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March 28th, 2008 We don't (can't) cook. We don't clean (hate it). And we don't really have the patience for riding the CTA (over a cab). But one thing we do know how to do is call a spade a spade. At five years old, we received a Cabbage Patch doll. We named her “Cabbage.” A little later on, we got our very own kitten! He was so cute, and kinda the color of Peanut Butter. We named him “Peanut Butter.” A few years of development later, and things got really advanced. It was fourth grade, and we had fallen in love. His name was Marky. And at our school's yearly carnival, we played one of those throw-a-ping-pong-ball-into-a-cup-and-win-a-goldfish games. A game that everyone's parents are probably totally psyched about. And what do ya know? We won a goldfish! So we named it... “Sparky.” It was a semi-obvious allusion to the boy we desperately wanted to hold hands with, yet just different enough to write it off as complete coincidence. Not to brag, but we obviously have a talent for calling things as they are. And when our goldfish bit the dust—er, the carpeting (Sparky jumped out of the bowl! Oh, the devastation!), we got a new one. And named it “Sparky II.” We just know when a good thing is a good thing. And like we mentioned last week, um, Sugar Bliss Cupcakes are It, y'all. Here’s a real treat: The first reader to forward Chicago Picks to the most friends and CC picks@chicagopicks.com will win a dozen Sugar Bliss Cupcakes! |
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Chicago Picks: |
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| 1 | Brown Sugar If we were to think of ourselves as a food—and we have, perhaps more often than is strictly healthy (if we were a hot dog, we would, in fact, eat ourselves) —we’d conjure up something a little spicy, a little tart, well-paired with just about anything and smooth going down. With that in mind it’s no wonder we gravitate to Cinnamon Boutique. The store’s warm, rich colors and crisp layout are mouthwatering in their own right, but the true feast is the clothes and accessories. We gorged ourselves on nubby charcoal blazers and mandarin-collared blouses, perfect for Chicago’s interminable ‘tweener seasons. And a buttery leather handbag the color of crème brûlée will effortlessly take us from the office to a romantic late-night dinner. Don't forget to taste test the precision-fit Red Engine jeans, with a side of Ulia Carrella jewelry. Here’s something else to whet your appetite: Cinnamon specializes in local Chi-town designers! Every piece is hand selected, and is well-matched to the shop’s Roscoe Village locale and vibe. Even a five-course, five-star meal might not compare to the delectable finds you can snag at Cinnamon! Cinnamon Boutique |
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| 2 | Best of Both Worlds We like kicking back at our fave neighborhood pubs as much as the next gal—friendly staff, wide screens and all. But sometimes we wish we could marry our two loves: the neighborhood bar and a quality meal. We’re in luck now that The Fifty/50 opened last week. Wide screens, check. Friendly staff, check. Greasy cheese fries and jalapeno poppers, not so much. This upscale sports bar slash late-night lounge features stuffed mushroom appetizers, wild fruit salad and ribs by the plate or by the piece with a homemade sauce that had us swooning. The pulled pork was meaty and—again—the sauce was that perfect blend of sweet and spicy. And then there are the drinks. Besides the traditional beer and wine options, The Fifty/50 features a dozen or so specialty cocktails with various infused vodkas and just-right juices, rimmed with signature salty combos such as a bean and corn combo for the bacon Bloody Mary. Trust us, it will complete your weekend upon first taste. Consider our marriage complete. The Fifty/50 |
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| 3 | We Don’t Miss the Mall We used to spend many a Saturday strolling the local mall scene. Having no shame, we still admit to taking pride in being food court aficionados and gloriously basking in all that florescent lighting. Hello! There were total hotties to scope out there! |
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| Chick Picks: | |||
| 1 | You Ain't Got No Alibi In the fashion industry, ugly can be beautiful. The more extreme the better! The more extravagant and dangerous, the sexier! But in the stuffed animal industry, the ugly is just downright funny. |
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| 2 | It Doesn't Hurt To Be This Beautiful We succumbed to the rigors of waxing long ago, but we have to say—it’s a pretty awful regimen. The legs, the bikini … it’s all painful. We were considering going back to the razor until we discovered No-Scream Cream. This magic lotion numbs you just enough to take the edge off the hair being ripped from your body. We ran out of it before our last wax and noticed a huge difference in our pain threshold. With No-Scream Cream, suffering for beauty is definitely a whole lot easier! |
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| 3 | Free to Be You and Me Last time we checked it was still winter. Yes, still. But that doesn’t mean we can't shop for spring. And haru jewelry (meaning “spring” in Japanese) offers the perfect excuse to prepare for warmer weather with handcrafted pieces that blend classic and contemporary styles. We love that haru incorporates precious gemstones, vintage glass and sterling silver. Plus, no two items are alike. Whether you’re seeking a bracelet, choker or ring, with haru, they’re just as unique as you are. |
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Hip Happenings: |
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| 1 | Carnival ’Til You Drop We’ve never needed an excuse to shake it all night long, so we’ll for sure be at Carnival as things get colorful. This interactive artist and music event is in its fifth year and going strong. Check out DJs including Mark Gertz and The Prairie Cartel, the costume competition and all the craziness! What: Carnival 2008 |
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| 2 | Jewelry for the Working Girl We envy Julia Roberts’s character in Pretty Woman—minus her profession, of course. Yet we dream of shopping on Rodeo Drive and of having our gloved fingers faux-slapped by Richard Gere. To be more accurate—we've dreamt of jewelry encased in a box. Ours would be by Jamie Wolf. Catch a viewing of her spring line! |
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| 3 | Coy Doesn't Get The Boy |
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| 4 | Uncover Your Weakness For Free Jazz! Pocketbook still empty from the holidays? Just flat out broke? We are writers, we get this! But before you fall into despair, get into Pops For Champagne. Throughout April, there's no cover charge to see some of the best jazz musicians in the city. Did we mention the breathtaking list of champagne, sparkling wine, and delicious bites? What: Uncover Series at Pops For Champagne |
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Don't you wish sometimes that Chicago's winter came equipped with a How-To manual? Like, Chapter 1: How To Not Get Cabin Fever Nutball Bonkers. Chapter 2: How To Stay Fit Throughout The Bloody Winter Without Having To Turn All Macrobiotic. And Chapter 3: What To Do When Winter Hangs Around Longer Than The Longest Hangover Ever. Well, it doesn't have a how-to, folks. It just doesn't. So the best we can do is get tough, gain inspiration daily and take our vitamins! If you have ideas and great finds, be sure to pass them our way! Or we might go bonkers. Email us at picks@chicagopicks.com! |
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