In which we discover some excellent new bars and the filthiest bar bathroom in Chicagoland.

Mad Dog and Fish came to visit from the City of Liberated Cheese Steaks this weekend. Mad Dog is moving here in the fall to go to theater grad school, so we looked at apartments and neighborhoods. I had no idea Ravenswood was so cheap -- we saw one place that was $925 for a 2 BR, which would be a good deal even in Baltimore. We also got rained on like we were in Bangladesh.

Friday we paid a visit to the L&L Tavern, where at least half of all the exposed skin was tattooed and '80s punk hairstyles and leather jackets were back in style. (One reviewer at the above link describes the L & L: "Full of punk rockers and ugly girls. I will never go back again.")

The next night we checked out the Hop Leaf, which hosted a much tamer crowd. Many of Colliculus's learned colleagues came out.

I didn't invite my sister because she melts if you take her north of the Sheridan stop on the El. But we went to see fireworks with her and her gang and will be grilling with them tonight.

More innovations on clowning: www.clowns4christ.com 

¶ 11:50 AM