|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
free newsletter |
gal-friendly city sites |
go-alone travel tips |
love stories
travel classifieds |
ms. biz |
journey doctor |
women's travel tales |
she goes shopping
what should I wear? |
letters to the editor |
the older adventuress |
travel 101 |
girl talk guides
women helping women travel |
her spa stop |
her ecoadventures |
best books
travel with kiddies |
shopping |
cruise holidays |
awards and kudos |
home|
search engine
Chicago is a meat-eaters paradise. If you've been hankering for a steak, there's no place better than Keefer's, just steps from the Magnificent Mile. You'll find a nice list of wines by the glass, and lots of side dishes. Keefer's also has fast, bargain lunches for just $10, with the same professional, friendly service. Be sure to reserve, because waits can be long. Address: 20 W. Kinzie, Website: 
Barbeque is serious business in Chicago, and Smoque leads the list. Portions of its meats, cooked low and slow in Texas style, are enormous. Try the brisket (I like it chopped) either in a sandwich or a platter. Fries and macaroni and cheese are fantastic, and save room for peach cobbler. Smoque has a few tables of outdoor seating and there's often a line on weekends. But you can chat with co-owner Barry Sorkin while you wait. Address: 3800 N. Pulaski Road, Website: 
Are you a fan of those competitive cake shows on food television? Bleeding Heart is for you. It's a hang out for punk rockers, where everyone seems to have a tattoo, but the main West Town location serves one of the best brunches in Chicago. The omelets are perfectly cooked, and the big case up front has a huge selection of baked goods from cake balls to donuts (perfect for a hotel room snack). Address: 1916 W. Chicago Avenue and three other locations Website: 
This is the French café of my dreams. It offers sublime croissants, breads, tarts, salads and soups that will make you want to linger there all day. Floriole schedules prix fixe dinners once a month with local farmers, so check their Web site in case one is being held during your visit. There is wi-fi and outdoor seating. Their baristas are the best in the city, and have seconds on blueberry upside down cake. I won't tell. Address: 1220 W. Webster Website: 
It's a bit of a hike from downtown, but well worth the trip. A cemita is a layered sandwich, originating in Puebla, Mexico, that is served on a special, soft bun. You can easily split one with a friend, but be sure to get yourself a horchata, the soothing rice milk drink. Owner Tony Antilez is likely to be behind the counter, and there's often Mexican soccer on TV. Address: 3619 W. North Avenue Website: 
On every trip, I like to have one dress up meal. Here is one spot (the name means "little dream"). Achingly romantic, with an outdoor courtyard in summer. Piccolo's menu includes perfectly prepared, sophisticated Italian food, including house-made pasta and delicate fish. Reservations can be hard to get, but if you're alone or a two-some, try dining in the bar. Address: 464 N. Halstead Website: 
If you're in Chicago on a Saturday, check out Green City Market in Lincoln Park. (Wednesday markets are also held from May through October. You'll find fruits and vegetables from all over the Great Lakes, and a wide variety of local foods, such as cheese curds from Wisconsin and fresh goat cheese from Indiana. There's no end of breakfast and lunch choices, from smoothies made on the spot to crepes and quiches (Floriole has a booth here). Pick up some flowers for your host or your hotel room. Website: 
As members of the Journeywoman Network we are in an enviable position when we begin researching a city. We don't need to have a best pal who has travelled to a destination before us to get the scoop. All we have to do is put a call out for women-centered information in our