"What you're really missing out on is the South Side Irish Parade in Chicago, which I think is one of the great events in America," bragged President Obama to the Irish prime minister.
When the real Mayor Daley moved the Southtown Parade downtown, the Wee Folks of Washtenaw and Talman began what we know now by walking around the block with banners. This year's parade brought 300,000 people to the Beverly, Morgan Park and Mt. Greenwood communities. Instead of looking at it as a strain it should be viewed as an opportunity for business and economic growth. Look at the hotels, bars, restaurants and shops in the area and tell me that for that weekend they didn't make more than most make in 6 months.
31 years of tradition are going down the drain. 31 years of childhood memories, friends, family and even wedding proposals just cut off. My children will never get to experience the greatness of the real Irish parade in Chicago and that makes me truly sad.
This is a huge loss for the South Side. The downtown parade is a sad excuse for a parade, just like all the rest of Chicago's "parades." I nothing else comes from this tragity, I hope the downtown parade hires on the South Side Parade planners and they can turn their crap into a real parade.
Here is the press release from the parade comittee.
I'm hearing great news around the water cooler. Not only did Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts officially
drop it's plans to open a hotel in downtown Chicago but Trump has a
temporary "truce" on his loans from Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas. This means that in a down economy that a new competitor will not emerge and that we all still have a job, for now.
The Shangri-La opening is not good in the sense that it would have provided another 400 or so jobs in Chicago, but it is good in that it keeps us with the staff we have rather than cutting more jobs.
I hope things start to turn up or it won't matter what happens, we will all be in the unemployment line.
Forget Christmas, Hanukkah, your birthday and all those other mediocre holidays. This is
Chicago Restaurant Week, or Chicago Chef's Week depending on who you ask. This is the 2nd annual holiday of food, and it's not one day like
Steak and a BJ day, it is a full 7 days.
Some of the best restaurants in Chicago are signed up and serving 3-course prix-fixe lunches for $22 and dinners for $32. In today's economy it's still quite a bit to fork over for a meal but to have a 3-course meal at Lawry's, Morton's or Hugo's for $32, it's a great deal. I have found that most places still have quite a few openings, which is probably due to the economy but good for those wanting to make a last minute reservation.
If I lived in Chicago during this great holiday week I would surely be heading out and figuring out something to celebrate on my way to the restaurant. Wait... I do, and I've already started trying to come up with a great made up holiday. I'll let you know when I figure it out.
On my way to work I was on the inbound Ike, a State Trooper squad pulls onto the expressway at Harlem. The squad was fully lit but only going about 40 mph. I was 2 cars back waiting for the trooper to pull someone over, but the squad just kept cruising behind a vehicle at a steady 40 mph. So we pass Austin and I'm starting to wonder why the hell the car won't pull over. If they were trying to make a break for it, 40 mph on a 4 lane expressway isn't going to cut it.
All of a sudden I see another squad hauling off the Austin exit in my rear view mirror. The second squad then joins the world's slowest police chase. All of a sudden from the left lane, using it's signals, the car they are behind pulls from the left lane to the middle lane, waits then shifts to right lane with both squads in tow, still moving at 40mph.
When the "offender" pulled off at Cicero I look over and it's
a little old lady who is struggling to even look over the steering wheel. I love Chicago.
So after a week hiatus I'm back. I screwed up NaBloPoMo and missed my 1st blogoversary all in one swoop.
This is why I don't drink like I used to. I miss everything. Although I had an amazing time, I negated all my responsibilities leaving the woman and myself not much time to clean the house before Thanksgiving.
So on Friday night, we went to
O'Rourkes Office. It's a really cool martini bar on the south side. We also went to
Club Crescendo for a manager's last day, it was freaking awesome! Crescendo is definitely my favorite club in downtown Chicago. I forgot how much fun it was to just go out dancing and the just the feeling of being free in the club. I don't know what it is. If I'm sober or around alot of people I know, I am embarrassed to dance but If I'm just out with a few friends at a club I just feel... I dunno it's a really good time.
Saturday we went to the
Michigan Avenue Festival of Lights. This is one of my favorite ways to usher in the holiday season. Watching the tree lights turn on as the parade route passes them, the fireworks and the hanging with friends out in the streets; it's all a great way to see the city.
Sunday night was another great night! We all went out to
BJ McMahon's on the south side. By we, I mean everyone came out. People I see all the time and people I never get the chance to see came out to wish me well on a recent career accomplishment. Lets just say I was obliterated and extremely happy to be around all those friends.
Monday night = more BJ's. Again went out to BJ's to see some friends I don't always get to see and to quote a friend: "No, I'm not drunk. Not at all. I'M ANNIHILATED!" We then went back to The Garage and played some beer pong and had a "minor" war in which we all received "minor" injuries.
Needless to say it was an great weekend, one that's been a long time coming. Most of the weekends I usually have involve catching up on sleep, a good night and then some form of drama. This was 4 fantastic days in a row.
Everywhere...
I am suffering from another Chicago Bears induced depression. I got to go to the game and had a great time tailgating, but the defense let me down again. They can not stop the pass. I was calling the plays and where it was going before the snap and right after. Did they listen to me? No, they never do.
"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states.
We are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It's the answer that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day." - Barack H. Obama
I was working the front door when someone casually walked by me and said "He did it." I stopped in my tracks and was overcome with this feeling of happiness. I couldn't express myself because of being at work, which was horrible because I just wanted to do cartwheels down the street.
When I got home I watched McCain's concession speech, and was impressed with what he had to say. I was also impressed that he turned a booing crowd into one that is hopeful for the future.
Then I watched Obama's speech. The part I have up top is how far I made it until I started to look like Jesse Jackson. I couldn't control it at all. I was so overwhelmed by joy and hope for this country. I was filled with the pride I had when I cast my first vote at 18 and had nothing but complete trust in the system.
God Bless Barack Obama, and God Bless this country.
The mother and brother of Chicago's Englewood native Jennifer were found dead at 3pm today in what appears to be a domestic dispute. J. Hud's nephew 7 year old Julian King was abducted as well during the incident at 71st and Yale on the city's south side.
Police have suspect William Balfour in custody, as well as several others but say that Julian is still missing. An AMBER AlERT was issued for a 1994 white Chevrolet Suburban with license plate #X584859. They might also be in a teal or green Chrysler Concord with a temporary license plate, a left front headlight hanging out and scratches on the left side of the vehicle, police said.
According to state records Balfour was paroled in 2006 after convictions for attempted murder, vehicular hijacking and receiving stolen property. Sounds a little to familiar. This douche bag extraordinaire claims to not know the location of the child or of the events that occurred.
Murders happen all to often in this city and it's saddening thing. But what bothers me is when the victims are truly innocent, not "He was planning to turn around and was a talented musician" or "He was a good kid but did some bad things," but a truly innocent person. Or when it involves a young child. These are things that don't need to happen and this scumbag should be quartered.
