On a warm-sunny Sunday afternoon, my sister and I ventured into Downtown Arlington Heights, Home of the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre to see the famous play, turned movie, “A Streetcar Named Desire”. Even if you have never seen the play or movie you definitely remember hearing someone shout… Stella!
As we walked into the theater to take our seats, my sister commented on the outstanding set design. She said it mimicked the movie and gave it a certain aura even before it started. Metropolis is a very quaint theater that holds a couple hundred people comfortably. Something you don’t see very often in a theater is a cup-holder. We felt as though we were watching a movie only with real-life people and no popcorn. Even before the play started, characters were welcoming us into the storyline. A bum slept before us on a street corner. Two ladies were standing on a balcony chatting away. A woman, inside her apartment, washes dishes. All this to get you feeling like you were in the middle of the French Quarter.
All the characters (Stanley, Stella, Blanche) were all played very well. It was a fantastic performance that made you feel very much apart of the play. I would definitely recommend A Streetcar Named Desire to anyone looking for an extraordinary theatrical performance in a charming theater such as the Metropolis.
Leaving Metropolis, we decided that we were starving. Since we were in close proximity to many dining options, we decided to stay in Downtown Arlington Heights. We opted to try out Peggy Kinnane’s Irish Restaurant & Pub.
Peggy’s is located directly across the street from the Metropolis. We thought for sure that there would be a large crowd following us, but we were seated promptly and enjoyed excellent service. We had a warm pretzel with stout ale cheese for dipping, a very good appetizer. We both had very American dinners and nothing very Irish about either, a club sandwich with Irish bacon and a burger. But the burger was actually an eggplant slice, mushroom cap with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. All-in-all, a very filling dinner with no room for dessert. I recommend trying Peggy Kinnane’s at Chefs’ Fest on April 24. They will bring the Irish to Arlington Park Racecourse! Don’t forget that once you sample them at Chefs’ Fest, to return to the restaurant for even more Irish fare after your show at Metropolis, of course!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Monday, April 2, 2007
Mitsuwa Marketplace
You know those places you drive by and say “I have to go there one day”? There must be something about Spring which makes you want to venture out of your winter hideaway and seek new experiences, because on Friday some friends and I decided to go to Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights. Mitsuwa is truly a hidden gem in the northwest suburbs. When you bring it up at a dinner party, people say “Mitsu-what?” but the moment you describe it as “You know…that Asian market on the corner of Algonquin & Arlington Heights Rds…” the spark of recognition comes on and they automatically say “Oh, yeah, I’ve always wanted to go there and check it out”! It seems to have become like the St. Louis Arch, a landmark everyone knows but no one has actually been to.
Mitsuwa boasts itself as being the largest Asian market in the Midwest. You will be surprised at how large it is, but I have to admit that it is not as large as I expected it to be. This surprisingly works in its favor, because it is not so large that it is overwhelming for first time visitors. We got there around 6:30 and had a great time shopping the aisles of products, some familiar and some intriguingly foreign. If you are like me who LOVES rice, but is challenged when it comes to making it, they have a selection of rice cookers that would make Williams-Sonoma blush. It was a little like buying a car with so many makes and models ranging from your basic yet dependable Toyota (around $30) to your luxury Cadillac models (around $300). We found a nice selection of cookies and green teas we wanted to try. The bottled green tea was awesome! We wandered over to the bakery where I took home two pieces of green tea layer cake to share with my honey. It had a taste I was not used to, but it was good.
One thing I learned for the next time I go is that I will definitely eat first and shop after. By the time we got to the food court, some of the stands were closing. The biggest disappointment of the night was that they were out of Sushi. I have heard about their extensive Sushi selections and was eager to try them. Someone told me afterward that they are so popular, they often sell out by the lunch hour. My advice, get there early so you don’t miss out! The other restaurants allow you to choose from Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine. There is also a Starbucks-like stand for tasty Bubble drinks and coffees. Many of the dishes are displayed with photos or re-creations so an inexperienced diner need not fear ordering the wrong thing. Some stands prefer you order by the number, especially if you are unsure of pronunciations. We dined at the Chinese stand. I recommend the shrimp and scallop dim sum dumplings.
I highly encourage everyone to experience Mitsuwa Marketplace for yourself. Our trip there was not perfect in every way, but where normally that would turn me off, here it made me want to come back and try a completely new experience. Mitsuwa makes you feel like something new is always waiting for you, and I can’t say that about many other places. If you would like to sample Mitsuwa, come visit them at Chefs’ Fest on April 24 at Arlington Park and then make the effort to visit the store. They also have an amazing Bon Odori summer festival on August 11. Ask about it when you see them at Chefs’ Fest – it is quickly becoming one of the “can’t miss” events of the summer!
Special thank you to my fellow adventurers, Alyssa & Lana!
Mitsuwa boasts itself as being the largest Asian market in the Midwest. You will be surprised at how large it is, but I have to admit that it is not as large as I expected it to be. This surprisingly works in its favor, because it is not so large that it is overwhelming for first time visitors. We got there around 6:30 and had a great time shopping the aisles of products, some familiar and some intriguingly foreign. If you are like me who LOVES rice, but is challenged when it comes to making it, they have a selection of rice cookers that would make Williams-Sonoma blush. It was a little like buying a car with so many makes and models ranging from your basic yet dependable Toyota (around $30) to your luxury Cadillac models (around $300). We found a nice selection of cookies and green teas we wanted to try. The bottled green tea was awesome! We wandered over to the bakery where I took home two pieces of green tea layer cake to share with my honey. It had a taste I was not used to, but it was good.
One thing I learned for the next time I go is that I will definitely eat first and shop after. By the time we got to the food court, some of the stands were closing. The biggest disappointment of the night was that they were out of Sushi. I have heard about their extensive Sushi selections and was eager to try them. Someone told me afterward that they are so popular, they often sell out by the lunch hour. My advice, get there early so you don’t miss out! The other restaurants allow you to choose from Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine. There is also a Starbucks-like stand for tasty Bubble drinks and coffees. Many of the dishes are displayed with photos or re-creations so an inexperienced diner need not fear ordering the wrong thing. Some stands prefer you order by the number, especially if you are unsure of pronunciations. We dined at the Chinese stand. I recommend the shrimp and scallop dim sum dumplings.
I highly encourage everyone to experience Mitsuwa Marketplace for yourself. Our trip there was not perfect in every way, but where normally that would turn me off, here it made me want to come back and try a completely new experience. Mitsuwa makes you feel like something new is always waiting for you, and I can’t say that about many other places. If you would like to sample Mitsuwa, come visit them at Chefs’ Fest on April 24 at Arlington Park and then make the effort to visit the store. They also have an amazing Bon Odori summer festival on August 11. Ask about it when you see them at Chefs’ Fest – it is quickly becoming one of the “can’t miss” events of the summer!
Special thank you to my fellow adventurers, Alyssa & Lana!
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