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Perhaps I don't have discriminating taste, but I think the coffee at Dunkin Donuts is pretty good. The french vanilla is great, and is excellent both hot or iced. I like that Dunkin Donuts has a...
Perhaps I don't have discriminating taste, but I think the coffee at Dunkin Donuts is pretty good. The french vanilla is great, and is excellent both hot or iced. I like that Dunkin Donuts has a variety of flavors and they've also started offering some different coffee drinks. You can't beat the price either - a medium flavored iced coffee is only $2, which is far less than what you might get at a Starbucks or Caribou or another upscale coffee shop. When I went yesterday, they were offering a free additional espresso shot in the coffee drinks as a Monday promotion. Yum yum!
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Cookie Dough Creations has a great concept going.... You can order cookie dough sundaes in a number of combinations there. First, you choose an ice cream - they're pretty good, but there are some,...
Cookie Dough Creations has a great concept going.... You can order cookie dough sundaes in a number of combinations there. First, you choose an ice cream - they're pretty good, but there are some, like Superman, you probably wouldn't want to mix with dough. Then, you take your pick from a variety of different cookie doughs, like chocolate chip, sugar cookie, and so on. The doughs are made without eggs, so they're safe to eat raw. They have different ways to mix sundaes up, but just a scoop of each is good! Be prepared, though - they are very rich!
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Williams-Sonoma is my fave place to go for things I need for the kitchen. They have a wonderful variety of items without being too overwhelming. Many of their sauces and olive oils are great, as...
Williams-Sonoma is my fave place to go for things I need for the kitchen. They have a wonderful variety of items without being too overwhelming. Many of their sauces and olive oils are great, as well as their bread mixes. Williams-Sonoma also sells some nice packaged gifts that are ready to go, or you can make your own. (Like a bread pan and a package of bread mix - yummy and easy to give!) Some of their items are a little expensive, like all their top-of-the-line pots and pans, but they definitely have a lot of items you can give as gifts for under $25.
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Generally, I like Washington Mutual. The staff tends to be very friendly and helpful, and the online banking option is really nice because it is comprehensive. However, it is a little weird there,...
Generally, I like Washington Mutual. The staff tends to be very friendly and helpful, and the online banking option is really nice because it is comprehensive. However, it is a little weird there, because there are NO drive-thrus, even in the suburbs. It's a little inconvenient if you want to do a quick run to the bank, because you have to go inside. Also, I don't like having to go to the little stand where you can actually withdraw your cash. I understand they don't want to handle money, but why can you still ask the teller for rolls of quarters?
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Naperville is known for having one of the best public library systems in the country, and it shows. Compared to even the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, there are TONS of resources. When...
Naperville is known for having one of the best public library systems in the country, and it shows. Compared to even the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, there are TONS of resources. When looking for some children's books I needed, the online search in Naperville almost always showed at least one branch owned the books, whereas many weren't in Chicago at all. The online search system is fabulous and you can hold and renew books online. Also, the new branch (95th Street) is beautiful. As an added bonus, they have many new releases in movies and music, and all non-children's movies can be rented for one dollar!
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I used to go to Blockbuster all the time, since it was the only place nearby, but it has gotten so out of hand!!! New releases are so hard to find, and I don't think the new late fee policy helps....
I used to go to Blockbuster all the time, since it was the only place nearby, but it has gotten so out of hand!!! New releases are so hard to find, and I don't think the new late fee policy helps. Plus, the late fee thing is a joke - you get postcards to remind you about the movie because you'll still be charged for the whole thing if you don't return it quickly enough. And the cost to rent is just under $5.... It's kind of ridiculous. I think I'm going to stick to the neighborhood chains that are reasonably priced and have movies in stock!
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Maggiano's is a fabulous pasta place with huge quantities of food. The salads are great and are big enough to share, as are the pastas. As a tip, the half portion is more than enough food for one...
Maggiano's is a fabulous pasta place with huge quantities of food. The salads are great and are big enough to share, as are the pastas. As a tip, the half portion is more than enough food for one person, especially if you're eating the yummy bread and either an appetizer or dessert. However, if you get the full portion, you pay only a couple bucks more and have tons of food for leftovers. The angel hair shrip al arrabiata is wonderful - a little spicy and very flavorful with lots of shrimp. Last time I got it, I ordered the full portion, and I not only ate till I was full there, but my husband and I had leftovers for three meals from it! I've never had anything there I didn't like!
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I like Melting Pot, the prices are too darn high, so a better bet is Geja's. It's tucked away and dark, so it's pretty romantic save for the smoky smell (it's the hot oil smell, I think). The price...
I like Melting Pot, the prices are too darn high, so a better bet is Geja's. It's tucked away and dark, so it's pretty romantic save for the smoky smell (it's the hot oil smell, I think). The price is right - about $23 for cheese fondue, salad, chicken and veggie fondue, and chocolate fondue for dessert - and there is plenty of food to enjoy. Some people complain that they don't want to pay to cook their own food, but I think it's more of an experience thing. The cheese fondue is excellent, and the bread they serve with it is as well. The dipping sauces for the veggies and meats are good, too, and who can beat melted chocolate that you can flame a marshmallow on? It's a nice special treat!
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Corner Bakery is a great place to grab a quick bite and is a nice change from Panera, although they serve similar food. In the morning (or anytime on a hot day), try the lowfat frozen latte... it is...
Corner Bakery is a great place to grab a quick bite and is a nice change from Panera, although they serve similar food. In the morning (or anytime on a hot day), try the lowfat frozen latte... it is slightly mocha tasting, and it's really nice and icy without having huge ice chunks. I've been searching for a mix similar to what they use with no luck! The bagels are also good, as are the cinnamon buns. At lunch or dinner, the broccoli cheddar soup in a bread bowl is the way to go, although go early enough in the day since they frequently run out of that flavor soup. Service could be a little better at times, but it's a nice quick stop for a good meal.
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Lou Malnati's is definitely the best deep dish pizza in Chicago. The crust is great - it's kind of buttery and olive oily tasting without being too greasy. There are a wide variety of ingredients to...
Lou Malnati's is definitely the best deep dish pizza in Chicago. The crust is great - it's kind of buttery and olive oily tasting without being too greasy. There are a wide variety of ingredients to choose from, and the best by far is spinach. The cheese is gooey, and you can save some calories by choosing the lower-fat kind (you can't tell the difference)! Also, the salads are HUGE and a good addition to the pizza, although they only use iceberg lettuce. The thinner crust pizza is great as well, but go for the pan for the real Chicago taste. Yum!
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