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.

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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

Along 66, November 2020: Lou Mitchell's Closes Because of the Virus and New "Cars" Stuff Coming

NOVEMBER 2

Lou Mitchell's in Chicago has closed indefinitely due to that virus thing.  

It has been the starting or ending point of any transcontinental Route 66 trip forever.

The restaurant says it is only their second closure in 98 years.

No more of that good coffee and love the fresh-baked items with their homemade marmalade.

NOVEMBER 5

"Cars: The Series" will be on the Disney + streaming service, apparently for next year.

However, this has not been officially announced by Disney.

When the original movie came out and I heard it was about Route 66, I was excited, but when I learned it was to be animated, I was greatly disappointed.  But, I went to see it anyway and must admit that movie went a long way toward getting me hooked on animated movies.

"Cars"  Me.  --RoadCar

Best of the Midwest-- Part 3: Route 66 in Illinois From Lou's to the Giant

The centennial for the Mother Road will be in 2026 and all sorts of things are in the planning.  But, in the meantime, there is plenty of things to do and experience along the state's 300 miles

It goes from Chicago to St. Louis.

You can start with a great breakfast and what they call the "World's Finest Coffee" at Lou Mitchell's in Chicago and then pull over for a prison break in Joliet at Joliet Correctional Center where some of the state's most infamous criminals (no governors though) were once held.  There are tours and a big party planned this summer for the 40th anniversary of the movie "Blues Brothers" which was featured at the beginning when John Belushi was getting released.

Then, on to Wilmington where you'll find good eats at The Launching Pad Restaurant with that 30-foot-tall muffler man dressed as an astronaut called Gemini Giant.

And, We're Just Getting Started.  --RoadDog

Wish I'd Have Gone: Route 66 Radio Tour

From June Lake County Journal by Paul Lepak. This took place in June 2013 when local LP Radio station WRLR 98.3 FM (but streams over internet) in Round Lake Park, in conjunction with 92.3 Forest FM from the United Kingdom had their "Mother Road Tour 2013."

They started June 6th from the road's beginning at Adams and Michigan in downtown Chicago and went to Pontiac, Illinois with visits to various Red Carpet Corridor towns (Joliet to Towanda).

It was carried on WRLR and Forest FM and fed to the BBC.

Famed WLS DJ Clark Weber will be joining their show from Pontiac via phone. At least one broadcast will be from the Pontiac Route 66 Museum's recreated 1966 studio using actual working vintage equipment.

Plans were to do the first morning show broadcast from the steps of the Chicago Art Institute's front steps if approved. Then, it was to be on to Lou Mitchell's for more talk and breakfast.

Around noon they were to drive to Joliet and spend the night after doing a 6-9 PM show. Next day, on to Pontiac and a morning broadcast on June 8th and then shows from several other Pontiac locals. You can hear segments at the WRLR 98.3 site.

I Sure Would Have Loved to Be On That Road Trip. --RoadDog

Route 66's a Trip-- Part 1: Deejays Take A Trip

From the June 27-July 3, 2013, Lake County (Il) Journal. "Route 66 a trip" by Paul Lepek.

I wish I had come across knowledge of this trip ahead of time as I sure would have liked to accompany them as a guide as I know quite a lot about the stretch here in my home state of Illinois.

"We have one of life's great treasures right in our backyard: .....ROUTE 66. As the broadcast host from WRLR, along with my counterparts from FOREST 92.3 near London in the UK, Paul Peters and Geoff Kemp, we set up a series of broadcasts to rediscover this awesome part of small town Americana."

They started in downtown Chicago at Lou Mitchell's on Jackson Street (66's east-bound lanes) in the Loop (and a proper way to kick off any 66 drive). The place was bustling as usual.

Next stop was at Harrah's Casino in Joliet. He mentions that it is hard to find a Route 66 sign in Chicago, but no longer the case when you get to Joliet. (Indeed, from Chicago's Loop to Joliet, it is my belief that the Mother Road has essentially been obliterated.)

Sure Wish I'd Known. --RoadDog

Eating At Lou Mitchell's in Chicago-- Part 3

Dave Clark says there are cameras mounted all over the restaurant with feeds back to the office where the woman owner of the places watches everything.  He talked with her and she said that she gets mad when her employees aren't doing anything.  But, I have to wonder when they have time not to do something as they are always really busy.  But, like my old boss at the Palatine Burger King used to say, "If you've got time to lean, you've got time to clean."  Wonder what he meant by that?

I like the Route 66 signs around the place (and there is a Route 66 Hampton Inn Landmark sign in the window (which I would have liked to see mounted higher).  But, at least they had it.

Then, our breakfasts came...and, they were HUGE.  There was something about a Lou Mitchell's egg being considerably bigger than what you usually get at a restaurant.  I tend to believe it.  And, they didn't cut the ingredients either.  That was one thick omelet and just oozing with that feda cheese.  The hash browns more resembled potato chips, they were cut that thin.

And then to that great rye bread, they bake themselves; two real thick slices.  There were two jellies to put on it, one I believe was grape and, of course, that orange marmalade.  I put a little bit of grape on a part of one piece just to try it.  It was OK, but the main attraction was the marmalade and I loaded up.

I tell you, I could easily make a meal out of just coffee, toast and marmalade.  I'll have to look on the menu to see if that is an option.  But, then, those omelets are real good too.

On leaving, Dave said that Lou Mitchell's was originally located across the street, but that building was torn down in the 1950s and they moved to the current site.

Decisions, Decisions!!  --RoadDog

Eating at Lou Mitchell's in Chicago-- Part 2

The place was very crowded, despite it being a little after 9 in the morning.  Dave, who has eaten there often (he lives nearby) says it is always crowded, with a little lull starting around 10 in the morning to 11, when the lunch crush begins.  The place isn't open for dinner.  The owner says she makes enough money the first two meals that she doesn't have to be open longer.

The owners haven't been the Lou Mitchell family for quite some time, but they keep things the same.  They claim to have been open since 1923, but only since the 1950s in this location as its previous site was torn down then.

We were seated at a long table with others dining beside us.  Most breakfasts will run you about $8 to $10 (with most close to $10 and worth every bit of it).  I would have liked to order the coffee, which is fantastic, but decided not to.  I ordered a Greek cheese omelet with rye bread.

Finished off my Milk Duds while waiting (Denny saved his as I mentioned).  Then, the waitress comes over with a little bowl with a big chunk of an orange and, believe it or not, a prune.  I sure can't remember when a prune last came with a breakfast I bought.  Guess they have an interest in regularity.

And, We "Ain't" Even Eaten Yet (Well, Other Than Milk Duds, a Prune and an Orange).  --RoadDog

Eating At Lou Mitchell's In Chicago-- Part 1

When Denny told me he was going to meet up with Dave Clark for a walking tour, I was tempted too meet him then, but, when he said they were having breakfast at Lou Mitchell's on Jackson Street in Chicago, it was a done deal.  I'd never eaten at the place before I got into Route 66 and had driven by it several times and eaten there once since 2002.

I'm not much one to pass up that opportunity, so, it was all aboard the train and $15,50 later, we choo-chooed our way to Chicago's Union Station where I was practically run over in the stampede out of the place.  Those are sure some real fast walkers.  With great dexterity, I survived and even found my way to Jackson Street after getting  out on Adams.  I always get lost in the new Union Station (never in the Great Hall).

Lou Mitchell's is easy to find with the flashing light bulbs.  Then, there was good old Denny waiting outside.  Like I said in an earlier post, I had just seen him in Cincinnati on Tuesday.  So, we meet again.  This time on my home turf.

Then, we had the great donut caper.  When Dave Clark arrived we inside and felt pretty special being given those Sugar Daddies (or is it Sugar Babies?).  Turns out, they were Milk Duds, shows you how observant I am.  Either way, they are good.  I think Denny didn't eat his because he plans to build a display around them back home in Cincy.  I wonder how they'd taste on Cincinnati chili?  Then, you could have a seven-way.  Maybe call 'em Dud Chili.

More to Come.  --RoadDog

Route 66 Friendliness in Chicago Today

It doesn't surprise us 66ers any, but today, I saw a great example of it.  I met buddy Denny outside Lou Mitchell's on Jackson Street (excuse me, Dave, Boulevard).  I had just seen Denny in Cincinnati Tuesday, but here in Chicago getting ready for an extended cruise on Route 66.

I was joking about him not meeting me at the Dunkin' Donuts a few stores east when a lady came walking down the sidewalk with a box of Dunkin' doughnut holes.  We knew what they were because they were dropping out of the bottom of he box they had given her, of course emblazoned with the company's name.

Dave alerted her to her unknown plight and she ran over to tables outside of Lou Mitchell's (Yes, you can now dine al fresco) and started repairing it.  Nice 66er, that Denny. 

Then, a Lou Mitchell's employee comes out of the door and helps her put her doughnut hole box in a plastic bag.

Now, That's Just Plain Nice.  And, They Weren't Even Lou Mitchell's doughnut holes.

By the way, Denny FINALLY got that box of Sugar Daddies he didn't get that one Father's Day.