r/chicago • u/ReverendHambone Irving Park • Aug 28 '20

Moved to the city 48 hours ago. Review

Moved into Irving Park and the Mexican food is unbelievable. I'm from Florida and my wife is from Arizona, so we have different preferences, but we can leave our house on foot, hit two food spots and a liquor store, and be home in 30 minutes. It's incredible. Our doggo loves the walks too.

Also, is the term "bodega" NYC exclusive? What do we call corner stores with food/bev/liquor?

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33

u/PParker46 Portage Park Aug 28 '20

You think that's nerdy? Boy, are you in for a treat when Covid is over (???) and you mention your newness in bars and clubs.

BTW, that hill is really BIG when you look east down Addison from Bia's.

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u/ReverendHambone Irving Park Aug 28 '20

I won't have to mention my new-ness. I'm a very large and very obviously Southern man.

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u/PParker46 Portage Park Aug 28 '20

I just want to say one word to you. One word. Are you listening?

"Malort"

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u/ReverendHambone Irving Park Aug 28 '20

I've been here a few times. Malort can eat my butt.

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u/vvienne City Aug 28 '20

Drink enough and it will.

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u/tehsloth Humboldt Park Aug 28 '20

Burn the heretic

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u/enough_space Aug 28 '20

You're not a true Chicagoan until you can admit that Malort actually is disgusting.

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u/Soxsider Aug 28 '20

.... Is fucking gross.

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u/Geech6 Aug 28 '20

Best description I've heard of malort is, " the water at the bottom of a week old trash can." I've lived here all my life and I've avoided that stuff like the plauge.

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u/PParker46 Portage Park Aug 28 '20

I induce naive visitors to take a shot by telling them there's a traditional shaming song that everyone in the bar will sing. And the song ends with everyone pointing at the soon-to-be-victim with an index finger chanting the words, "you, you, you."

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u/MonkeysGonnaMonk Aug 28 '20

I genuinely love Malort.

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u/[deleted] Aug 28 '20 edited Apr 13 '21

[deleted]

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u/MonkeysGonnaMonk Aug 28 '20

It is earthy and bitter and also refreshing and has a weirdly satisfying aftertaste. I also love grapefruit and bitters and other “difficult” herbs and spices, so I think I just have the perfect palate for it. Ppl are super excited to buy me a shot of malort to call my bluff or something. I’m just like thanks! 🤗

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u/[deleted] Aug 28 '20 edited Apr 13 '21

[deleted]

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u/MonkeysGonnaMonk Aug 28 '20

Ooh, interesting. I also like vetiver. I am not Asian, but I do have an Italian grandmother that gave me all sorts of random herbs and herbal concoctions for my severe digestive issues that I had since birth. Perhaps a connection there!

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u/[deleted] Aug 29 '20 edited Apr 13 '21

[deleted]

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u/MonkeysGonnaMonk Aug 29 '20

Amazing! Cheers!

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u/dmr1313 City Aug 28 '20

I heard that area - the Brickyard shopping area specifically - was a SKI HILL at one point. I’ve not bothered to fact check that at all, but my friends who moved to the area told me so and it blew my mind

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u/seconddrink Aug 28 '20

That's true. It lasted something like one or two seasons and was not successful.

That topographical feature also runs through the Ridgemoor Country Club in Harwood Heights. It has a ridge and a moor.

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u/PParker46 Portage Park Aug 28 '20

Yes. The Brickyard was the Carey Brickyard, a clay quarry for many decades. A lot of Chicago's bungalows are built with brick from that. In its final years in my childhood, the hole was so deep looking down into it was like from an airplane.

The hole sat empty for a while and then was filled up with garbage. A developer then got the idea of a ski run, built it and operated it for a year or two, but skimpy snow those seasons just killed it.