On the Road in May
Frank Brichetto
Chicago Correspondent
It’s MAY! That weird mid-April major snowfall really got to me; it was like spring and summer would never, ever come. But that’s well behind us now, and this Saturday, May 4th, let’s take the kids of all ages to Chicago Kids and Kites Festival, at Cricket Hill in Lincoln Park (Montrose and Wilson) from 10am to 4pm. Admission is FREE.
May 10-17 is Illinois Craft Beer Week, celebrating the many wonderful variations that creative, ingenious brewmasters across the state have brought to our favorite refreshment. What better way to start this exciting week than at Garfield Park Conservatory’s “Beer Under Glass”? Friday evening, May 10th, starting at 6pm, we will sample craft beer from more than 100 craft breweries, yeah, do you believe it, brews from 100 breweries?! This will be something. And while we sample, we will thoroughly enjoy after-hours access to the Conservatory’s magnificent outdoor gardens and indoor displays. There will be food, of course, from some of our best local restaurants at stands scattered about. Beer Under Glass is a festival with a purpose. Proceeds from the event support the Garfield Park Conservatory Association’s mission to change lives through the power of nature and connect people to plants. 541 N. Fairbanks, Chicago, https://garfieldconservatory.org/.
Sunday May 12th – it’s Mother’s Day! Take your mom to dinner! Visit and bring her more than the usual flowers. Play a table game (my mom, who is 93, loves “Rummikub”), and laugh like crazy. Pay attention, listen closely, and I’m sure your mom will open up and tell you stories of her past that you’ve never heard before which will delight you to no end. Tell her, and show her you love her. She’s your mom.
We haven’t left the city in so long, and Beer Under Glass was so much fun, let’s keep going, really going, and take a road trip, shall we? Engrained Brewery, in our state capitol, Springfield, looks to be a perfect destination. https://www.engrainedbrewery.com They serve some intriguing craft beers, and have a farm-to-table menu that is so tempting that even the pictures make me hungry! On Saturday May 18th, let’s sleep in late, leave about 11am, and drive “Historic Route 66” all the way, sightseeing at every opportunity. Since we booked hotel reservations online, let’s check in, get comfortable in our rooms, then meet and head over to Engrained for dinner. Did you look at their menu? How about that beer list? Oh, my! I’m up for Blackberry Lager, a Munich Helles base with real blackberry, and with it, I’m starting off with Thai Peanut Satay, beer battered organic tofu, Thai peanut sauce, pineapple, Asian greens, mm-mmm. I’m happy to share – especially if you try the Chicken Wings, and it won’t matter at all if you order BBQ, Buffalo, Sweet Chili BBQ Sauce, or Nic’s Honey Sriracha Glaze flavor.
As much as a good, well prepared steak sounds delicious, did you notice that they have something called “Local Pork Feature” available because “Whole hog utilization allows us to showcase a variety of cuts and cooking techniques”? Our server has details and I can’t wait to try whatever is on today’s menu. Oh, that’s good! We’re staying the night, of course, so we’ll also try a few different brews, talk (we’re good talkers, aren’t we?) and make plans for tomorrow, before heading back to our hotel.
Sunday morning, May 19th, wake up, sleepy-heads! We’re in Springfield, the state’s capitol and the home of Abraham Lincoln, the President who saved the nation. There are so many great, interesting, informative things to see and do that we’ll never get to even a fraction. Today, please, meet us for breakfast. Nico’s Homestyle, 751 S. Durkin Drive, Springfield, opens at 6am and has a great menu. Eggs Benedict? Or perhaps you’re in the mood for a gigantic “Full American” with sausage, eggs, bacon, potatoes, biscuits, gravy and a pancake, holy cow! https://nicoshomestyle.com/
Eat up, drink some coffee, and let’s head over to the Oak Ridge Cemetery, where we’ll find the Lincoln Tomb and War Memorial, resting place of our martyred President Lincoln, Mary, his devoted wife and three of their four sons. The gates open at 7am, and the tomb opens at 9am. This will take a while, trust me. It dates from 1860 and includes the site where President Lincoln’s final funeral services were held on May 4, 1865. The base is huge, with double stairs leading to a terrace, above which is a 117 ft. (35.7m) tall obelisk. Beneath are rooms, exhibits, statues, and a whole lot of history laid before our eyes. It’s a lot to take in. http://lincolntomb.org/ For a virtual tour to preview what we are in for, visit http://www.springfield-vr.com/lincolns-tomb/index-tomb.html. Isn’t that amazing?
It’s about noon, but after that huge breakfast we’re not really hungry yet, so let’s head over to the Dana-Thomas House, 301 E Lawrence Avenue, Springfield, one of the most expansive, elaborate, exquisite homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. We will tour its 35 rooms, across three main levels, enclosing 12,600 sq. ft. (1171m2). Susan Lawrence Dana was a vibrant, colorful, world traveler, as well as a civil rights and women’s rights activist. Her home contains the largest collection of Wright designed furniture, art and stained glass, and these alone are worth the visit. The tour guides are all experienced and knowledgeable about the house, its contents and its owner. This will be fabulous. For a peek you can visit https://dana-thomas.org/tours/ and scroll down through entire page.
After that, it’s time for lunch. Apparently, in Springfield, there’s this thing called a “Horseshoe Sandwich” which we are definitely going to try. At 700 North St. we’ll find Charlie Parker’s Diner http://www.charlieparkersdiner.net, which sounds like the exact right place to splurge on one of these toasted, open-faced meat, fries and “horseshoe-cheese-sauce” delights. This is decidedly not our usual fare, but after a long day of walking, it really hits the spot. By now it’s bound to be 4pm or so, and time to drive home. My sweetheart and I will take I-55 back, as the quickest and smoothest trip home is most advisable on a Sunday evening. That was a great adventure, we must do this again.
Throughout the Memorial weekend America honors all men and women who have died in military service for these United States of America. Let’s take time this weekend, my friends, to be with each other, and our families, and give our attention, for a while, to the brave people who have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our freedom. For my Ukrainian friends and readers, let us also remember and honor all those brave fighters who have sacrificed their lives for Ukraine over these many centuries, and especially in the ongoing conflicts in your homeland.
Chicago’s Memorial Celebrations are today, Saturday, May 25th. Starting at the Picasso in Daley Plaza (State & Dearborn Sts.) we will watch the very solemn wreath-laying ceremony, then walk and find a suitable spot on State St. to watch the Parade passing by as it travels from Lake St., on the north to Van Buren St., farther south. We will get here by bicycle, and hope you will join us after the parade, when we ride the Lake Front Trail north from the Museum Campus to Foster Ave., which we will take west towards home. See you tomorrow!
Sunday, May 26th is the 18th annual Bike the Drive!!! What? You read it correctly, my friends, today, from 5:30am until 10:30am, bicyclists RULE on Lake Shore Drive. Yes, we’ve ridden the adjoining Lake Front Trail, and that is a wonderful excursion, but this is exhilarating. Join me and somewhere around 3 to 4 thousand of our closest cycling friends for a day full of fun. We’ll ride both loops, of course, from Grant Park, at Columbus Dr. and Jackson Dr. The south loop takes us to the Museum of Science and Industry, where we can stop for a few minutes, grab some fruit or light snacks, water and other liquids, and head back downtown. Along the way, be prepared to stop once or twice for the photo-op moment when the views of Chicago from the south become particularly spectacular. Coming back we’ll just pass by Grant Park on our way north to Bryn Mawr Ave., the north turn-around, where we can also grab a snack, before making our way pleasantly back to Grant Park for the live music show and bike & outdoor exhibits tempting us to try their wares, taste some good food, explore vacation ideas, and get a whole bunch of great info on cycling clubs, routes, and organized rides for the season. It is a charity ride, benefiting The Active Transportation Alliance, in their ongoing work in and around Chicago. Register early, as this ride, despite the early start, fills up! http://bikethedrive.org/
Officially, today, Monday, May 27th, is Memorial Day. Since we have already appropriately honored our fallen heroes, today is a great day to celebrate life. Picnics! Bike rides! Outdoor fun! And, of course, spending time with our friends and family is the full order of the day. There will be block parties, both official and spontaneous, so get to know your neighbors, share a beer and a hot dog or a hamburger fresh off the grill, and relax. Life is good, my friends, relish it. Especially today.
Chicago is famous for summer festivals, so, this Friday, May 31st, let’s finish the month with a bang and head to St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2701 N. Sheffield Ave., in the Lincoln Park neighborhood for their Greek Festival. We’ll hear modern and traditional Greek music, eat wonderful Greek dishes and look silly while we try to learn Greek dancing to burn off a few of those tasty calories. Greek people cherish their traditions (does that sound familiar?) and are openly friendly to strangers, so we’ll have no trouble fitting right in. Food, music, dancing, what a great way to end the month. The Greek Festival lasts for two more days, so we can come back and get an early start on June. How cool is that?
Until next month, dear readers, keep adventure in your hearts and smiles on your faces.
