Bucket List of Illinois Events-- Part 5: Driving, Buildings and a Fort

17.  SPOON RIVER SCENIC DRIVE--  Fulton County  First two weekends of October

Rural area made famous by Edgar Lee Master's "Spoon River Anthology.  Roughly 140 miles.

18.  OPEN HOUSE CHICAGO--  Chicago  Early October

Free access to over 200 buildings for a behind-the-scene peak.  Many are not regularly open to the public.

19.  FORT MASSAC ENCAMPMENT--  Metropolis   Middle October

Hey, Superman's home and see what life was like in Illinois back in the late 1700s at Fort Massac.

20.  FEAST OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE--  Des Plaines

Tens of thousands on Catholic pilgrims, many of then Mexican make their way to pray or lay flowers at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

--RoadDog

Salute Those Vietnam Veterans Today

Today is National Vietnam Veterans Day.  I have my flag flying.

Over 58,000 Americans died.  Over two and a half million served.

In the early 1960s we sent military advisors to South Vietnam and by 1963, some 16,000 Americans were there.  After the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution the conflict expanded and by 1968, there were 500,000 military there.

The last American fighting troops left on March 29, 1973, which is why we commemorate their service today.

Hats Off to the Vietnam War Veterans!!!

Bucket List of Illinois Events-- Part 4: Swept Under the Table at the House

13.  ARCOLA BROOM CORN FESTIVAL--  Arcola    Early September

Get swept away at this broom corn bash.  Arcola is a leading producer of brooms made with ornamental grass.

14.  MORTON PUMPKIN FESTIVAL--  Morton

Enough pumpkins are processed here each year to fill 50 million pumpkin pies.  That's why they call themselves the Pumpkin Capital of the World.

15.  VINTAGE ILLINOIS--  Utica    Mid-September

Drinkin' wine spo-de-doh.  Get a taste of Illinois-made wines.

16.  TOUR OF HISTORIC GALENA HOMES--  Galena   End of September

Much preservation in this city with so many homes pre-Civil War.  Hey, and U.S. Grant's home is here also.

Wine and Pumpkins  --RoadDog

Bucket List of Illinois Events-- Part 3: Tugging the Corn At the Parade

These were put out in honor of the Illinois Bicentennial of statehood in 2018.

9.  GREAT RIVER TUG FEST--  Port Byron   Early August

Teams from Illinois and Iowa pull their weight on a  2,700 foot rope between Port Byron and Le Claire, Iowa.  And, that would be across something called the Mississippi River.  As of 2018, Illinois leads 20-11.  Sorry Hawkeyes.

10.  MENDOTA SWEET CORN FESTIVAL--   Mendota  Early August

More than 50 tons of sweet corn gets devoured after being cooked by a vintage steam engine.

DeKalb has a Corn fest near the end of August.

11.  ILLINOIS STATE FAIR--  Springfield    Mid-August

A life size cow made of butter is just one thing to see.  And, you can eat Cozy Dogs.  Worth admission right there.

12.  BUD BILLIKEN PARADE--  Chicago   Second Saturday of August.

Just the way to get you ready for school.  The largest black parade in the country.

--RoadDog

Bucket List of Illinois Events-- Part 2: Superman, Milk and a Taste

5.  HARVARD MILK DAYS,  Harvard  Early June

Billed as the state's longest-running hometown festival started in 1942.  I remember dropping one of our actives off  in Harvard after taking him for a ride when I was pledging Delta Sigma Phi in 1970 and thinking about taking the cow statue downtown for a ride.  We didn't.

6.  SUPERMAN CELEBRATION, Metropolis   Early June

Way downstate, but with a name like this town has, you'd kind of have to do this.  See the 15-foot-tall statue of "favorite son."

7. MORE ON 34    US Highway 34  Aurora to Galesburg    Mid-June

All sorts of stuff for sale in flea markets, yard sales and etc..

Lincoln Highway also has a Lincoln Buy-Way along its route during the summer.

8.  McHENRY FIESTA DAYS / ANTIOCH TASTE OF SUMMER  McHenry and Antioch

These two towns are about twenty miles apart and have these two festivals at the same time.  We live right between them and I keep trying to get them to have it at different times, but no luck yet.

--RoadDog

Bucket List of Illinois Events to Visit-- Part 1: Groundhog Days and Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival

From the January 7, 2019, Chicago Tribune.

This was in honor of Illinois' Bicentennial of statehood last year.

1.  GROUNDHOG DAYS,  Woodstock  Around Feb. 2, Groundhog Day, you know.  Site of movie "Groundhog Day" starring Bill Murray.  Activities over the whole weekend.

2.  BLESSING THE BIKES,  Alto Pass   Motorcyclists kick off season in Shawnee National Forest.  Late April.

3.  RED CARPET CORRIDOR FESTIVAL, Joliet to Towanda along Route 66.  Each of 13 towns has something going on that weekend.  Early May.  There is also a Blue Carpet Corridor Festival for cities south of Springfield in September.

4.  BIKE THE DRIVE , Chicago    For one morning in late May, cars are kicked off Lake Shore Drive and bicyclists get their shot.

--RoadDog

Along the Lincoln Highway: The Penn-Irwin Motel Closes in Pennsylvania

From the March 22, 2019, Trib Live  "A Route 30 mainstay, historic Penn-Irwin Motel closes as owners retire" by Steve Huba.

The motel has operated for 73 years on U.S. 30 and the western terminus of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but new interchanges were built on the turnpike and people began bypassing the old Irwin at North Huntington.  Owners Gary (71) and Deb (68) Salada decided it was time to retire and closed their doors on Saturday, March 23..

They have owned the historic motel for the last 34 years and are the third owners since the place opened in 1946.  It is setback from the highway but visible in the woods with its neon sign reading "A Quiet Night's Sleep Assured."

There were originally five buildings, each with two rooms featuring knotty pine walls and wooden furniture.

The property has been sold to Colony Holding who has plans to develop the property.

--RoadDog

Along 66, Feb. 2019: "Green Book" and A Passport

FEBRUARY 20--  The Smithsonian Channel's "Green Book" documentary will air Monday, Feb. 25 at 8 pm Eastern.  Too late.  You missed it as did I because we don't have the Smithsonian Channel.  Too bad as I really would like to have seen it.

Sure glad it is not necessary to have a Green Book anymore, but I am glad people are becoming aware of it now, including myself.

FEBRUARY 22--  The Route 66 Navigation creators are working on a Route 66 Passport. as a smart phone app.  You get stamps at select visitors centers.

Passports are always good to help spark tourism.

--RoadDog

Along 66, Feb. 2019: A Bridge, A Sign and No More Trailers

FEBRUARY 18--  Work to replace the historic Horse Creek Bridge near Afton, Oklahoma, is underway.  It was built in 1936 on the east side of town.  Now it is structurally deficient.

We must have driven over it if it is on 66, but don't remember it.

FEBRUARY 19--  The Sonrise Donuts sign in Springfield, Illinois, came down.  It was on top of the building for 70 years and Springfield purchased the sign recently for $22,000.  But, it will be restored to its former glory and placed somewhere, so it is not gone.

Always enjoyed looking at it as we drove by and we once ate in the building when it was open.

FEBRUARY  20--  The Enchanted Trails RV Park & Trading Post is no longer renting out its vintage tractors.  It is in West Albuquerque, New Mexico.  In the past you could stay in a 1974 Silver Streak, 1959 Spartan, 1969 Airstream or 1956 Yellowstone.

They said it was too expensive to keep the trailers in condition.  That would have been a trip back into time.

--RoadDog

Along 66, Feb. 2019: Launching Pad Food and Neon Signs

FEBRUARY 16--  The Launching Pad Drive-In in Wilmington, Illinois is hoping to be offering a full-service menu by April.  It is owned now by Tully Garrett and Holly Barker.  They bought the place in 2017 after it had been closed for seven years.

It opened in 1960 as the Dairy Delite by John and Betty Korelc and renamed the Launching Pad in 1965, after the U.S. space program.  The Gemini Giant also came in 1965.

Of course, this is the home of the world famous Gemini Giant.

They are offering a selection called a Carolina Dogs.  Could this be one with cole slaw.  And if they have that, how about some of that great Carolina 'Cue?

My biggest problem with the Launching Pad is that it is too close to the Polka-Dot in Braidwood. You can't eat at both as you'd be way too full.

FEBRUARY  17--  The Tulsa Route 66 Commission will soon begin a neon sign program.  Always time for more neon signs in my book.

--RoadDog

Along 66, February 2019: H.R. 66, Ted Drewes

These stories are taken from the Route 66 News blog which has many more and more in depth stories.  If you're keeping up with Route 66, that is the place you want to go.

FEBRUARY 6--  Fire has damaged the historic, but closed Brookshire Motel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  It is at 11017 E. 11th Street.  It has a neat looking main building.

FEBRUARY 7--  The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Route 66 Centennial Commission Act.  How's this for a bill number:  H.R. 66.  Hey, anybody looking for a member?  I'll sign up.

FEBRUARY 13--  Ted Drewe's Frozen Custard gas opened for its 90th year.  I am just about through with my St. Louis boycott because of the removal of the Confederate monument so look forward to tasting that good stuff again.

--RoadDog

Got Our Irish On This Past Weekend

The objective was to eat lots of corned beef & cabbage, drink a lot of green beer, see a parade and have lots of entertainment.  After all, it only comes once a year.  Enjoy it while you can.

FRIDAY, MARCH 15

Movie Day.  I saw the new movies "Captive State" and "Captain Marvel" at the Fox Lake Theatre.  Then went to the Fox Lake American Legion for the corned beef & cabbage dinner, green beer and a deejay.

SATURDAY, MARCH 16

Went to the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society meeting in the morning, then to Lake Villa for the St. Patrick's party at the VFW and parade on Main Street.  I have a long history with this party as I deejayed at Ed's Cedar Inn for many years.  However, it is closed now.

We had a great you-know-what meal, lots of green beer and enjoyed the band Typhoid Mary.  Stopped at the Fox Lake Legion on the way home as well as Britt Street in Spring Grove.

SUNDAY, MARCH 17  ST. PATRICK'S DAY

We went to Stucky's and had the best corned beef & cabbage dinner yet and enjoyed Jim Sieg on the guitar.  Stopped at Sunnyside Tap on the way home.

I'd Have To Say We Accomplished a St. Patrick's Party.  --RoadO'Dog

Some Good Irish Party Music on You Tube

Spent way too long of late checking out Irish drinking and party music on You Tube.

It's all in the way you approach St. Patrick's.

These are some of the real, really good ones.

IRISH PARTY IN THIRD CLASS & JOHNNY RYAN'S POLKA-  Gaelic Storm

MASSED PIPES & DRUMS PARADE

O'SULLIVAN'S MARCH-- Chieftains

ROCKY ROAD TO DUBLIN--  High Kings

I'M SHIPPING OFF TO BOSTON--  Dropkick Murphys

DRUNKEN SAILOR--  Irish Rovers

BUGGER OFF

IRISH PUB--  High Kings

COME OUT YE' BLACK AND TANS--  Irish Descendants

THE SPICY McHAGGIS JIG--  Dropkick Murphys

Set the Mood.  --RoadDog

The Sorry State of the Streets in 1919

From the February 20, 2019, MidWeek  (DeKalb County, Illinois)  "Looking Back."

1919, 100 Years Ago.

"The dirt crossroads of the city were being given attention yesterday by the commissioner and the big grader, and many of them heretofore impassable, are today in good shape.

"A number of the cross streets of the city have been in bad shape for some time past and delivery men and  others driving about the city were detouring rather than try to get through on some of the thoroughfares.  The work of the grader has helped in some instances, and had the weather remained mild, it was the intention of the road men to give all the side streets a going over."

I don't know if this city was DeKalb or Sycamore.

--RoadDog

Gettin' Our Green On This Weekend

Since this is you-know-what this weekend, we surely intend to get our green on as much as possible.  And that includes plenty of corned beef & cabbage CB&C, beer, bands and a parade.

In just a little bit, we're on our way over to the Fox Lake American Legion for CB&C, a band and this weekend also marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the American Legion in Paris, France, in 1919.  We'll be celebrating both.

Saturday we have a choice of two parades, food, bands and beer between nearby Lake Villa and McHenry, Illinois.  We're thinking Lake Villa because last year the one in McHenry was way too big and crazy.  Although they will be dying the Fox River green in McHenry.

Sunday, Stucky's in Johnsburg for more CB&C and a band.

Doing Our Best.  --RoadIrish