Chicago Diner

the Radical Reuben looks, smells and tastes like your everyday reuben sandwich. The caveat is it's entirely vegan.

"Meat Free since 83" is the slogan of the boystown restaurant the Chicago Diner.

For anyone that thinks that vegetarian/vegan food is boring, you're way off. It's just about eating salads or fruit & nuts. There is much more. Black bean burgers are always a go-to dish at Chicago Diner, but as you can see my favorite is the Radical Reuben and sweet potato fries.

Love is an Orientation

I had the pleasure of seeing Andrew Marin speak last night at Roscoe's, a bar in Chicago's Boystown neighborhood.

Andrew, as he describes grew up a homophobic bible thumper who was not afraid to make inappropriate and even hateful comments to others.

Andrew's story is that 3 of his best friends all came out to him. Overwhelmed by all this, he prayed and came to the realization of what a horrible friend he was to them and completely unchristianlike.

Andrew is the type of Christian that I wish was the face of my faith. He isn't about promoting rules or cherry picking the scripture that doesn't apply to him, he is sincerely about love.

The Bible contains 4 passages about same-sex relations and thousands of verses on love. Andrew writes examples of people he's met that have been ostracized, kicked out of their homes and lost friends over their sexuality. The one place that says "come as you are" is the place that turns them away

Andrew's book is not meant to start a verse-slinging debate. The book is meant to elevate the conversation and bridge the communities together.