Baked Chicago

Brookfield Zoo welcomes new baby gibbon!

 

Chicago Blackhawks spread some holiday cheer!

 

Chicago Blackhawks TV: Joey the Junior Reporter (holiday edition)

   

Chicago's Millennium Park

 

Social Media Week Chicago Starts September 19

Social Media Week Chicago kicks off in just under a week, boasting over 80 events across the Chicagoland area. Local businesses and brands will come together for this global event to discuss the changing social and mobile media landscape across all major industries.

Events are free and open to the public, but registration is required and filling up quickly. Don’t miss out on some of Social Media Week Chicago’s best in keynotes, panelists and speakers by registering for your favorite sessions today. Visit www.socialmediaweek.org/chicago and choose the “LOGIN/REGISTER” tab for registration details.

Not sure what events to attend? Check out:

• Elevating Chicago: Closing the Loop Between Offline and Online Markting, a panel featuring speakers from Zocalo Group, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Museum of Science and Industry and the Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau - http://socialmediaweek.org/event/?event_id=204
• Gamification: Moving into the real world, lives and transactions, presented by Chris Mahl, CMO of SCVNGR - http://socialmediaweek.org/event/?event_id=613
• Digital Transformation: How a 162-Year Old Company Moves Like a Startup, presented by David Wolf, VP of Global Marketing at American Express - http://socialmediaweek.org/event/?event_id=614

Andrew Belle's Take on Roasted Eggplant Soup

Chicago native, singer/songwriter Andrew Belle is performing tonight at Schuba's. 

His latest blog entry had a great recipe for Roasted Eggplant Soup, adapted from a recipe he found at www.smittenkitchen.com. 

Read his post about food on the road, try the recipe, and come hear him play tonight at Schuba's.

 

P.S.  I'm a huge fan of Andrew's music as both a singer and songwriter - and whether or not you make it to Schuba's tonight for the live performance, you need to check out his music:  All Those Pretty Lights (one of my favorites), The Ladder or In My Veins (which was featured on season finale of "Grey's Anatomy").

Steppenwolf's "Detroit"-inspired Coney Dogs Recipe

Steppenwolf Theatre has done it again! "Detroit" - a new play by Lisa D'Amour - kicks off the 2010-2011 season.  There's an all-ensemble cast including Kevin Anderson, Kate Arrington, Ian Barford, Robert Breuler and Laurie Metcalf. 

Scheduled to run through November 7, "Detroit" is off-beat, hilarious and razor sharp in wit and observance of how the American dream has changed in once-thriving suburbia.  I haven't laughed so much for so long at the theater in quite a while.  This play was provocative and meaty - and inspired the featured recipe below.

In the play, Ben and Mary (played by Ian Barford and the incomparable Laurie Metcalf) fire up the grill to welcome new neighbors (Kevin Anderson and Kate Arrington) who've moved into the long-empty house next door.  So fire up your grill and share this very Detroit coney dog recipe with your neighbors and family!

 

• 4 beef hot dogs in natural casings
• 4 hot dog rolls, sliced
• 1 small onion, diced
• 10 ounces no bean-style chili
• 4 tablespoons yellow mustard

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat.  Place hot dogs on the grill and cook until browned (about 5 to 8 minutes).  Turn once or until done to suit your tastes.  Lightly grill hot dog rolls.

Place the no-bean chili in a small microwave-safe bowl.  Cook for 1 minute.  Stir and cook 1 minute more.  Place hot dogs on buns.  Top each with chili, onion and mustard, to taste.

*Typically a Detroit Coney Dog is made with a beef hot dog with natural casings.  But I prefer turkey hot dogs, so for a leaner option try substituting turkey hots and no beans turkey chili.