Q-Tips Reviews

HARRY CARY’S 7th Inning Stretch Rest. in Water Tower Place – Water tower – 835 N Michigan Ave., 7th Fl., Chicago, IL 60607

Q-Tips say: Good food, nice drink/food menus, service and ambiance. If you are looking for a steakhouse this is not your place. The Q’s had a cup of soup, and shared a sandwich, the Short Rib -Italian beef sandwich which came w/ a small side of Fries or salad, along with a soft drink made for a great late lunch. A tad too early for the Q to have an alcoholic drink but they do have a full bar and if you order a 20 oz. of Harry’s favorite beer it comes with a complimentary souvenir beer glass. Holy Cow! Yes, there really is a replica of a cow with holes in it. It is full of sport memorabilia, TV screens, it is a sport bar after all, and music. There were quite a few mall people and elders in for a late lunch. Then we walked to the Sports Store to look around and get our FREE tickets to the Sport Museum. Nice deal and a great place to visit for any hungry Chicago Sport fan.

WATER TOWER PUMPING STATION TOUR – Chicago Avenue and Michigan Avenue., Chicago, IL 60686
cityofchicago.org

Q-Tips say:Stop at the visitor’s Center located inside and then see the Pumping Station – there is also a “Hot-Tix” Booth inside. It was built in 1869 two years before the Chicago Fire. This survived along with the Water Tower itself which are landmarks in our city. Yes, it is a working Pump Station. Also, presently showing, at the Historic Water Tower is an exhibit showing the photos of Jason Reblando’s three US greenbelt towns, Greenbelt, Maryland : Greenhills, Ohio; and Greendale, Wisc. that were developed in the 1930’s which was part of Pres. Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Not a very large exhibit but wonderful to see on your day at the Water Tower Touring in Chicago.

Mrs. Q says: Go and see a part of Chicago History that survied the Great Chicago Fire.

ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE & other Dementias by Natalie Rubinstein – A practical guide to caring for someone with Dementias.

Mrs. Q says: An outstanding book about caregiving, understanding Dementia, getting an Accurate Diagnosis, Medications, communicating with a person who has Dementia, dealing w/unwanted behaviors, safety (yours and others), the argumentative stage and the combative stage, etc. A must read for those who are living with someone with Dementia or Alzheimer.

Goes through each step: what type of Dr. to see, what to take and what type of tests might be given. How to get a patient to the appointment (many times the patient will refuse to see someone because they don’t feel they have a problem), how to handle a belligerent patient. What the care giver is in for during the long haul. How long the Dr. exam might take – many times it can take all day and you might not get a complete evaluation on the first visit. Medications, etc. Most important of all – there are many types of Dementias and neither Dementias nor Alzheimer’s disease ever gets better or goes away. As of this moment, there is no known cure for either.

LA YOU JU 2002 S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616, in Chinatown, Red Line to Cermak (312) 225-7818

Q-Tips say: The Q’s went to Lao You Ju after a Chinatown Tour. We had Dim Sum (3 to 4 pieces on a small plate). Everything was fresh, tasty and served warm. Service was good. We shared the very tasty BBQ Pork bun (3pc), Black Pepper Short Ribs (for those who might think it was very spicy, it was not), Green Chive Dumpling (3pc), each had a bowl of Won Ton Soup. One of Mrs.Q surprise picks – Cheese Roll w/ Shrimp (4pc). She was apprehensive about the Cheese roll w/Shrimp – but not to worry, a light batter, very little cheese and large pieces of shrimp in the crispy light batter was outstanding.

Mrs. Q says: There are many Chinese restaurants in Chicago and Chinatown but several have the name “Lao” – they are owned by the same person. She was glad they had pictures of the food along with the written description because it helps to get an idea of what you will be eating. Our waitress was super helpful and attentive. The entire meal delicious and reasonably priced at around $15.00 pp with tea. They also offer Chow Fun & Chow Mein lunch specials for $5.95 from 11 AM-4 PM. Go and enjoy. We and our friends did enjoy.

CHINATOWN TOUR – Take the Red Line, CTA buses: 21,24, 62 or a Water Taxi
( www.chicagowaatertaxi.com ), or car to Cermack and ENJOY!

Q-Tips say: This tour was with a Groupon coupon. Mrs. Q says: DO NOT go with Groupon for the Chinatown Walking Tour – it is a waste of your hard earned money.

The Q went two years ago on their own walking tour after stopping at the:
Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, 21687 S. China Place – www.chicagochinatown.org
Get yourself a FREE brochure which includes all the sightseeing stops, a detailed map of all the sights and stops and a explanation of each one. Also many restaurants you can choose from for Lunch, Dim Sum, or Dinner.
Mrs. Q says: A must see is the Chinese American Museum of Chicago – there is a small fee but worth every penny.

The Chinese American Museum of Chicago tells the story of how the Chinese came from the EAST and WEST COASTS because of discrimination and abuse to settle in the inner city of Chicago because Chicago is where they were accepted & then moved to the present location.  How the Family Associations (no, not gangs) formed.  Then the Q’s were off to the:  Buddhist Temple. Buddhism was brought to China from India around 200 AD and began to flourish due to the decline of the Han Dynasty and its strict Confucian beliefs.  The basis of Buddhism preaches that suffering is inherent in life and one can only be liberated from it by mental and moral self-purification.

CHICAGOLAND GHOSTS by Dylan Clearfield

Mrs. Q says: Ever wonder if the Museum, Restaurant, Watering hole-pub, Church or perhaps the town in Ill that you live in has ghosts? This book covers it all and sometimes with humor. Mrs. Q says: Yes, even in Berwyn at 1941 Ridgeland a story of a gohsts of a Green Bay Packer fan in Ill.

The Hundred Foot Journey – In “The Hundred-Foot Journey,” Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal) is a culinary ingénue with the gastronomic equivalent of perfect pitch. Displaced from their native India, the Kadam family, led by Papa (Om Puri), settles in the quaint village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val in the south of France. Filled with charm, it is both picturesque and elegant – the ideal place to settle down and open an Indian restaurant, the Maison Mumbai. That is, until the chilly chef proprietress of Le Saule Pleureur, a Michelin starred, classical French restaurant run by Madame Mallory (Academy Award (R)-winner Helen Mirren), gets wind of it. Her icy protests against the new Indian restaurant a hundred feet from her own, escalate to all out war between the two establishments – until Hassan’s passion for French haute cuisine and for Mme. Mallory’s enchanting sous chef, Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon), combine with his mysteriously delicious talent to weave magic between their two cultures and imbue Saint-Antonin with the flavors of life that even Mme. Mallory cannot ignore. At first Mme. Mallory’s culinary rival, she eventually recognizes Hassan’s gift as a chef and takes him under her wing.

Q-Tips say: A cute story but a tad long and slow at times but nothing special. Mrs. Q says: RENT IT! Even tho it has humor, and is cute, you can get the same enjoyment from a rental. Helen Mirren is Helen Mirren – good actress, does not look her age (wonder why), and the outcome of the movie is just what one would expect. RENT IT!

DRIEHAUS MUSEUM – 40 East Erie Street, Chicago, IL, 312 482 8933, ext. 21 or email info@driehausmuseum.org.

Q-Tips say: Loved it. Go see it, you will be awed by the beauty and splendor of the exhibit.
Mrs Q has only one word to say, which is rare for her: AWESOME! We did our own walking tour with the audio cassette which is an additional $5.00 pp. Lots of walking and some stairs but there is an elevator. $20 Adult, $12.50 Senior (65+), $10 Student with valid I.D., $10 Youth (6-12 years) Children five years and younger are free. The daily tour schedule with a docent is: Best of Both: Tiffany & Museum Highlights – 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Richard H. Driehaus Museum immerses visitors in one of the grandest residential buildings of 19th-century Chicago, the Gilded Age home of banker Samuel Mayo Nickerson. Philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus founded the museum on April 1, 2003 with a vision to influence today’s built environment by preserving and promoting architecture and design of the past. To realize his vision, Mr. Driehaus commissioned a five-year restoration effort to preserve the structure and its magnificent interiors. Today the galleries feature surviving furnishings paired with elegant, historically-appropriate pieces from the Driehaus Collection of Fine and Decorative Arts, including important works by such celebrated designers as Herter Brothers and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Today, the Museum is a premier example of historic preservation, offering visitors an opportunity to experience through its architecture, interiors, collection, and exhibitions how the prevailing design philosophies of the period were interpreted by artists, architects, and designers at the waning of the 19th-century and the dawn of the 20th-century.

LULLABY explores the power of life, its trans formative moments, and re-connections between loved ones. Estranged from his family, Jonathan discovers his father has decided to take himself off life support in forty-eight hours’ time. During this intensely condensed period, a lifetime of drama plays out. Robert fights a zero sum game to reclaim all that his illness stole from his family. A debate rages on patients’ rights and what it truly means to be free. Jonathan reconciles with his father, reconnects with his mother, sister, and his love and reclaims his voice through two unlikely catalysts – a young, wise-beyond-her-years patient, and a no-nonsense nurse. Through this intensely life affirming prism, an unexpected and powerful journey of love, laughter, and forgiveness unfolds.

Q-Tips say: The Q’s liked it. It was an excellent rental movie- not sure it is in the theaters anymore.

Mrs. Q says: A very moving story about death and dying. A good “reality check” for all. A bit of humor at times. She enjoyed the contrast of the old man dying and the little children fighting to stay alive.
Mrs. Q says: Make sure you have a tissue nearby, you might need it – but see it, you will enjoy.