Summer Six Pack (+1)

Not only does the weather change with the seasons but so does the beer. I am a beer girl through and through and my taste-buds smile when the seasonal beers come out. I really wanted to go to the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, TX over the long weekend but quickly realized that the total 9 hour drive in one day probably wasn't worth the hour tour; I will plan a trip there sometime though.
With that, I decided it would be fun to taste some of the seasonal beers that people talk about, and that I found on the internet, and rank them. (from best to worst.....please keep in mind I'm no expert, at all.)

1. Paulaner Hefeweizen- Spicy orange and smooth wheat taste with a tangy finish.


2. Framboise Lambic Rasberry- Beautiful dark rasberry color with a tingly fruit aftertaste. This really wouldn't satisfy a straight up beer craving but it was especially delicious and refreshing!


3. Saint Arnold 'Summer Pils' - Wheat flavor & not sweet. True pilsner w/ hint of lemon. Simple and classic.


4. Sam Adams 'Summer Ale'- A thicker malty taste than the Saint Arnold. It leaves a fresh lemon aftertaste. 


5. Blue Moon 'Honey Moon'- Offers a crisp light taste with a small hint of honey but nothing special. 


6. Sierra Nevada 'Summerfest'- I found this to beer very hoppy. It's a light lager and good for summer but there was an unpleasant aftertaste to it.


7. Leinenkugel 'Summer Shandy'- This almost tasted like a lemon wine cooler. It was too sweet for me but on the upside, after drinking it I had the aftertaste of Lemonheads in my mouth. 

What summer beers do you like??

-Libby 

shoe of the week/ la chaussure de la semaine

Even though I'm not mad for Blahnik like Carrie Bradshaw, I feel it's only appropriate that I dedicate the 'shoe of the week' position to the "urban shoe myth" in honor of Sex and the City 2 opening today. As silly as it is, I hope every girl can get together with her best friends (boys or girls!) for some cocktails and a night on the town to see the fearsome foursome once again...

-Katie

"We made a deal ages ago. Men? Babies? Doesn't matter. We're soulmates."

- Samantha Jones

Granada Theater

One spectacular thing about living in a big city is the abundance of musicians that either live there or pass through town. That of course leads to me going to lots and lots of concerts; I've easily been to over 20 since moving here. My favorite venue, by leaps and bounds, is The Granada Theater.

The theater was built in 1946, originally as a movie house, and still has that old school feel to it. The marquee outside showcasing upcoming music, the neon 'Granada sign you can see down Greenville, along with the murals and detailing inside set it apart from other Dallas concert halls. I love that anywhere standing or seated I've been able to see (I'm short, it's hard sometimes) and that you don't have to pay nasty taxes and fees for concert tickets. I also love that when bands are setting up, they play music videos on a giant movie screen of artists with upcoming shows, which is truly awesome for someone such as myself who has extreme ADD while they are waiting.

I was lucky enough this evening to get a behind the scenes tour of The Granada and see it from a different perspective than just a concert goer in a mass of people. This made me a giddy girl. It was so cool to see a musician doing sound check in his gym shorts as they prepare his mic levels and his lights, seeing Granada Staff set up for the evening, and getting a taste of what it's like before it is filled with hundreds of people during a show.

The Granada will always remain one of my favorite places in Dallas. If you are ever in town, or if you live here, I highly encourage you to see at least one show there.

Up next for me at The Granada: Miike Snow (if I can get tickets.....)

-Libby

wicker park-ing

Most of you probably know of Wicker Park because of the 2004 thriller with Josh Hartnett. However, it's a much cooler neighborhood than the movie shows. I'll admit it... the blue line makes me nervous. So does the walk between Milwaukee and Paulina. Once I get past the unpleasantries, I'm reminded of why venturing to Wicker Park is worthwhile. By the way, I'm not being a brat, I love public transportation; I consider it a high five with mother nature. 

After being pushed around by rush hour travelers, I arrived in one of my favourite Chicago neighborhoods: Wicker Park. I was meeting a friend for after-work drinks (which is one of my favourite pastimes) at Fifty/50. We were reminded that the residents of Wicker Park definitely have their own sense of style that sets them apart from the rest of the boroughs. It's no wonder because Bucktown shopping is next door and countless bodegas give them an upper hand to Lakeview-ers and maybe even Lincoln Park-ites. It inspired me to make a quick list of stores (and restaurants) that I want to check out next time I feel like venturing West. Because it definitely is worth the journey.

-Katie

Habit

Milk and Honey Cafe

Moonshine

Roslyn

5 Things You Should Be Listening To

I had an idea to do a recurring "5 Things..." post on our blog. This installment is music. Why? Because it is one of the things I love most.  


Here are 5 Things that you should probably put on your i-Pod immediately.

1. Sleigh Bells "A/B Machines" (If you like M.I.A or The Ting Tings you will love this Brooklyn duo that took SXSW by storm this year.)

2. The Black Keys "Next Girl" (This song off of their recently released album 'Brothers' is the perfect amount of blues and rock and just about anyone can relate to the lyrics.)

3. Two Door Cinema Club "Undercover Martyn" (Their debut album 'Tourist History' is full of catchy choruses and great up-beat anthems, this is just one of many.)

4. Katy Perry "California Gurls" (This is/will be the song of the summer. You'd better listen to it now before radio stations wear it out completely.)

5. Phoenix "Rally" (Most know Phoenix from their album 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' but their album before that release 'It's Never Been Like This' has just as many musical gems to offer their listener.)

-Libby

shoe of the week/ la chaussure de la semaine

I've been charmed by shoes since the day I found a pair of my mom's vintage heels in my grandparents's attic when i was probably 7 years old. I feel it's only appropriate that we observe a shoe of the week and spotlight 4 different shoes every month.

This week's shoe combines my affinity for the Olsen Twins and the 1920's. I can't seem to get enough of T- Strap heels and these are so dainty. Lucky for the ladies with foot size of 8 and above they're on sale on ShopBop currently. happy shopping!

-Katie

The First Post

Welcome to our happy place!  We hope to entertain and perhaps even educate our readers with a collection of stories about our respective cities, Dallas and Chicago.  They are two of the most unique cities in the United States, filled with culture and style and this is how we perceive them. As far as our story, Libby and Katie met over six years ago at Butler University and the rest is history. While there isn’t really a central thesis for our blog, expect to find a lovely juxtaposition of music, fashion, culinary arts, travel, literature, art and perchance even some politics. Keep in mind this is not merely a site for Chicagoans and Dallasites, but for those with a refined palate and an appreciation for the finer things in life. This is a Tale of Two City Girls told in real time. Happy Wednesday!

- Libby and Katie

"happiness is having a large, loving, close-knit family in another city." - george burns