My morning was spent exploring the Kenwood/Hyde Park neighborhoods of Chicago-- the architecture down there is pretty fascinating, lots of Roman and Greek influence as evidenced by all the porticos and columns. Most of the homes are from the turn-of-the-century and are still being lived in, others have sadly fallen into disrepair with the wood warping and paint flaking off though they still retain a chippy charm.
For lunch I checked out Istria Cafe in the Hyde Park Art Center (had a tasty iced vanilla latte & roast beef panini) and for dinner headed out to Irving Park to see what super-hyped bbq restaurant, Smoque was all about... being a Southern girl I was skeptical, especially after having to wait in line for 30 minutes, but I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5... the pluses are the iced sweet tea, savory yet sweet corn bread and creamy rich mac 'n cheese. The pulled pork sandwich was tender but needed some cole slaw for acidity. Also, the packed-in-tight cafeteria ambiance of the joint left much to be desired. Don't come later than 8 as they often sell out of items, as evidenced by the sign above!
