Good Times in the Area: Donovan's Reef, Sunnyside Tavern, Ace Hardware, Dog 'N Suds. Charcoburgers, Squaw Bar, Stucky's

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

We went to Donovan's Reef in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, for beverages and trivia, then to Sunnyside in Johnsburg, Illinois, for more.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Liz had a hair appointment in Round Lake, Illinois, and I went along.  While she was inside, I went to the Round Lake Ace Hardware store which is still the largest Ace Hardware store in the United States. When we lived in Round Lake, we spent a lot of money in that store.

Liz's salon is right across from Magee Middle School where I taught for 31 years.  School's back in session, but I'm not.  Something about retirement.

We then went to the Dog 'N Suds on Rollins Road in Ingleside for their Thursday Charcoburger special ( 2 for $4).  Charcoburgers are one of our favorite burgers anywhere.  Have to eat them now because they close in a month.  There are only about seven Dog 'N Suds left in the United States and we have three of them within about fifteen miles of us.  And, of course, there's that great root beer.

Next, we went to the nearby Squaw Bar to see what was going on.  This is a bona fide dive bar if there ever was one and we have had a lot of fun there, especially on Sunday afternoons when the Chicago Bears play.  Bear fans all over the place.

Last two stops were at Sunnyside and Stucky's in Johnsburg.

Always something to do around here during the summer and fall.

Why Go Anywhere Else?   --RoadDog

The Movie "Cars" Impact on Me: Animation "Ain't" So Bad

Back in 2005, when I learned there was going to be a movie about Route 66, I was excited.  We'd been bitten by the Route 66 bug in 2002 and just couldn't get enough of it.

Then I learned that it was going to be an animated one and that the "people" would be cars.  I was completely disappointed.  I hadn't seen an animated movie in a long time and thought it would be like "Sleeping Beauty" or "Snow White."  Plus, how could mechanical beings be people?

But. when it was released, I went out to see it anyway.  Hey, we can't get enough publicity for Route 66.  And, was I in for a surprise.  With computers, animation has come a real long way.  This was no "Snow White."  After a short time, I wasn't even thinking of it as animation.

And, the cars.  About as soon as animation, I stopped thinking of them as cars, but people who just looked like cars.

This was just an amazing film.  And, it was clear that so much of Route 66, both places and people, but also heart and soul was in it.  We recognized people and places.  The pathos of the interstate and impact on American travel was clear.

Well, I saw the film again in the theater a few days later, then went out to our local McHenry Outdoor Theater (McHenry, Illinois) and saw it there again.  Not only that, but before that I went to the local Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside for a Coney Dog and that great mug of root beer.  (We have three of the last seven Dog 'N Suds in the country within twenty miles of here.)

Just something about the curb service, and old chain of restaurants like this and a movie at a drive in theater just sort of set the stage for a movie like "Cars."

Make sure you watch the video I wrote four posts about to see how they arrived at the movie.

A Real "Cars" Experience.  Thanks John Lasseter.  --RoadCars

Tastes, Beer, Dog 'N Suds, Bands This Weekend-- Part 1

Half way decent weather for a change.


THURSDAY, MAY 30

Went to our dentist in Round Lake Beach and drove around the old neighborhood.  We lived in RLB from 1975 to 1992.    It is sad to see how bad our old house looks these days.

We ate lunch at one of the last remaining Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside.  We had the special, two Charcoburgers for $3 and washed it down with a mug of frosty root beer.  Now that is old school as it was delivered by the car hop.

FRIDAY, MAY 31

I was able to do yard work for a change and made quite the dent on limbs from the mountain ash, apple tree and Bradford pear.  Unfortunately, I lost my wrist watch during it and will have to buy a new one as I am getting tired of looking at my wrist.

Ate dinner at Brit's Street in Spring Grove, Illinois, and met Barb and Glen at Half-Times in Johnsburg and sat out on their deck overlooking the volley ball nets.  Is it possible that summer has arrived?

SATURDAY, JUNE 1

Met Glenn and Barb again, this time at Corkscrew Pointe in McHenry Illinois  for the annual Taste of Summer.  Twenty bars and restaurants on Riverside Drive (by the Fox River) and along Green Street have sample offerings between $1 and $3.

This is always a major party.

Food and Beer, How Do You Go Wrong With That?--  RoadDog

Fox Lake/Grant Township Hist. Society:-- Part 2: Dog 'N Suds

Of course, coming in as late as I did, I missed quite a bit of it.

The third generation of Roy Miller's  family, his son, is now running the place.  There is also a fourth generation in training.  It is so great when a family can pass a business down like this.

And, they are always looking to improve upon what they have and sell.

Several years back, they replaced the ordering system for the cars.  When the original system was put in, all wires were run through garden hose.  When they dug for the new system, they found that all the garden hoses were as pliable and in good shape as they were back when installed in 1966.

The Dog 'N Suds is about as 1950s-1960s retro as you can get.  You pull into a parking space and order on a system and a carhop brings it to you.  Very "Happy Daysish."  To me, a great Retro night is to go to Dog 'N Suds for dinner, order an extra large cup of root beer and drive over to the McHenry Outdoor Theater, about ten miles away.

Give Me a Coney Dog.  --RoadDog

Last Chances for Dog 'N Suds' CharcoBurgers

After the movie today, I drove over to our local Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside, Illinois, off Rollins Road and had possibly my last CharcoBirgers until next spring.  Miller's Dog 'N Suds closes October 12th.

On Thursdays they have a really good deal on their CharcoBurgers for 99 cents (instead of the usual $2.19).

And, I washed 'em down with a frosted glass mug of that great root beer.

I'll Miss That As Well.  --RoadDog

"Bad Teacher"-- Antioch-- A Liquor Store-- The Problem with Bourbon

Continuing with June 30th.


A BIT OFF ROAD STUFF...BUT

After those dee-licious Charcoburgers and a little bit of root beer at Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside, I went to the Fox Lake Theatre and saw the movie "Bad Teacher." In these days of anti-teacher sentiment, this movie can hardly help our case even if the characters were definitely to the extreme.

One thing I can relate to with the lead character, was her not knowing her students' names. I had a BIG problem with that, especially toward the end of my career. Only, I really tried to learn their names whereas she didn't.


ANTIOCH ILLINOIS

One of the great local villages we have here in northeast Illinois. This one has a real downtown where every building is occupied and everyone appears to be doing well.


A LIQUOR STORE

I went to Antioch Liquors at Il-173 and Il-83, a favorite browsing place for me when I'm in town. Huge selection and some really good specials. I ended up buying an Old Forester Bourbon set put out in 2008 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Repeal of Prohibition. Old Forester got a special government exemption so they were able to continue producing bourbon for medicinal purposes during Prohibition. That's one slick owner!


THE PROBLEM WITH BOURBON

Personally, I didn't much like bourbon, other than those neat water towers in Bourbon, Missouri, along Route 66. Just thinking about those towers being filled with bourbon brings a smile to my face. Actually I got to liking bourbon on an American Road Magazine road trip to Kentucky back several years ago.

We stayed at the Wig Wam Village in Cave City and went to the Heaven Hill Distillery on the auto tour. Plus, at nights, I "had" to drink friend Denny's bourbon after I found out we were in a "dry" county. Had I known of its dryness, I would have toted my hooch in with me.

Feeling a Bit in Need of Some "Medicine" Myself. --RoadDog

Almost A Complete Retro Night Last Night-- Part 1

Yesterday, I planned to do a retro thing after boating.

First, I went to the local Dog 'N Suds in Ingleside, Illinois (there are two others in nearby Richmond and Grayslake which is probably more in a small area than any place in the US).

Enjoyed their customer-relation signs like "Be Nice...Or Get Out" and "If Your Not Served in 5 min., You'll Get Served in 8 or 9 min. (Maybe 12) RELAX" while waiting for the car hop to return with my order.

I was thinking about getting on of the World Famous Coney Dogs, but settled for a Charco-Burger when I found they were the special of the day at 99 cents. Of course, washed it down with an icy mug of root beer. Mighty fine eating.

Shake of the month was pumpkin, but I was too full.

Prices this year:

World Famous Coney Dog- $2.19 or $3.99 basket (with fries and cole slaw)
Charco Burger-- $1.98 or $3.78 basket
16 ounce mug of root beer-- $1.40

Miller's Dog 'N Suds is open March to October.

Listened to oldies as played by Y-103.9 FM out of Crystal Lake while enjoying that great food.

A Great Start to a Retro Night. --RoadDog

Lincoln Highway in Aurora, Illinois

AURORA, ILLINOIS PUSHING LINCOLN HIGHWAY-- The April 24th Fox Valley Villages Sun had an article about what Aurora is doing to tout its role in the first transcontinental highway.

It said that many people don't even realize the road runs through their town. They only think HEAVY TRAFFIC. Tourism leaders want to get folks interested in it.

This summer, a Lincoln Highway gazebo will be erected outside the visitors center and a 10 by 20 foot mural painted on the La Quinta De Los Reyes restaurant on New York Street in downtown Aurora, one of 34 murals planned for the country.

They also mention that the first White Castle and A&W Root Beer stores opened along the Lincoln Highway. Wikipedia showed the first White Castle at Wichita, Kansas, and first A&W in Lodi, California.

Another LH site is Moosehart between North Aurora and Batavia. In the early 1900s, Moosehart raised $12,000 to pave the section of LH in front of it.

There is hope that all this will get people to cruising the Lincoln Highway like they are Route 66.

Sure Can't Hurt. --RoadDog