First it was Katy Hogan. Now it seems Michael James from the Heartland Cafe isn't too happy with the reporting that I do. James got his knickers in a bunch today, as he asked me to back off - and take a break from blogging. He accused me of called the Health Department on him. I told him I didn't have to call, I just blogged the story.
Then he demanded I do some positive stories about Rogers Park. I told him there are a dozen good news websites that do that type of stuff. He snapped back, "Where"?
BLOGNOTES: Well, If I'm the main source of information for Rogers Park Michael, give me something good to write about and I'll think about it. What a schmuck.
43 comments:
I think I saw him speaking to a Hispanic woman outside of the Heartland today around 5pm.
I've only heard about his actions to make his bank account more positive. In fact, when I met him outside of the Heartland one evening before closing, he gave me a dirty look, picked up the nightly drop and left.
If he does good for the neighborhood that is not monetarily or politically inspired, I would like to hear about it. Although I haven't heard one thing yet in the years that I've been a Rogers Park resident.
You hit the nail right on the head with your comment.
There is the saying "Give somethging back to the community"
Mr James is like the majority of business owners it is all the money! Just see how Golden Mini-Mart does business and Soo Liquors.
I agree business owners have a right to make money, but when a owner like Mr James talks about "positive stories" shows he is looking thru the same rose colored glasses that our boy joey "crime is down" moore,
OT: 9:10pm I was driving along Pratt, counted about 5-6 police cars parked at 1500 W Pratt...
Think theres a wee bit of trouble going down...
I think I saw him speaking to a Hispanic woman outside of the Heartland today around 5pm.
Oh no! Did you call the cops?
Or are you not trying to imply that talking to Hispanic women is somehow morally suspect?
So you don't like Michael James or his business. Don't patronize it.
Angry because he's made an investment and it pays off? So go out and get a job and work. Take the money you make and invest. It's not hard.
Want investment in RP? Then don't whine about every stinking condo development in the area.
Suspicious about people of hispanic origin? Just wait until the next census in 2010.
Adios.
No, I was just saying I saw him talking to a Hispanic woman. I didn't think anything of it, but wondered if the woman drove the carts that Craig mentioned in earlier articles. Don't be so quick to think you're pointing out racism or stereotyping.
Personally, I don't see how any self respecting person can eat there.
Sighting: I believe I saw what looked like Joe Moore stuffing his face at the outside part of the Heartland Cafe this morning - with one of the owners nonetheless.
Do you think Joe pays for his food? Or do they write it off as business?
Perhaps Joe's meals at Heartland are "campaign contributions." ;)
deep, so the mango doesn't fall far from the cart. alderman eating at restaurants, be suspious. alderman eating at all, what are they thinking of, they shouldn't be allowed to eat ever and not in public; on taxpayers time. lets all hold hands and hug, you can get through this, i know you can.
Don't be so quick to think you're pointing out racism or stereotyping
So, you see a the Heartland guy talking to a woman you think is Hispanic, and you immediately assume she pushes an unsanitary food cart? You don't see the stereotyping?
Anyway, I don't know the story behind the hatred people here seem to have for the Heartland. I eat there all the time. I like the food, I think it's a good business and an asset to the community (what with the concerts and radio show and whatnot). If anyone has proof otherwise, I'd certainly be interested to hear it. Is it just because he gave money to Joe Moore?
Bleh,
I go to the Heartland to eat and drink, not think about politics.
Get real, businesses exist to make profit. If you dont like that they dont give back to the community, vote with your wallet go elsewhere, or open your own business. Goodness knows Rogers Park could do with a few more good restaurants/bars.
Actually, if you want a "Good Story" about Rogers Park, I heartily recommend the thai place on the corner of Clark and Wallen. Very, very good food. Very nice decor, service is good. They do sushi too.
Actually I take that back, Im scared Craig will get it closed...
If you are referring to Grande as 'good Thai', I must disagree. I've eaten there and hated it. Don't go to Thai places for sushi. srsly. kthx.
That aside, I hated Heartland the ONE time I was there. I like the food at the Morseland, but refuse to pay those prices for it. I refuse to pay the $5 at the door at the Redline to 'hear' shitty 'bands'. I loved Bar None until it burnt down (has it reopened? haven't been over that way to pick up drugs on Morse in some time)
Now I just go up into Evanston to eat. Or to Taste of Peru, or Blue Elephant.
Meow.
Ceedub,
Horses for courses mate. I quite like the Grande. I dont have any problems with Morseland or Heartland Cafe foodwise. Heartland do good burritos and food in Morseland is pretty good. A wee bit pricey, but not unaffordable. Plus the time I was there they had some good live music.
I agree on the Red Line Tap.
I accept it as a given evil that some of these places have to associate with Joe Moore, but Im not going to stop going there just because of that, which imho is silly.
Anyone recommend *any* places to eat and drink in Rogers Park? Seems a bit of a bummer if I have to cab it all the way to Edgewater.
SIGHTED-Alderman after a Cubs game at the Oasis pawing coeds. Meow.
Try Jessie's Mexican on the west side Western just south of Lunt. He used to be the butcher at Rogers Park Fruit Market. B.Y.O.B.
I understand the white liberals have just captured Joe Moore eating a hotdog at an undisclosed place. Not to worry, we have him in custody and of course handcuffed. He will not be freed until he agrees never to eat again. Oops we just took a break from torturing him and oh my goodness, he is eating a bug from the ground, picking it up with his 12" long tongue, he's already adapted. Geez, someone stop him, really this is disgusting, help us.
Amphora has great mediteranean food and booze(Howard and Clark)Jamaica Jerk is excellent home cooked food and I saw Alpana Signh in there no booze BYOB?(Howard east of the El)Luzzat is all home made even the little sauces, abosolutely the best Pakistani!Indian food it isn't very fancy inside, but the food is, try takeout if you're picky about atmosphere no booze No BYOB(Jarvis east of the El) Lakeside Cafe is all vegetarian and the bowls are the best, the greens and legumes are perfect, fresh, very very good at cooking veggies nice place no booze(Howard and Sheridan)La Cazuela on Clark across from he library is pretty upscale and they have oysters on the half shell, seafood, booze,
Positive sites about RP? How about www.rogerspark.com?
Good places to eat? How about Suron, Gruppo d'Amici, La Cazuela Mariscos? Heard the new management at the Amphora is doing a good job. There are surely others, but without a doubt there is pent up demand for more variety and better quality places to eat in Rogers Park.
Trying to evade criticism with the “why can't you say something nice for a change” tack is either simple minded or sophistry or both. The mission of this site is clear and there’s no good reason why Craig should deviate from it! The “put on a happy face” talk is really getting old.
How about we try letting reality lead perception in Rogers Park for a change rather than the other way around? Surely the guy who sells “The Militant” and the “People’s Weekly World” along side the Burrito Grande and the BBQ Seitan can’t argue too strenuously against that approach…
I happen to love Heartland, so you may not want to hear my other recommendations...Cafe .Suron is a wonderful Persion place on Pratt, east of Broadway. BYOB and they deliver. I also like Rice Thai Cafe by the Village theater, especially their curry. They even have brown rice upon request! Proprietors of both these establishments are very accommodating and gracious. I also greatly enjoy the more expensive Gruppo Di Amici, on Jarvis, particularly on on 1/2 price wine nights: Tuesday, glasse, and Thursday, bottles.
I've been getting a lot of people e-mailing me, telling me, they can't post for some security reason. I don't know the issue, but here's a comment from Carol Goldman.
Looking for a good restaurant? Try the new Amphora Restaurant at Howard and
Clark, formerly Gateway Bar and Grill. Mediterranean foods are featured and
are a pleasant dining experience in the newly decorated space. The
restaurant is still under the same management and includes a full service
bar.
Next door is the African Harambee Restaurant featuring foods of Africa. If
the private party I attended there is an indication of the menu, Rogers
Park is in for some mighty good eating. Owner Sisay Abebe also owns a
restaurant in Edgewater.
There are plenty of good new things to write about. (See my husband's essay
"Me and Ricky Nelson" at
http://andthatsmyopinion.com
Thanks, Carol
Thanks for the link to http://andthatsmyopinion.com!
Good to hear that there are many new developments happening on Clark - lets hope they get done sooner than later!
Does the Red Line Tap have a PPA license?? If not, they cannot charge a cover.
i have been to umpteen arts events where heartland provided free food. there have also been a few thousand meetings held in that space for nada.
jeez.
There are several good restaurants on or near Howard Street. I agree with others' high opinions of Amphora -- nice atmosphere (though I could do without the TVs by the bar), great food, cute outdoor dining area, knowledgeable bartenders. One little correction from a post above: Amphora (the old Gateway) is still under the same *ownership*, but the *management* is new.
African Harambee (next door to Amphora) is also nice. The day I was there they were still working out some of their opening kinks, but I thought the food was great.
Howard Street also has La Cucina di Donatella, which is a bit on the pricey side, but you get what you pay for.
Farther down the street (on the Evanston side) you have that wonderful bastion of summer treaty goodness, Dairy Queen, which will reopen under new ownership in a few months. And finally, a new Indian place has just opened, called Bombay Kebab House. It is delicious, and they deliver to parts of Evanston and RP!
I think if Howard Street cleans up its act it could become a real destination for good restaurants ... That is, if it cleans up its act.
Any decent Pizza joints in RP other than Giordano's on Sheridan?
Papa Romeo's near Clark and Pratt doesnt cut it for me; the pizza was soggy and the cheese smelled like old socks. bleh.
If you were to order pizza for delivery who would you call other than Giordano's, Pizza Hut or Domino's?
Someone mentioned Taste of Peru as being a good place and I would second that. Went there for some food the other week... seems to me the place is almost booked out on the weekend (always a good sign), and its fairly priced too.
For pizza I would save my pennies and go to Gruppo. But a lot of people swear by the pizza place on Morse next to the now defunct, infamous MaMa's fish. Someone else will have to tell you what it's called...pass it so often I've forgotten the name.
Taste of Peru is very nice and the people who run it are lovely. The portions are huge. It's like two meals for the price of one.
Carmen's across from Loyola has my favorite pizza, the deep dish spinach is better than Lou Malnati's....He sells slices for you to try, has a all you can eat lunch buffet with spaghetti and different pizzas and two different salads. His Creamy Garlic dressing is homade, I can't even believe how good that dressing is, I always have to buy some from him because he won't tell the recipie, they deliver too... and J.B. Alberto's is the one next to Mama's Fish, some of my friend's like that the best because its "old school" they also have a giant pizza, that's supposed to be the largest one you can get, I knew this bonehead once, told me he could eat the whole thing...I am against gluttony, so I don't know how he managed to do this, but he talked me into buying him one to prove it and then he ate ALOT of it, but not even half and he got to keep it because it had sausage, blech! people really take advantage of me because I'm gullible, once they find out about me, it never ends....Oh and alot of people like Gulliver's on Howard. It is a fun place to go, they have tons of antiques and a garden. Gruppo Di Amici is a joke. $12 for some soggy cracker with dehydrated lumps of topping and six dollars for a handfull of salad that's overpowered with balsamic vinegar and a bunch of people think they're so classy to be spending the money without a care in the world...
What is this, the RP restaurant review? Let's get back to talking about what a nut-case Michael James has become about free speech as he's gotten older. What a hypocrite.
You can't control evrything Craig.
Anyway, you should be glad we're promoting the businesses.
Paradise: Announcing you are gullible on a community blog may not be such a hot idea. It might give the more sadistic among your readers ideas.
Signed,
A friend
Thanks to all who mentioned Cafe Suron. You've jogged my memory and I must say that Suron is possibly RP's greatest diamond in the rough.
I lived in that building back when the restaurant was first opened. I got to know the brothers who own it and they'll bend over backwards for their patrons. I've watched it blossom from a local curiosity to a mainstay filled with regulars.
Consider throwing your next intimate gathering in their 'western room'. It sits off to the side, away from the main population, features a sink/bar and is very cozy. We've held two soirees there and they've gone swimmingly well.
I, however, ruined the classiness of BOTH evenings by floating around the corner to my favorite watering hole...the Oasis.
:)
Perhaps people do want some positivity. Your constand negativity is so sad.
Here is my take on the Heartland/Red Line. I have have some good meals there and some horrible meals there.
Most are good, but consistency in quality and service continue to be an issue in my nine years in this community.
Pizza: I know a lot of folks love J.B. Albertos, but it gives me terrible heartburn. At 45, I find my tastes turning to good thin crust pizza. Gruppo and Leona's offer fabulous thin crust with a wide variety of toppings. Bit more expensive, but well worth the money!!!
James has been a fixture. His contributions to Rogers Park Biz Arts are genuinely appreciated by those who show up. Michael has his good points, even if some are jealous. If you run a business and appreciate your responsibility to the public, then you do your best. I think that the guy tries.
His decision to support local Hispanics and perhaps make a little money is at his peril. If he is not following the law or ordinances, then let the health department look into it. Sometimes, looks can be deceiving. Craig could not get the camera close enough to sway me one way or the other in his past exposees.
If Michael sees this, then he should know that journalism can be exaggerated. There is a lot of good going on. I would say that this blog, among other ones should wake up those of us who care and perhaps those who are obligated and/or actually care.
All of you people bashing the Heartland, Micheal and Katy are ASSHOLES.
Don't like the Heartland, don't go there, but all of you dicks who can't leave the computer, and only bitch about the area, either do something about it or quit your bitching.
This is a business that has been a staple of the community for 31 years.
Craig, readers, what other businesses have been here for that long..........that you DON'T support?
And, craig, where do all of the victims run to after they get jumped by your pals the gooners??
To the Heartland Cafe, and At Least we'll call the police and help them craig, rather than just take their picture as they get beat down, and run back to your computer to blog about it like the coward you are.
If you don't like your Surroundings, Move.
Craig you are a prick, and I hope I never EVER have to serve you again.
Brettly
Brettly, The ladies room seems to be out of toilet paper. Could you take care of that? Thanks.
Amphora is really good; went there last week.
For pizza we get delivery from Edgewater: Pizzeria Aroma. Their vegetarian (spinach, onion mushroom) thin crust with extra sauce....yum!
Post a Comment