I haven't been this excited since...

Let me get this out of the way right out front: holy fucking shit fuck shit shit shit crap oh-my-god wow YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Starcraft 2

For those of you who don't know Starcraft is simply one of the best computer games of all time. A perfectly balanced strategy game which plays out like a chess match (but I don't like chess...). As opposed to something like Civilization is turn based (another one of the best computer games of all time), Starcraft is real-time. Starcraft became so huge in Korea that it was basically similar to a major-leage sport in the US; it had professonal players, TV stations deticated to watching the matches, and die-hard fans.

This is possibly the most anticipated sequal in the history of computer games. I repeat, Starcraft 2, is the most anticipated sequal in the history of computer gaming. Unfortunetly, the developer & publisher, Blizzard Entertainment, is notorious for having their games take FOREVER to come out. Fortunetly, every single one of their games since 1995 has been an incredible smash hit.

The immediate question is: can Starcraft 2 be as good as the original? I'm going to say no, for about 2.5 reasons:

1.) I do not want to get my hopes up too much; this is related to..

2.) The original Starcraft is so amazing, I still love playing it (it's almost 10 years old!), and I don't think any real time strategy game has reached its level since

2.5) If Starcraft 2 were as good, I'm pretty sure the world would explode (or at least my life).

It is undeniable, however, that Starcraft 2 will be an incredible computer game. I know this because Blizzard's track record with games is perfect. Right now I'll estimate... 3 years until it is released, Either Nov/Dec 2009 - first/second quarter 2010. Right now that thought depresses me... but thats the way Blizzard works to make such high quality games.

I'm really freakin pumped here.... anyone want to play some Starcraft soon?

Edit: If this gameplay trailer doesn't make your jaw drop, you are not a starcraft fan. Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Go to this bar

I know that I've pretty much told everyone I know about BAT 17, but I'm gonna say it again: this place is amazing. If I could only go to one restaurant OR bar, this would be it because it simply dominates at both. Let me count the ways:

Food: Huge sandwiches which are two meals. Sure they cost $10, but thats $5 for a meal and thats pretty cheap. They are the best sandwiches you can find in Evanston. I shit you not. The worst sandwich I've had there is better than any sandwich I've had in anywhere else in Evanston. Everyone whose gone there has been as impressed as I am.

Salads there are large and chopped well. None of this stuffing huge pieces of lettuce in your mouth. It's easy eating and good. Great sides that come with the sandwiches too.

Soups, I've only had one soup, a spicy corn chowder but it was pretty much amazing.

Their bread is specially baked for them from Bennison's bakery.

Oh, yeah, they have free coffee. Yeah, I shit you not, free freakin coffee.


Drink: They have the best drink specials in Evanston, let me list them for you:

Mondays - $4 glasses of wine
Tuesdays - $2.50 Blue moon pints (holy crap this one is pretty amazing)
Wednesdays - $2.50 Stella pints (amazing if you like stella)
Thursday - $2.50 cheap domestic bottles (this is the only one which is lacking)
Friday - $3.00 well drinks (a freakin deal)
Saturday - $4.00 martinis (cosmo, batini, peach martini thing, chocolate martini)
Sunday - $2.50 bloody marys with condiment bar

Now, first off who makes Saturday their martini special night? That's just amazing. Honestly, Koi's martini night is Tuesday. Granted Koi martinis are bigger, but I can say confidently that BAT 17 martini's are better.

Only disadvantage is that it can be relatively empty. I don't understand why. That's a lie, people just don't know about it. So here is what I suggest. Go there. Bring your friends. TELL EVERYONE. But not too many people, I hate overcrowded bars...