Their kind of town?

Photo: Shmura Campbell

Brendan Girard, Portland, Oregon

What brings you to town?
I’m exhibiting my Yerba Mate tea at the Green Fest at Navy Pier. I co-own the company EcoTeas.

How have you been getting around?
I’ve been on the train quite a bit—using the Red Line.

Oh, I’m so, so sorry! What are your thoughts on it?
I love it. It’s great. I travel around to cities all over the country, and Chicago seems to have a really good transportation system.

The general consensus here is that it’s underfunded and slow.
It’s not bright and shiny like you’d expect in Europe, but I don’t care. It’s simple to learn, and it works well. You get where you need to go, and it’s a simple enough system that, after using it for only one day, I felt like I could get around anywhere.

Have you eaten anywhere interesting?
Yeah, and horrible. Boston Blackie’s had good burgers. We’ve been eating mostly what I consider junk food since we’ve been here. I eat very healthy, though. The pizza I was told would be very good was horrible.

Was it Gino’s East?
Yes, Gino’s East. When we got there people were raving about it. But it’s saturated in sauce. Then we got pizza delivered from Pizano’s, and it was terrible. I’m sure there’s good pizza, I just don’t know where to go.

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