Thursday, July 01, 2010
{with apologies to my vegetarian/vegan readers}
"Three chicken leg quarters simmering in a pan like the Isle of Man flag, albeit widdershins." For those into heraldry, this configuration is a triskelion.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Say what you will about the Edgewater neighborhood: our trash got flash.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
A place where I find peace.
Monday, March 08, 2010
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Where frosted glass frames the winter sun's fireWe watch the flickering light 'twixt tree and spire
Thursday, December 17, 2009
The gates have been opened...
...they have arisen? Where have they gone?
Labels: photo
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
If only a photo could convey the sharp, evocative scent of burning brush in Willow Springs Woods (FPDCC.gov Region 6 - Palos Division) last week; a perfect fall day in the southwest suburbs.
Traveling a bit further west on Archer Avenue to the Red Gate Woods forest preserve area, we found this old mossy stone wall or foundation, partially buried under what could be a century or two of accumulated soil and undergrowth.
Who lived here in the woods along Illinois' most haunted highway? Early Polish or Irish immigrants who built the roads and canals along this ancient native American trail? We do know what's buried here today in Red Gate Woods: the remains of CP-1, the first sustained nuclear "reactor" built by Enrico Fermi at the University of Chicago.
Labels: chicago, history, nuclear, photo
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
A fine selection of pork roll at the Manasquan (NJ) ShopRite: Taylor Ham, the true classic Trenton pork roll; Case's (aka "Jersey Ham") regular and Tangy, and for the
Having a 2-lb. Taylor chilling out in our freezer, I opted only to purchase two small packs of pre-sliced pork roll for holiday enjoyment (and tormenting our guests). Taylor classic in the 6-slice red box, and the 8-slice "thin" Case package.
I also picked up a 16 oz. brick of Dietz & Watson Philadelphia Scrapple for our next pancake breakfast. No, they had no Habersett's Scrapple, unfortunately.
What's your favorite kind of Pork Roll?
Friday, November 14, 2008
Well, I'm not sure what else to call this...the "Golden Grommet"? If anyone knows the title of the piece and the name of the artist, please let me know in the comments. Otherwise, just admire this for what it is ... and understand why it kept in the basement of the University of Chicago's Walker Hall, away from light and prying easily offended eyes.
I'm half-tempted to invite a couple of people to take a picture with a hand on each side of the...er...artwork. Instant "Golden GOATSE"!
This piece of wisdom comes from the women's room wall in the Social Sciences Building, University of Chicago, home of the History Department (and no longer the home of the Economics Department. No indeedy.)
Labels: chicago, history, photo
Friday, November 07, 2008
For the uninitiated, Archer Avenue (also known as IL-171) is a stretch of road in the southwestern Chicago suburbs with an extraordinarily haunted reputation. From the legend of Resurrection Mary, the quintessential "ghost hitchhiker," to reports of mysterious chantings and ephemeral hooded figures gliding up a bluff at St. James Sag Cemetery, Archer Avenue is considered by many aficionados of the paranormal to be the "Ground Zero" of Haunted Chicago.
We visited St. James Sag (above, the bluffs where the mysterious hooded figures reportedly disappeared) right around Halloween, but the Willow Springs area is spooky year-round, from what we hear.
The intersection of Willow Springs Road and Archer Avenue, where we photographed these whimsical hearses outside the Ashbary Coffee House is a remarkably charming, quirky small town area near the Cook County Forest Preserves. If you find yourself at the Ashbary, be sure to check out the café library and upstairs meeting room - and try one of their delicious peanut butter lattés, a perfect warm-up for a chilly hike through the Willow Springs Woods.
(Be sure to click on the image for full resolution - the license plate reads "GREYL 80," and yes, the sign on the door does say, "Hearse Chicks Get More Stiffs". Claire from "Six Feet Under" would be proud!) For a fascinating look this eerie little corner of the Midwest's largest city, check out Ursula Bielski's excellent book Chicago Haunts: Ghostlore of the Windy City.
As Homer Simpson might say: "Mmmm...ghosts..."
Labels: chicago, culture, history, photo
Friday, October 17, 2008
Judging from the condition of the note, can see why "wipes" are on this shopping list - but I'm fairly sure you won't find any in the Bursar's office at the University of Chicago.
Labels: photo
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
If you happen to find yourself in Cadillac, MI, try this: "Da DaShound" is one darn big (half-pound!) "Coney Island Dog," the reputed inspiration for the North Country "Michigan Hot Dog." While both have a meat-chili based sauce (the DaShound seems to contain Hormel™ chili), chopped onions, and mustard on a hot dog in a bun, their similarity ends there.
You see, the Coney Island (NY) Dog is from Michigan, and the Michigan Hot Dog is from New York. Confusing, no? It makes one wonder, was there once a Great Hot Dog Exchange between the two states?
The Northern New York "Michigan" has a mysterious history and a nearly impossible-to-duplicate taste. That's because the Michigan sauce recipe has been a closely-guarded secret for generations, and true Michigans are invariably prepared with local Glazier™ hot dogs and New England (top-cut) hot dog buns - the kind normally used to make lobster rolls.
Now, if you find yourself in Plattsburgh, NY (or vicinity), try a real Michigan "with, buried": that's local code for "with onions," "buried" under the hot dog rather than sprinkled on top. Locals all have their favorite spots, all quite good in my opinion: Nitzi's, Gus', Clare and Carl's, McSweeney's, Ronnie's, and Michigans Plus being the best known.
Note: the utensils here are a standard size restaurant knife and fork. Seen (and eaten) at Da Dawg House, on M115 in Cadillac, MI.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
What do these pictures have in common? Hint: what do they depict?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Here's my contribution to this week's Ruby Tuesday photo blog meme: a shot of the Mikado Room at the House on the Rock, in Spring Green WI. About as ruby-red as pictures get!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
What's worse than buying over a hundred lottery tickets?
[Seen in the muck between parked cars on my street...]
Friday, May 30, 2008
Do they serve bran muffins instead of communion wafers? Is the priest Fabio?
Labels: chicago, humor, photo, religion
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Fron CNN: classy, very classy.
Manx Chicken in a Pan
