As often as I’ve been in this part of Michigan, I’ve never climbed the stairs at Mt. Baldy. 282 stairs to be precise. The feat is rated as the #1 Saugatuck attraction by Trip Advisor. At the top of the stairs, the panoramic view is of the Kalamazoo River, Lake Michigan, sand dunes, and the ...
Hello summer! I missed you!
After a 70 hour work week with cash in my pocket, I like to hit the road. Steve invited me to a house party in Douglas, Michigan; White Pines. His place is like Barbie’s Dream House. The outside is perfectly manicured. The inside is exquisitely decorated. I remember I was here before I was ever ...
If life gives you a candy bar, eat it
Yesterday, I tried to be sympathetic to someone’s life struggle. HER: I haven’t eaten chocolate in a week and a half. It’s really hard. ME: I bet. HER: No, you don’t understand I eat a candy bar every day. I’ve eaten a candy bar every day for years. ME: I wish I was able to eat a candy bar ...
Triple double
I’m doing a triple double. Yesterday, I was at the office at 7am so I could be at the restaurant at 3:45pm. I got home circa 10:25pm. I went to bed so I could get up and do it all again today... and tomorrow. I’ve requested *an* evening shift for awhile. I’ve always told Franco that ...
Review “Charles Ives Take Me Home” (Strawdog Theatre): Original Father-Daughter Dance
Strawdog Theatre presents CHARLES IVES TAKE ME HOME. In this tight and original piece, Playwright Jessica Dickey orchestrates a father-daughter dance. It’s not to a wedding song. It’s to a life concerto. Dickey explores generational, gender and life passion differences between a father and daughter. Dave Belden (dad) is a violinist. Stephanie Chavara (daughter) is a basketball ...
What the pluck?
I found a white hair yesterday. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, right? UNLESS, it’s sticking straight out of your cheek like a cat whisker and it’s in the middle of your brunch shift. I discovered it, to my horror, during a potty break. And that was in bar lighting that is considered gentle. ...
Review “Henry V” (Chicago Shakespeare Theater): This King Rules!
Chicago Shakespeare Theater presents HENRY V. William Shakespeare tells the story of a young king’s rise to respect. Harry Judge plays the newly crowned twenty-five year old Henry. In Act 1, Judge assumes the role with dispassionate intellectualism. He turns his back on his drinking buddies. He sentences his closest advisors to death. His rule begins ...
EXTENDED Thru June 29 “Exit Strategy” (Jackalope Theatre): Insightful, humorous and poignant
Jackalope Theatre presents the World Premiere of EXIT STRATEGY. Playwright Ike Holter gives an insider’s perspective on a Chicago Public School slated to be closed. This subject is topical, local, political and ignored by many. At one point, the play zings the city by saying that Chicago is more upset about a hot dog stand closing ...
Sometimes, it’s not what you imagined…
I’ve been looking at the view of Montrose Harbor for ten years. In all that time, I’ve never seen it with so much industrial sized activity. It’s usually just clear water with the occasional boat coming and going from its dock. Lately, there have been 2-3 barges hoisting a variety of machinery. This picture ...
Things I refuse to be too old for…
43 degrees on May 16th sucks. We bought Cubs tickets for yesterday afternoon. I believed mid-May would have cleared the sleet and snow. I imagined myself coatless, drinking beer in the sunshine. I trusted that we had endured enough crap weather this winter that May would bring flowers… mega bouquets of them. NAH! On Thursday, ...