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

Out Boating September 12th, 2017-- Part 1: Chain of Lakes, Mineola and Beer Can Bridge

Did some yardwork after FB

Drove over to Fox Lake and found gas gouged to $2.70.  Sure glad I filled up last weekend at the Mobil station in Johnsburg which was at $2.47.

Took our boat (School's Out...Forever!!) out for a cruise through Fox Lake, Nippersink Lake, Beer Can Bridge and into Pistakee Lake to McDonald's.  There is a reason they call our area the Chain of Lakes.

On the way, I passed the increasingly sad Mineola Hotel, which is falling into serious neglect.  It was a mini Grand Hotel like the one on Mackinac Island and a beautiful structure.  So sad to see it go.

Beer Can Bridge is so named because  it is not very high and over the years boaters going under it have placed beer cans on its understructure.  Not so cool anymore, though as about half the items are glass bottles.



--RoadDog

One Massive Fireworks Display- Good Times Out on the Chain

Last night, we had one of the best fireworks displays ever out on the Chain of Lakes here in the northeastern part of Illinois. This was billed as the second biggest in the state and I wouldn't doubt it. They were going off three and four at a time with a big halfway display, and then the end covered the whole sky for a good five minutes. You couldn't have counted the explosions if you had wanted to do so.

Of course the several thousand boats and their anchor lights was quite a sight as well.

The day started for me at 10 AM with what probably was the Village of Fox Lake's longest-ever parade that went on for a little over an hour. This was part of the Celebrate Fox Lake party in honor of the centennial of incorporation.

I lost count of all the firetrucks at the beginning of it and their sirens and air horns were deafening, causing little kids to cover their ears and great discomfort among the dogs. I was surprised to see that the old Mineola Hotel, our answer to the Grand Hotel in Mackinac, Mi, had two old fire engines itself dating back to the era before Fox Lake was incorporated one hundred years ago.

The kids were very disappointed at first as it is the tradition around here to throw candy from the cars and floats. No one was throwing anything. However, after about twenty minutes they were able to start loading up their candy bags.

After about 30 minutes, there was a break in the parade, so I walked over to the vendor/food area and talked with some friends at the American Legion booth and had an excellent bratwurst from Freddie's, a favorite lakeside tavern of mine where I like to play NTN.

Drove over to Woodstock to visit with my mother-in-law Frances and enjoy that great old square and farmer's market.

I came home and then Liz and I went over to Baja Benny's on Fox Lake and enjoyed an oldies band playing on the deck overlooking the water. Then it was on to Rick's, where we keep our boat on a channel. Matt had spent quite a bit on fireworks and they were setting them off. We then went to Rick's Turkey Bar (he is known as the Turkey Man because he caters a lot of parties with his deep-fried turkey) on the channel and listened to the Michael Lescher Band playing several doors down the channel at Kevan's. Later, Rick brought out two deep-fried turkeys. Now, that is some good eatin'.

Last stop was over at the Kellehers where we enjoyed the fireworks. They have a place right on Fox Lake. It was almost deja vu at the start. One group of fireworks went up and about two minutes later, another group. Then, we had nothing for twenty minutes. However, the numerous parties along the shore had their own fireworks shows going on, and some were almost as impressive as some small towns. They must have spent large amounts of money on them.

Two years ago, we had the infamous L-O-N-G fireworks display that went on for four hours, a little at a time. That was the most boring one I've ever seen. (The company had a computer glitch, but put on a free one later in August to make up for it.) We were just packing to laeve, when the show went on. I guess we should've gotten ready to leave sooner. It was worth the wait.

We also found a reasonably fast way to get home as all the cars leave at the end. Last year, I spend about an hour going absolutely nowhere on Grand Avenue as they were letting all the Mineola peple go through first. There were hundreds of boats line up going under Beer Can Bridge and the other US Route 12 bridge. That was quite an impressive sight.

Today, we went back over to the Kellehers for the Day After Party I. We had planned to have Ribfest I, but it was too hot (temps in middle 90s). We were forced to make do with roast beef sandwiches. Well, some people just have to make sacrifices sometimes.

Finally Finished with Fourth of July Celebrations. --RoadDog

The Really Big Shoooow!

Fireworks over Mineola Bay in honor of Fourth of July and Fox Lake's Centennial Celebration.

Pete Jakstas, Sr., the owner of the historic Mineola Hotel dating back to the 1880s, says he remembers back to the first couple of years when he put on the show for boaters and landlubbers with a budget of $4,200. This year's has $65,000 worth of fireworks and is considered the second biggest in Illinois after Chicago's $100,000 show on Tuesday.

He promises it to be the biggest show ever. Also, it will be his last as he is retiring. About 30,000 are expected to view if from several thousand boats anchored in Fox Lake as well as many parties along the shores. Of course, there will be a big celebration at the Mineola. The show will last 28 minutes.

J & M Fireworks Display of Burlington, Iowa, will put on the show.

"There will be surprises and a finale that no one will ever forget," said Jakstas.

We're headed out for a couple parties in a few minutes. However, we will view it from shore. It is too much of a madhouse out on the water. But all those anchor lights bobbing up and down is impressive in itself.

Oooohin' and Ahhhhhhin' Again. --RoadDog

Day After Party on Fox Lake

Kelly and Kevin have been friends of ours for a about 13 years now, ever since I met them while they were special ed aides at Magee Middle School, where I taught from 1973 to 2006. They got their social work and special ed degrees and Kelly teaches in Antioch and Kevin is a social worker in Waukegan.

About six years ago, they bought a place right on Mineola Bay which is a part of Fox Lake. They now have two major parties each year: an End-of-the-Year school party (keeping our old tradition) in June and the Fourth of July fireworks celebration on the water. I really like going to these, talking with their friends, great food, and cooling drinks. Hey, Life is Good!!!

We traditionally have a Day After Party to finish the leftovers. Sometimes there's a Day After Party II and even, on occasion, Day After Party III. These past two days we had Day After Parties. The weather was perfect. Yesterday, we boated over to it after floating around in the bay for awhile and reading the paper. Now, that is relaxing!!! Generally, there are only six to eight people at these.

We had looked seriously back in 1991 and 1992 at getting a place on the water, but decided to build where we did when it became apparent that we could get a place on the water or the house that we wanted. We couldn't afford both.

Hey, I'm sitting here right now listening to Old Uncle Billy Smith on the Surf. Getting that great Beach Music live from Myrtle Beach, SC. Ain't that sumthin'.

Love Them Day After Parties. --RoadDog

THIS DAY IN HISTORY-- 1777- Congress adopts the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of our young country. That means that today is Flag Day. Go put out your flag right now. I know Mom always has the US flag and NC flag out on that wonderful porch.