So I am now four weeks into my summer softball season and I can’t believe I’ve entry to write an entry about this! Softball has to be one of my all-time favorite things, I have been playing since I was seven years old and I am still excited to play every time there is a game, I am hard pressed to come up with something else in my life that I have been as consistently excited about (eating ice cream and doing my hair are probably are the only other two). I play in a 12 inch co-ed league and I am proud to say that we are so far undefeated – which obviously means that our athletic prowess and stunning physical ability have lifted us high above the competition or more appropriately we all just happen to hit the ball more often than we whiff it and occasionally catch those pop ups, which is really about all it takes in Chicago softball, slightly more focus on playing ball than drinking beer after the game and you are on your way to the league championship.
A few fun things that are pretty much constants for any rec league softball team: each team having that weird, older guy who takes the games SO seriously and wears actual baseball gear (although nobody on my team is like this yet – it’s not to say that it couldn’t happen in the future – I have my bets on who it would be but you’ll just have to wonder ; ), every team also has that “tough” girl who likes to prove she is as good as the guys, there is also that guy who strides up to the plate and looks out into the outfield, pretending to search for a gap and even further pretending that he has the skills to actually hit in the gap – I have yet to see a guy actually achieve a hit in the gap after giving “the stare”, my personal favorite, the guy who is willing to take a walk – if you are this guy in slow-pitch softball, stop now, just get out of the game and leave, if you don’t want a hit when you are up there you should go play t-ball. I don’t like to say the P word but when this does happen I am tempted to yell it. I’m sure that I’m missing some of the other key “positions” but hey the season’s not over yet – I’ll be back to tell you about our championship win in July!
Friday, June 8, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
Scylla - A Jewel of the Sea
A definite Bucktown treat that you don't want to miss out on, Scylla did not fail to impress yet again.
Scylla is a small, seafood-influenced spot in Bucktown that I have always enjoyed, however, I had not been there for a quite awhile
and upon returning was pleasantly surprised.
For how often is that a restaurant continues to deliver high quality food AND lowers their prices - unheard of right?! Well Scylla has bucked
convention and done just that - with a menu that is mainly of the sea (but several tasty options for you red and the other white meat eaters) most
of the selections are very light, but don't mistake light with lacking flavor. I had an appetizer of skate wing and pork belly, with a rhubarb compote, interesting combo, it was the rhubarb
that influenced my pick (my grandma made the BEST rhubarb and strawberry sauce - I am still sorry I never learned that recipe) all the flavors came together beautifully though. My boyfriend (there has been a group vote that S.O. is apparently an awful name) had the soft-shell crab starter and I was suffering from ordering envy, it came in a saffronesque broth with a tiny bit of proscuitto and fava beans - so tasty!
We stuck with the theme for dinner and each the halibut and sea scallops respectively- the sea scallops must have been so good that as I glanced over to check them out, they were already gone! The halibut on a potato puree with a slight balsamic reduction was also not to be beat. Dessert was a chocolate panna cotta with creme fraiche and raspberry sauce - I had to get aggressive with my spoon in order to get my due share if that tells whether or not it was any good. To top it off our service was very competent, the right amount of attention (interested but not hovering) and actually provided us with some great wine suggestions for individual purchases as we were chatting about the wine list selections.
If we hadn't ordered a bottle of wine and instead gone by the glass our bill for two starters, entrees and one dessert would have been under $100 and although I have been mocked for this statement before ....... that is a deal in this town!!!!
Scylla is a small, seafood-influenced spot in Bucktown that I have always enjoyed, however, I had not been there for a quite awhile
and upon returning was pleasantly surprised.
For how often is that a restaurant continues to deliver high quality food AND lowers their prices - unheard of right?! Well Scylla has bucked
convention and done just that - with a menu that is mainly of the sea (but several tasty options for you red and the other white meat eaters) most
of the selections are very light, but don't mistake light with lacking flavor. I had an appetizer of skate wing and pork belly, with a rhubarb compote, interesting combo, it was the rhubarb
that influenced my pick (my grandma made the BEST rhubarb and strawberry sauce - I am still sorry I never learned that recipe) all the flavors came together beautifully though. My boyfriend (there has been a group vote that S.O. is apparently an awful name) had the soft-shell crab starter and I was suffering from ordering envy, it came in a saffronesque broth with a tiny bit of proscuitto and fava beans - so tasty!
We stuck with the theme for dinner and each the halibut and sea scallops respectively- the sea scallops must have been so good that as I glanced over to check them out, they were already gone! The halibut on a potato puree with a slight balsamic reduction was also not to be beat. Dessert was a chocolate panna cotta with creme fraiche and raspberry sauce - I had to get aggressive with my spoon in order to get my due share if that tells whether or not it was any good. To top it off our service was very competent, the right amount of attention (interested but not hovering) and actually provided us with some great wine suggestions for individual purchases as we were chatting about the wine list selections.
If we hadn't ordered a bottle of wine and instead gone by the glass our bill for two starters, entrees and one dessert would have been under $100 and although I have been mocked for this statement before ....... that is a deal in this town!!!!
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