My Obsessions with Holiday Ales

As I age and develop an increasing taste in good beer, I always keep my heart open to one special kind of beer. Outside of a passing interest with Pumpkin Ales (Or Stouts), I have grown increasingly fond of special releases of a beer known as the holiday ale.  With craft beers taking hold on a national level, I am proud to bring the Postgrad in Suburbia "Favorite Holiday Ales: 2013 Edition."

A long running favorite throughout my college career, my current favorite is that of the Great Lakes Christmas Ale.  Great Lakes, a Cleveland brewing company that still remains independent to my knowledge, has been manufacturing this beer for many years; and as I currently camp out at Binny's, I anxiously await this year's release party.  With a cinnamon flavor and additional holiday-esque notes, this beer has been ingrained in my existence since my introduction to it on a cold, wet, Toledo night.  I personally recommend it in the way I was introduced; served with a topping of cinnamon sugar.  With a 7.5% alcohol content, you will definitely be feeling festive after a couple rounds.  Try to avoid the Christmas Bomb, featuring Christmas Ale with a shot of Jameson dropped in car bomb style.

In my anxious wait for the aforementioned, I have tried a few new Holiday style beers that have held me over.  The first release to my knowledge, Revolution Fistmas, is a hoppy and bitter spiced ale that arrives complex and heavy.  Although I did enjoy a couple of these, this is definitely not my go to beer when I want to feel festive, as I was left heavy to the ground and not on my best game when leaving for the night.  Being the first beer of the season, I will try this again for clarification purposes.  Plus, the can is well designed for entertainment.

A beer that surprised me, was a beer that I bought because I didn't want to leave Binny's empty handed.  A special release by Goose Island, Sixth Day is a limited release brown ale with holiday notes; offering a high alcohol percentage best enjoyed while rocking a still out of season sweater.  Enjoyable and humanitarian, some proceeds from purchase are donated to the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

What is your favorite Holiday Ale?  Where can I find other Postgrads donning their festive sweaters while enjoying a festive ale?  I'm already breaking out my snowflake sweater, and waiting to bring about the reindeer one until a later date.

Movember in Suburbia

The change of the seasons is upon us, and as October becomes November; many men are left with a couple choices: (1) continue their usual routine of shaving; (2) participate in what many know to be "no shave November," in which facial hair galore pops up and razors go by the wayside; or (3) Grow their facial hair for a purpose, raising funds and awareness by growing a facial hairstyle employed by only the classiest gentlemen.

Yes, Postgrads, I am talking about Movember; a movement aimed at raising money for research of silent killers in men; including Prostate Cancer, Testicular Cancer, and issues in Mental Health.  As a true gentleman and community leader, I have once again entered the "Mo Space," aiming to raise a few dollars to help reduce the effect of cancer and assist in funding research.

Throughout the month of November, I will be growing my moustache and posting updates on my Movember profile page, the Postgrad in Suburbia Facebook page, and my personal Twitter Account.  Donations are always accepted, and you can join the movement by signing up at Movember.com.

If the entire "doing the right thing" aspect, or the "helping others" thing doesn't fit your fancy; learn a few things from Moustache enthusiast Nick Offerman.

Remember, if you are ready to team up with me to change the face of men's health, go to Movember.com and help out a fellow Postgrad.

The real question... Are you Man (or Woman) enough to support the cause?

Adult Kickball?

A growing trend throughout cities and other locales, adult kickball, is a perfect example of an activity that would be perfect for a Postgrad in the Chicagoland area.  A cheaper and easier start-up than other sports; this could become the future of suburban casual gaming.

I say this, because after an experience of joining a softball league full of teams more cohesive than that of an MLB team; I believe that playing kickball in the suburbs would allow people to start with a clean slate.  How many of you have played kickball in the past 5 years? 10 years? Who wouldn't want to join other Postgrads in Suburbia for a bit of friendly competition that ends at a local restaurant or bar?

With at least 5 leagues in Chicago at the moment, all of which sponsored by local bars and played at neighborhood parks; a new kickball league in the suburbs would make a perfect opportunity to meet new people, discover new bars, and even network with other industry professionals.

Look at it this way.  A kickball costs less than $20. A field is free (Or we could organize through a city).  Can you think of options here that would provide interesting experiences on a Saturday afternoon any cheaper than this?

Back to School

Photo is property of its original owner(s)

Welcome to the life of a Postgrad in Suburbia.  The job opportunities are in the most inconvenient locations, the skills for the downtown positions require many years' experience, and nothing has come across the table that you can see yourself enjoying for the next 1-5 years.  Unfortunately, that leaves me in an awkward situation in which I am writing this blog, trying to find new things to do, in a position that was dead-end 3 years ago.

So what does this mean to you? In German terms, this could be referred to as Schadenfreude; which in the words of Avenue Q, is known as "happiness at the misfortune of others."  For me, it means finding a way to delay loans, discover new skills, and become more marketable to companies.  Yes, Postgrads, i am referring to going to a community college for additional classes.  Thanks to a clause in my loan contract, I can continue to defer loans while still in school (with only a 9% interest rate!), but have to take classes that may or may not be enjoyable to myself or others.


This said, my first course at community college happened to be nothing like the NBC hit comedy Community (Although I can relate to Jeff Winger).  Did I expect a life of claymation and musicals, with great hijinks that could pass for entertainment? No.  I expected a demi-college experience that would allow me to meet a few people who knew about this area or about a need for my skill set.

Unfortunately for me, I did not read into the community part of this.  My first class was that of Adobe Photoshop, and as many job descriptions have included this as a vital skill; I thought this would take me in the right direction.  My classmates, as nice as they were, definitely were cut from a different stone; and had this been a creative writing class, a history class, or even philosophy; I could do as I have done throughout college, shown only my finalized copy that would turn heads.  Unfortunately, when working with visual arts, every move that you make can be viewed on a 27 inch monitor; and therefore scrutinized by classmates. 

This is when I noticed the community part.  They weren't scrutinizing my work, they were complimenting my poorly developed photo modification. Why are you so nice to me? Why is everyone so friendly? Why can't you just wait for the final product, and then be blown away?

Maybe my desire to act in a Don Draper fashion isn't able to be fulfilled, but that ends my rant.  Community Colleges are valuable institutions, and I will continue to indulge in these courses until I am hired and can afford to take a vertical move in my educational ventures.

If you are in the Aurora area, I invite you to join me at some classes at Waubonsee: specifically Web Design, Adobe Creative Suite/Cloud, and maybe even Sign Language!  Actually, I could just walk into a marketing class and be the overachiever. I assure you won't be the only one somewhat displaced.  First round is on me at Ballydoyle's.

Photo is property of its original owner, I take no ownership for it.

Did I Just Get Called Mister?

I never thought that I'd feel older than I do at this moment. 

This is actually saying a lot; as I am currently underemployed and work with 16 year old's, realize that the N64 will be 18 old next year, and understand that I'm considerably older then MLB All-Star Bryce Harper.

But at this moment, I feel very similar to PGP (Post Grad Problems)'s Veronica; who recently wrote an article called "The Worst thing You Can Call a Girl: It’s Not The C-word, It’s 'Ma’am'."  In this article, she covered the inner dialogue that occurred after being called Ma'am at a local coffee chain.

Insert the same coffee chain, but a different situation.  I was sitting here, writing a Postgrad in Suburbia original review of Green Basil Restaurant in Downtown Naperville, when I looked up from my work to see am individual pointing at the chair across from me.  Removing my headphones, I received the most depressing question I've heard outside of "What are you doing with your life?" asked every day. 

"Excuse me, Mister... Is anyone using that chair?"

Mister? What am I, a 55 year old who sits at Starbucks in the same chair, running a questionably scammy financial planning venture?  Why would I be a mister? What could possibly define me as a 'mister' besides the fact that I was regarded as old?  Who would have such disrespect to call a 23 year old 'mister'?!?!

This question has been running through my mind since the occurrence, and I feel that I probably can't think about this without a depressing answer.  Maybe I am old.  Maybe these lower back problems aren't just in my head.  What have I done with my life? Does this mean I can give life lessons and tell tales of my youth?

Stay tuned Postgrads, we may have to switch to Geriatric in Suburbia... In which I review breakfast in family diners, elderly dating sites, and complain about how no one respects their elders anymore.

Rizzo's Naperville

Next in my trip through Downtown Naperville comes my experience with a bar that has definitely left me with some high tabs and crazy experiences.  Through my postgrad experience, I have seen few bars with better specials and more interesting dynamics than that of Rizzo's in downtown Naperville.

Not the place that I would choose driving, Downtown Naperville bars are some of those that I do not frequent.  However, when I can secure a DD or indulge in a two stop train ride, my first choice in bar is that of Rizzo's; especially for Mondays or Thursdays, in which dollar drafts or $5 buckets bring in some of the craziest times fueled by blatant disregard for societal norms.

Mondays have a special meaning to me, especially at Rizzo's, as this is the location where I witnessed the Chicago Blackhawks score two goals in 17 seconds to take the lead in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Championships.  Whereas not an "Official Blackhawks Bar," Rizzo's features a few TVs and will turn on sound for important games, so long as there is not a DJ or live music.

Thursdays feature $3.99 burgers (any variety), a DJ and the downhill excursion that is $5 buckets of Miller or Coors.  Many a night this summer have I indulged in the craziness, and look forward to trying this location during the school year; as the dynamic seems to change when North Central is in session.

From what I've heard, Wednesdays are the best night to partake if you are looking to enjoy liquor.  With no cover and prices that match or beat Saddle Up, Rizzo's has the best potential for increased performance on Wednesday nights.

Unfortunately, as with every Naperville bar, weekends are crowded with blatant tryhards, more Ed Hardy than a South Jersey shopping mall, and the high prices that match the demand.  This is nothing against Rizzo's, as the entire city of Naperville can charge as it sees fit, and people will go.

All in all, with free overnight parking in Naperville on weekends; I believe that visiting this location could make for a crazy experience.  Naperville features a plethora of taxis (as opposed to St. Charles), and once the money is there (along with the 9-5 M-F job), I feel that I will be indulging in these nights a bit more often.

In conclusion, if you're looking for a bar in which you can get drunk on weeknights relatively cheaply, dance to decent DJs, or listen to acceptable live music; look no further than Rizzo's Naperville.  Also, I recommend that you try the VeeV shots/drinks/pitchers.  Rizzo's has an exclusive partnership with the company, and has drinks made especially for the bar.

PS. The posters highlight $1 pints on Mondays... You get 12 oz. cups. This is an issue I look to bring to the attention of Euclid Beverage (Their distributor who made the poster)

Green Basil Naperville

I finally got a chance to try a nice little restaurant that had been recommended by my friend; and finally got a chance to test out a new variety of food that has not made a huge name for itself in suburbia, Vietnamese cuisine.

A bit hard to find, located near Quigley's and the parking garage off of Jefferson; Green Basil is tucked directly east of downtown Naperville.

My experience at Green Basil in Naperville has been split between two visits: My first being that of a coffee run, in which I got to try an iced coffee sweetened with condensed milk; and I must say, it was amazing for coffee that I didn't personally adjust to my tastes. My second trip is a result of the prodding by my friend to finally try the food.

On that note, I arrived at a 4 pm, so as to not be that guy who sits alone at a table during dinner rush. Naturally, my eyes moved to the lower priced items before coming across the Cornish hen (com ga). For $9, I thought it would be a small portion of hen with a bit of rice. I was quickly surprised to receive a gratuitous amount of rice, vegetables, and soup included. The hen itself was a marinated half hen that was then fried with just enough oil to maintain crisp texture. Served with lettuce, tomatoes, cilantro, peppers, and a dressing that I wasn't entirely sure what purpose it served; it became quite the filling dish.

Needless to say, I recommend this place for a decent meal, but implore you to bring some form of breath mints. The unfortunate result of the fresh produce is the current fact that definitely carry a strong breath of cilantro, basil, and what I believe to be garlic.

Suburbia has its grand variety of food. I am happy to try any restaurant in the area that will support a postgrad budget. If you would like to see your restaurant featured on postgrad in suburbia, email me at postgradinsuburbia@gmail.com.