A Day with the Groundhog in Woodstock then the Bars of McHenry and Johnsburg

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Drove to Woodstock, Illinois, for the last day of their Groundhog Days Festival.  I saw the movie "Groundhog Day" in the big screen at the Woodstock Theatre which was in the movie as the Alpine Theatre where Bronco Billy Murray and date went.  I didn't know the date was Mrs. Gary Fencik, Chicago Bears player from Super Bowl XX.

The place was packed and everyone was laughing at the comments.

Then took a walk around the Woodstock Square past the Top Top Cafe (now a Mexican restaurant) and Bill's Puddle, where Ned accosted Bill, the Pennsylvanian Hotel (Woodstock Opera House) and the bar where they drank to world peace.

Of course, the entire square itself was the site of Gobbler's Knob where the groundhog was pulled out of his burrow.   It also was where they danced in the gazebo, where Bill did his ice sculpture and the snowball fight.

Stopped at Wayne's Lanes which was the bowling alley in the movie where Bill saw his glass as half enpty and where the drunks got in the car and led the cops on a chase.  They now have a cut out of Bill Murray at the spot he was sitting at.

Drove to McHenry and had Bloody Marys at the Polish Legion  ($2.75), mixed drinks at the McHenry American Legion (rail drinks $3) and beers at Sunnyside  ($2).

Busy Day.  That Darn Goundhog's Got To Be Stopped.  --RoadHog

Woodstock Willie "The Groundhog" Arrested for Making A False Forecast

From 13 WREX Rockford, Illinois,  NBC " 'Woodstock Willie'  questioned by police after predicting  early Spring"

Make sure you view the video for pictures of the arrest and booking.

They said it better than I could so this is the text of the message:

"Woodstock (where the famous movie was filmed), Illinois.   After three days  of searching, Woodstock police  finally have a suspect in custody, but released him without charges.

"Woodstock Willie was taken in for questioning on Thursday.  He is suspected in a false forecast.

"Willie predicted  an early Spring on Groundhog Day on February 2.  (I saw him wandering around the Woodstock Square on several occasions that day, but didn't suspect anything.)

Police said a sergeant spotted him today, he was cooperative but was released until police see what the weather  will be like on the first day of Spring."

Temperature here in Spring Grove is at a high of 17 degrees right now with a strong wind.  It is COLD!!

This morning the temperature was 4 degrees.  Right now at 1 pm, it is a "balmy 26 degrees.  We forget what it is like to be above freezing.

Was He Just Being Mean?  Not Funny, Oversized Rodent!!!  --RoadDog

DeKalb and Woodstock-- Part 4: Drinking to World Peace and the Glass Is Half Full

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

Sunday morning we checked out, drove around campus and the Lagoon and stopped at White Castle and tried one of their chicken waffle sandwiches.  Mighty good.

Then drove to Woodstock, Illinois, where their Groundhog Days Festival was still underway.

I've always wanted to go to the Public House next to the old court house, where the bar scenes featuring "I drink to world peace" were filmed.  usually this place is packed during the Groundhog Festival, but today it wasn't and we even got to sit where Andie and Bill sat at the edge of the bar.

Even better, we decided to give the sweet vermouth with a twist a try.  And, of course, they had it.  You could get a drink of it in a small glass with the Groundhog Day varmint on it and "I Drink to World Peace."  It wasn't as bad as Bill Murray made it seem like.

We then went over to Wayne's Lanes, the bowling alley featured in the movie where Bill was sitting with the two guys complaining about having to live  the same day over and over.  We parked where the car was that they got in before being chased by the cops and playing chicken with the train.

A Groundhog Kind of a Day.  --RoadDog

Good Times Last Weekend

FRIDAY, JANUARY 29  Went to Popeye's (not the fried chicken chain) in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin for their most excellent fish fry overlooking the famous Riviera Docks on Geneva Lake.  Great view and plenty of nautical effects as well as some of the best broiled and fried fish, potato pancakes and seasoned fries, cole slaw and hush puppies you're going to get anywhere.

Stopped at Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin on the way home.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 30--  The whole weekend I spent a lot of time chopping back the ice/snow from the sides of the driveway as we had temps into the 40s.

Drove to Woodstock, Illinois, for their annual Groundhog Days Festival.  This is where the famous movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray was filmed.  Listened to Bob Hudgins, movie site manager, for a bit as he led a large group to the many movie sites around the famed Woodstock Square and downtown.

I walked over to Wayne's Lanes, featured in the movie and watched part of te movie.  Outside of the bowling alley was where they got into the car before going on the chase where they ended up on the railroad tracks.

Last stop was at the Public House by the old courthouse, where the "Drink to World Peace" scenes were filmed, but it was too crowded so came home.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 31--  Celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX Championship at the Squaw Bar in Ingleside, Illinois, by watching the "Super Bowl Shuffle" and the game.  Huge , loud and appreciative crowd cheering the whole way.

Good Times For All.  --RoadDog

YOU KNOW IT'S JULY IN FLORIDA WHEN:  Hot water comes out of both taps.

Groundhog Day Festival in Woodstock on Saturday

I went to Woodstock, but was too late for the free showing of the famous movie at the Woodstock Theatre which was the Alpine Theater in the movie.  Instead, I went to the Square Mall and went to the Defenders' Book Store which sells donated books and CDs.  I did my part to support them.

I walked by the site of the Top Cafe, where Bill stuffed his face and knew everyone, but it was too crowded.  Walked by the theater and saw on the marque that they had "The Imitation Game" which I have been wanting to see, so saw it and missed the chili cookoff.

I did go by Wayne's Lanes, the bowling alley where Bill had his glass half full discussion with the two townies.  Afterwards, they got into the car and went for their wild ride.

Had a couple brews and watched part of the movie.  It was neat to see the scene and be sitting right there.

A Fun day.  --RoadDog

And This Past Weekend: Boating, Bars, Beer, Bands and Festivals

THURSDAY, JULY 11TH

JABD (Just Another Boating Day)--

Boat Float in Fox Lake, Blueberry Hill and Aquarium on Nippersink Lake. Antioch for It's Thursday concert. Wings at Sequoit Lodge and then Mellancougar (John Mellancamp tribute). Thirsty Turtle on the way home.

FRIDAY, JULY 12TH-- JABD. Blarney Island and Grasslake Landing. Kelly and Kevin's place on Fox Lake. Legion.

SATURDAY, JULY 13TH-- Saturday Morning Flashback on WXRT to 1969. Port Edwards in Algonquin, drinks and appetizers by the Fox River.

Rotary Ribfest in Lake In the Hills, Illinois. Great ribs and corn as well as tribute bands Fortunate Sons (CCR) and Heartache Tonight (Eagles). Woodstock Square on the way home.

SUNDAY, JULY 14TH-- Rock and Roll Roots. Gazebo. Chicago-style hot dogs (99 cents) at 59 Roost and the band Soda playing 3 to 7 at Captain's Quarters.

Not a Bad Weekend. --RoadDog

Did My Groundhog Thing

This being the Groundhog celebration and me living near Woodstock, Illinois, where the famous movie was filmed, I somewhat fully availed myself of it.

FEBRUARY 2ND--Thursday GROUNDHOG DAY

Drove to Woodstock in as heavy of a fog as I've ever seen. I wasn't much worried about Woodstock Willie, our resident groundhog and prognosticator seeing his shadow. I wasn't much sure that we would even be able to see him in all this fog. A bigger crowd than I've ever seen.

FEBRUARY 3RD-- FRIDAY

I was gong to go to the dinner dance at the Moose Lodge in Woodstock where they filmed the dance and bachelor auction, but decided not to go. Instead ended up at Stormy Monday, a new bar that just opened in the old Costello's where we used to hang out. Also went to the Mineola Hotel which dates back to the 1880s.


FEBRUARY 4TH-- SATURDAY

Went to Woodstock and saw the "Groundhog Day" movie on the big screen at the Woodstock Theatre (which was the Alpine Theater in the movie). Then walked around the square, got our groundhog cookie at the Swiss Miss (by where Needle Nose Ned accosted Phil) and got my eats at the chili cook off. Saw some of the movie site walk before coming home.

This 40 degree weather and sun sure brought out the most people I've ever seen.

Doing My Groundhog Thing. --RoadDog

Eagles Tribute

This past Saturday, Liz and I went as guests of Laura and Ed, over to the Woodstock, Illinois, Opera House where we saw a really good Eagles Tribute Band, Heartache Tonight.

Before that, we had dinner at the very crowded Angelo's Family restaurant, across the street from the Opera House. This place was originally supposed to be the site of the Tip Top Cafe where a lot of the action in the movie "Groundhog Day" took place, but it ended up being filmed in a vacant building across the square, which is now open as a Greek restaurant, but is plaqued outside as a movie site.

We had seats in the balcony and any seat in the place is a good one. A local bluegrass band, True Blue, opened with a couple songs.

A recorded message came on about the whole Tribute Series (Fleetwood Mac next Saturday and Johnny Cash after that) saying that even the Chicago Symphonic Orchestra is a Tribute band. After all Chopin, Beethoven, Mozart and others have been dead for quite a few years. Plus, groups age and can no longer play like they originally did. Made sense as I have never thought about it like that.

Heartache Tonight, named after an Eagles song, consists of six musicians who have a long list of band credits among them and are extremely talented. Not only are they musically tight, but they have the vocals down as well. If you closed your eyes, you were at an actual Eagles concert, it was that good.

They opened with "Heartache Tonight" of course and then proceeded to play many of the Eagles hits. Every so often they also played one of the solo efforts. The last song was at 11 and then there was the encore song, so I was bit tired.

Well worth Seeing If You Get the Chance. --RoadDog


QUESTIONABLE HEADLINES: Cold Waved Linked to Temperature. (And I have an idea it might be cold temperatures at that.)

Asleep at the Wheel

Here is what the Woodstock Opera House had to say about Asleep at the Wheel:

"Asleep at the Wheel, the nine-time Grammy winning Kings of Western Swing, is on the road and out touring behind their latest record, Reinventing the Wheel; the follow-up to the critically acclaimed, Grammy-winning, Gold-selling album, Ride with Bob.

The band's newest member, Elizabeth McQueen, brings her acting, vocal and guitar-playing ability to the fold and truly gets the Wheel back to band-leader Ray Benson's original "revue concept". Asleep at the Wheel's live set features everything from traditional Western Swing, country, blues and jazz with a cool retro edge and a good dose of humor. This is one ride you won't want to miss."

Setlist- June 29th- Woodstock Opera House

1. Miles and Miles of Texas
2. Get Your Kicks on Route 66
3. Don't Fence Me In
4. I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine
5. Eliza Jane
6. Sitting on Top of the World
7. Take Me Back to Tulsa
8. (I'm an) Old Cowhand from the Rio Grande
9. Your Mind is On Vacation and Your Mouth is Working Overtime
10. The Cape
11. This Old Cowboy
12. Pancho & Lefty
13. I Guess My Heart Just Settled Back to Earth
14. You're My Sugar (But, You're Never Sweet to Me)
15. Am I Right or Amarillo
16. San Antonio Rose
17. Faded Love
18. We're the Texas Playboys from the Lone Star State
19. Wonderful World
20. Choo Choo Ch'Boogie
21. Hot Rod Lincoln
22. House of Blue Lights

encore

1. Big Balls in Cowtown
2. Happy Trails

Mighty Good Show!

That Pretty-Well Sums It Up for Me. --RoadDog

Asleep at the Wheel- Part 3- Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep At the Wheel

They then did a song by the Blind Boys of Alabama called "The Cape" and dedicated it to all who have at one time that all they had to do was tie a cape around them and fly. There was then an extended jam on their jazzy take of "This Old Cowboy".

AATW had recently been out on the road with Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, and Ray Price in an oldies revue. They did a great take on Willie and Merle's "Pancho & Lefty" and a new one by Willie called "I Guess my Heart Just Settled Back to Earth". PBS will be airing the show of these country stalwarts in August. Ray Benson said they just backed them, but he thinks they did a pretty good job.

Next up was the hilarious "You're My Sugar (But You're Never Sweet to Me)" which was sung by the girl, Elizabeth McQueen and the fiddle player. One line went, "That new fur coat you bought me just got up and walked away."

From the new album came a great play on words song, "Am I Right or Amarillo". The fiddler did a lot of playing on this song. Ray said this was a big hit in that panhandle town. They then stayed in Texas with "San Antonio Rose" complete with Bob Wills-style "Oh Yeahs". You'd almost swear the Texas Playboys were there in the house. Then came "Faded Love" sung sad enough to make tears well up in your eyes. Shivers down my spine on, "I miss you darling, more and more each day."

Next was Bob Wills' theme song "We're the Texas Playboys from the Lonestar State". Ray said you can check out some cuts from their "Ride With Bob" album at ridewithbob.com, but doubted that Bob Wills ever had a .com.

Then Louis Armstrong's "Wonderful World" and Choo Choo Ch'Boogie". That's right, "Take me right back to the track, Jack!" This was all calls, boogie-woogie piano, and sax. One of their best songs.

Next to last song of the show was "Hot Rod Lincoln" Ray did a long solo guitar play and later there were flashing lights and sirens at the point where they got pulled over. Ray went into an account of what happened at that point. And it just continued to get worse. Everything he said just got him into more trouble with the cop. "Busted in Mundelein again" brought a big laugh as that is a nearby town. But occifer (trouble), I was operating this vehicle Asleep at the Wheel (more trouble). Here's our latest CD in form of a bribe (even more trouble). Then he got thrown into jail and his dad was called to throw his bail. And he said, "Son, you're going to drive me to drinking if you don't stop driving that hot-rod Lincoln." This brought down the house.

The last song was the "House of Blue Lights".

The first encore was "Big Balls in Cow Town" and then "Happy Trails".

I went to the table where they were selling souvenirs at near the end of the first encore so as to beat the rush. I wanted to buy the new album "Reinventing the Wheel" but didn't when I was told it would be $20, a bit too much. I did buy two bumper stickers, including one that said "Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep at the Wheel".

Listened to AATW's greatest hits CD on the way home.

I partied with AATW. --RoadDog

Asleep at the Wheel Part II- cont. from June 30th

The band came on the stage, and with no banter, launched immediately into "Miles and Miles of Texas", one of my favorites. Ray Benson looks a lot like current country star Trace Atkins, both are tall with deep voices and long pony tails. Besides Benson on lead guitar, there was an upright bass, a steel guitar (also played the sax), a woman on guitar, drummer, and another man who played mandolin, fiddle, and guitar. They were very tight in their sound.

The second song, we boogie-woogied down the Mother Road with "Get Your Kicks on Route 66". Ray, the fiddle player, and the girl took turns singing it. This really got the crowd going. AATW 's (Asleep at the Wheel) version is, to my way of thinking, the very best of all of the seven or eight hundred versions of the song. If it doesn't get your toe to tapping, you've got a dead toe.

Then, they played "Don't Fence Me In". From their newest album, "Reinventing the Wheel", they played "I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine". The girl took the lead on this one. Ray still calls them albums and he talked about a new play he and the band were involved in about Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. They're still looking for someone to play the role of Bob Wills. Ray says he's too old and doesn't look like Bob so he can't play the part.

Next song was "Eliza Jane" with the fiddle player doing the Bob Wills calls. Then, Ray showed his guitar chops on the bluesy "Sittin' On Top of the World." Watch out Buddy Guy! Roy can do his licks.

Then "Take Me Back to Tulsa"-one of my favorites and, off the new album, "I'm an Old Cow Hand from the Rio Grande". AATW put a lot of songs that'd been wanting to perform on this new collection. "Your Mind is on Vacation and Your Mouth is Working Overtime" was hilarious as the title would suggest. With lines like, "If silence was golden, you couldn't raise a dime," how could it not be. At one point, Ray was singing as deep as the member of the Oak Ridge Boys on "Elvira".

To Be Continued.....

Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's AATW!!! --RoadDog

Goodbye Cicadas...We Hardly Knew Ye, Well, Some of Us

The great infestation of Cicada Brood XIII has come and gone here in the Chicago area. Some people really got to see them, some, like me, saw some, others saw none. It just depended where you were.

I saw a couple at the historic Woodstock Square, and a couple in the yard here in Spring Grove. I did come across large numbers in Bull Valley, especially along Thompson Road. I had to wash the car after a couple encounters there. The last one I saw in the yard was flying for his life with a sparrow in hot pursuit.

Those people who were in areas heavily populated by them had quite a cleanup to do, as well as a battle with the stench of their decaying bodies, which were in the thousands in some spots. That smell was described as a cross between dead raccoon and fresh-mown grass. Personally, I like the smell of fresh-mown grass, but could do without the dead raccoon.

The Chicago Tribune ran an article on June 23rd, about the scientists and observers who were frantically running around the whole area gathering information about them. If the cicadas were busy this past month molting, mating, laying eggs, and dying, these stalwarts were just as occupied.

Reporter John Blemer went along with University of Connecticut entomologist John Cooley, who, along with a dozen others, fanned out across four states listening for that unmistakable buzz. I found that individuals sounded more like a crying, screaming mix. However, along Thompson Road, the chorus almost hurt your ears.

On the 24th, Cooley had driven out to Fox Lake (by us), Woodstock, and as far west as Rock Cut State Park near Rockford. His mission to collect new data on the cicadas. He was sponsored by the National Geographic. Hopefully, we will have a better idea where they'll be in 2024 when they make their return. Modern technology such as cell phones, global positioning, and interactive web maps will help.

Sometimes, he would stop every tenth of a mile and listen. In Bull Valley, he didn't have to as it was so loud. He had gone as far south as Springfield, to central Iowa, and southern Wisconsin. All together, he went about 7000 miles.

Sure Would Have Liked to See Some More Cicadas, but Maybe that was for the Best. Now I Have Those Very UNWELCOME Japanese Beetles. --RoadDog

Asleep At The Wheel--Live in Woodstock, Illinois

"Western Swing Ain't Dead, It's Asleep at the Wheel." That's what it says on the bumper stickers, tee shirts, and brochures. If there is a band anywhere that better represents this genre of music, I'd sure like to know who they are.

Ray Benson's band since 1970 had the packed Opera House in Woodstock, Illinois, rocking and swinging for almost two hours during their show last night. I was in one of probably the worst seats in the place, made even worse by the lady with the "big hair" that sat in front of me, but even then, I had a good view of the center of the stage and stage right.

I hadn't bought my ticket until about two weeks ago, the day of my first encounter with one of those 17 year cicadas. The couple next to me bought just the day before, and that is why we were in the "cheap seats" even though all seats were the same price, $28. If they come back, I will get my tickets right away. First row in the balcony will be my choice.

While waiting to go in, I walked around the beautiful town square and saw a lot of the sites from the film "Groundhog Day" that starred Bill Murray. Most of it was filmed right here in Woodstock which stood in for Punxsutawney, Pa., something that still irks the good folk there.

There is a Stage Left room attached to the Opera House (which was originally Woodstock's City Hall built in the 1890s). They were having an open mike night with some good performers.

The couple next to me were from Woodstock and had lived there for 22 years. She agreed with me that Illinois Route 47 is a nightmare as far as traffic, and they avoid it whenever possible. Fortunately, they know a lot of ways around it. She drives Bull Valley Road every day during the school year since she is a teacher at West McHenry High School. This is one of the most beautiful drives anywhere in Illinois.

Her husband had been an extra during the filming of "Groundhog Day". He said he was behind Andie McDowell in one scene at Gobbler's Knob, and had had to do about twelve takes on one scene by the bed and breakfast.

The show started right at 8PM, as advertised (I always hate it when you have to wait an hour or more for a performer to start their show). Ken Wilkins was the opening act and did a solo show for about 20 minutes. He said he played most Wednesdays at Stage Left and, after hearing him, I plan to see him. He has a great voice and included yodeling.

The Show will be continued.... --RoadDog

I Get to Meet a Cicada!!!

Much has been made about this "invasion" of the 17 year cicadas here in the Chicago area. There really hasn't been much to it as far as I'm concerned. If they're here, I'm not seeing them.

I did see one meeting its demise in the beak of a sparrow a few weeks ago (see earlier posting). There are very few in Chicago and it seems that the close-in suburbs like Highland Park and Lake Forest have huge numbers. I know of none here in Spring Grove.

I wouldn't expect any here at the house, as it was built in 1992 and cicadas don't do well where the soil has been disturbed. Plus, back in 1900, our house was in some farmer's field. (Our subdivision, Orchard Bluff Estates, also had a treed area and apple orchard).

Yesterday, after visiting with Liz's mom Frances in Woodstock (right on the historic square), I got to see one up close and personal. I'd just gone to the 1890s Opera House (formerly City Hall) to buy a ticket to the upcoming Asleep at the Wheel show later this month. This is one of my favorite groups who do my absolute favorite version of "Get Your Kicks on Route 66". I have most of their albums (for you younger folks, that would be CDs). They play a lot of the Western Swing music as popularized by Bob Wills & the Texas Playboys in the 40s.

On the way back, I saw a younger couple, probably about 18), and the guy was busily stomping something in the grass. I asked him if it was a cicada and he said yes. It had flown onto him and scared him. That cicada will scare no more people. I told him that was too bad, as I really wanted to see a cicada and hadn't seen one up close. By the way, the Woodstock Square dates from the 1850s, so there are some very old trees in it.

He said there was another one on the other side of the tree. I looked and there was!!! I picked it up and looked into those red bulging Marty Feldman (I'm watching "Young Frankenstein" right now; for the first time-ever) eyes. One of its wings was partly gone, so it couldn't fly away, but it did make quite a buzzing sound. This is one ugly insect and thankfully, they don't bite.

I have seen people putting netting on newly planted trees (which can be damaged by them). Plus, Walgreens is selling "I Survived the 17 year cicadas" teeshirts. Bob, you will be happy to know I didn't buy one. Why should I, I haven't really seen enough to make it true?

On the way home from Woodstock, I took one of the most beautiful drives anywhere I've ever seen, down Bull Valley Road, which is canopy for much of the way. At one point, I pulled over and turned down the sound on my new Toby Keith "Big Dog Daddy" album (CD for you younger folk) and had a listen. Supposedly, the male cicadas put out a big sound, akin to standing within 100 yards of a jet takeoff, while trying to attract a mate. I could hear something off in the distance, but don't know if it was the Sound of the Cicada.

Fly to Me, Fly to Me, You Ugly Cicadas. --RoadDog