The Village Whole

These are brilliant!

The falls… Always beautiful (at Niagara Falls State Park)

Going swimming (at Maid Of The Mist - Canada entry)

Credit goes to Elizabeth for the title.

Matt Damon, “I’m Going on Strike!” SO AWESOME!

(Source: strikewithme.org)

Skype - why are you so selfish?

There’s another competition on Fandrop that we’re a part of. If we win we get to pitch at a major event later this month. We’d really appreciate it if you helped us win by doing the following:

1. Go to http://fndrs.net/10hhF7L
2. Click Tweet, and share to twitter (we do need you to actually share it to get the points). You can then do whatever you want such as delete the tweet.

Thanks in advance!

Rand Paul captured it perfectly:

He says he is “offended” by the hearings. Who, he said, doesn’t try to minimize their own taxes?

“Tell me what Apple has done that’s illegal,” he said.

Apple vs. Taxes

I think this entire clusterfuck about Apple vs. the United States Senate on taxes is a load of shit.

The most important fact that some people are forgetting is that Apple isn’t breaking any laws!

I’ve read Apple’s Testimony to the US Senate and the Senate’s comments, and Carl Levin’s response speaks to me the most:

Ireland asserts tax jurisdiction only over companies that are managed and controlled in Ireland, but the United States bases tax residency on where a company is incorporated.

Basically, the United States Senate is annoyed that Apple found a good way to save a lot of money for itself, and for its shareholders. I have no problem with the Senate wanting to increase taxes by closing this loophole, but I think it’s ludicrous that the media is painting a shady picture of Apple, a fiscally responsible company that is looking out for its shareholders, which it is legally bound to do.

Annoying bug on LinkedIn’s iPhone app.

Great read by Netflix CEO Reed Hastings about his predictions for streaming.

Filming a circus documentary at my house = SO COOL!

Super excited about the new draft updates: fixing collaborators, comments, and publishing reports… might finally be able to move to Draft 100%!

Chicago

After quite a few friends asked me for recommendations for what to do in Chicago, I decided it was time to make a list. If you think I missed something, shoot me an email or tweet and I’ll add it.

Special thanks to Sylvia Badon for helping me come up with this extended list.

Breakfast

1. Orange - they have “frushi” (fruit sushi). Breakfast food is great - green eggs and ham, good wraps, good fries. Don’t recommend the hash browns - get fries or a salad or something instead.
2. Toast - my favorite French toast. Stuffed French toast (French toast infused with chocolate), second best home potatoes in Chicago, also have sandwiches and other breakfast food. No reservations.
3. Yolk - best home potatoes in Chicago. Other food is good - omelets, crepes.
4. Vallois (South side) - very South side, cafeteria style soul food place. Obama used to eat here.
5. Phoenix - Dim Sum in China Town, best I’ve had. Very large vegetarian menu. Make reservations.

Restaurants

1. Blackbird - supposed to be heavenly. Highly recommended by Pat Lee.
2. Fogo de Chao - Brazilian steakhouse, huge salad bar, lots of grilled meats. Never been but supposedly amazing. Make a reservation.
3. Las Tablas - Colombian steak house. Empanadas are amazing. Entrees are $17-22 and are usually 1.5 meals in size. Highly recommend this place. Make a reservation.
4. Silver Spoon - best Thai food I have ever had. Hole in the wall downtown, with cheap food. You can be in and out in 30-40 min. Highly recommend the baby (chicken) egg rolls, pad sei ew, and the aloe vera drink (with real Aloe Vera).
5. Z&H (South side) - best chicken salad sandwich I have ever had. Especially with chipotle mayo. Their carrot ginger soup (once per week) is in my 5 favorite soups ever. Right by UChicago.
6. Giordano’s - deep dish pizza. I prefer it to Gino’s East/Edwardo’s. I don’t recommend Lou Malnati’s under any circumstance.
7. Piece - fantastic pizza, microbrewery. Not Chicago style, but have pizza blanca.
8. Rio’s D’Sudamerica - best Peruvian food I’ve ever had. Food is more like Fiesta then Limon (in SF), but way better than both.
9. Big Star - Pair this with Violet Hour since they’re across the street. Good tacos.
10. Avec - small plates to share
11. Moto, Alinea, Next - molecular gastronomy, expensive but supposed to be super cool.
12. Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House - excellent seafood.
13. The Bedford - restaurant and lounge in an old bank vault in Wicker Park.
14. Au Cheval
15. Purple Pig
16. Girl and the Goat- Stephanie Izard’s restaurant.
17. Mercadito- Mexican
18. Kuma’s Korner - burgers
19. Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba - tapas
20. Geja’s Cafe - Fondue
21. Lao Sze Chuan - best Chinese food in Chinatown.
22. Mercat a la Planxa - tapas, Northern Spanish cuisine.

Sweets/Snacks

1. Dat Donut (South side) - donuts as big as your head for < $3. Thick bullet proof glass, open 24/6.
2. iCream - ice cream made in front of you using liquid nitrogen, make custom flavors and color it to your desire. Best with kids.
3. Garrett’s Popcorn - awesome fun popcorn, Chicago fave.
4. Sweet Mandy B’s - Cupcakes
5. Afternoon tea at the Drake Hotel
6. Black Dog Gelato
7. Mindy’s Hot Chocolate - excellent food and hot chocolate.

Alcohol/Nightlife

1. Violet Hour - similar to Bourbon and Branch but with some food and a better drink menu in my opinion. Opens at 6 when the light is on over the handle. No signs and the all wood wall is repainted monthly. No reservations. I like to pair this with Big Star.
2. Berlin (gay nightclub) - best place to party until 4am (5 on Saturday). Opens at 11, don’t go before midnight. Noisy, ridiculous, but fun for all. Has a line after 1.
3. Howl at the Moon - a place for your 30s when you think you’re in your 20s. Jell-O shot injection tubes.
4. Signature Room at the Hancock Building - Beautiful view from the 95th floor, lounge and restaurant.
5. Old Town Pour House - 90 taps, it’s awesome!
6. Fion - small wine bar, on a Saturday night one time had the most interesting drink ever - beet-based with horseradish infused whip cream.
7. Zed451 - rooftop bar
8. The Terrace at Trump Tower - lounge, has a nice patio I believe.
9. Green Mill - classic Chicago jazz club, one of Capone’s old hangouts.
10. Kingston Mines - Blues club
11. Old Town Ale House - satirical portraits where people from Second City (used to?) hang out before/after show
12. Barrelhouse Flat - craft cocktails
13. Scofflaw - Gin bar in Logan Square. @vrimjai notes that they search FREE, fresh chocolate chip cookies at midnight!

Sights/Activities

1. The Bean / Millennium Park (downtown, south of the river)
2. Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry
3. Art Institute (downtown, by Millenium Park) - has a huge awesome new modern wing, Museum of Contemporary Art
4. Sears (Willis) Tower Sky Deck - tallest building in North America you can enter, and they even have an all Glass room that lets you look straight down to the street!
5. Bike ride or walk along the lake path
6. Chicago Shakespeare Theater
7. Looking Glass Theater
8. Goodman Theater
9. Court Theater
10. Second City
11. National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen
12. Goose Island & Half Acre - Brewery Tours
13. Architecture Tour of Chicago River
14. Navy Pier - ferris wheel, some boat tours depart from here.