Still Got Our CB&C, Even With Everything, St. Patrick's Day-- Part 1: Who Says You Need a Parade?

This will have to go down as the strangest St. Patrick's Day ever.  As a joke going around right now has it, this was the time a Chinese virus with a Mexican name wiped out an Green Celebration.  Even so, we got in as much as you can.

Now, we are spending the next bunch of days at home.  However:

THURSDAY--  Kick off with 50 cent wings and $1 pints at Bootleggers in Antioch.

FRIDAY, MARCH 13--  Had planned on going to the Legion for the Grant Township fish fry but that was cancelled.  Ended up at Sunnyside Tavern.

SATURDAY, MARCH 14--  We already weren't planning on going to the Chicago or McHenry St. Patrick's Day parades (Chicago because we don't go to Chicago and McHenry because it is way too crowded).  We had planned to go to the Lake Villa parade, but that got cancelled as well.

We decided to go to Stucky's in Johnsburg for their corned beef & cabbage  (CB&C), but they were way too crowded.  So, we went over to Sunnyside where a whole lot of friends were having their alternate party.  Who says you have to have a parade to get into the drinking o' the green?

--RoadDog

Way Too Much Going On This Weekend: Getting Our Green On

It's gonna be a green time in the old area this weekend, but way too much.

Later today we are going to the St. Patrick's Day party at the Legion in Fox Lake with entertainment and cb&c  (corn beef & cabbage).

But then, it gets real busy Saturday since that is the actual day of St. Patrick's Day.  Other things going on Saturday are both the Richmond/Spring Grove Business Expos, the Fox Lake Historical Society has a meeting and talk about the Mineola Hotel.  The McHenry Binny's is having free glass etching if you buy Guinness Beer.

Then, McHenry is having their McHenry ShamrockFest.  They will be dyeing the Fox River green at 10 a.m., a parade at noon and then bands all afternoon in a heated tent at Miller Point Park.  Every downtown business and bar has St. Patrick's stuff going on.  More cb&c at the PLAV.

Lake Villa also has has a parade and big party at the VFW.

Sunday, the partying continues in McHenry.

Decisions, Decisions and All That Green.  --RoadO'Dog

Got Our Green On This Past Weekend

FRIDAY, MARCH 10TH

We went to the American Legion in Fox Lake, Illinois, for the Grant Township Annual Fish Fry.  $10 auce.  The place was packed.  Then went to Sunnyside in Johnsburg and saw the ladies giggle their way through a Sip & Paint activity.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11TH

We went to Lake Villa, Illinois, for their annual St. Patrick's parade, then adjourned to the VFW for corned beef & cabbage dinners, bagpiper, St. Patrick and the country band Xpress Lane.  Then to Sunnyside.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12TH

We went to McHenry, Illinois, for their St. Patrick's parade.  Went to the Gambler before and after the parade.  Saw the Blackhawks game there.  Then over to Corkscrew Pointe and had their sliders.  Then to the PLAV, Polish Legion of American Veterans and lastly back to Sunnyside.

Definitely Got Our Irish On.  --RoadDog

Gettin' Our Green On This Weekend

It's going to be a busy time for us this weekend, even with this cold we're getting.  An early St. Patrick's if you will.

Today, we are going to the Grant Township Annual Fish Fry at the American Legion in Fox Lake.

Tomorrow is the annual St. Patrick's parade in Lake Villa, afterwards to the VFW for corned beef and cabbage and a country band.  On the way home, we'll stop at the Fox Lake FD for some more partying and more corned beef if still hungry.

Sunday, we go to McHenry for their St. Patrick's parade and then hit some local establishments.

Green for the Weekend.  --RoadIrish

Getting Our Irish On

Yesterday, we went to Hello Folks in Fox Lake, Illinois, to eat and play NTN, then went to the Fox Lake Library and saw Banna, an Irish duo, put on their fin and sing-a-long hour of fun Irish music.

Earlier today, I brought up a wreath, , green lights, shamrocks and so forth from the basement and put them up inside and outside the house.

Tonight, we go to the Legion for the Grant Township annual fish fry.

Saturday it is the Lake Villa, Illinois, annual St. Patrick's Day parade and Irish music at the VFW.

And, that's just leading up to the "Real" day on Thursday.

Not Irish, But Irish This Week.  --RoadDog

RAMBLINGS OF A RETIRED MIND:  You know, I spent a fortune on deoderant before I realized that people didn't like me anyway.

Chicago's South Side Irish Parade Back Again

From the March 13, 2015, Chicago Tribune "City aims to be the globe's greenest this weekend" by Lizzie Johnson.

The parade on Saturday in downtown Chicago is not the only major parade for St. Patrick's Day in the city.  Sunday will be the South Side Irish Parade.  All the politicians will be there, of course with this year's run-off election between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and challenger Jesus "Chuy" Garcia.  New governor Bruce Rauner will also be there.

Tom McGourtty, chairman of the South Side parade says the parade is "about our neighborhood and our Irish heritage.  Our focus is on the families and the community."

Sadly, the parade was shut down for two years in 2010 and 2011 after public intoxication and assaults marred the 2009 event.

More than 319,000 people turned out for that one and it was unsustainable.

It is back now, but there will be a zero tolerance for public drinking during the parade.

We had two parades out here in western Lake County and eastern McHenry County that we went to this past weekend.  Both, of course. much smaller than the ones in Chicago.  One was in Lake Villa and the other in McHenry.

--RoadDog


YOU JUST MIGHT BE A YANKEE IF:  You don't have any problems pronouncing "Worcestershire sauce" correctly.  Or spelling it for that matter as I just made three mistakes trying to spell it here.

A Good St. Patrick's Weekend (and Got My Corned Beef & Cabbage Too)-- Part 1

FRIDAY, MARCH 14TH: Saw the movie "Nebraska." American Legion and Antonio's. //// SATURDAY, MARCH 15TH: Fox Lake Historical Society presentation on Lincoln's Watch, a mighty interesting story of family history and historic search. // Galati's in Lake Villa, Illinois, for a reuben pizza while waiting for the St. Patrick's Day parade. I deejayed every St. Patrick's parade for fourteen straight years when this place was George's Cedar Inn. A fairly decent day for a parade. Lots of politicians and just one bagpiper, noo marching bands. // Drove to Wauconda and saw Terry and Greg Spizziri do a great Irish music show at the huge tent by Middleton's. // Free corned beef and cabbage at Squaw Bar. No-talk deejay who didn't even play Irish songs? Oh well, free cb&c. // No place to park at the Legion in Fox Lake for corned beef and cabbage plates and Elvis Presley Show. //// Tommy's in Spring Grove to split a corned beef & cabbage. //// Well, That Was the First Two Days. --Road O'Dog

Right By Our Old Place: Lake Villa Man Found Dead in Vernon Hills

Liz first showed me this, but there has been a search for Nick Steward since he was last seen September 20th. Yesterday, his car was found in the parking lot of an apartment complex off Il-83 in Vernon Hills.

A search of nearby woods and cornfields found his body. Apparently, he committed suicide.

We lived at the apartment complex, Villas By the Lake, from 1974-1975 before we moved into out house in Round Lake Beach. His car was found in the parking lot we used.

Kind of Creepy. --RoadDog

St. Patrick's Day-- Part 1

How to enjoy a St. Paddy's Day.

First, I listened to Wendy Rice do her Saturday Morning Flashback Show on WXRT in Chicago to 1967, a mighty fine year for me back in my high school days of yore. I'll be listing the songs she played this week if my mother's laptop in NC works.

Then, it was off to Pearle's to drop off out taxes on our way over to Lake Villa, Illinois, for their annual St. Patrick's Day Parade. Much bigger crowd than usual because of temps in the upper 70s and sun. Absolutely beautiful.

Met the real Irish folk, Kevin and Kelly in front of Gallati's, the old George's Cedar Inn where I deejayed after the parade for 15 years. This officially ends my deejay career as it is where I deejayed the last two times in 2010 and 2011. George sold it last spring.

Gallati's really fixed the place up as it was in bad shape and were selling beer to watch the parade with and doing a bang up business. The parade was extra long with primaries and voting coming up Tuesday. If I see another politician or hear another ad, it will be TOO SOON.

Kind of sad after seeing Milwaukee's one last Saturday. Not much to it. Just ONE bagpiper and only one small group of bouncing hairs. One neat float had someone's real wedding reception. Now, that was truly unique.

Getting Our Irish On. --RoadDog

And a Happy St. Paddy's To Ya

We will be going over to Lake Villa, Illinois, for their annual St. Patrick's Day parade. This will be their 16th one. Afterwards, there is a band and food at the VFW.

Then later tonight, it's Donovan's Reef in Twin lakes, Wisconsin, for corned beef and cabbage and plenty of green beer and a LTJ (Lap Top Jockey).

This will be the first time in 14 years that I will not be deejaying at George's Cedar Inn on Main Street for the parade. This is where the idea for the parade began all those years ago, when George and another guy decided folks should not have to go to Chicago for a St. Patrick's parade. Why not have one closer to home.

George hired me the second year they had it and I'd been there every year since. I'd be there today, except George, who is in his 70s, sold the place. I was still deejaying there the last two years even though I had already retired from deejaying. The deal was that as long as George had the place, I'd deejay this party. I didn't even charge him the last two years.

Oh Well, Things End. Things Begin. --RoadDog

Off to Milwaukee for St. Patrick's

In just a few hours, we're heading to Milwaukee for the St. Patrick's Day Parade and celebration at the Irish House.

Most years I can't go because if deejaying in Lake Villa, Illinois, for their St. Patrick's Day Parade and then the party back at George's Cedar Inn, which I did for eighteen years. I'd still be there today, except the place was sold, so here I go north!!

Where's That Green Beer? --RoadDog

Done Deejayed

I did deejay from 11 to 5 Saturday at George's Cedar Inn in downtown Lake Villa, Illinois. It was the first time in a year (since I last played there) and I was happy to see that it came back to me.

I played nothing but Irish until 2:30, then played oldies from the 50s and 60s and country music interspersed with Irish music the rest of the time. I played George's favorite "No, I Don't Want to Do Dat" by the Happy Schnapps Combo four times and, of course, had to do the "Unicorn Song." Something about those GREEN alligators.

For the last five or six years, George and I have been trying to figure out how many years I've been playing at his place after the St. Patrick's Day parade. We knew it was a lot. His daughter found a flyer from the very first parade which was in 1993. I didn't start playing until the following year.

So that is, count 'em, 18 years.

I told him again that as long as my equipment works and he has the place, I'll be back.

Was I ever beat when I got home, though and that equipment has gotten REAL heavy. I wonder how I used to work five days teaching and then deejay two or three times over the weekends.

Oh, yes. I remember now. I wasn't as old then.

What Would Maxine Say? --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: I smile because I don't know what the hell is going on.

Deejaying Tomorrow

And I sure hope I remember how to do it. The last time I deejayed was for this party a year ago.

When we got back from Florida, I had to take the equipment out to make sure it still worked before taking the job to deejay the St. Patrick's Parade party at George's Cedar Inn on Lake Villa, Illinois.

Hey, this deejay still uses cassette tapes so I'm just a little behind. Just a wee bit.

Last night and today, I recorded a cassette tape of Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys and Mumford & Sons for a new slant on Irish music. I've gotten into these bands in the last year.

I no longer deejay, but told George that as long as he'd have me or the equipment worked, I do his party. I've been doing it the last 15 or 16 years. I don't charge him either.

Here's hoping I remember how to deejay after this long layoff.

By Tomorrow, I'll be REAL Tired of Irish Music. --RoadDog


MAXINE SAYS: I have a degree in Liberal Arts. Would you like fries with that?

St. Patrick's Parade

The weather was nice to hold off the drizzle and we managed to get the annual Lake Villa, Illinois, parade in. I only saw part of it as it was overcast, windy, and LOTS OF COLD in it. Saw part of it from inside George's Cedar Inn.

As usual, we had some absolutely great corned beef and cabbage with all the fixins. This year the price was $7 and it was all-you-can eat. I have cb&c all over, but never any better than you get here.

This is one of the few places I still deejay (with my cassettes and equipment I bought in the late 1980s). Had the usual good time. The folks especially liked it when I switched over to some 1980s country and also when I played "No, I Don't Want to Do Dat." "Blatz & Sauerkraut" and "We're on a Beer Run" by the Happy Schnaaps Combo which we found out is still playing. We definitely need to see one of their great shows this summer.

Played mostly Irish music from 11:30 to 2:00 and even if I do say so, with eleven cassette tapes, I have a great selection of all things Irish music.

By Gosh and Bygora. --RoadDog

Wrinkled was not one of the things I wanted to be when I grew up.

Doing the Town Green

Just a short time from now, I'll be driving over to Lake Villa, Illinois, for their annual St. Patrick's Day Parade and party. This has been going on for at least ten years and I have deejayed at George's Cedar Inn downtown for all but the first time.

I have to get set up in advance of the noon parade as the street is blocked and I start right afterward. I generally play nothing but Irish music for a couple hours, then in intersperse oldies and what-have-you the next three hours.

This is where the parade began, when George and another guy set it up with the idea that people then wouldn't have to go all the way to Chicago or Milwaukee to celebrate.

George also serves some really great all-you-can eat corned beef and cabbage. Last year it was $7.

AN IRISH TOAST

My friends are the best friends
Loyal, willing and able.

Now let's get to drinking!
All glasses off the table!

Make Mine Green. --RoadDog

BOY, Did it Ever GET Cold

Just a week ago, we had temps in the lower 90s, but someone slipped us a Siberian Express because (as they said in the movie "Groundhog Day") it's cold out there.

I had to cancel boating yesterday and even had to dig out the jeans and sweatshirt. Temps yesterday were in the low 60s with a strong north wind. BBbbrrr.

I decided to bring a lot of the plants on the deck inside last night. This morning, there was frost on the windows of the vehicles parked outside, but fortunately, none of the plants I left out had died.

Definitely chilly out there at the Lehman Mansion in Lake Villa, Illinois, where I spent the afternoon at the SCV table at the Civil War Encampment.

It is supposed to warm up this next week. I guess we had our little winter preview.

Way Too Cold Way Too Early. --RoadDog