Alinea news

As some of you may know, I've been rather obsessed with the restaurant Alinea in the past (see blog posts for 3/14/07 and 3/29/07). News came to me through the grapevine that chef Grant Achatz will be publishing a cookbook for Alinea in Fall 2008. I've done a little research and it appears that individuals who pre-order will be issued a signed copy of the book and given early access to a website, "Mosaic," this May that includes behind-the-scenes info and videos.

Alinea's own site to publicize the cookbook
Chicagoist's notice of the cookbook
Amazon.com sells it more cheaply, but you'll have to wait until you get to book to be able to access the website (and no signature from the chef)

Chicago 3/20/08

I don't have much to report from the few days I took off during Spring Break. However, one highlight was definitely the day-trip to Chicago - I finally drove in downtown traffic (albeit briefly), during the tail-end of the morning rush hour, even. We were on our way to park downtown before our excursions to the Lakeview area and Shedd Aquarium. So. Lake Shore Drive? Check.

Part of the purpose of the trip to Chicago was to accompany a friend on his apartment search. I gleaned some useful information from the meeting with the leasing agent (who, in theory, is tasked with helping renters find an acceptable apartment). While this particular leasing agent was a bit too pushy and a bit too concerned with his own agenda (increasing his commission being the likely prime motivator), he did seem knowledgeable about the Lakeview neighborhood and the rental market. If I were to move to an unfamiliar area, I'm not sure that I would use a service such as that, but I'm not sure that I wouldn't either. The thought of one of the alternatives (walking around a neighborhood approximately 3-4 weeks before you plan to move and checking for "Now Leasing" signs) is intimidating and strikes me as risky. But I guess it's one way to go about it, and in any case the appropriate lead time seems to be about 3-4 weeks no matter how you search (unlike C-U, which has such a long lead time).

After the somewhat intimidating apartment search (by the way, rent is egregiously expensive in Chicago), we relaxed by visiting Shedd Aquarium. I'm not entirely sure when it was that I last visited Shedd, but I know it was during elementary school (third, fourth, or fifth grade). The Aquarium has changed considerably since then (though in truth I barely remember it from the first time I was there). I particularly liked to see the sea dragons that floated along sleepily. Also of note was a fish in the wave pool who kept getting sucked backwards in the pre-wave surge and who seemed to enjoy it since he rode the wave beneath the surface and would swim back immediately to where he could get sucked back to start the whole cycle over again. We watched as a long and thin blue monitor lizard was able to hide himself nearly completely (and somewhat unsettlingly) under a rock in the water feature of his terrarium, with only his snout poking out of a small access point to air between the water surface, the rock, and the "land." We also saw a sea turtle try in vain to free himself from a coral reef that he had managed to get his front flipper stuck in, while a large fish pecked at the turtle's hind flipper. The turtle looked so resigned to his fate, barely moving as he tried, seemingly feebly, to pull back out of the reef. At first, he twitched each time the fish nipped at his flipper, but then he stopped reacting to it at all. In any case, it was approaching closing time, so I hope a worker was able to extricate him from the coral. Although that last bit sounds a bit harrowing, the visit was quite relaxing, the brightly- (or not so brightly-) colored fish floating smoothly through the water. The otters, though not slow-moving, were quite fun to watch as they were clearly relaxed - playfully darting around their habitat, skimming along the water on their backs or rubbing their cheeks with their paws. The always-smiling beluga whales levitated in place directly in front of the viewing glass panes, the slight murk of their tank water adding to the ambiance of the serene and other-wordly experience. They would turn away and shortly disappear into the darker, more distant water as though into a fog.

that's right. purple.

I had no idea I lived in a world in which purple carrots exist. This place just got a lot cooler in my estimation.