tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62858992009-11-03T05:10:32.584-06:00Your One-Way Ticket to MidnightCharming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.comBlogger544125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-21779274266436719952009-09-21T11:10:00.001-05:002009-09-21T11:10:13.651-05:002009-09-21T11:10:13.651-05:00

My Pumpkin, originally uploaded by bridgeportseasoning.Yesterday I dragged Kevin, our political writer from Chicagoist, down to St. Anne, Illinois, just east of Kankakee. I had reserved seats for the Local Beet's farm dinner at Genesis Growers, an organic farm in St. Anne.Even with the rain that came down, it was a wonderful time. I was glad for a change that I didn't have 3G service down there (

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-88994684066022458692009-09-01T16:17:00.001-05:002009-09-01T16:17:30.180-05:002009-09-01T16:17:30.180-05:00

Skyline at Night, originally uploaded by bridgeportseasoning.is why I love living in this city. the view of the skyline from Shedd Aquarium at night is something to behold, even when you're taking a photo of it with an iphone.

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-19468222550726404702009-08-07T15:11:00.001-05:002009-08-07T15:11:26.291-05:002009-08-07T15:11:26.291-05:00

Sunset over Caledonia Originally uploaded by bridgeportseasoning.Was ready to head out to work this morning and found a flat tire on the bike. 'Course, I being me thought that this was a harbinger of a bad day. Then it's rained all afternoon at the office in Evanston and I find myself thankful that I'm not biking in this slop.Up and down week overall. Started off with a bang Monday with a visit

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-1720714634730266862009-07-05T11:15:00.004-05:002009-07-05T12:35:23.529-05:002009-07-05T12:35:23.529-05:00

Once, I was couch surfing at my Aunt Debbie's in Rogers Park when her two youngest kids, Phillip and Eric, decided to start playing baseball in the house with some friends. Predictably, this ended with some china being broken and Phillip trying to run away from the responsibility.Somewhere in there things escalated, words were exchanged and I called Phillip a "fat boy" (well, he was). Aunt

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-60603120078811345082009-06-18T23:24:00.003-05:002009-06-20T23:30:36.117-05:002009-06-20T23:30:36.117-05:00

I've only been half-joking when I tell people that I seem to have reawakened my kavorka in the past year or so. Never was that more true than Saturday night. I found myself in one of those bars in the back of a liquor store on the northwest side, only this one was built out into a spacious sports bar and kept clean. This wasn't those old Armanetti's like the one on Division where my mom and

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-59200765880636064182009-06-06T10:28:00.002-05:002009-06-06T10:31:28.025-05:002009-06-06T10:31:28.025-05:00

If I'm not checking in here, it only means I've been busy.In this case, turning 40.Meanwhile, the concert below is 36 years old, and shows the hottest band in the land hungry and ready to conquer. I miss those days...

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-69550091935096215972009-04-12T12:56:00.001-05:002009-04-12T12:58:24.871-05:002009-04-12T12:58:24.871-05:00

The story of Jesus, as told by Sam Kinison. Enjoy your ham or, in my case, White Castles.

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-76362107766769899842009-04-11T11:26:00.003-05:002009-04-11T12:20:05.891-05:002009-04-11T12:20:05.891-05:00

L-R: Uncle Red, Mom, Uncle Stu, Aunt Arlene, Aunt DebbieBeen a while since I've been around. I decided that some things I wanted to write about required discretion, lest some haters decide to hate. Maybe next time.Anyway, last week I had to pass off some prized tickets to the Numero Group's Eccentric Soul Revue to Marcus, as I received the proverbial invitation I couldn't refuse. My Uncle Stu

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-65834833133791369592009-03-15T19:47:00.002-05:002009-03-15T19:57:52.098-05:002009-03-15T19:57:52.098-05:00

Been weaning myself away from meat in recent weeks, in preparation for finally saddling back up full time for a bicycle commute. Then I willingly and gladly slid back to the Greek combo plate and saganaki at Central Gyros, followed by brunch at the Publican today (if you missed the live twitter stream of both Paul Kahan and Ellen Malloy, smack yourselves very hard across the cheeks right now).

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-86220380175015790582009-02-22T22:54:00.002-06:002009-02-23T05:20:29.434-06:002009-02-23T05:20:29.434-06:00

Now that Sean Penn won Best Actor, we missed the speech Mickey Rourke might have given.

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-86556555175544266652009-02-21T11:31:00.003-06:002009-02-21T12:05:27.221-06:002009-02-21T12:05:27.221-06:00

Photo Credit: Martha BayneEven though the snow kept many away, a good time was had by those of us who showed up at Hideout Wednesday for Soup and Bread. Somehow, most of my mock turtle soup was consumed (and thanks to Martha, Sula and Nagrant for the good words on it; I know it was undersalted). My favorite soup, however, was Joshua Westlund's lamb sausage, chickpea and leek, which was simmering

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-81027013438362231052009-02-18T08:46:00.003-06:002009-02-18T08:53:41.352-06:002009-02-18T08:53:41.352-06:00

Under the guiding hand of Karl Klockars, we launched a podcast over at Chicagoist a few weeks back. This week's installment is all about beer and meat, with me doing my best Jean Shepherd, stretching out the word "exactly" far too often, as Karl and I discuss Chicago Restaurant Week.The full podcast is embedded on the site, but you can also subscribe to it via iTunes or the far superior and

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-76262707410472530732009-02-13T16:07:00.001-06:002009-02-13T16:07:03.413-06:002009-02-13T16:07:03.413-06:00

Bridgeport, Autumn 001 Originally uploaded by bridgeportseasoning.And it's about time, too.When you ride your bike sporadically over the winter, it takes a while to get back to the fighting health you were at when the combination of snow, wind and lack of plowing forced you to take a breather. But this weather is right up my alley, and I'll be starting much earlier than last year. I need the

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-41854641701793818542009-01-31T11:24:00.003-06:002009-01-31T11:53:57.204-06:002009-01-31T11:53:57.204-06:00

That's what Wisconsin's been. Even before my stepdad passed away last week I was ready to declare 2K9 "The Year of Being Pulled Back In." For someone who is insistent on having open lines of communication, I'm not good at keeping in touch with my family. This week has shown that I'm gonna have to make it a real effort, especially because it's now more necessary.Mom handled everything better

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-25883011148210207692009-01-31T05:25:00.004-06:002009-01-31T06:16:01.104-06:002009-01-31T06:16:01.104-06:00

Haven't checked in on Facebook for the better part of a week, but wasn't entirely shocked to see the "25 Things" meme is still rolling along. Here is some more random time wasting in the form of "iPod Magic 8-Ball," courtesy of the always entertaining Coop.1 . Put your iTunes or iPod or whatever type of digital music player you have on shuffle.2 . For each question, press the 'next' button to

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-70342747630303782482009-01-26T14:56:00.003-06:002009-01-26T16:07:20.874-06:002009-01-26T16:07:20.874-06:00

I'm sitting in my office at home this afternoon, looking at a photo from my sister's wedding ten years ago. Tammy was all of 17, three months pregnant with her oldest son, Caleb, and embarking on an uncertain future with her husband Nathan. My brother Chris was nowhere to be found, and I made the trip to Warren, Illinois with hesitation and a promise wrangled from my mother that I would not be

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-59015836051779762812009-01-12T00:28:00.002-06:002009-01-12T00:30:25.029-06:002009-01-12T00:30:25.029-06:00

Makes Shaft, Superfly and the Mack all look like rank amateurs:

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-74423887977889910932009-01-11T11:28:00.002-06:002009-01-11T11:44:22.314-06:002009-01-11T11:44:22.314-06:00

When the weather started to turn I had committed to biking in the inclement weather. The combination of the weather's unpredictability and the city Streets and Sanitation department has placed a major kibosh on that. First there was the skimping on the salting and clearing because Chicago is in a serious financial bind (although if the Mayor wanted to dip into that serious tax increment

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-10441243022872633892009-01-01T13:25:00.002-06:002009-01-01T13:32:47.393-06:002009-01-01T13:32:47.393-06:00

Mumm, sabered Originally uploaded by bridgeportseasoning.Last year I noted some of my favorite records of the year. This time around, I just created a playlist, instead. Enjoy.http://www.divshare.com/folder/461415-8f8

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-63326265047050819232009-01-01T09:15:00.001-06:002009-01-01T09:15:53.149-06:002009-01-01T09:15:53.149-06:00

Bridgeport Tumbleweed Originally uploaded by bridgeportseasoning.Yes, that's a tumbleweed. In Bridgeport. On New Year's Eve.So I'm finishing up making hoppin' john and chili for the game. Heading to a NYD party thrown by Adam Seger of Nacional 27. He calls it the "she killed it, he cooked it NYD party." Adam is a gifted cook and mixologist. I'm bringing reinforcements today because I could

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-34158347451496256112008-12-31T07:12:00.002-06:002008-12-31T07:14:55.287-06:002008-12-31T07:14:55.287-06:00

Not here in the Land of Lincoln. Pat Quinn tees of on Governor Sound Byte's announcement appointing Roland Burris to President-elect Obama's vacant Senate seat.The longer this drags out, however, the more I worry about politics in general in Illinois:.msnbcLinks {font-size:11px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: #999; margin-top: 5px; background: transparent; text-align: center;

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-175893808594687882008-12-26T13:08:00.003-06:002008-12-26T13:11:42.695-06:002008-12-26T13:11:42.695-06:00

Thanks, CTA. I was a half-hour late for work today because of your antiquated PA system that screeches instead of announces that the Purple Line wasn't running to downtown.

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-12206073300181025482008-12-25T08:42:00.002-06:002008-12-25T08:50:40.623-06:002008-12-25T08:50:40.623-06:00

I only play these songs once a year, so going through and selecting a holiday playlist can be a chore. And I wasn't going to put up a playlist this year, but Sunday's trip to the Music Box for the sing-a-long and the way we commandeered "White Christmas" by singing the Jordanaires harmonies a la Elvis Presley's version re-inspired me.So, in the spirit of the season, here is something that, given

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-30465095677468547452008-12-24T12:08:00.003-06:002008-12-24T12:11:57.628-06:002008-12-24T12:11:57.628-06:00

Shit's winding down here. So to all of you who check in, to new people I've met, old friends I've reconnected with and eve you anonymous types who like to leave comments that won't possibly be posted here, have a happy and safe holidays.

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6285899.post-32960500320696875962008-12-20T17:34:00.002-06:002008-12-20T18:00:09.045-06:002008-12-20T18:00:09.045-06:00

Back when I threw my hat in the ring when Chicagoist made a call for new writers, I wasn't certain which section of the site I should try out for. I had no basic knowledge of food writing at the time, but I could break down the taste profile for a beer, wine or spirit like no one's business. Working at HotHouse also gave me a crash course in jazz, Latin, international and improvised music that

Charming Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17429500972425403304noreply@blogger.com1