Essays, Interviews, Observations, Pop Culture, Stories, and other Dodginess

Posts from the “Random snaps” Category

Chicago’s Smallest Bathroom

Posted on April 1, 2018

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Chicago’s smallest bathroom may be at a no-frills neighborhood BBQ joint on Granville Avenue in Edgewater.

And getting to the bathroom at Sam’s Chicken & Rib is an experience in itself.

I visited Sam’s one recent late night with a friend who ordered food to go.  I asked the kind man behind the counter if there was a public bathroom. He pointed to a door in the corner of the small dining area. Expecting to walk through the door and into a bathroom instead exposed the kitchen and back area of the restaurant. Just like in “Goodfellas” I made my way through the kitchen past a few workers doing their thing. I exchanged short pleasantries with them and was led to another door in the corner of that room.

I could not immediately find the light switch because it was placed on the opposite wall and a little higher than your usual switch.

This bathroom with its green glow is tiny. It reminded me of an apartment I had in which the bathroom was so small your knees practically hit the sink while sitting on the toilet. In fact it was about the same size minus a shower stall.

After I did my business (No. 1, thankfully), I walked back through the kitchen, nodding to the workers as I met up with my friend and got our food. I don’t know if they let everyone use the bathroom but I was thankful the kind man at the counter allowed me too. It reminded me that I have several Chicago bathroom experiences (don’t we all), which will be the subject of an upcoming post. Cheers. And remember, if you use the bathroom at Sam’s Chicken & Rib, the light switch is on the opposite wall. And even though I didn’t need it, by the looks of it they keep a lot of toilet paper rolls in there, right on top of the toilet. Don’t get your right foot stuck in the garbage can.

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The door that leads to the bathroom via the kitchen at Sam’s in Edgewater.

 

A CHI.P.A. at Byway Brewing

Posted on February 4, 2017

During breaks between working on the “The Dodgy” book, it’s great to tackle writer’s block and other book-related planning by visiting Chicagoland breweries. Recently it was Hammond, Indiana’s Byway Brewing. I can’t recommend enough a pint of their Chicago-named beer, CHI.P.A. There’s also a hotel right next door if you want to get your love on.  Anyway, a new blog post/essay is coming soon and I’m going to pick up the interview series soon. Cheers.

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