The title of this blog is a line from a Cowboy Mouth song called Joe Stummer, a song which ran through my head all night for obvious reasons you'll see below. "She had to go because she didn't know who Joe Strummer was."
TWO WEEKENDS AGO Peter and I ventured out on one of the first dark, cold nights of November. We searched for a restaurant not too far from Wrigleville called Rick's Cafe, yes, after the one in Casablanca. My good friends Ken and Natalia Jones recommended it. it's a small placed wedged between two other restaurants on Sheridan.
We had a time finding a parking place in this residential, permit only area, but once we did we were on our way with the bottle of wine Peter stuffed into his inner coat pocket. The place is byob.
We had a lovely time at Rick's. Getting there had seemed stressful, but within 10 minutes we settled into the cozy place. It's charming, about 10 tables, walls decorated with stills from the movie and a great mural of Bogie in his white dinner jacket. We liked the food, too. Very good. I had delicious mussels and salmon, and Peter had a wonderful, thick soup and then some ravioli for his main course. Our time at Rick's took the chill off the evening. I would definitely go back sometime. The only slight discomfort came from the overzealous waiter. His intentions were good though.
After dinner we drove over to one of the best places ever in Chicago, the Music Box movie theater on Southport. One of the top ten favorite things to do in Chicago for me is to see a film there. I love to be in that main theater with the Italianate murals and the pretend sky opening above me. We had come to see a documentary on Joe Strummer, the lead singer of the punk band The Clash. Peter felt I was skewing the evening toward his interests (which I was because I still can't plan a date night without thinking that way), but Stummer interests me. From bits of interviews I've seen with him, I find him very intriguing and somehow honest and attacking life. This documentary didn't disappoint. Even though it wasn't the best piece of filmmaking, to see Stummer shout to the audience from the stage to give him some anger because after all we are all living in this moment together gave me just what I was looking for in him. It's his connection with present time that captures my attention. I didn't know that he loved bonfires and the idea of people gathering around them and having an experience of being together in the moment. If you think about it, gathering around a bonfire would allow you to leave everything behind and concentrate on what's in front of you. Yes Strummer was odd, and as Peter says, he was probably an asshole, but he was trying to communicate something we all constantly miss, that life is happening right now in front of you.
So it was fun. We went home after that.
Now the following weekend we were in New Orleans with the kids for Thanksgiving. On Saturday night Peter and I went to the Rock and Bowl, one of my top favorite places to go in New Orleans and it should be yours, too, to see Tab Benoit play. The jury is still out as to whether or not it counts as an official date night because first, it wasn't intended as one, and second, it was Peter's weekend but my idea to see Tab (who is just wonderful!) . We'll see what happens this weekend. Meanwhile, Peter is busy as usual flying to opposite ends of the United States for Ketchum. He'll be back Thursday night, and from my viewpoint, he's got a date night to plan!
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