Just Hanging Around: Donovans, Saylor Mick's, Mother Road Cruisin'? Pizza and Sad Sox

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26

Went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for drinks and live trivia with Uncle Jeffie.  Then to Saylor Mick's in Spring Grove, Illinois, for 75 cent wings and $1 Hamm's pints.

THURSDAU, APRIL 27

Considering going on the Illinois Route 66 Motor Tour this year from June 9 to 11.  It's time to get back on the Mother Road.  Haven't been since before you-know-what.

Cut the grass for thye first time.  Should have done it sooner.  I still have to clear up the tree limbs that came down in the ice storm.  Met Kevin and Kelly at Half-Times in Johnsburg for half-price pizza.  I got Liz and my old special pizza:  sausage, black olives and pineapple.

The White Sox have sunken to new depths this year (and I thought they couldn't possibly go any lower after the pathetic team of last year.  I sure was wrong.).

--SadSoxDog

Loaded With Oldies: 'Judy in Disguise (With What?)'

SATURDAY, APRIL22

That 4-album set "72 Top Original Hits by the Original Artists" obviously has a lot of oldies.

Some of them:  

TURN DOWN DAY--  Cyrkle

COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER--  Jay & the Americans

EXPRESSWAY TO YOUR HEART--  Soul Survivors

CHERRY CHERRY--  Neil Diamond

JUDY IN DISGUISE--  John Fred

GOOD LOVIN'--  Rascals

WOOLY BULLY--  Sam the Sham

I GOT YOU BABE--  Sonny & Cher

BUT IT'S ALRIGHT--  J.J. Jackson

RESCUE ME--  Fontella Bass

LAND OF 1000 DANCES--  Wilson Pickett

BOY FROM NEW YORK CITY--  Ad Libs

And, there are 72 of them.

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Uno Dos, One Two Tres Quatro."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Wooly Bully"

And, Of Course, What Would Record Store Day Be Without Records?

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

As in LPs.  I did go through many of the Vinyl Frontier's albums.  There is just somehing about flipping through then that brings back memories of the good old record store days.

And, did I just hear that sales of albums have surpassed sales of CDs?

I ended up buying four albums (two of them multiple sets).  And, I sure like the prices for the used ones better than the prices for the new ones.
I bought:

Easy As Pie--  Billy "Crash" Craddock

Shake Off the Demon--  Brewer and Shipley

Bobby Goldsboro's 10th Anniversary Album  (two albums)

72 Top Original Hits by the Original Artists  (4 albums)

--RoadRecords

Doing That Record Store Thing

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

Okay, no NIU Spring Football game because of weather, but I did get to do other things.  

And, besides that, today is Record Store Day.  As such, I went over to my favorite Mom and Pop record store in McHenry, Illinois.  It is called the Vinyl Frontier which is a great name for a record store in my books.

Even though I don't need to be buying any CDS or LPs, hey, you gotta on this day.

I bought five CDs:

Kinks  (their first one)

Kinks Greatest Hits 1970-1986  (two CDs and a DVD)

Lola Versus  Powerman and Moneygoround--  Kinks

Drinks After Work--  Toby Keith   (including that great "Call a Marine")

Proof:  The Very Best of the Knack

You might say I got Kinkasized.

--RoadKinks

A Cappuccino, Nathan's and a Record Store

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

After sufficiently freezing, I was glad to get back in the car and drove to Thornton's on US-12 and bought a large cappucinno for $1.79, a lot better deal than you'd get at Five Bucks.  Then drove over to McHenry for Record Store Day.

I stopped along the way at Jewel which now has a Saturday special with quarter pound Nathan's hot dogs.  I loves those Nathan's and at that price.  Gosh!!  Bought three, two for later.

I went to my favorite record store, The Vinyl Frontier.  Nothing like a Mom and Pop Record Store, especially on a day honoring them.  

Sadly, I have lost several of my favorites over the years:

Record Revolution in DeKalb, Illinois

Full Cyrkle Records on Crystal Lake, Illinois

The Record Rack in Goldsboro, North Carolina

--RoadRecords

Dedicating the Dollar Lake Marker-- Part 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023

Look up Lakeland Plaza Fox Lake idecpltraining for pictures of it and the early shopping center businesses.

Some of the former occupants were:

Sears, Roebuck & Co. (where the Fox Lake Theatre is)

Jewel Food Store (by the Sears)

F.W. Woolworth Co.

Frank's Shoes

Globe Department Store (since torn down.  It was between the current Val's and the Dollar General.)

National Food Store  (where Val's is today)

--RoadWorth

New Plans: Dedicating the Dollar Lake Historical Marker in Fox Lake on a Cold and Blustery Day

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

So, here we are out shivering and watching cars speed along Grand Avenue in Fox Lake, Illinois (and hoping we didn't get hit).  What a wonderful day to dedicate a new historical marker.  Our host and mc was none other than Michael Lescher, local real estate agent, musician and community pusher.

The marker was a joint effort by the Fox Lake/Grant Township Historical Society and the Village of Fox Lake. It had been covered with plastic and really, really taped on.  Michael had had the idea that he would be able to pull a cord and a massive cloth would fall off to reveal the new sign.  That didn't happen.  After some unsuccessful pulling at the taped plastic, he took a pocket knife out and soon had the plastic off.

It is an impressive sign.  Michael said a few words and read what it said.  

Dollar Lake had been at this site where Grand Avenue and Rollins Road come together.  It was a shallow, muddy lake that had been drained for the construction of the Lakeland Shopping Plaza which opened in 1963.

--RoadNoMoreLake

Making the Most of a Change of Plans: A Historical Marker in the Cold, Cold, Cold

SATURDAY, APRIL 22

I had planned to be in DeKalb and attend the NIU Huskies Spring Football game and spend the night, but the weather sure didn't cooperate.  It was 30 to 35 degrees with a blustery wind blowing the cold right into you.  We also had alternating rain/sleet and even snow.  Complete yuck.  

I was glad I decided to change my plans.  Sitting out in those open flat fields around DeKalb in the cold is just not a good idea.

Worked on blogs and listened to the radio.

At 11:10 am, I drove over to Fox Lake to be at the dedication of a new historical marker (or History on a Stick as some call it).  I had been told it was going to be at the Fox Lake shopping plaza and along Grand Avenue, but didn't see anything there.  Drove through the plaza and saw a group of people freezing out by the gazebo in Millennium Park on Rollins Road and drove over to check them out.

They were the ones dedicating the marker and there was also something going on for Earth Day as well.  They were getting ready to walk over to the marker, but I decided to drive back to it.  It was seriously miserable weather as forecast.

Waited in the nice warm car until they came then ventured outside and immeduately wished I had worn warmer clothes.  That was serious cold being blown onto us by a brisk wind.

--RoadFroze

Okay, First Plans Don't Work Out, So Time to Improvise

This past weekend did not work out as I had planned, mostly because of weather.  I had been going to go out to DeKalb, Illinois, for the NIU Spring Football Game on Saturday, but the weather sure didn't cooperate.  Temps were around 30 degrees with sleet, rain and snow (thankfully no accumulation) and a blustery wind which blew it right through you.

There was no way I was going to sit outside for any length of time.

I was also going to go from DeKalb and spend several days out at one of my favorite towns along the Mississippi River (and on the Lincoln Highway as is DeKalb), Clinton, Iowa.  I would be driving the Lincoln Highway there.  

From there I was going to Galena, Illinois for several days and attend the dedication of a bust honoring Sgt. Henry Taylor of Galena who received a Medal of Honor for his actions at Vicksburg during the Civil War this Saturday.

***************************************

FRIDAY, APRIL 21

I went over to pal Frank and Liane's place and had an excellent steak dinner and watched shows on Netflix before going to the Fox Lake American Legion for pull tabs and found out that the Fox Lake Historical Society and the village were dedicating a historical marker tomorrow.

Since I had already decided not to go to the football game, I decided to go history.

--RoadWeather

About Illinois' Heritage Corridor Destinations

Same source as last three posts.

Heritage Corridor Destinations (formerly known as the Heritage Corridor Convention and Visitors Bureau) is dedicated to promoting tourism in LaSalle, Grundy, Will, Putnam, Bureau and Livingston counties.  It works to attract visitors to the region, promote local businesses and organizations, and boost economic development.

The Heritage Corridor markets the region to potential visitors, both domestically and internationally.  

The focus is on overnight and group travel to maximize the economic impact of tourism for communities.  The organization works with municipalities, hotels, restaurants and other entities to highlight the region's unique cultural, historical and natural attractions.

This group was one of the two main ones promoting Scott Slocum's Great American Road Trip on Route 66 from end-to-end, Chicago to Santa Monica.

--RoadTrip

About That First Hundred Miles of Route 66 in Illinois

From same source as last three posts.

The First Hundred Miles is a comprehensive tourism brand, linking the communities between Chicago and Pontiac in Illinois.  At TheFirstHundredMiles.com, you'll find feature articles dedicated to noteworthy attractions, lists of fan favorite restaurants, inspiring photo galleries and comprehensive business listings.  

You'll also find convenient maps and pre-built road-trip iteneraries, directing you to popular boutique shops, sprawling nature preserves and delicious dining destinations.

**********************

MY OBSERVATIONS

Downtown Chicago, the beginning point of Route 66 in Illinois has its attractions, including the Sears Tower (I don't call it by the other name), Union Station and, of course, Lou Mitchell's.  However, from there it goes through a rather dangerous area and suburban sprawl has really wiped out most of the rest of it until you get to Joliet.

--RoadHundred

Cross Country Great American Road Trip This Week and Next-- Part 3: Red Carpet Corridor Festval

Whether you're looking to chart a cross-country trip from Chicago to Santa Monica,or simply experienece a unique getaway that's close to home, the First Hundred Miles of Route 66 is the best place to start your journey.

This famed trek takes you off the interstate and encourages you to explore the communities that line the Mother Road.  From the hustle and bustle of Chicago's awe-inspiring Magnificent Mile to the picturesque farmland of Central Illinois. 

The First Hundred Miles of the original two-lane blacktop is lined with throwback diners, fascinating museums and some of the most popular photo ops you'll find along the entire route.

And, remember, May 6 and 7, just a couple weeks away, the stretch between Joliet and Bloomington-Normal is having their  annual Red Carpet Corridor Festival.  Every town has events going on.  

Lots of Fun.  --RoadRed

Cross Country Broadcast on 66-- Part 2

Radio personality Scott Slocum, who has the morning show at WJOL 1340 AM, will make dozens of stops to record interviews with legendary people along the Mother Road to intersperse with the live interviews from each morning broadcast.  

He'll also play interviews conducted at some of the best places along The First Hundred Miles, including the incredible new Route 66-themed Harvester Park in Burr Ridge, Dell Rhea's Chicken Basket in Willowbrook, the Old Route 66 Family Restaurant in Dwight (which he did today) and more.

The WJOL Great American Road Trip is fueled by The First Hundred Miles, Heritage Destinations and Enjoy Illinois.  Go to The First Hundred Miles on Facebookfor bonus articles featuring some of the great attractions that will be featured during the Great American Road Trip.

--RoadTrip

Take a Cross Country Broadcast on Rt. 66 Starting Next Week-- Part 1

From the April 8, 2023, Northwest Herald (McHenry County, Illinois) "Catch cross-country broadcast of Great American Road Trip" by Ryan Searl.

Join WJOL 1340 AM morning radio host Scott Slocum on an iconic road trip across America, via the legendary Route 66.

Starting this Minday, April 24, Slocum will embark on a two-week trip traveling the entirety of Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, California.  This is brought to you by The First Hundred Miles and Heritage Corridor Destinations.

The trip will begin with a live broadcast from the Route 66 Association Hall of Fame and Museum in Pontiac, Illinois, and will conclude Friday, May 5, in Santa Monica.

Slocum will broadcast 10 morning shows from notable locations along Route 66 as he makes his cross-country trip.  In addition to Pontiac, broadcasts will take place in Collinsville, Illinois; Joplin, Missouri; Oklahoma City; Amarillo, Texas; Santa Fe, New Mexico; Sedona, Arizona; Las Vegas, Nevada; Victorville, California;and Santa Monica, capping his odyssey.  Well, Sedona and Las Vegas not actually on the Mother Road.

I Must Admit to Being a Bit Jealous of This Guy.  Lucky Dog.  --RoadWishingDog

Drive-In Theaters Featured in My Cooter's History Thing Blog

I will be writing about drive-in theaters in my Cooter's History Thing blog this upcoming week.  They have had a resurgence compliments of the pandemic of late.

I will be highlighting several, including Route 66's 66 Drive-In Theatre near Carthage, Missouri, and also the one near me in McHenry County, Illinois.

--Road-In