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The David Leonardis Report #17

I found myself going to Toast on Damen (773-772-5600) again with my local guest expert Roger Herring of Socca. We were looking for a great consistent breakfast and as we had recently been to Bongo Room on Milwaukee Ave, Toast was the logical choice.

Toast is always great. The bacon and guyere cheese omelet is my favorite. A very nice roasted red pepper soup, a couple of cups of coffee and I forget what Roger had. We were talking about how a hearty breakfast is needed especially in the Chicago winter. We decided on Manny’s in the south loop for our next lunch. I’ll tell you right now we’ll be splitting a pastrami sandwich, potato pancake and an omelet. If you haven’t been, Manny’s is not to be missed. A true Chicago classic.

Last night my absolute favorite guest expert…you guessed it… Roger Herring (Socca) was one of two judges I’m friends with at a hand painted performer contest at the Park West. Ted Widen from Chicago Scene was the other. It was sponsored by Tuaca. It’s some kind of Italian Rum. I had one with pineapple and it was really good. My good friend Roger has been on quite a roll lately. Having just returned from South Africa, Roger was invited by Art Smith and Oprah Winfrey to cook a belated Thanksgiving Dinner at Oprahs’ Academy for Girls. With Nelson Mandella’s daughter as a tour guide. Roger got a real inside view of Nelson Mandella’s jail cell and of the Biko tribute. You know the song by Peter Gabriel. The story is the same for everyone folks. If you give a little you usually get a lot. I’m sure Roger cooked one of the best meals that school had ever seen and eaten. As well I know that Roger had a great trip.

I’m off to see Duran Duran tonight at The Chicago Theatre. Yet another band that I’ve been wanting to see for years. “Hungry Like the Wolf” brings back some pretty good memories for me. That’s for sure. Not to mention that I was a big fan of the movie Barbarella staring Jane Fonda. One of the characters was of course named Duran Duran. I still remember working in a tuxedo at the Chicago Theatre before I opened my Gallery many moons ago. It’s a great theatre and now it’s nice to be on the other side of the bar.

Recently I was in Forest Glenn. It’s still the City of Chicago but it’s very woodsy and you feel like you are in the suburbs. I got to see the house where Laura Flynn Boyles’ father lives. It’s very nice and the design fits the neighborhood. I was told that he has roosters. Recently the Chicago City Council has been debating about outlawing chickens and I would assume roosters in the city. Rats and mess were cited as some of the reasons. As you may have heard me talk about I have a Museum in Georgia. The Howard Finster Vision House. Before I bought the Museum I rented a house in the same neighborhood. Well, my neighbors had roosters. Talk about a rude pet. These roosters would crow at the crack of dawn and then would continue well into the morning. It got to the point that I offered the owner of these inconvenient pets two large pizzas with whatever topping he wanted on them to get rid of his roosters. He didn’t take me up on it but eventually he moved and I will tell you that was a day of joy and happiness for me. I haven’t been woken up by Mr. Boyle’s roosters but I’m sure his neighbors will be supporting the new city ordinance banning them. Unable to be reached for comment on this subject Mr. Boyle has been quoted as saying, “My daughter likes older Men.” Laura has moved on from her relationship with Jack Nickolson but I’m guessing Jack never had any roosters to begin with.

That’s all for now. Thanks again for reading and if I don’t write until after New Year, Have a safe and Happy Holiday season.

DL

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