Q-Tips Reviews

CHARLES DAWES HOUSE – 225 Greenwood St., Evanston, IL 60201, (847) 475-3410,
evanstonhistorycenter.org

Q-Tips say: Go and enjoy. They are open daily from 1 to 4 PM. Docent tours on on Wed. Th. Fri. at 1, 2, 3 o’ clock (call before going to be sure the docent tour is on). Parking is FREE – FREE is GOOD by the park area facing the lake. Full of history and the life and times of Charles Dawes vice president under Calvin Coolidge, our 30th President. Lawyer, a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on World War I reparations. Dawes was a self-taught pianist and a composer. His composition, “Melody in A Major” in 1912 became a well-known piano and violin song, and it was played at many official functions as his signature tune. It was transformed into the pop song “It’s All in the Game.” Decided to join the Armed Forces when he was in his late forties. The commanders welcomed him to assist them, but Dawes wanted to be along side the fighting troops.
He was decorated with the Distinguished Service Medal during World War I. Mrs. Dawes supported him in his efforts during the war and formed her own knitting group to knit items for 2 troops.

Mrs. Q says: The main level is exactly like it was when the Dawes lived there. Yes, you can take non flash photos. No, you cannot sit on their furniture. Many artifacts from other buildings are in the house.
Keep in mind that the Park area facing the lake by the Dawes House was not there at one time. It is man made.
Mrs. Q could easily live in the Coach House which was remodeled in the 1920s to accommodate autos. The second floor servants’ quarters and hay loft have been remodeled, now serve as a private residence to renters. Be sure to admire the wood carvings, and Mr. Dawes memorial honoring his superiors he served under during the war. See it – such an accomplished man, so much history in the Dawes House. The second floor has exhibits showing how Evanston evolved. At its early stages it was called “Heavenston”.

LOVE & MERCY – In the late 1960s, the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson (Paul Dano) stops touring, produces “Pet Sounds” and begins to lose his sanity. By the 1980s, Wilson (John Cusack), under the sway of a controlling therapist, finds a savior in Melinda Ledbetter. Cast: Paul Dano as Brian Wilson, Elizabeth Banks as Melinda, Brett Davern as Carl Wilson, Graham Rogers as Al Jardine, John Cusack as Brian Wilson, Paul Giamatti as Eugene Landy

Q-Tips say: We enjoyed it. Never heard this side of their story. Great acting by John Cusak, Paul Giamatti and the cast. This is not a movie where you go to hear all their famous hit songs. This is a sad story of Brian Wilson who seems to be losing his sanity with the help of his Dr.
Mrs. Q says: Probably could wait and see it as a rental and still enjoy it.

Drop Dead Healthy – A. J. Jacobs – One man’s humble quest for bodily perfection

Mrs. Q says: A good book done with lots of humor. Mrs. Q guarantees you will laugh out-loud while reading this book. Finally, a book about a MAN seeking bodily perfection instead of a woman.

Drop Dead Healthy covers all quests: The quest to eat right, the quiet quest, conquering germs, being smarter, perfect smile, more sleep, better sex, etc. You get the idea. Also covers every body part: stomach (and stomach revisited), heart, ears, butt, immune system, genitals, nervous system, intestines, adrenal gland, brain endocrine system, feet, lungs, skin, eyelids, bladder, gonads, nose hands back, eyes skull and las but not least exercise.

ORPHAN TRAIN – Christina Baker Kline

Mrs. Q says: Read it. It is the type of book you will not want to put down.
If your children/grand children complain about their lives, are spoiled (whose fault might that be?), etc.?
Ask them to read this book and see what a hard life really is for these young children and perhaps they will appreciate what they now have.

Orphan Train is a wonderful story about so-called orphan trains that ran regularly from the cities of the East Coast to the farmlands of the Midwest between 1854 and 1929 that carry thousands of abandoned children whose fates would be determined by pure luck. Would they be adopted by a kind, loving family, or face a childhood and adolescence of hard labor and servitude? Read Orphan Train and enjoy the friendship that emerge between a ninety-one-year old women and the young woman.

FORNELLO TRATTORIA – – 1011 W Irving Park Rd., Chicago, IL 60613, (773) 404-1800, fornellotrattoria.com

Q-Tips say: We liked it. The Q’s decided to have a drink and Mr. Q had the lasagne. Mrs. Q had one of the specials of the day. She really wanted the Braised Beef Ravioli that is on their internet menu but not on their restaurant menu. We were told that the restaurant was recently redecorated. The drinks were ok. The decent food, service is worth another visit for a before/or after Theater meal. They have nice outdoor seating, if that what you prefer or sit at the bar. If in the neighborhood, give it a try. You might enjoy!

ONCE – Cadillac Theater – 151 W Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60602, (312) 977-1700
www.theatreinchicago.com

ONCE tells the enchanting tale of a Dublin street musician who’s about to give up on his dream when a beautiful young woman takes a sudden interest in his haunting love songs. As the chemistry between them grows, his music soars to powerful new heights… but their unlikely connection turns out to be deeper and more complex than your everyday romance.

Q-Tips say: Such talent. The actors not only happen to have great acting ability but also dance, outstanding voices, and each played at least one musical instrument. Nice story line. Great choreography. An added touch is having the audience, if they so desired, to come on stage before and during the intermission. The Q’s liked “ONCE”. Mrs. Q says: Saw “Once” and once is enough.

GINO’S EAST – 162 E Superior St., Chicago, IL 60611, (312) 266-3337, ginoseast.com

Q-Tips say: The Q’s met with “The Son and his Lady Friend” while they were in from California touring Chicago. You want deep dish? This is a good place for deep dish, ambiance, drinks and the service is ok. The Q’s are really thin crust pizza lovers but we did enjoy this deep dish pizza.

Mrs. Q says: It is a 45 min wait for the deep dish pizza to come to the table so we ordered our drinks and an antipasto to share which took the edge off the growling of our stomach hunger. Our dining partners enjoyed the ambiance and the pizza. Checked that off their list of things to see/do in Chicago.

The Gino’s East story began in 1966 when two taxi drivers and a friend, frustrated with rush hour traffic, decided to open a pizzeria just off Michigan Ave. and Superior St. in Chicago. The Original Gino’s East became an instant legend with local Chicagoans, national celebrities and visitors from around the world.

Our famous deep-dish pizza tastes the same as it did back then. Each pizza is made by hand and features its own unique look. Each legendary pizza is created with a secret, golden crust, fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, and loaded with your choice of fresh ingredients. Once baked to perfection these enormous pies are brought to your table in our well-seasoned pans.

If your tastebuds aren’t craving our famous deep dish or thin crust pizzas, Gino’s East offers a delicious alternative. A full menu featuring our homemade appetizers, pastas made with rich and tasty marinara sauce, salads filled with an abundance of fresh vegetables and sandwiches to fill any sized appetite.

In a city known as the “Pizza Capital of the World”, The Original Gino’s East is still the number one pizza restaurant where customers from near and far return year after year to scribble their names into the wood and stucco walls of our flagship restaurants in downtown Chicago.

LITTLE FOXES goodman.theatretickets.co

Q-Tips say: Go and enjoy. We did. Little Foxes is a 3 part play with 2 intermissions that takes place in Alabama. The story is of greed, betrayal and a dysfunctional family. Mrs. Q says: Some things never change.

Should you have an opportunity to see “Little Foxes”, do so. The cast does an outstanding acting job, along with a superb set adds to the enjoyment.

Beast on the Moon – Raven Theater 6157 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60660, (773) 338-2177
www.raventheatre.com

Aram Tomasian is an Armenian immigrant living in 1920’s Milwaukee who has escaped the massacre of 1.5 million Armenians in 1915 by the Turks in his homeland in Eastern Turkey. He wants to make a fresh start and build a new family in the new world to replace the family he lost to the genocide. He selects a mail-order bride and into his life comes an Armenian teen-ager, Seta, who has also escaped the vicious grip of the Ottoman warlords. He learns that building a marriage and a family is more difficult than he anticipated, but he ultimately succeeds in unexpected and heart-warming ways.

Q-Tips say: Enjoyed it. Mrs. Q says: This play has nothing to do with the moon landing. It is a story that deals with survivors of the Armenian Genocide of the early 1900’s and what happens to the lives of the survivors afterward. The genocide was the systematic slaughter of 1.5 million Armenians, a grisly process that included forced marches, crucifixions, decapitations and sexual assault, among other acts of violence. Despite the serious subject matter there is a sprinkling of humor. Strong performances by the entire cast.