Summer Evening in Americana

Occasionally the America I knew when I was growing up can still be found. Last night was such an occasion. Donna and I went to a Summer Breeze concert at the Atcher park in Schaumburg, Illinois. The performance was by Frank Winkler and the Symphonic Pops Orchestra. They played Broadway favorites and light classics. It was also the premier of a nice work titled America's Hope. The weather was comfortable in the low 80s, with just a light breeze, and amazingly bugs were not a problem. Yesterday was a wonderful evening in the Midwest.

Hot Do(u)gs

I noticed Hot Doug's is closed through August 24 for vacation. Those of you outside of the Chicago area may ask why it is notable that a smallish, out of the way, hot dog stand is closed for a couple of weeks. To understand, you have to know the best hot dogs in the world are in Chicago. Forget Coney Island, New York, the arguments center around which stand in Chicago. I am not fond of Chicago-style dogs and regularly violate the cardinal rule of Chicago hot dogs by eating them with ketchup. That said, I am a fan of Gene & Jude's, where ketchup is not available and customers are thrown out if they bring it in. Yes, I am confined to eating in the parking lot and I hope this confessional does not put that at risk. I also enjoy the hot dogs and ambiance of Superdawg Drive-In even if Playboy's Girls Next Door are not there. Years ago when I first visited Chicago with my best friend, we ate at Gold Coast, yes, the hot dogs were so good I remember the place from more than thirty years ago. Nonetheless, they all fail in comparison to Hot Doug's.

In her last visit to Chicago, my daughter made me take her to Hot Doug's even though it meant driving past Gene & Jude's and Superdawg. We ended up waiting in line for 2 hours, 20 minutes for hot dogs! No one in line complained - neither the locals nor those who traveled from out of state just to eat there. Simply put we had the best hot dogs of our lives. We each ate two. I ate:
1) The Elvis Polish Sausage: Smoked and savory - just like the King;
and
2) The Marty Allen (formerly the Don Rickles) Thuringer: Hello der beef, pork and garlic.


Chelsea's selections were more exotic. She ate:
1) Hot Doug's BLT: Bacon Sausage with Avocado Mayonnaise, Iceberg Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes and Hickory-Smoked Sweet Swiss Cheese;
and
2) The Thomas McKean (Celebrity Sausage for the day): Cherry and Apple Pork Sausage with Sweet Curry Mustard, Cocoa Cardona Cheese and Vodka-Infused Dried Fruit.

The fries look greasy, but they were fried in duck fat and were crisp. They did not even leave a hint of a grease stain.

Enjoy your vacation Hot Doug, you will be missed.

Among the Beautiful People

Thursday evening after work, I went with two colleagues to Javier’s Cantina and Grill at Crystal Grove in Newport Beach, California (http://javiers-cantina.com/). I am not saying I am cheap, but I am not one to spend four dollars for valet parking when there is free parking forty feet away. Biologists say cars are inanimate, yet I sensed my rental Toyota Corolla would feel inadequate if they positioned it next to the Phantom Drophead Coupé in the valet parking. The maitre d' pleasantly surprised me by allowing us to eat at the restaurant. I am sure I had nothing to do with our getting in. Perhaps he heard the hint of European accent in Sandy’s voice. Maybe the much younger Megan was sufficiently hip, in an Illinois way. Regardless, he chose to seat us instead of directing us to Taco Bell. Thankfully I did not blind anyone with the sun reflecting off my milky pale skin. Yes, I had on a long sleeved shirt, but if I sat at a different angle my balding head could be dangerous. I did not see a sign posted with the dress code but I am confident my party was the only one in which no one had plastic surgery. I suspect Javier’s selected us for an outreach program to those less fortunate in the community. The food was good and the atmosphere was relaxing, in an awkward way. As for the other clientele, at least physically, some of the beautiful people really are beautiful.