Mas Alla Del Sol

MAS ALLA DEL SOL -5848 N Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60660, (773) 654-1900,  masalladelsolrestaurant.com

7/30/26 – Life is good!

We began dinner by sharing the Complimentary Salsa– Guacamole & sauce.

Mas Alla del Sol – The Q’s shared: Lamb Shank w/side delicious corn mashed potatoes/salad.

Mr. Q had: a Margarita. Mrs. Q had: A Margarita.

Mrs. Q says: MAS ALLA DEL SOL is NOT your local Taco Bell. Food and drinks are decent. A tad over -priced but worth every penny. Street parking. Street parking is FREE on Sun.

 Carne Asada y Camarones  – Grilled skirt steak and jumbo shrimp.
Lamb Shank w/corn mashed potatoes
Photo of Mas Alla Del Sol - Chicago, IL, United States. Margarita
Margarita
Photo of Mas Alla Del Sol - Chicago, IL, United States. Complimentary salsa

Complimentary Salsa sauce &

we order a side of guacamole.

Posted in Chicago Rest. 2026 | Comments Off on Mas Alla Del Sol

Beard & Belly

6157 N Broadway Ave Chicago, IL – (773) 754-7429, beardandbellychicago.com

Beard & Belly and Honeypie Bake Shop - CHICAGO, IL 60660 (Menu & Order  Online)

7/29/26 – “Maid Day” so NO COOKING DAY.

Dinner at: Beard & Belly.

Mrs. Q had: Happy Hour –

Old Fashioned – Maker’s Mark – demerara, Regan’s orange bitters, angostura bitters with an orange swath- dirty ice on the side.

The other half had: Old Fashion & a glass of wine.

Sandwiches can be big at times so we share sometimes.

We shared the: Baked Pretzels w/ mustard & Pastrami Rueben. Was ok but a the meat was a tad dry.

Half Pint Burger w/Fries/
cheese sauce on the side
Pastrami Rueben
Baked Pretzels w/ mustard
Chili Mac & Cheese
Chicken Hand Pie -Flaky, buttery
pastry crust with savory filling.
Inside seating
Cute bar
The outside heated tent space. The heaters are those tall lamp-like objects.
Posted in Chicago Rest. 2026 | Comments Off on Beard & Belly

GINO’S NORTH PIZZA – EDGEWATER -near Loyola U.

1111 W Granville Ave Chicago, (773) 465-1616, ginosnorth.net

7/28/26

Always Great seeing Mixologist, Jen.

This visit was: A BIRTHDAY BASH! celebrating all our Birthdays today because we are NOT all together when our Birthdays happen. Happy Birthday to: Ginger, Barb, & mixologist, Jen & both Q-tips & Spike who stopped by to say, “Hi.”

Also brought the picture of “The Pizza Queen”: Peggy G.

Mrs. Q had: An Old Fashion & a Cosmo.

Mr. Q had: A Perfect Manhattan & glass of wine.

We shared: Antipasto & Gino’s Special pizza – Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms, green peppers, and onions.

Gino's North
Beautiful Holiday Decorations
Gino’s Special pizza – Includes Italian sausage, fresh mushrooms, green peppers, and onions.
Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich
Antipasto Salad w/
side of Garlic Bread
Posted in Chicago Rest. 2026 | Comments Off on GINO’S NORTH PIZZA – EDGEWATER -near Loyola U.

Pressure

In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and with the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice–launch the largest and most dangerous seaborne invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether.

Q-tips say: Yes, we did enjoy Pressure. Brendan Fraser and Andrew Scott are just as fierce as the storms in Pressure, an intense D-Day drama that sharply captures a pivotal, life-stakes moment in history. Did appreciate that they show the actual battle on the beach and not just take the shortcut of them hearing what happened in the radio room.

Posted in Movies 2026 | Comments Off on Pressure

I Will find you

A father imprisoned for his son’s murder receives evidence suggesting his child may be alive, compelling him to escape and uncover the truth. Netflix

Q-tips say: Was ok but not everyone might enjoy it. Recommend watching if you like suspense movies. Might have you on the edge of the seat and just when I thought you had it figured out there was another twist in the story.

Posted in Movies 2026 | Comments Off on I Will find you

Obsession

After breaking the mysterious “One Wish Willow” to win his crush’s heart, a hopeless romantic finds himself getting exactly what he asked for but soon discovers that some desires come at a dark, sinister price.

The critics loved it.

Q-tips say: The dumbest movie we ever have watched.

Its massively overrated. Mrs. Q says: Reasons I did not like it:

The Dead Cat, No character development, The Screaming, The Ending & Why did no one in Nickis life ever question her behavior?

Posted in Movies 2026 | Comments Off on Obsession

Little Madrid

5661 N Clark St., (312) 973-0462, littlemadridtapascafe.com

7/21/25 – Q-tips say: Nice place. They now have a “surge charge” if you use a credit card instead of paying with cash.

Yes, they do have a “Happy Hour.”

We began with glasses of prosecco.

Gambas Al Ajillo – Shrimp cooked in EVOO, fresh garlic/parsley.

Tabla de Embutidos – Spanish charcuterie board with Spanish olives and almonds, jamón serrano, Spanish chorizo, salchichón. Served with almonds .

Albondigas -Spanish meatballs, Castellana sauce & a side of chips. Anchovies & olives.

Delicious Dessert: Churros & Chocolate – they make their own delicious chocolate.

Enjoyed the small plates & sharing.

Croquetas de Pollo
Gambas Al Ajillo – Shrimp
Albondigas – Spanish Meatballs

Tabla de Embutidos

Anchovies & olives
Churros & Chocolate
Bacon wrapped dates
Posted in Chicago Rest. 2026 | Comments Off on Little Madrid

Calo’s

Photo of Calo Pizzeria Restaurant & Lounge - Chicago, IL, United States

www.calorestaurant.com – 5343 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL

7/18/26 – Valentina‘s drinks at Calo’s are the best restaurant drinks around.

Maid Day – No Cooking Day so off to Calo’s for dinner.

THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE: We wanted Whitefish for our entree & we were told they were out of the Whitefish & one other item.

We shared the Bread.

Mrs. Q: had: an Old Fashion

The other half had: Perfect Manhattan

Mr. Q had: a cup of soup – Clam chowder

Mrs. Q had: Minestrone.

Q’s shared: Salmon w/ garlic mashed potatoes.

Best restaurant drinks ever made
by Mixologist- Valentina at Calo.
Minestrone Soup
Delicious Bread
Vongole
Whitefish w/ onion rings

inside seating
Posted in Chicago Rest. 2026 | Tagged | Comments Off on Calo’s

Little house on the prairie

The Ingalls of Wisconsin make a new life on the Kansas frontier.

Q-tips say: Yes, we are enjoying it.

A family just quietly battling the prairie alone might get repetitive pretty quickly but the relationships with the people around them are what give the story its warmth.

Posted in Movies 2026 | Comments Off on Little house on the prairie

The Sheep Detectives

In this witty, new breed of mystery, George (Hugh Jackman) is a shepherd who reads detective novels to his beloved sheep every night, assuming they can’t possibly understand. But when a mysterious incident disrupts life on the farm, the sheep realize they must become the detectives. As they follow the clues and investigate human suspects, they prove that even sheep can be brilliant crime-solvers. Prime video.

Q-tips say: YES, we did enjoy The Sheep Detectives.

Very entertaining movie and loved how the sheep talk to each other. Didn’t expect who the killer was, but it was a great movie for the whole family. There is also underlying tenderness and melancholy that elevate the film beyond the conventional family entertainment genre. The sheep aren’t a herd of interchangeable creatures. They each have names, given to them by George, and distinct personalities. And not all is sweetness and light.

Posted in Movies 2026 | Comments Off on The Sheep Detectives