The Angry Waiter

Yes, The Grind is small and cramped. Yes, you have to sometimes share a table with a stranger and yes, it’s a bit pricey, but…it’s an independent coffee house located on one the best strips in all of Chicago - the Lincoln Avenue shopping strip between Wilson and Lawrence in the Lincoln Square neighborhood.

I don’t go to coffee houses just for the coffee and baked goods - The Grind serves Intelligentsia which is fine coffee and a Chicago product, excellent pastries and, as pointed out a tasty if not slightly over-priced quiche - I go to coffee houses for atmosphere and amenities.

It’s The Grind’s atmosphere and amenities that sometimes make me want to go there and other times keep me away. (more…)

There are few things I’ve done in my adult life (or any other part of my life for that matter) that have brought me as much fun, fulfillment and satisfaction as taking guitar lessons at The Old Town School of Folk Music.

Now, don’t let the name “Old Town School of Folk Music” scare you away. Though the original school was founded fifty years ago in Old Town, I take classes at the Lincoln Square location.

As far as “Folk” is concerned, folk is taught here and is still a part of the curriculum, but not really in the group classes. The music I’ve been learning since day one (I’ve been going there for about seven months now) has been Wilco, The Ramones, The Beatles, Bowie, Ani DiFranco, Greenday, Nirvana and a slew of other artists I love. (more…)

Tanoshi - 5547 N. Clark St., Chicago - one of The Angry Waiter’s favorite sushi spots, recently got a really nice review on WTTW’s “Check, Please!”

Mike Ham, a.k.a. “Sushi Mike.” opened the place after leaving Hamu Matsu.