Best of Chicago/2007 Cont.

Number 92 at Tank Restaurant--corner of Broadway and Argyle. --if you like that Thai soup with the coconut milk, this will pretty much blow your doors off. Tom Ka Gai is basically nectar of the gods and this Vietnamese version with tarot root, basil and all the fixins makes it seem flat and palid. What? Sublime.

Jibaritas at the Boriquen Cafe on 1700 block of California. --when you invent a sandwich that then becomes popular around the world you're probably doing something right. Originally made here for the owner's Puerto Rican father while he was visiting, you can now buy one in most major cities! Get the Jibarita instead of the Jibarito--the difference is maduros (sweet plaintain) instead of regular plantain and it makes a big diff. The sandwich, btw, is a steak sandwich, smothered with garlic sauce and mayo on fried plaintains instead of bread. Put a little of their homemade hot sauce on it and just go ahead and order two with yellow rice. Be warned, tho--no first dates, no pizza grease dabbers and no tuxedos--it's so greasy you can almost ice skate. Keep it real!

Other reasons to love the Chi:

We're so bad we got our own dance. Footworkin' and stepping. Not that I do either one, but I love living in a city as big and rich enough with love that folks are doing it for themselves in the early 21st century. Do your mu-fuggin thang.

The same with trains. They're not my preferred means of transport, but there's an unfadeable charm involved when one goes by overhead.

Real estate prices. What other major international city can you buy a house for $250K for? Hell, the last apt I looked at was a block or two from the L, 2.5 miles from Whole Foods, less than a mile from the lake and a 1300 SF 2Br with Den and dining room for--wait for it--$219K. And taking offers. And yes, it was redone in '03. Hardwoods, granite, 20 windows, fireplace--the whole bit.

The people. --Except for the occasional kook who will pound on the hood of your car while cutting you off (true story--from out the driver's side window)--the folks are pretty fucking down home. It takes a lot to rile them. They usually don't honk and are suprisingly friendly, amiable and all around happy. Doing tha damn thing.