Behold my success. - Buffy

350 Days to go: 342 Things to Do: Day 12 in Chicago

24. Brunch at Nellie's
25. Beers at Tuman's
26. Dinner at Old Oak Tap

 Today we managed to pull off brunch.  Emily was on a tight time line, so we went to Nellie's Cafe 2458 W Division which is right around the corner from her apartment.  I was the last to arrive, per usual.  I'm actually quite punctual during the afternoon and evening....

Anyway Nellie's.  Two thumbs up.  I ate way more than I should have but it was too good to leave any.  I ordered a waffle with fresh fruit and a side of sausage but the potatoes really stole the show.  These are some of the best potatoes I have ever had.  Really.  So, the food was great but (this is a big but) no mimosas!  Nellie's doesn't serve alcohol.  Brunch somehow felt incomplete.

The last couple weeks, after brunch LuCinda has suggested finding a place to sit outside and drink all day.  I have resisted this temptation (unclear as to why).  Resisted, that is, until today.  In the spirit of the blog, we decided to walk down Chicago until we found a place we could sit outside and enjoy the sunshine.  This led us to Tuman's Tavern 2159 W Chicago.  Tuman's seems like a great place - it was pretty empty at 2pm on a Sunday afternoon - but the bar was long, not too narrow, with lots of seating and wood paneling.  We sat outside (that was our mission after all).  Alex, a new comer to the brunches, was very excited about this whole challenge thing, and we spent the first hour or so brainstorming things we should do and places we should go.  An impressive list.  Alex was so inspired she tried a Bloody Mary for the first time.  Which, turns out, she doesn't like.  But at least now she knows.  ;)

A couple hours later and we're hungry again.  We migrate a bit farther east on Chicago and end up at the Old Oak Tap 2109 W Chicago.  This also was initially chosen because of it's large and impressive amount of outdoor seating, but unlike Tuman's, it is not in direct sunlight and therefore - cold.  So we sit inside.  This place seems more fall than summer - decor wise.  The music was fun - "Saftey Dance", a little Simon and Garfunkel, George Michael, and I can't remember the last time I actually heard "Puttin on the Ritz" (still awesome). Initially I was just going to grab another drink (we still have those seafood leftovers after all) but the food here seemed too good to pass up.  So, instead I got a beer flight (Ayinger Brau-Weisse, Half Acre Daisy Cutter, and Delerium Tremens) with a Chicken Brie Apple sandwich and spicy fries.

And we still made it home in time for Celebrity Apprentice (i miss cyndi lauper).

349 Days to go: 339 Things to Do: 12 Days in Chicago = 15 new experiences