Terragusto: 1851 W Addison (Roscoe Village)

Terragusto is amazing.  Unfortunately for me, it took three people mentioning it to me before I gave it a shot.  Before you read any further, call and make a reservation!  The number is 773-248-2777.  This small BYO “Strongly Encourages” reservations and I can assure you this is for good reason.  People who know Terragusto love it, and they come back again and again.

Don’t forget your wine!  Terragusto is BYO with a $1/person corkage fee.  Forgot!  Don’t worry; the liquor store down the street will bring you a bottle(s).  Not only that, the server will call and order it for you.  The delivery charge was really reasonable as well at $3.  One of the bottles we brought with us was corked, so we had to take advantage of the option. 

Here is how it works:  The starters on the Menu are broken down into Antipasti and Antipasti Forte.  Then there are “Primi” to choose from.  This is the pasta part of the menu.  Side note: they hand make their own pasta every day.  The next section is the daily meat and fish selection.  Finally, the menu is wrapped up with the desert section.   In addition to ordering Ala Carte, Diners that are willing to pair up or couples are given the option of a 2 course and 3 course dinner selections.  The 2 course selection is $26.50 / Person and includes 2 first courses, 2 pastas, and a bottle of Panna.  The 3 course selection allows you to add one of the meat dishes to the 2 course selection for a total of 36.50 / person. 

We went for the 2 course selection and it equals more than enough food for two.  If you would like to have one of the meat selections, I strongly recommend ordering Ala Carte and having one starter and pasta to share and sharing the meat dish which is made for two anyway.

Everything we had was amazing which I would imagine is true for the entire menu so I wouldn’t be nervous about any of the options, which change monthly.  We started with Crostini, 3 pieces each topped with bufala/eggplant/tomato, olive tapenade, and prosciutto/parmigiano/herbs.  We then had baked polenta with spinach, pinenuts & sage-gorgonzola cream sauce.  For our pastas we had “agnolotti con pomodoro e oregano fresco”, which is roasted pork & vegetable filled pasta with tomato & oregano and “al forno: verde alla  Bolognese”, which was baked swiss chard pasta with a creamy four meat tomato sauce, parmigiano-reggiano & a touch of white truffle.  We finished up with an order of vanilla pound cake bread pudding with rhubarb sauce & soft cream.

All of this with two $25 bottles of wine and we still only spent $130 for everything making this one of the best values in Chicago.  Do not skip Terragusto; it is so good I made a reservation for my next visit at the end of the meal.

Roscoe Village is serving up new and great destinations every year, which only helps those that already own a home in the neighborhood.  As part of the larger, North Center Neighborhood, Roscoe Village is slightly smaller with borders of Belmont on the South, Addison on the North, Western to the West, and Ravenswood to the East and is dominated by Single Family Homes. Here are some Roscoe Village condo and home prices: 

1 bed / 1ba condo w/ parking: 1 currently on the market at $300,000

2 bed / 2 ba condo w/ parking: 15 on the market ranging $250k - $550k

Single Family Homes: 25 on the market ranging $500k - $1.5M

La Madia 59 W Grand (Near North) www.dinelamadia.com

Good experience!  Please keep in mind that I had been to Zanies in Old Town prior to visiting La Madia and had a few glasses of wine, so my judgment may have been a little cloudy, but this was a lot of fun.  The modern interior was very clean and gave the place a hip and simple feel.  The server was a trip.  He was from Charleston, SC and was a lot of fun.  He impressed me immediately with a proper introduction and offered us assistance with the wine list.  To keep things moving along I quickly picked two that caught my eye, Cusumano Nero d’Avola/Syrah and Bastianich Vespa Rosso.  Both are versatile reds that would match well with just about anything on the menu.  It is worth noting that the wines seemed reasonably priced, not ultra competitive, but not a three times retail either.  The server’s wine service was excellent and he made sure that our glasses were never empty.  Just because I order a bottle, or two, or three, doesn’t mean I am interested in serving myself. 

For appetizers, he suggested the Foil Roasted Crackling Nicoise Olives and the Oven Roasted Artichokes.  The Olives and Artichokes were good and didn’t ruin our appetite for pizza.

For dinner, the three of us decided to split two of their pizzas.  La Madia makes a Neapolitan style pizza, which I really enjoy, because the crust doesn’t dominate the pizza and the ingredients have an opportunity to shine.  The first pizza had their House Made Fennel Sausage, Sweet Peppers, and Vidalia Onions, and it was great.  I love the taste of fennel seeds and the Peppers and Onions gave it wonderfully sweet taste to match the savory sausage.  The second pizza was the Teleggio (Soft Italian Cheese) and Vin Santo Roasted Grapes Pizza.  This was definitely a new one for me.  The chef did stop by the table and explain the grapes, but I am a little foggy on the details.  I believe he said they were soaked in wine, and then caramelized before being added to the pie.  I’m not sure this is correct, but they were so tasty on the pizza.  I look forward to trying this at home to see how it turns out.

This is how I know I had a great experience, I purchased desert.  The Warm Spiced Pear Crostata w/ Vanilla bean Gelato and the Chocolate Tortino were both excellent.  The end all is that the Server and the Restaurant did a great job, and therefore sold the entire package, wine, appetizer, meal, desert. 

Definitely give La Madia a shot; I don’t think you will be disappointed.  If you can remember, ask for the guy server with from Charleston, his accent is so strong they will know who you are talking about if he is still there.

La Madia is just one of the hundred or so restaurants that would be within walking distance if you lived in the neighborhood.  In regard to housing, there is something for everyone in the River North/Streeterville neighborhoods including Single Family Homes, Full Amenity High Rises, Loft Conversions, smaller low amenity buildings.  The prices are on the higher end of the spectrum, but you are certainly paying for access to probably the highest concentration of variety in the city of Chicago.

Here is what your money will get you:

1 Parking Spot - $30k - $70k or $250 - $500 / month

1bed/1bath condo w/out parking – 300 Listings High $900k, Low $169k, Median $310k

2bed/2bath condo w/out parking – 332 Listings High $1.6M, Low $310k, Median $550k

All Condos – High $8.8M, Low $133k

Single Family – 5 Listings High $4.7M, Low $1.5M, Median $3.9M

Blue Water Grill 520 N Dearborn Street

Opened in May, this swanky and urban upscale seafood restaurant impressed me with its food, presentation, and decor.  We dined there a couple of weeks ago and they were kind enough to  accomodate our sixteen person party, and proceeded to serve us very well.  In my experience, this is a good test for a restaurant.

The decor was very well done with a great cocktail and waiting area near the bar.  I missed the second floor Jazz Bar but hear it is a great place to meet for a drink.  We congregated in the lounge area where they have very modern sofa’s and cubes with short tables making it easy enjoy a drink and talk with your friends while you wait for your table.  The bartender’s were very quick to acknowledge you even though they were quite busy at the time.  I love the fact that you can order a nine ounce glass of wine but felt they could have offered a extra large glass instead of the separate mini-carafe which proved to be quite akward when buying two.  A 27oz Globe would have worked quite well and I believe would be acceptable to most wine snobs.

The dining room was very dramatic with a booth style bench along the southern wall complete with throw pillows at each of the tables.  One gripe here, I sat in the booth seat which was just a bit shorter than the corresponding chair, making me just a tad shorter than the person across from me.  Not a big deal, but I certainly noticed it.  In the future, with a normal four person party, I would request to be sat at one of the tables in the center of the room.  I do prefer a one person per side square instead of having someone directly next to me.  The room was perfectly lit with a warm feeling that was niether too dark or too light. 

Now for the important part, the food and wine.  The wine list itself is very diverse and reasonably priced considering the downtown location.  We opted for a bottle of the Nero d’Avola from A Jello “Furat” and were very pleased with the rich plum and currant flavors and sweet tannins.  I started with the Baja Roll from the Maki Roll section.  It was tuna, yellowtail, and jalepeno toped with a avocado salsa and was good, but in the future I wouldn’t order a roll with that type of spice.  Having tried it, I would stick with rolls that are more true to asian flavors.  For my dinner I had the Saute’ed Chilean Sea Bass.  It was served atop a crispy potato ravioli with a tomato and artichoke relish and thyme beurre blanc.  The fish was cooked to perfection and I was very disappointed when there was none left on the plate.  The dishes were visually appealing which added to the experience.  I would have like to have had dessert, but had reached my limit. 

If you would like to see what else is offered, you can visit their web site at www.brguestsrestaurants.com.  Besides what I had, they offer what appears to be a good variety of shellfish, sushi, seafood, and hearty cuts of beef.

I would certainly recommend this restaurant to my friends and look forward to another visit.  I would say the average price for a couple would be in the $150 to $200 range with a single bottle of wine and could certainly go up without much effort.

Interested in the River North / Streeterville location, there is certainly plenty available.  Within just a few blocks there are well over 500 condos on the market.  Here are some ranges to consider: 1bed condo $200k - $2.2M, 2 bed condo $290k - $4M, 3 bed condo $480k - $5M, 4+ beds (only 12 on the market) $1.5M - 6.5M.  If you can afford to rub elbows with some of Chicago’s Elite, I am sure a $6000 monthly assessment won’t be an issue.  Of course there are plenty of the 1 bed units with assessments as low as $250 per month. 

If you or any of your friends are in the market and would like to check out some buildings, feel free to contact me and we can discuss your search.

The Globe Pub 1934 W Irving Park

I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of this place.  Saturday we were looking for a quick bite to eat and stopped into Brownstone on Lincoln.  Just our luck, every Texas fan in Chicago was in setting up camp for the football game.  Fortunately for us the guy at the door told us about The Globe and said we should give it a shot, and I am glad we did.

I try very hard not to be extremely opinionated about the marketing driven world we live in, after all, I do write this blog hoping to help my own business, but I find that this advertising driven world keeps consumers in a box.  I have a great appreciation for business owners that offer consumers products that provide new and/or exciting experiences that leave us craving more new experiences, adding a bit of excitement in a simple and affordable manner.

The Globe Pub does just that.  As you look walk into the pub, you are provided with a visual experience taking you to different place.  The Globe is known by Football (Soccer) Fans as the place to catch all of the major worldwide games available to us in the US.  Patrons that have caught a game at The Globe include David Beckham and Rod Stewart.  Don’t worry, the owners know they can’t turn their noses to American Football, so don’t worry, you can catch your favorite game there as well on NFL’s Sunday Ticket.   

For Beer, they offer something for everyone.  Looking down the bar at their beer selection you will see many options in both style and country of origin, some you know, and maybe some you don’t.  Don’t be afraid to sit down and try something new and/or one of your personal favorites.  While we were there, one of the owners, Stuart Johnston, came and enjoyed a pint with us as if we were old friends.  Stuart is from Scotland and has lived all over the world and shared many interesting stories with us only adding to the experience.  When looking over the menu you will see they offer a wide range of high quality bar staples, in addition to Scottish and English Pub Fair for those that want to soak in the experience.  I had a burger and was very pleased.  It was delivered cooked to the correct temperature and the bun was an excellent quality knot roll.  I washed it down with a Spaten Octoberfest and a Belhaven Twisted Thistle.  Check out their website at www.theglobepub.com to check out the rest of their beer and food selection.  I am looking forward to trying some other things on my next visit.

The Globe is located in the North Center Neighborhood, a neighborhood that continues to grow both in popularity, and in cost.  North Center is bordered by Montrose to the North, Addison to the South, the river to the West, and Ashland/Clark to the East.  Fortunately for new residents of the neighborhood, I don’t think the “faster than average” growth is over, especially as more and more thirty-something’s decide to raise their families in the city.  You see, this neighborhood is unique because it offers a lower population density due to the great number of single family homes in relation to the total number of residences available.  In addition to that, it is close to some of the best dining, shopping, and other leisure activities that Chicago has to offer w/ Lincoln Ave being its main magnet for retail.

It is also known for its schools, both public and private, which include St. Ben’s and its close proximity to Lane Tech. 

Want to buy in North Center?  The price range of a 2 bed/2 bath condo w/ parking is $250k to $575k w/ a median price of $340k.  The total number currently on the market is 72 units in this range.  The total number of all condos on the market is 276, ranging from $155k to $770k.

Interested in a single family home in North Center?  There are currently 144 on the market.  To be clear, realize that residents tend to stay in single family homes much longer than condos, so buyers can plan to see less on the market at any one time.  The price range for homes is currently $300k to $2.5M.  What a range?  Allow me to break it down to averages: 2 Bed / 1 Bath = $440k, 2 Bed / 2 Bath = $450k, 3 Bed / 2 Bath = $590k, 4 Bed 3 Bath = $675k, 5 Bed / 3-4 Bath = $1.2M (estimate).  There are obviously many options at different prices, but there seems to be something here for most buyers at $575k and up.

If this is you, and you would like to check some options out, please let me know and I will be happy to show you some listings.

RG’s Chili Recipe

This is not my typical entry.  I recently sent out my new Chili Recipe, because I do believe in sharing.  Emily (my wife) challenged me to quit changing my recipe with every batch and come up with the Ultimate Chili.  I must say it turned out well.  In the past week I received a couple of emails back supporting our conclusion; this chili does rock.  Feel free to add or subtract a little, that’s what makes it fun.  This one does however turn out great if you don’t feel adventurous.  Here you go:

Ryan G’s Chili

Ingredients

3 Tablespoons Olive Oil, 1 2/3 Large Chopped White Onions, 1+ lb Ground Round, 1 teaspoon Lawry’s Salt or Seasoned Salt, 2 teaspoons Black Pepper, 8 Cloves Garlic Finely Chopped, 1 Hungarian Hot Pepper or Anaheim Pepper Deveined and Finely Chopped, 1 Jalapeno Pepper Deveined and Finely Chopped, 1 30 oz Can Muir Glen Chunky Tomato Sauce, 2 15oz Cans Spiced Diced Tomatoes, 1 15 oz Can Dark Red Kidney Beans (Drained and Rinsed), 1 15 oz Can Light Red Kidney Beans (Drained and Rinsed), 1 15 oz Can Butter Beans (Drained and Rinsed), 2 teaspoons Kosher Salt, 1 teaspoon Ground Cumin, 3 Tablespoons Chili Powder, 4 Tablespoons Ancho Chili Powder (Available at most Mexican Grocery Stores), 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce, 1-3 (to taste) Tablespoon “Buffalo” Chipotle Pepper Hot Sauce (Available at Mexican Grocery Stores), 1 Teaspoon Paprika, 1 Tablespoon Granulated Garlic, 1/3 Finely Chopped White Onion, 1 Cup of Jack/Cheddar Cheese Grated 

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  Begin by prepping all ingredients as indicated above.  This will help make assembly easy and stress free.
2. In a 7+ L Stock pot, heat your oil on Med/High Heat.  I like to place my hand just inside the pot, NOT IN THE OIL, and when the heat is quite immediately apparent on your palm, the oil is ready.  Add your Large Chopped Onions and cook for about 15 minutes, stirring every 3 minutes.  Depending on your heat, you are simply looking for the onions to appear somewhat translucent.  At this point, add your Ground Beef, Seasoned Salt, Black Pepper, Chopped Garlic, and Peppers.  Fold into onions and push around until beef is brown and no pink bits remain.  TRY TO BREAK BEEF INTO VERY SMALL BITS.  Transfer to strainer in sink and allow to drain.
3. Put stock pot back on burner and reduce heat to medium. Add beef back to pan and remainder of ingredients thru Granulated Garlic.  Stir gently until well mixed.  Place Lid on Pot and cook on Medium, stirring every 5 minutes until boiling.  Once boiling, reduce heat to low, replace lid, and cook for 30 minutes.
4. For best taste, prepare chili the day before, cool, and place in fridge over night.  Reheat on low heat.  If eating the same day, prepare chili early and allow to cool and reheat.
5. Serve in big bowls topped with fine chopped onions and cheese and a big spoon.  I like to throw 5 or so townhouse crackers in the bowls as well.

Tamales Lo Mejor de Guerrero 7024 N Clark (Rogers Park)

Do you like tamales?  This is the place. 

When you are in the mood for quick, authentic tamales, stop by here and pick up a sack at $1 per, or 6 for $5.  The choices of filling change every day but they have several staples available such as chicken, pork, pineapple and strawberries, etc.  They open at 5am and the selection gets smaller as the day goes on.  My suggestion is to give them a try, then use them the next time you entertain or just need something to add to a traditional mexican meal.  If you want to see how much people rave about this place, do a search on Google for the full name of the restaurant.

This is just another great value in Rogers Park.  Living in walking distance to this popular spot is quite a value and the options are diverse.  56 1 bed / 1ba condos w/out parking are available ranging from $99k to $209k.  16  2 bed / 2 ba condos w/ garage parking are available ranging from $175k to $550k.   7 good size single family homes are available ranging from $465k to $1.2M.

Bowman’s Bar & Grill 4356 N Leavitt (Lincoln Square/North Center)

I don’t know if this ever happens to anyone else, but it does to me from time to time.  I pass by a restaurant every now and then and say to myself, “I need to stop in and check that place out.”  Then the next time we are trying to decide where to grab a bite, nothing new comes to mind.  I need to start creating a list at home of such places so I won’t at a loss of ideas when it’s time to decide where to eat.

Bowman’s is such a place.  Finally last weekend we decided to take a little bike ride and grab a bite.  Situated on the corner of Leavitt, Montrose, and Lincoln, this nice little Bar & Grill is located on one of my favorite stretches in Chicago.  The exterior is simple, but nice and well maintained.  It appears at first glance to have a touch of class above and beyond your average neighborhood pub. 

Being that it was two in the afternoon on a Saturday, Bowman’s wasn’t full inside, but they were busy.  Plenty of TV’s were visible so I could keep an eye on the Cub’s Game, even from the sidewalk seating area.  The bar area was very clean, but I was only inside briefly to use the can.  The “Can” was clean as well.  Good Sign.  I was once told when in my short time in the Restaurant Business that the Bathroom gives good insight to the Kitchen.  Since then, if the bathroom grosses me out, I skip on the food.

The outdoor seating area was great and out server was very friendly and attentive.  Fortunately for us, the weather was beautiful, so we really enjoyed sitting outside and listening to the gentle bustle of Lincoln during our meal.  We decided to kick back with a pitcher of Sangria, and what a deal at $10.

The menu offers a wide variety of food ranging from a simple hamburger to Savory Braised Beef on a Toasted French Baguette.  We split the Pork Cubano and the Tuscan Chicken Panini.  The panini was good, not great, and the Pork Cubano was excellent.  The roasted pork loin was moist and perfect and the caramelized onions were sweet against the saltiness of the ham.  Give it a shot.  The dinner menu looked really interesting and we are looking forward to checking it out soon.

Give Bowman’s a shot; it’s definitely worth it when you are in the mood for a meal in a nice Bar atmosphere.  If you like the neighborhood, as I obviously do, there is something for everyone within walking distance to this great eatery.  The median 2 bed / 2 bath condo w/ parking is reasonable at $345k.  There is a catch.  Most condos that are available are on busy streets in buildings with 20-50 units.  Very few are in smaller 3-8 unit buildings, and the ones that are don’t seem to hit the market very often.  The median 1 bed / 1 bath condo w/out parking is priced at $235k, and is 800 sq ft.  Not bad.

North Center is also known for its high concentration of single family homes.  Within a half mile of Bowman’s there are currently 65 homes on the market ranging from $400k (teardown) to $1.8M with a wide selection of architectural styles.  The median price is $900k, and w/ 5 bedrooms and 3.1 baths, this house is large enough to raise a family and residents rave about the public schools.

Bourgeois Pig Cafe 738 W Fullerton (Lincoln Park)

This cafe and sandwich shop is raved about by those that know of it.  I may have passed by over 200 times and never knew it was there. 

At a recent party a friend of a friend was raving about their sandwiches and how the Food Network had included the Bourgeois Pig on one of their recent specials.  I don’t watch much TV but my wife has the Food Network on in the background for a good two hours per day so I am surprised she hadn’t said anything about it.

Did it live up to the hype?  Not quite.  True, the menu is very interesting and it is good to see a privately owned sandwich shop work so hard to protect their niche against the corporate guys.  For me, I have come to one dominating conclusion about sandwich joints: The Bread Has To Be Great!  If the bread isn’t great, everything else will seamingly fall short.  I state this because I had half of an Italian Panini and half of the Muffaletta, both of which are served on their Focaccia, and the bread just wasn’t that good.  I have purchased Focaccia and made Focaccia and thiers was just too rubbery.  The toppings on the sandwich were great, but the bread just brought the rating down a bit. 

I do believe that so many people can’t be wrong, so I look forward to my next visit and plan on trying one of their sandwiches served on Sourdough Bread.  I also hope to be able to try their salads, as they look very interesting.  The Bourgeois Pig is also known for their coffee and hot teas which I will have to try.

One Plea if the folks from Bourgeois Pig ever read this: Carry some good Chips.  Why on earth would a Sandwich Shop which focusses on being eclectic with a touch of gourmet carry Lays and Cheetos when there are so many good chip choices out there?  Puzzled!

Like this area?  This is the heart of Lincoln Park, just blocks from some of the most expensive Houses and Condos in Chicago.  The bar scene is hopping, and the restaurant scene is improving with a few famous flagships near by.  With an increasing number of upscale casual dining establishments opening quarterly, this area will surely come around again as a dining destination.  (For a long time there were too many bars and pizza joints, oh the eighties and nineties!)  Within walking distance to the Bourgeois Pig (.5 miles in any direction) there is a wide range of living options.

Median 2 bed 2 bath condo w/ parking - $498k (83 listings) (low $275k, high $730k)

Median 1 bed 1 bath w/out parking - $275k (55 listings) (low $190k, high $475k)

Median Single Family House - $2.1M (67 listings) (low $375k coach house, high $6.5M) 

Candlelite Restaurant 7452 N Western (Rogers Park)

I have been meaning to review this great Neighborhood Pub and Restaurant for a while so sorry for the delay.  This is another great destination for folks who live in Rogers Park/West Ridge/Edgewater Neighborhoods.  Though technically in West Ridge, you may hear many people call this area West Rogers Park.

Candlelite is a regular stop for us and here is why:

The place is very clean and nice with a lot of dark wood, comfortable seating, and plenty of televisions.  Tom, the regular bartender and manager is very friendly and good for a chat if you are sitting at the bar.  He plays good, middle of the road, rock and roll, the type that most everyone enjoys.

The food is Great bar food.  The burgers are big and and always cooked properly and there is a good variety burger creations on the menu.  I had the chicken wings once and remember them being quite tasty.  We usually opt for one of their pizzas.  They have 6 or so specialty pizzas, I have tried all of them, or you can choose your own toppings.  More times than not, we will have the roasted garlic on our own or just add it to one of their house creations.  What makes their pizzas different is the thin, cracker like crust, allowing you to have several pieces and not feel like you are going to burst.  The fries are an upscale version of Rally’s fries, so that means they are good as well. 

Candlelite also offers a good variety of beer on tap and in the bottle, including a mix of popular domestics and imports, plus a good variety of specialty and craft beers.  The wine list well thought out and includes selections of different varietals that are produced around the world.  The focus on the wine list is clearly value with the most expensive bottle being under $30. 

Dining Room service is a little hit or miss, but the bus boys usually pick up the slack of the slower servers.

From my other reviews, you know that Rogers Park is great value for purchasing so I will focus on what is walking distance from Candelite in the West Ridge Neighborhood.  The median price of a 2 bed / 2 bath condo w/ parking is $255k w/ only eight listings matching this criteria.  When I expanded the search to 2 to 4 beds and 2 to 4 baths w/ 1 or 2 parking spots 52 listings came up.  The median property was a 2 bed 2 bath townhome w/ a 2 car garage for $320k.  The 49th property is a 4 bed 3.1 bath 2450 sf condo w/ beautiful finishes.

Bottom line, this neighborhood is coming around with a Starbucks that just opened on the corner of Western and Howard and a controlled number of projects being erected.  Smart investers have been following Starbucks openings for a decade and have done quite well.  Public transportation is readily available with Bus/L/Metra all near by.

Swerve Salon 1419 N Wells (Old Town)

Wow, it is hard to find someone to cut your hair!  Not really.  It’s just hard to find someone who will do it well and allow you to walk away feeling like you got a good haircut at a fair price.  I think I found one.

In regard to the salon, it looks like a salon.  That’s all I have in that respect. 

I chose to visit Andrew based on a review I read on Yelp and I am very happy.  I have been to him three times and have pleased each time. 

Allow me to break it down:  .

Andrew did a nice job and is very tactful in giving me advice on how to stay hip.  I don’t have time to sit around and read GQ or whatever guys are reading for fashion tips these days, so I count on my hair stylist and my wife to keep me up to date.   

Has anyone noticed that Men’s Haircuts aren’t cheap anymore.  Well, unless you get a cheap haircut.  Andrew charges $40 for men’s cut.  Consider this!  He allows you to come in for a brief trim in between haircuts for free.  Stretch those cuts out for 5 weeks and it works out the same over the course of a year. 

Overall, I am sure there are more experienced stylists out there that will make you feel like a Million Bucks for $120, but Andrew does a good job at that for $40.  Give him a chance, I’m sure you won’t be dissapointed.

Want to live near Swerve, the median 2 bed / 2 bath w/ parking will run you $435k.  Of the 113 listings that meet this criteria the low is $260k but the assesments hit you around $500/month, and the high is $1.3M w/ a $1,350 asm.  Don’t worry, those are both highrises.  There are plenty of smaller buildings in the area with significantly lower monthly assesments.