i've never been to aruns.
my problem with the place, having never been there, is that the menu doesn't in any way seem different than those at many good thai places that cost 10% as much for dinner. until they can explain to me why their tofu/chicken/noodles/etc is worth $100 when someone else's is worth $10, i'm probably not going to go.
that said, i love thai food, and am a huge fan of sticky rice (pineapple fried rice in the restaurant is amazing), spoon (nam kao tawt!!!), and tac quick (whole fish special is so good). also, one of the only redeeming things about hyde park, culinarily, is the density of thai places that are decent.
....
tomorrow i'm apparently going out to giordano's, then going to navy pier. my gf has a hs friend coming to town, who has a bf from michigan who thinks he's from chicago and is showing her around the city! joy.
....
something i'm actually really excited about
:
the Olafur Eliasson exhibit at the MCA, which is closing in about a week. looks great. (this is the guy who did the waterfalls under the brooklyn bridge).
http://www.mcachicago.org/exhibition...ail.php?id=201
another:
arabian nights, at the looking glass, being put on by zimmerman (silk, pericles, etc)
also closing in about a week.
http://lookingglasstheatre.org/content/
last week i went to the chopping block for a cooking class on some kind of double date.
"new" location is in the merc. we took "knife skills 101" which was fun. they also have things like butchering, seafood, baking, dumplings. i'll probably do more some time soon, and i recommend as a date activity. alternatively, other cooking shops, like the wooden spoon in andersonville, or the other chopping block location do classes as well.
tonight, did drinks at the violet hour like most thursdays, which was great, as like every time, and then headed over to hot chocolate so i could get a burger and gf could get dessert. in case people haven't been there for dessert, you should. it's great. i was shocked and happy that when we walked in around 9:15 and asked if there was a table for 2 available on a random thursday night they said there was a list and approx a 1hr wait. that said, you can do dessert in the bar/waiting area. (multiple beard award nominations, possibly a win?, for desserts.)
other thing i'm excited about
: xoco, new rick bayless place that's going to open next door to frontera and topolo. more focused on street food/lunch food. predicting lines down the block, etc, but still super excited.
aand that's all for me for tonight.