEN MILL: A Classic Al Capone era bar
historical.
www.greenmilljazz.com
4802 N Broadway St  
(773) 878-5552
 
 
 
BEST STREET BARS:
 
Danny's bar: 1951 W Dickens Av
like a lower east NYC  side bar

Gold Star bar: 1755 W Division S
D I V E ! in a good way
 
BEST USED BOOK STORES IN CHICAGO: 
 
Myopic Books:
1564 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL‎ - (773) 862-4882
Powels books:
1501 E 57th St, Chicago, IL‎ - (773) 955-7780
57th Street Books
1301 E 57th St, Chicago, IL‎ - (773) 684-1300‎
 
BEST GUITAR STORES IN CHICAGO:
 
Chicago music exchange - expensive, 
but loaded with great stuff
www.chicagomusicexchange.com
3316 N Lincoln Ave  / 
Chicago, IL 60657 (773) 525-7773
 
Midwest Buy and Sell : used gear
6019 W Irving Park Rd  / 
Chicago, IL 60634-2521  (773) 545-2020
 
BEST INSTRUMENT STORE IN CHICAGO:
 
Andy's Music; Imports and specialties: 
International instruments galore
2300 W. Belmont, Chicago, IL
  
BEST RECORD SHOPPING:

Hyde Park Records

Dusty Groove

Reckless records

 Shake Rattle & Read Book Box: 
Books Records Magazines & Comics  
 
BEST LIVE VENUES:
METRO, VIC 

 

 


WASHINGTON D.C. AT A GLANCE:
 
 
BARS:
RECOMMENDED PLACES in ADAM'S MORGAN:
" the week ends are too crazy - enter at own risk - save for the week nights if possible"

Cafe Rumba (good mojitos and patagones,  or arranchera)
(this place is simple and good, eat outside on the week nights) 
http://www.rumbacafe.com/home.html

BOSSA: bar with some varied music including brazilian etc., nice art on the walls
http://bossaproject.com/

pharmacy bar - (very 'gold star' like): 2337 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009

BARS OUTSIDE ADAM'S MORGAN:

Cafe Saint-Ex - 14th/T St NW DC - go to the bar down stairs -  funky, small and fun -
http://www.saint-ex.com/home.html

Bar Pilar - 2 doors down from st ex. :   http://www.barpilar.com/location.html

BLACK CAT - CLASSIC:  1811 14th St. NW
 http://www.blackcatdc.com/

rock and roll hotel:  1353 H Street NE, between 12th and 13th streets
http://www.rockandrollhoteldc.com/portal/

science club: 1136 19th Street NW
http://www.scienceclubdc.com/


Eighteenth Street Lounge  1212 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20036

Tabard Inn  - rest / bar by ESL - mellow - good hang on a week end night -
not too many yahoos, good place for drinks and / or food.
http://www.tabardinn.com/


RESTAURANTS:

KOMI - 1509 17th st. between p and q   http://www.komirestaurant.com/

P S 7 - 777 I Street, NW in the Chinatown/Penn Quarter
http://www.ps7restaurant.com/profiles.html

Local 16 : 1602 U Street NW
http://www.local16dc.com/

Blue Duck Tavern:  http://www.opentable.com/rest_profile.aspx?rid=1517

BLT Steak on Eye street
(  http://www.bltsteak.com/  )

and Brasserie Beck
(  http://www.beckdc.com/  ) . 

Hawaii at a glance:
Things to do on the island of Oahu:
 
Cocktails:
 
 
 at the last remaining classic Tiki Bar on Oahu:  
La Mariana
http://www.lamarianasailingclub.com/
 
Lewers Lounge (elegant, relaxed, in Waikiki)
2199 Kalia Rd
Honolulu, HI 96815
 
Food:
 
 
Real hawaiian food: "Ono hawaiian food" 726 Kapahulu Avenue Honolulu, HI  (a nice little hole in the wall)
Kalua pig, Lau lau, Lomi lomi slamon)
 
Alan Wong Restaurant - excellent pacific fusion food:
http://www.alanwongs.com/
 
Mavro Restaurant:
(I actually haven't been yet, but word is that it's excellent... but pricey)
1969 South King Street  Honolulu, HI 96826
http://chefmavro.com/
 
Good island fusion restaurant: ROY's in Hawaii Kai
 
Classic island style simple plate lunch:
 St. Louis Drive In
(this Japanese lady had been serving up good food for years,
lot's of really good fresh lunch choices)
3145 Waialae Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
  
Rainbow Drive-In
(Famous, but not as good as St Louis in my opinion)
www.rainbowdrivein.com
3308 Kanaina Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
(808) 737-0177
 
Eggs & Things Coffee shop
(everyone is gonna tell you to go to this place, and yes, it is o.k.,
but, trust me, go to JACK’s first….. info below )
 
Jack's Coffee shop (breakfast - hawaiian style fish and eggs  w/ biscut and honey butter )
Aina Haina Shopping Ctr
820 W Hind Dr
Honolulu, HI 96821
 

Asahi Grill -  good ox tail soup 
515 Ward Ave
Honolulu, HI 96814
 
Royal Hawaiian hotel for Brunch on the beach
 
Things to do:
 
Watch the giant surf on the north shore - Ehukai beach park, Waiamea Bay
this is the 'Country' side of the island – beautiful
 
Drive along the windward side (Amazing / beautiful mountain cliffs) make sure to stop at  Makapu'u beach park - this is my favorite beach on the island - beautiful and accessable.
 
Hike Manoa falls trail: short and beautiful
http://www.localhikes.com/Hikes/Manoa_3320.asp
 
Rent surfboards on waikiki beach - just look for the board venders by the duke kahamoku statue - any cab driver or hotel clerk will know where that is
 
Go to old down town "China town" it's a bit funky - but classic, good vietnamese food! best bet is lunch time to early eve (as it closes down for food - and opens up at night for bars and good seedy drinking at late night. 
There are also lots of little shops with interesting thing - non tourist trap items.


Aloha!
have fun,
Frank

My favorite record store in Chicago
Go on in and say hello to owners Boomer and Joe,
and peruse their wide collection of l.p.s, 45's, c.d.s, videos and dvds. Nice guys, great selection, and a real neighborhood place. I've found some real gems here, and have been turned on to some great records by them.

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New/Used
Formats:
Vinyl, CD, Videos, T-shirts, Posters, Books, DVD
Styles:
Punk Rock, Jazz, Experimental, Indie Rock, Collectibles, Country, Rock, Hip-Hop, Electronic, Dance, Classical, Folk, Other, Funk, Soul, Blues, Drum & Bass, House, Latin, Reggae, Metal, Pop, R&B, Soundtracks, Picture Discs, Audiophile, Ska, Rockabilly, Progressive, Ambient, Psychedelic, Comedy
Listening Post:
Yes

Recipes:

 

Tarragon Salmon Sauce:

Throw a little olive oil in the pan, some chopped garlic and shallots,  (onions are good, shallots are better). Cut open a jalepeno and,  * this is the trick *  - take the seeds out, because most of the heat is in the seeds, and the heat distracts you from the flavor. Chop up the jalepeno and add it to the pan.
   * (Cook's note: if you fall into love-making after dinner make
    sure you wash your hands after handling jalapeno seeds...
    - trust me on this!  Other wise someone's gonna get hurt)*.
Now... Chop a leek up, toss it in. When the shallots and garlic get glassy, add some smoked salmon (lox). Let it bubble low.
Then add some pasta to boiling water. Then add a little olive oil to help the pasta not stick together.
Return to the sauce pan, add a bit of heavy cream to give it grip, a tiny bit of lemon juice, and a chopped tomato (or two). 
Now... this is an important step.... grab some fresh (not dried!) tarragon, chives, parsley and dill, chop 'um up, toss 'um in the sauce & turn off the heat.
Return to the pasta, Drain & add a bit of salt, pepper & butter / or olive oil.
Split the pasta into bowls or plates, top with the tarragon salmon sauce.

Simple Roasted Chicken:
Coat roasting pan with olive oil, Place chicken thighs in pan 'skin up' so the fat drips down into the meat when cooking. Crush lots of garlic, chopped shallots, whole jalepeno pepper, portabello mushrooms, basil and sage... layer it all on top of the chicken so the flavors soak in. Sprinkle with olive oil, salt and pepper on top. Cook in pre-heated oven (350) for about 1 hour.
For a wine try "Mas de Gourgonnier"- a simple French red table wine - (perfectly good and "barn yard" to go with the bird). You can add salad and bread if you want... but you won't need um.

Some records I would not want to live without

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STAN GETZ & JOAO GILBERTO W/ TOM JOBIM "Getz / Gilberto"

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DUSTY SPRINGFIELD IN MEMPHIS 

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VAN MORRISON: ASTRAL WEEKS

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NICK DRAKE: BRYTER LAYTER

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SADE: LOVERS ROCK

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GABBY PAHINUI: "BROWN GABBY'

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THE INDESTRUCTIBLE BEAT OF SOWETO


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CAETANO VELOSO: JÓIA


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PENGUIN CAFE ORCHESTRA

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JONI MITCHELL: BLUE

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HANK WILLIAMS: COLLECTION

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SOUL TO  SOUL: KEEP ON MOVING

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GABBY PAHINUI: RABBIT ISLAND FESTIVAL

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HAPPY MONDAYS: PILLS 'N' THRILLS AND BELLYACHES

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MARVIN GAYE: WHAT'S GOING ON?

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GABBY PAHINUI "BROWN ALBUM"

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DR. BUZZARD'S ORIGINAL SAVANNAH BAND

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PATSY CLINE COLLECTION

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BILLY HOLIDAY COLLECTION

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MINNIE RIPERTON "COME TO MY GARDEN"

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TYRONE DAVIS   COLLECTION

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MATERIAL: THE THIRD POWER

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BOB DYLAN: BLONDE ON BLONDE

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BOB DYLAN: GREATEST HITS VOL. 2

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SCOTT WALKER: 4

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JACK KEROUAC: W/ STEVE ALLEN
"POETRY FOR THE BEAT GENERATION"

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THE MOODY BLUES: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

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THE MOODY BLUES: IN SEARCH OF THE LOST CHORD

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HUGO LARGO: DRUM

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HUGO LARGO: METTLE

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BOB MARLEY: KAYA

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MADREDEUS: ANTOLOGIA

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ROLLING STONES: LET IS BLEED & BLACK AND BLUE

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ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM: URUBU

                                         (with Claus Ogerman) 

Here's some fine records to turn you on!

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~ SPAIN ~
Dag and I went to Spain recently on tour
(he with the Gold Stars, and me with Thievery Corporation),
and this time we actually had time off there which is a luxury on tour!
And we really fell in love with it.
 

 
 
I loved the food, the way of eating.... long meals... mostly out doors and varied, Tapas style.
I also loved the afternoon siesta nap... (from 2 to 6 pm ish everyday), and the late nights of everyone on the street. And the music.
 
MUSIC:
I was down south in Malaga mostly, with day trips to Grenada & Almería (all in  the province of Andalucia) and you could really hear the north African (Moorish) influence in the traditional music - which is what I was interested in musically. I also heard some great street musicians - especially this guy with an accordion and an elderly female opera singer, singing in Spanish - very sweet. Also a wonderful gypsy Flamenco guitarist.
 
 I Found a store that sold Flamenco clothing for the dancers and musicians,  I wanted a pair of the men's Flamenco high waisted pants. The store was packed with mostly lady dancers, moms (and their daughters who wanted to be flamenco dancers) and a few men trying on clothes. What was beautiful was that the moms were stripping their daughters down to their underwear so they could try on the dresses right there in the store, so all these kids were in their underwear walking around the store trying on dresses - there was none of that American shame or paranoia in either the kids or the moms. Now I'm not a pervert, I like grown women; but to see these people just being people (i.e. natural) in a store made me comfortable and happy.
 
PICASSO MUSEUM:
Picasso was born in Malaga. and there is a wonderful museum there built atop Roman and Phoenician Ruins that you can also visit while there. I especially love Picasso's sculptures, and there a few nice ones there. 
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FOOD:
Everybody eats out a lot of the time in Spain, and grocery stores are a trick to find - because the restaurants are affordable and cultural.
Some of my favorite dishes were: Robo de Toro (ox-tails), Gazpacho (I had it everyday), Pimientos de Padrón (fried peppers) and Paella (rice and seafood dish) - All pictured below.
A great restaurant to visit in Malaga is Cafe Pimpi - they have an amazing collection of huge vintage bull fighting posters on the walls. If you are an artist or a graphic designer it will especially blow you away.
 
Funny Story:
I was visiting a cathedral in Grenada and couldn't tell if I had to pay or not to enter a certain room, there was a woman by the door who was distracted, and I sort of just walked by her quietly - kinda thinking I needed a ticket, but deciding to chance it anyways, and as soon as I got a few steps past her I heard her say... "e Caballero...?!"  (which means 'hey cowboy' or 'gentleman cavalier') - She was basically saying - "yo, cowboy, what do you think you're  doing? You gotta pay!" - it cracked me up!

Lastly:
The Moorish Alcazaba (castle) in Malaga is a 'must' visit.
 
I swam in the sea and it was so salty I floated effortlessly. There is something about being so close to Africa that does something to you... hard to describe.
 
Also:
 
We went The Historic Alhambra Castle in Grenada - but could not get in as it was sold out visitor wise, but is the ultimate Morrish castle in Spain - and is worth the effort.
The city of Granada was Ultra BEAUTIFUL - and I vow to return. Flamenco is alive there - it's far more Gypsy than Malaga.
 
I like Spanish people, you can feel their blood in their veins.
Their's is in mine now.  
 
F.Q.O
8 / 2008 

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Flamenco
Camaron Turronero Paco Cepero Paco de Lucia

 

Spanish Gypsy music
Safe Journey(1993)(the vagabond journey of Gypsy)

 

This song shows the pain of the destruction
of the gypsy way of life in Spain
"Safe Journey"(1993)(the vagabond journey of Gypsy)

 

Dag reports on his visit to northern Spain
Coming soon! 

This month's Jello, Hot Wax and Stepping Razors

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 Some of my top films

to have and have not
the scent of green papaya (Tran Anh Hung)
wings of desire (wim wenders)
baraka
8½ (Fellini)
Ikiru (Kurosawa)
Wild Strawberries (bergman)
Talk to her ( Pedro Almodóvar )
Stardust Momories (woody Allen)
Rockers
City of God
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (funny!)
the battle of Algiers
rififi (Jules Dassin)
north by northwest (Hitchcock)
to catch a thief (Hitchcock)
v for vendetta
Rear Window (Hitchcock)
chinatown
The Third Man
Aguirre, the Wrath of God (Herzog)
Citizen Kane
the good thief ( based on the classic - Bob le Flambeur)
Au hasard Balthazar (Robert Bresson)
five summer stories (1972 surf classic)
zorba the greek
the god father 1 and 2
Rashomon (Kurosawa)
Koyaanisqatsi, Powaqqatsi, and Naqoyqatsi (Godfrey Reggio)
finding neverland
endless summer (60's surf classic)
don't look back (Dylan documentary)
the Apu Trilogy (satyajit ray)
blade runner
royal tenenbaums
The Insider
an unfinished life
Casablanca
Stop Making Sense
Grizzly Man (Herzog)
Umberto D
The Bicycle Thief
slap shot
Silence of The Lambs
the replacement killers
The Professional
The Shawshank Redemption
Lawrence of Arabia
American Beauty
Million Dollar Baby
Strangers on a Train (Hitchcock)
On the Waterfront
101 dalmatians (the disney original)
the emperor's new groove
Pirates of The Caribbean
the hunt for red october
Jeremiah Johnson
pulp fiction

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