Gettin’ Carried Away

As 2008 comes to an end, many of us begin reminiscing about the entire year, examining our accomplishments, faults, happy moments, sad times and more. For me, my greatest achievement of 2008 was starting this travel blog. The last six months have been amazing, and I can only hope for bigger and better things in 2009. But first… a celebration!

It’s no secret that I am based in Chicago. If you live here, too, or if you are ever thinking of spending your New Year’s in the Windy City, I know a place where you should ring in the new year: Bar 122.

Bar 122 is a premier hot spot on the Southside. Nestled in Alsip, this “4 a.m. bar” features two fully stocked bar areas, a dance floor, a lounge area and a state-of-the-art sound/lighting system. The hottest DJs spin records seven nights a week! Bar 122 also has some amazing drink specials, which are extremely affordable compared to anything you will find in the Loop. And the New Year’s Eve Celebration is out of this world.

NEW YEAR’S EVE AT BAR 122

• The party starts at 9:00 p.m.
• All of the tables are dressed in crisp, cloths.
• Balloons, streamers and twinkle lights give the bar an extra fun, festive appearance!
• Dinner is served next door in Pappas Restaurant around 9:30.
• The package deal also includes domestic beer and well drinks… the whole time!
• Party favors (hats, noisemakers and more) are available for every party-goer.
• Complimentary champagne toast at midnight!
• The celebration continues until 4:00 a.m.!

Last year, the package cost $50 per couple. Even if you’re not in a relationship, ladies - grab a girlfriend… and fellas - call up your buddy. As long as there’s two of you, you can get the “couples” deal. We all know that the economy is struggling, so this year, the price was raised to $65. But if you ask me, it’s still a fabulous deal for dinner, free champagne, other beverages, party favors and seven hours of celebration!

Remember: If you choose to party (very) hard for those seven hours, you might want to consider booking a limo or calling a local taxi cab service.

Sometimes, when I read my friend Shanna’s food blog, I start craving all my favorite foods. What can I say? She makes me hungry. The other night, I got a taste for Chinese food. I ordered some from a local place near the city (Chicago, if you remember), but it just wasn’t what I was looking for. What I wanted was in New York City.

In this post I wrote last month, I talked briefly about a restaurant in Manhattan’s Chinatown called 69 on Bayard Street. It has the best Sesame Chicken I have ever tasted in my entire life. I’ve also tried the Beef with Broccoli, the Sweet and Sour Chicken and the General Tso’s chicken. But none of them hold a candle to the sweet, savory flavors of the Sesame Chicken. Couple it with some fresh broccoli and steamed white rice and you get… heaven on a plate (or a bowl if you like).

But perhaps one of the reasons I love 69 on Bayard so much is because of the experience you get while dining in the restaurant. It’s a small place, but I’d refer to it as charming, not tiny. People leave their signatures on dollar bills and tape them to the wall. I mean, you can actually leave a little “<insert your name> was here” message on the wall! It’s so amazing to see all the places people have come from… and stopped to get a bite to eat.

You get to hear (and for me… not understand) some of the locals chatting up with the 69 staff in their native language. And passers by always say a friendly hello. As I was taking pictures, one guy even asked me if I was a tourist. When I told him I used to live a few blocks away, his face lit up and he cracked a joke or two before heading out the door.

And in case you are wondering, I have eaten at other restaurants in New York City’s Chinatown neighborhood. It just so happens that 69 on Bayard Street has my heart… and my tummy.

Galavanting is a newer on-line travel magazine that inspires women to ’galavant’ all over the world.  This fantastic site was created by Kim Mance and Katy Quissell. While Kim is based in Chicago and Katy calls London home, the two have built up an informative and entertaining travel site that provides women with all kinds of tips, recommendations and connections concerning the world of travel.

On Monday, December 29, the editor-in-chief (Kim Mance) will be broadcasting live from Colmar, France! She’s checking out the Christmas markets, which stay open until the December 31. This amazing video is part of a new project for the magazine called Galavanting TV, where the site will broadcast live from various locations and give viewers the chance to travel vicariously through the member of the Galavanting staff. The viewing time is 2 p.m. Eastern (11 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Central, 7 p.m. GMT, 8 p.m. Central European).

So what are you waiting for? Go galavanting! And be sure to tune in on Monday, December 29 and watch the first-ever live broadcast from Colmar, France.