Science Horizons

One of the few restaurants in the country to be immortalized in a Sinatra song, the Pump Room in Chicago is now a hot spot once again. The Pump Room was one of the first quality restaurants to open in Chicago after the end of Prohibition, and soon became a Windy City icon. In addition to Sinatra (who sang the praises of the place in the classic song Chicago), the place was a favorite hangout of a lot of famous people including Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Ronald Reagan, Bette Davis and numerous others. The Pump Room, named after a spa in Bath, England, remained open long after the giants that once graced its premises had left. Unfortunately, time took its toll on the legendary establishment, and its culinary fare was soon surpassed by the fine dining scene exploding in Chicago and characterized by uber-chef Charlie Trotter.

The Pump Room opened in 1938 under the ownership and management of Ernie Blyfield. Blyfield’s inspiration for the name and ambiance of his restaurant was an 18th Century London pub frequented by celebrities and nobility, including Queen Anne. The ‘Pump Room’ moniker came from the hot drinks ‘pumped’ into the cocktails of its customers.

The Chicago Pump Room was a smashing success from the time it opened. It’s most desired table reserved for ‘A list’ celebrities was Booth #1, which for a time may have been the most sought after table at any dining establishment in the country. Booth #1 at various times hosted Frank Sinatra and his associates, Bogart and Bacall, Judy Garland and daughter Liza Minnelli, John Barrymore and countless others.

Blyfield died in 1950, but the Pump Room continued to be the preferred Chicago destination for the biggest names in show biz. A new era of celebrities held court there including opera singer Beverly Sills, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, film producer Robert Evans, Eddie Murphy and others. A funny story involving the Pump Room began when the former drummer for a British progressive rock band was refused entry due to his lack of a jacket. The drummer would use this as inspiration for his next album–’No Jacket Required’ which has sold over 14 million copies worldwide and established Phil Collins as a solo superstar. After the album’s release, the Pump Room sent Collins an apology–and an appropriate jacket for him to wear on his next trip to town.

The Pump Room was purchased by a large restaurant management group in the late 1990’s. They spent a lot of money to renovate the facility, overhaul the menu and hire a top flight chef. While the Pump Room’s golden era trade mark flaming food served on a sword was a tragedy of city fire codes, the menu is now on par with any in the city serving a sophisticated interpretation of classic American cuisine. In addition to the revamped cuisine, the Pump Room upgraded its wine offering and expanded the bar area.

Current Executive Chef Nick Sutton has continued the restaurant’s tradition of excellence. The big draw of the Pump Room, however, remains the amazing sense of history that the dining room offers. The realization that a who’s who of civilized American culture from Bogart and Clark Gable to Sinatra and Jackie Gleason broke bread in the room is a pretty amazing vibe. The good news is that the Pump Room again offers the quality of food and service worthy of such icons, and is a victory for culinary excellence amid the national infestation of mediocre chain restaurants.

Ross Everett is a Las Vegas and food industry historian as well as an expert on NFL football betting. He has served as a customer relations consultant for many restaurants, casinos and other hospitality firms. In addition, he’s a noted fight sport journalist, and writes extensively on strategies to successfully bet on NFL football, MMA and boxing.

Ross Everett Travel celebrities, chicago, dining, famous restaurants, fine dining, restaurant history, restaurants, show biz, show biz history, Travel

The first two sports at wide receiver in Chicago are pretty obvious going into the season, as Devin Hester and Earl Bennett both have strong grips on the job. After that, the situation becomes a little less clear.

Brandon Rideau has had a good camp, Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias have looked real solid and Rashied Davis is on the roster. Then you have seventh round pick Derek Kinder and journeyman Devin Aromashodu.

Bears quarterback Jay Cutler said this about the receivers after practice at Soldier Field last night:

Short of naming anyone he felt was ineffective at the position, Cutler had kind words for all receivers, but most notably praised the training camp of Devin Aromashodu. Aromashodu has played for a handful of teams through the course of his NFL career, and has never really found a home, but is fighting as hard as ever before for a slot on the Bears’ roster.

Regarding his words about veteran receiver Aromashodu, the journeyman has been seen working with the team’s primary offensive unit in practices.

The Bears will most likely keep five receivers, maybe six. Devin Hester and Earl Bennett are locks. Johnny Knox, Brandon Rideau, and Juaquin Iglesias should be in the mix. Rashied Davis has been titled the slot receiver, but Devin Aromashodu could take Davis’s spot.

Once considered a fixture on the roster, Davis’s place in Chicago is in jeopardy, especially with Aromashadu’s strong play. The journeyman could very well replace Davis at the slot position, forcing the team to release Davis.

Hester, Bennett, Rideau, Davis, Knox and Iglesias should be the five receivers the Bears keep on there active roster. Aromashodu and Kinder are guys on the outside looking in.

Thomas Basile Football chicago, chicago bears, espn, fantasy sports, Football, Hobbies, illinois, nfl, recreation, Sports

Former Chicago Bears RB Cedric Benson aggressively spoke out against his former team on Monday. Benson, who was released from the team, had his share of words.

In summary, he told reporters that he felt it was obvious the Bears must be regretting their decision to have released him. Benson cited career highs in production (touches, yards) with the Bengals and pointed out the fact that he did it in virtually half a season.

During his tenure in Chicago, Benson served as backup to Thomas Jones. Jones, currently a New York Jet, had a scuffle of his own earlier this week at practice.

Benson talked some trash about his former teammate too, saying that he wasn’t surprised to hear of Jones’ antics.

So Benson ripped apart his former team and his former teammate. Did he speak highly of anyone? Only of Lovie Smith, who he claims is probably the only person who truly wanted him in Chicago.

The funny thing about this all is the fact that Benson’s numbers last season weren’t all that impressive. Sure, they were better than they were in Chicago, but not by much. And this is only because of two big meaningless games that he had against the end of the season against cupcake opponents the Chiefs and Browns. I’m sorry, but just about any running back with two healthy legs would have trounced those defenses, two of the worst in the league. Especially when the games had no meaning whatsoever.

Benson is an emotional headcase and can’t deal with the fact that another running back may be getting more carries than he is. No team needs or wants this, unless the player’s as talented as Terrell Owens (and apparently, teams don’t want this either). Benson’s not.

To have Kevin Jones backing up Matt Forte is a much more attractive prospect in my mind. Despite Benson’s strong words, I have to back up the Bears in the decision they made. They’re better off without him.

Louis Rogalia Football bengals, chicago, chicago bears, Football, Hobbies, illinois, nfl, recreation, Sports

The West Coast is famous for many of the rare exhibits of our country. California has the coasts, Oregon and Washington have the lush forests, and even Texas can claim a home in the West with it’s circus of entertainment and adventure. However, I can’t shake the different kind of excitement that is offered by our opposing coastal friends and their culture on the East Coast.

I seem to always have found my home in the Western United States, so my exposure to the East Coast has been limited to visits there. Returning from these visits, I would always feel a loss of the certain charms I saw in the East that were vacant in my own part of the world. Maybe with great effort, we can bring some Eastern delights to our side of town.

The first delight I can think of from the East Coast would most definitely be, pizza! When I say pizza, I’m not talking about the California Kitchen and their, what I like to call, pizza chips. Nothing can beat the savory Chicago Deep Dish. Not even Domino’s.

Pizza like this can’t be ordered from anywhere west of the Mississippi. Only Italy itself can compare to the melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness of the East Coast’s pizzerias. If the slices aren’t so big you have to fold them in half, or the juices don’t drip down your elbow, or the cheese doesn’t stretch across the table, than dare not to claim any quality close to this kind of pizza.

I’ve looked in Utah, California, Washington, and even laughably in Texas for this kind of pizza, and it never even holds a candle to New York’s or Chicago’s perfected pies. Man, or this woman, cannot live on pizza alone, so other temptations from the East should be explored. You shouldn’t be surprised to find I am also referring to food in this next example also.

There’s only one reason they call them Buffalo Wings. It has nothing to do with Buffalo, Wyoming either. What Texans have done with barbecue sauce, the East Coasters have done with the chicken wing.The delight of gnawing little bits of meat off a wing can be had almost anywhere these days, but not like the original sensation you find in Buffalo, New York. You’ll be surprised how fast you gorge through a bucketful.

Smothered in bleu cheese, I enjoy these hot wings as much as the next person, but I top my list with sandwiches. My passion for a sub was founded in my days around Pittsburgh, PA. The reason being that this city has created the newest and most unusual concoctions to make your mouth water. It would be a shame to miss out on the cheese steak sub with strip steak, cheese, coleslaw and fries — all piled together on this sandwich.

And for all you Reuben fans, don’t assume you’ve had the best until you come to Pittsburgh. Even widening the expanse to gyros, pitas, or pierogies, Pittsburgh, or anywhere in the East, holds the rights to these culinary treasures. Take a chance of asking anyone in California to make you one of those. You’d be better not to embarrass them.

Just because I live on the other side of the country, I’ve had many a craving go ungratified. However, though we miss out of certain luxuries, we hold the rights to our own fancies that would have no place on the Eastern seaboard. The East Coast holds its charms to make it the East Coast, like no other place in the world. These charms can stay where they are, and I’ll always come back to visit.

Haylee Landford Travel chicago, cuisine, dining, East Coast, Food and Drink, gyros, New York City, pierogies, Pittsburgh, pizza, sandwiches, Travel

Chicago is a wonderful city. It is truly one of the world’s biggest cities and it is a city that offers plenty of opportunities for anyone eying a career in business.

Whether you want to find your place at a major company or corporation or you intend on carving out your own niche as a small business owner, the wealth of resources available is mind-boggling. Whatever you desire, there are plenty of ways that you can be successful.

One tool to use in the success of your business or the success of the company you work for is to use the vast resources that the Chicago printing industry has to offer.

While many people would think that a big business would be more inclined to handle their printing needs in house, the reality is that there is simply no substitute for the work of Chicago printing experts for important printing needs. Sales presentations, quarterly reports and other such documents are important to the success of any business big and small.

While these things could be done internally even the largest of corporations know that the appearance of such projects can make or break a business. That is why so many businesses will look to a professional printer to make sure the project is done right and is presentable.

For smaller businesses, the need for printing might not be a significant as some larger businesses are, but in many cases, the standard office printer will simply not do. Small businesses also need to make sure those sales presentations and bids are done in ways that impress potential clients.

A shoddy in house presentation that looks thrown together can make or break a deal. That is why there is no one better to entrust these particular documents than a professional printer who understands what needs to be done and can deliver.

Even for the would be writer who wants to self publish his or her own book or introduce a weekly publication like a newsletter or magazine can also benefit from all the vast number of quality Chicago printing companies available.

Therefore, whatever your printing needs are, you are likely to find a company that can do it for you in a way that will be pleasing. Whether it is for a business meeting, a sales presentation or a publication, a Chicago printer is there to get the job done right

Bjorn Bringhorman Marketing Business, canada, chicago, Marketing, printing, united states

Divorce courts all over the State of Illinois handle thousands of new cases each year. One might observe that amendments in the rights of men, women, and children have paved the way for making divorce easier and more equitable. However, divorce still remains as one the most traumatic experiences that an individual can go through.

As we all know, divorce marks the end of a marriage. In Chicago, married couples can obtain a divorce due to irreconcilable differences that have caused severe breakdown of a marriage. Other grounds for divorce include adultery, conviction of a felony, attempted murder of a spouse, desertion, and extreme and repeated physical or mental cruelty.

If you are seeing your marriage potentially ending in divorce, it might be wise to retain the services of a Chicago divorce lawyer. Clients who seek advice on divorce from lawyers often do so not because they have decided to file divorce suits but because they want to know and weigh their options first. When Chicago divorce lawyers open the issue of reconciliation, they do not mean to question the judgment of their clients. They are merely clarifying and confirming that their clients know what their options are and that they really want a divorce.

Chicago divorce lawyers might also raise the issue of mediation. This process requires couples to be willing to look past their emotions and find the best solution for their situation in the spirit of cooperation. Mediation can also be successful if married couples agree to make concessions and, sometimes, compromise to find a feasible solution. Mediation is not meant to bring couples back together; instead, it draws a blueprint for couples to live their lives separately. Chicago divorce lawyers might suggest mediation to save couples the cost and time of a lengthy and difficult divorce trial and to teach them how to open lines of communication.

Whatever your options may be, you can be assured that Chicago divorce lawyers will always represent their clients to the best of their abilities in ethical and cost effective ways. They will also seek amicable settlement on terms that are most favorable to their clients, before they pursue litigation. Oftentimes, they only pursue litigation when common sense proves to have failed.

You can attempt to make contact with Chicago divorce lawyers by looking up listings and directories in libraries, online resources, phonebooks, and local bar associations. You can also ask for recommendations from family members (not from your spouse, of course), and friends.

Bart Icles Divorce chicago, Chicago divorce attorney, Chicago divorce lawyer, Chicago lawyers, Divorce, divorce lawyers, lawyers

Chicago is a bustling metropolis with many drivers on the road. Whether your driving in busy downtown Chicago or one of the highways around the city, Chicago Auto Insurance is a must for anyone living this great city. You can never be sure, but having a car insurance policy gives you peace of mind.

When you have an accident, you can have a financial setback if you do not have an insurance policy, especially if injury occur, either to you or the other driver. The cost associated with car damages and the injuries can be very expensive. Having a Chicago Auto Insurance will prevent your from financial hardship caused by an car accident.

Auto insurance will usually cover damage to your own vehicle and any other vehicles involved in an accident, as well as property damage and medical expenses which arise as the result of a collision.

Auto insurance policies also keep you protected in case of theft or fires, often even covering a loaner vehicle while yours is being repaired – and if the El doesn’t go near your work, you know how important that is.

If you own a home and you have a homeowners insurance policy adding an auto insurance policy will get you a discounts. You can get an car insurance or home insurance from a local insurance broker or agent. Another better option is locating a Chicago Auto Insurance policy online. Online brokers and insurance companies can offer significant discount from traditional local brokers. Online insurance brokers can offer lower prices since the cost of operating an online insurance agency is cheaper than operating a physical insurance agency. Additionally you can find much more information online than in person.

You would agree that in this economy, saving every dollar can have significant impact on your finances. You can save few hundred dollars a year on car insurance premiums. Make sure you are protected as much as possible otherwise your will regret it when your car gets stolen or totaled.

A. Lee Cars and Trucks Auto, automobile, automobiles, autos, car, cars, Cars and Trucks, chicago, Finance:Insurance, illinois, Insurance, insurances