Chicago School of Shoemaking & Leather Arts, Chicago (Ravenswood), IL

You may recall I'm a bit of a fan of shoes ("kicks") and small leather goods. So, what better place to checkout than a shoemaking and leatherwork school?!

As a student, you can start from the very bottom and attend paid classes to learn how to do things the right way with a teacher helping you at every step. I've now done two of those classes and have made a handful of items in just a 4-5 hour window of time. I do like working with my hands and find this craft to be quite satisfying.

With your class tuition, they provide all the tools and materials you need as well. It could not be easier to get your craft on.

Sample projects...

[no, not mine...]

In the first class all six of the students decided to make belts. You pick out your leather width (1.5" below) & color, plus hardware. It's pretty cool and easy.

In the second class, which was titled "Small Lather Goods I", I went a bit gangbusters and made two wallets, a valet tray, and another belt (1.25" this time).

Our teacher for this class, who is also the owner, helped me find and print out a pattern, then assisted in anything else I needed or questioned during the class period. They let you roam most places for the leather you want to use as well as hardware. They also have dozens of hand-powered and electric machines in the studio for cutting, shaping and changing the leathers you choose. It makes most of the work enjoyable and simple.

This is a press I used to punch out the leather for the valet tray. It's like a massive cookie cutter press. They have forms/shapes for all manner of things right there for use too. You can see my chosen leather on the press table and even the cutter template in red there too... and a gray one to the right of it as well.

I don't know where I'll take this crafting, but I have already signed up for a 2nd round of the small leather goods class. It's pretty free-form, so I can go in and make some more stuff. They had a pretty cool wine bottle holder there.

I would also recommend this school overall. They have been very helpful in terms of changing chosen class days and times and seem really mellow about almost everything. Not only that, but very generous with their studio, time and knowledge as well. It's a nice way to get your craft on.

Sun Wah BBQ (Uptown), Chicago, IL

First off - this is the view as you walk in their front door...

... but, we've all been told not to judge a book by its cover. This restaurant is very no-frills, but there's a reason it was pretty packed when we went on a cold, windy Friday night, arriving before 6pm too. (and it was just getting busier as we dined).

All three of us in our "dining party", even with maybe over 100 years of combined living time in Chicago, had never been to this place before. But I'd seen it on TV and thought it looked pretty spectacular. 

With it all being new to us, we started pretty slow. Luckily, our waitress helped us sort through some options and also mentioned a special "whole duck" served table-side with duck soup, duck fried rice, steamed buns, daikon radish/carrots and the all important Hoisin sauce (for $60!). How could we say no to that? We added on some BBQ pork loin, a Bok Choy side dish, and drinks.

Speaking of drinks, they had a nice non-alcohol drink menu, so I grabbed to Lime Tonic to cut some of the rich foods we'd be eating...

But, first to arrive was the pork loin...

Then duck and all the fixins came out *very fast* afterwards... 

Once the duck was carved at our table, we made quick work of filling our steamed buns and filling our faces... 

It was delicious. Very flavorful and moist (sorry, don’t what other word to use). The sides were equally as delicious and well worth the cost. 

No desserts after this pretty large meal. But, we did have plenty for leftovers. Maybe even more important than dessert. I made a whole other dish from the duck drumsticks… Butternut Squash Ravioli with Duck, Sage and fresh Ricotta. For a “leftover” it was pretty delicious…

There may be no need for me to say this, but when does that stop me - I’d go back to this place in a heartbeat. Good service, drinks, and food you just can’t get everywhere. I would wholeheartedly recommend it as well. If you want a tour guide, LMK.

Maison Marcel (on Broadway), Chicago, IL

["Can you give me a hand?"]

[Who doesn't love a plethora of spider plants cleaning your air?]

We might as well get this out of the way now - this place is French. Which means French-style drinks, sandwiches, breads, and best of all - pastries!!!

I've already been in 3 times and will be going back as able. Why? Well, they check off a few boxes for me when thinking about a midday break, like - 1. Coffee drinks 2. Wi-Fi 3. Actual food available 4. Music not too loud 5. Seating is generally plentiful (on weekdays) and 6. Did I mention pastries!!!

The folks behind the counter are also French. They speak it to each other. I presume that's what makes the food so good! And how about some more of that...

How about an Apple Danish? (But French-style, not American-style)...

Or maybe you have an affinity for the cocoa bean? Let's try the Chocolate-Almond Croissant...

Or if you're real fancy before 12noon, why not try a macaron?

Ok fine, I have to eat "real food" before my desserts... just grab a nice breakfast offering or even this simple baguette sandwich (but be ready to gnaw through all that crusty bread!)...

...and then have your macarons!!! (Raspberry, Pistachio, and Hazelnut (aka, "Nutella"))

They have a rather robust hot breakfast menu, including a simple egg plate that includes a selection of their breads. When I ordered it I received half slices of four breads with my eggs - Sourdough, Baguette, Croissant, and Chocolate Croissant. You also get butter and jam. It was a good sample of most things, and then you can just take some macarons home.

This is also a breakfast / brunch-only spot. It closes each day in the late afternoon - don't plan on going after work, for dinner, or late-night pastries. It is all wrapped in a very cozy French-styled space, with enough room to find a nook and hunker down for the winter - the entire Chicago winter! I just might. 

If you don't already want to go from the images above, there's not much else I could say to convince you. But, I know I enjoy the experience here and will be going back.

Kibbitz Nest, Chicago, IL

 From the dictionary:

If you didn't know this Yiddish word before, you do now. I don't know if this business added their own second letter "b" on purpose or accident, but I presume now having been inside, they mean this definition.

I found this place as I was walking out of a pub from dinner and noticed their building signage around the location on Clybourne. It drew me in... plus the info about offering ice cream (I mean, I only had a light dinner). 

And as it turns out, they do offer ice cream and the chance to kibitz. But it's so much more than that too. They suggest a Wi-Fi free zone as you enter, but I still saw folks on their phones. I presume they don't offer a Wi-Fi- signal, because they want us to interreact with others or paper books (see below). You know, converse and interact with the live people in front of us... what people used to do back in the 1900's. 

So, they have large group spaces, a live event space in back, a small room for group reservation, an open bar and lounge area in front... and books everywhere. Plus, games and all other kinds of things to look at and do (like foosball).

They also have a really generous offering in the food and drink area - plenty of eats and snacks, beers, wines, coffee drinks, alcohol coffee drinks, desserts, etc. As was my charge upon entering, I went with a cookie sundae. It did not disappoint and hit the spot. I'm going to have to go back because I feel I didn't get a chance to try enough things or spend enough time in the spaces. Simply put, it's a fun place to visit.

I'll be going back as soon as I can get a small group to join me.

Northside Cutlery, Chicago, IL

Some of you, ok, none of you, may recall a story some years back while I was in MN about me having some old scissors from my Grandfather sharpened. I went to a very small mom n' pop store and the product I got back was amazing and still going strong.

Prior to my latest move, I noticed my very first pocketknife, which was a big deal for me as a young boy, was in pretty bad shape. The finish was tarnished and the blade was sharpened by me incorrectly years prior and needed some major TLC to bring it back. 

I was able to handle the finish with a friend's tip to try Flitz (that's really how it's spelled). It worked very well and very easily, making the pocketknife look like new on the handles ("scales") and even the decent part of the blade. 

I attempted to have the blade fully corrected in Madison WI, but to no avail. So, when I made it to Chicago, I sought out a proper spot. I happened to find a well-reviewed place in the North Center neighborhood, called Northside Cutlery. 

They had such good reviews, website and backstory that I was feeling quite lucky to have stumbled on their store. I went in with full confidence and was surprised not only by their expert level of sharpening skills (mostly for kitchen cutlery), but also their very cool retail storefront.

Great finishes, displays, and product offerings for the home chef. Their labor rates seemed more than fair, especially after getting my lil' knife back. It looks brand new and will safely be put away for many more years, now in fine finish and a new case. 

I wish I had more cutlery to bring in and will be going back whenever I need something sharpened. Thanks again, Northside!

Sardine Bistro & Bar, Madison, WI

Well, after a number of years living in Madison (over two separate stints), I think I've finally found my favorite restaurant. This is a big deal as I almost never choose favorites... and even saying that, I still have some caveats, but this is it for me in Madison. I might even be done looking (not least of which due to me moving back to CHI).

First, this place is right on Lake Monona. You can sit inside a very nice old-school warehouse space that's been updated to a French bistro theme, or even out on the deck, overlooking the lake (and some parking). 

Second, they do drinks right and have a happy hour everyday (at the bar, 4-6pm). I'd been in once before but didn't stay to eat or drink anything. It was a snowy spring day and with the happy hour bar seats all taken, I didn't think I'd get in very quickly. So, I left that day and made a mental note to return - boy am I glad I did.

Third, the menu is really well done and easy to find something. Take your pick... 

Finally, this staff is the real star and one of the main drivers of me anointing it with "favorite" status. Now don't get me wrong... there are many good restaurants in Madison. I've already written about some here on this site, like A Pig In A Fur Coat... but Sardine is hands down the best staff I've come across in all my time in Madison (though a few others come very close too).

I think, in general, restaurant staff service has gone down since the pandemic began, and who can blame these workers? But, it's noticeable now that we're coming out of it. And an all-star staff like the one at Sardine stands out like a beacon of light.

They helped me from the jump, even though I was dining solo at the bar. Water, drink, salad and main, plus dessert with decaf espresso (who even orders that?!). As one example, there is a fantastic woman clearing plates behind the bar who's not much taller than the bar. She literally has to get on her tip-toes to see if you're done with your food. But, every time I cleaned a plate (and I cleaned them!) or got to halfway on my water, she was right there to clear it away or refill. 

The rest of the folks behind the bar were equally great in their own ways. Friendly, talkative, willing to explain things. It was great. I even mentioned this to one of the bartenders before I left and they mentioned that they all love working there. It shows. I loved being a guest too.

For those curious about my meal choices, I did the House Greens to start - delicious and seemingly so simple. Then I went all-in on a Ribeye with their Steak Frites. I asked them to sub the Frites out for Fingerling potatoes and they obliged (though did have to check with the kitchen). The steak was cooked to my order and served with my side and a mustard sauce (didn't need that!). 

Something about those fingerlings too. Take a good look. I can only presume they were placed raw into a very hot skillet or pan and roasted off in an oven. They outsides were very crisp and the insides perfectly tender. Now how many times have you noticed the potato enough to think about and comment on it?!

To be fair, I wasn't planning to go in and have a 3-4 course meal, with a drink and coffee, but the place makes you want to stay longer & order more. It's genius really.

So, I wound up getting something with chocolate for dessert in the form of their Opera Cake. It was not too big or not too small, but just right. Delicious too... and went very well with that decaf espresso I'd ordered.

To say I would go back is an understatement. I am trying to think of reasons to go back now. I'm sure a happy hour burger visit is in my future before too long. And I think folks in Madison and the surrounding area should check this place out for yourselves - now!