Greg Burke, founder of the food truck Chicago Schnitzel King is getting his ears lowered at:
Pete’s Barber Shop For those seeking a new take on the barber experience, be sure to check out Pete’s Barber Shop (2873 N. Elston). Pete, the owner, is possibly one of the coolest dudes in Chicago. Not only does he own his own barbershop that showcases local artists on a rotating monthly basis, but he also DJs at bars across the city and hosts his own podcast.
In his shop, Pete has removed what I call the “wall syndrome” of haircuts: instead of staring blankly at a white wall, you are graced with work from Chicago artists that he also sells to interested customers. The artwork is so popular that each time you go, new art will be up on the wall.
As a hairy man, I can vouch that Pete gives one of the best shaves and cuts in the city. Check him out next time you’re feeling hairy—the ladies will appreciate it. Oh, and don’t forget to ask him for a cold one.
Dean Peterson, director of the film Incredibly Small (2010) is voyaging back to:
The Odyssey It’s a shame that most high schools that teach The Odyssey do so in a tedious, frustratingly uninspiring fashion. After hating it with a passion the first time I read it, I recently revisited Robert Fagles’s excellent translation of the Homer classic and found it wildly entertaining. It’s got everything you could ever want in a book: sex, action, monsters, vengeful gods. And wine. My god—the amount of wine they drink would make Lindsay Lohan look like a teetotaler.
Modern books in the same vein, like The Hunger Games, can’t even hold a candle to The Odyssey. The reputation of The Odyssey being stodgy and dull needs to go. Homer is much more of a badass genius than you remember him being.
Steve Delahoyde, writer, producer, and filmmaker is humming along to:
Shame That Tune If you haven’t been to Shame That Tune on the second Friday of every month at the Hideout, you’ve both missed out and are in serious jeopardy of no longer being the coolest person you know. The show, always themed to a specific genre of music, invites three guests to share an embarrassing personal story. After which they’re interviewed for a few minutes by cohost Brian Costello, biding time for fellow host Abraham Levitan to compose a song about their story, parodying a popular song chosen for the guest on a spinning wheel. It’s an utterly mind-blowing thing to behold.