Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tamales!

For whatever reason, I have an obsession with tamales.  Maybe because they're usually very cheap.  Probably because they're hard to find.  Definitely because I enjoy street food. 

I've had tamales twice from a 'street guy.'  One time from a cart guy on Bryn Mawr and another time at Will's from a guy going bar to bar.  5 for $5, its a beautiful thing.  Everytime I drive along Montrose on my way to Milwaukee or on the way back I dream about stopping.  Kelly never lets me, but soon!  Soon I tell you!

The other day, I was in Albany Park, by Kedzie and Irving, visiting a friends new condo.  I saw 2 carts that looked promising and my stomach was very excited.  I parked and walk a block to the corner of Kedzie and Cullom to find my treasure only to find one cart was a fruit cart and another only sold tacos and tortas.  Not to be denied. I saw another cart being pushed down the street away from me and ran, yes ran, 2 blocks after her, only to be denied once more.  To my great disappointment, it was not to be that day. 

If only there was a tamale truck that came by my apartment or office everyday.....   One can hope.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Wedding Season

Another wedding season is upon us.  This season I'm going to 5 weddings out of 6 invites.  I feel like I've been stuck in 'wedding season' for 5 years now and I don't see an end in sight.  Every year I average around 5 weddings or so.

I just went to my first this past weekend in Iron River, MI, in the Upper Peninsula.  Kelly and I had a great time, too good of a time in fact, but more on that in a later post.  We have 2 more in July, separated by a week.  One is in Evanston, a chicago suburb, and the other is in Madison on a friday.  I'm standing up in both and have never been to a friday wedding. 

The last 2 are both in September separted by a week also.  The first is in Chicago and the second is in New York/New Jersey.  Never been to a wedding in either.  I've been to weddings in the suburbs of Chicago, but never a city wedding. 

All of these wedding are always a good time, but its a lot of wedding to go to.  I'm going to predict 4 for next year, but hopefully it will be less. 

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Packerpalooza

Every year my favorite bar, Will's Northwoods Inn puts on an event called Packerpalooza.  This year was its 3rd year.  It actually started out 4 years ago as Favre Fest, but since he went to the Jets and so on, they renamed it more appropriately, Packerpalooza.  They do it every year right around draft time and its nice to see everyone that we're friends with outside of the season.  Will's treats it like a game and does its usual dogs/burgers out back and 'halftime' raffle.

The first year they brough in William Henderson and Gilbert Brown.  The special guests all pose for pics and bring stuff that you can purchase and sign.  William was very nice, but I think Gilbert was a little ticked cause he was eating at the time.  And lemme tell ya, you don't want to interrupt a meal from a guy the size of Gilbert.  We have an autographed pic from William and one from Gilbert.  The second year they brough in Ahman Green and Mark Chmura.  We got mini helmet signed from Ahman.  This year they brought in Leroy Butler, inventor of the Lambeau Leap. 

We got a pic taken with him.  For a few games a year and for this event Frank Winters comes.  He lives in the city now and.  They've designated a table to him, which just so happens to be right next to ours.  He's always very nice and signs plenty of things for people and poses for a lot of pics. 
My friend Nate has a plastic Packer hard hat that has all the signatures of everyone mentioned above.  Its a great idea that I wish I would've thought of.  Its just awesome that all these players come into Chicago and we fans can come and appreciate it.