There are worse ways to spend an hour and a half

A few weeks ago at around 1:00 in the afternoon I found myself driving down Michigan Avenue, and to my amazement my car steered itself into the parking lot of the Silver Criket. "Well, as long as I'm here I might as well go in and see what's happening inside," I said to myself.

There was no cover at that hour, but there's a mandatory coat check now that it's wintertime. Unfortunately, the extremely cute, busty young lady I remember from last year was not there this time around, so the door guy checked my coat.

I sprang for a booth instead of a table, which cost me $20. Remy, the waitress, got me a beer for only three dollars. I expected it to be more, but I didn't argue. Later I got a bottle of water, which was $8.