What I’ve learned

Living in Chicago, this is What I’ve Learned...

The Local Option (1102 W. Webster Ave. in Chicago) has the most fun trivia night on Wednesdays nights. And, their Aldon’s blackened chicken sandwich on a ciabatta roll with fresh-cut fries topped with their own cajun mustard would be my last meal before I ever left Chicago.

Never go on a date to a pro sports game with a minor-league team’s cheerleader, as all she will talk about is how her squad is “way better” than the one performing.

Most bars in Wrigleyville raise their prices $2-$3 for Cubs home games.

Bill Laimbeer would be a good choice as the next coach of the Bulls, as he wouldn’t take any nonsense and he’s played and coached championship teams.

The broccoli cheddar cheese soup at the Longhorn Steakhouse (7070 Forest Preserve Ave. in Norridge) is worth the trip, especially as the slivered pieces of cheddar melt onto your spoon as you eat.
— Walter Brzeski

I would like to bring smoking back to the Chicago bars. Don’t get me wrong, I am not a smoker and generally speaking, think it is offensive. However, the smells in the bars sans the smoke are disgusting. I think “gamey” is a good way to describe it. And, it is not even summer yet. On St. Patrick’s Day, a section of the bar was cleared no less than 10 times during the day for crop dusting (you know what I mean). Anyway — not a fan of this new development.
— Sue M.

If you’re looking for a different but fun cultural dining experience, try the Korean restaurant called Cho Sun Oak at 4200 N. Lincoln. My favorite dish there is the cha dol gui — slices of roast beef that are cooked on a hot plate right in front of you. It comes with a lot of garlic and an assortment of interesting but tasty side dishes and rice. You might have trouble walking when you leave, but it’s well worth it. It gets really crowded on weekends.

If your car window gets shattered by a thief, (which it inevitably will while living in Chicago), take it to Gerber Auto Collision & Glass, located at 3425 N. Halsted. Their service is quick when providing estimates, the cost was very reasonable and work very well done.

If you have kids age eight and younger, they probably don’t belong in a bowling alley at 11 p.m. on a Monday night. Have some freaking common sense, people.

Need a good realtor? Look no further than Nancy Finley at Keller Wiliams. She provides top-notch customer service and has tremendous experience in the Chicago market.
— Mark Schwalenberg

For those of you yuppie professionals working downtown who use a backpack to carry your daily goods and supplies, don’t be intimidated by your friends, co-workers or family members who insist that you grow up and get “a real bag.” Backpacks are nicer to your body than shoulder-strap cases, you can run a lot faster toward the departing bus/train that you’re late for and you always have two free hands to pay bus fare, double fist at the local bar after work or fend off an attacker who wants to steal your perfect backpack.

If you’re going to ride your bike around town (especially downtown), go to craigslist or eBay and get a beat-down, ancient bicycle (like a Schwinn 5-speed from the early ’80s) for $30. You’ll be a lot happier when that bike gets stolen vs. your fancy $500 mountain bike.
— Dan Miller

I’ve learned that you can get a parking ticket by parking anywhere without a city sticker, parking at a meter without putting in a handful of quarters, parking too close to a fire hydrant, stop sign, sidewalk, loading zone or bus stop, parking on the wrong side of the steet during street cleaning (which is posted a whole 24 hours ahead of time in Wrigleyville, apparently because they can’t post a set schedule due to Cubs games — even in winter!), parking in a zoned area without a zone sticker, parking without a Cubs night-game sticker, and sometimes for no reason at all.
— Kyle Craig

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