In a creatively conceived and comfortable space, Honey's consistently presents drinks and dishes that made us very happy.

The current plan is that we'll be leaving at some point in the next 12-18 months. We're not entirely sure when we'll be back to the USA (though probably not until at least 2020, if there's even a country to come back to by then). I figure if I'm going to relocate to another part of the world, I might as well choose a place that serves the kind of food I may be eating for the rest of my life.

In 2017, I resolve to bake all my bacon.

Those who seek the versatile option of revving up your evening with a live music show or simply meeting friends to grab a low-key drink have a new spot to add to their list of favorites. Owners David Lipka and Eric Starkill have opened Krew Rock Lounge (krewrocklounge.com), a new live music venue, bar and lounge at 6319 W Roosevelt Rd. The 6,000 sf space includes two bars, two stages and a diverse selection of house made cocktails, craft beers and traditional tavern offerings. The business anticipates that its kitchen will be open in early 2017. Krew Rock Lounge held a ribbon cutting in partnership with the City of Berwyn and the Berwyn Development Corporation (BDC) on December 15. The business officially opened on August 13.

Hot buttered rum seems so right for this cold snap: it's warm, it's got extra calories (which we're burning like crazy to stay warm) and the rum suggests piratical celebration (yo-ho-ho) to lighten the heaviness of this frigid season.

The Heritage is a relaxed yet upscale place to eat, with comfort foods notched up by a culinary team that knows what they're doing and how to make you happy.

Strolling by the newly opened Suburrito (1053 Lake), I glanced at the menu and spotted morisqueta, billed as a specialty of Michoacán, a Mexican state to the west of Mexico City. Morisqueta. Hmmm. If I don't recognize a menu item, I want to eat it. So I had to have the morisqueta for lunch.

I am not judging those people who supported Trump, nor am I judging supporters of Clinton or Sanders who are also venting their anger over what they may feel was a rigged election. What I am doing is taking every opportunity to be particularly friendly and polite toward my fellow citizens.  If someone cuts me off in traffic, I swallow my impulse to shout out a suggestion as to what he or she can do with him- or herself. If someone holds the door for me, I make a point of smiling and thanking them. If I catch the eye of a stranger while we walk down the street, I tip my hat.

Last week, I ordered lunch through Uber Eats from Pancho's Cuisine in Riverside. I got a jibarito, a Chicago-original sandwich, first popularized in the Puerto Rican neighborhood of Humboldt Park. The jibarito is constructed of two smashed planks of plantain, fried and filled with meat, lettuce and tomato. This is a food I'd never make at home, so it was cool to have it delivered to my door in a reasonable amount of time for a reasonable price.

The Strange Foods Festival exemplifies one of the main reasons, aside from appetite, that I like food: it brings people together. When you take the plunge to eat a food from another culture, you're connecting with that culture. And in our current climate of divisiveness, anything that brings people together is a good thing.