Like a moth to a flame, people are drawn to this piece of public art in Chicago's Millenium Park.  Called a "bean" because of it shape, it is large enough to walk underneath and the reflective surface mirrors everthing around it.

Everyone takes pictures of themselves.  One of the most engaging scuptures I've seen.

Paper plates can be convenient, but have an ugh quality that doesn't make the cut for any special occasion. The Japanese company Wasara has solved it with a line of single use biodegradable dishes shown above.  Pretty nice huh?
  

Neon signs are fading from American streets.  As parts of a neon go dark, owners are increasing letting them go until only the painted backdrop is left.  Americans also want "authentic" cuisine and shun the pretend exotic Chinese dishes grandma and grandpa enjoyed.  Are these the last days for this neon sign? 

Chicago Chinatown is a short subway right from downtown Chicago on the Red Line.  Just north of the traditional Chinese gateway leading to the older section of  Chinatown is a mall with shops and resturants.  We had dinner at Ken Kee Restaurant  at 2129-A South China Place. Ken Kee Restaurant serves Hong Kong style food so it was a surprise to see a Szechuan dish prominently featured on the menu.  The photo looked enticing so we tried it.  Szechuan Fish in Spicy Broth is strongly flavored with Szechuan pepper corns, Szechuan red pepper sauce, and chilis.  Wonderful spicy taste, but be warned if you are not used to this dish, it may be an issue for gastro-intestinal tract.  I don't see this dish on their on-line menu, but we saw it on the restaurant menu.

If you want to try it but aren't going to Chicago, I found a recipe on-line here.

When I was a kid, I always had fun when a wishbone appeared.  Make a wish and grab an end of the wish bone and break it apart.  Whoever gets the bigger piece gets their wish granted.

If you both decide to wish for the same thing, then it guaranteed to happen!

Iceberg lettuce was deemed horribly old-fashioned - a symbol of the "bland" 50's.  Now the 1950's Mad Men TV series and  iceberg lettuce are surfing a wave of popularity.

In the 1950's, it was common to see restaurants serving a wedge of iceberg lettuce smothered with a generous ladle of  thick thousand island dressing.  Now it's dressed up with a blue cheese dressing, carrot shreds, cubed beets, cherry tomatoes and a crisp bruchetta -- and still good.