For my Chicago friends...

[Reels]

You know your from Chicago if....

Your living room is called the "front room." (pronounced fronchroom)

You don't pronounce the "s" at the end of Illinois, and you become
irate at people who do.

You measure distance in minutes (especially "from the city"), and
everything is pretty much 15 minutes away.

You have no problem spelling or pronouncing "DesPlaines."

Your school classes were canceled because of the cold weather.

Your school classes were canceled because of the hot weather.

You've switched from heat to air conditioning in the same day.

Your grocery stores don't have sacks; they have bags.

You end your sentences with prepositions: "Where's my coat at?" or"

If you go to the mall, I wanna go with, or "come by and pick me up."

Your idea of a great sandwich is when the meat is twice as big as the
bun, it has everything on it, and a slice of dill pickle is on the side.

You always carry jumper cables in your car.

You drink "pop."

You understand that I-290, I-90, I-94, and I-294 are all different
highways.

You know the names of the interstates: Stevenson, Kennedy, Eisenhower, Dan Ryan, and the Edens, but you call them all "expressways."

You refer to anything South of I-80 as "Southern Illinois."

You refer to Lake Michigan as "The Lake."

You refer to Chicago as "The City."

The Super Bowl" refers to one specific game in a series of 35 played in January of 1985.

No matter where you are, when you hear the term "Downtown," you
immediately assume they're talking about downtown Chicago.

You have two favorite football teams: The Bears, and anyone who beats
the Packers!

You read "The Trib."

You drive to the north suburbs by taking "The Outer Drive" even though no such road exists.

You think 35 degrees is great weather to wash your car!

You know what goes on a Chicago Style Hot Dog.

You know what Chicago Style Pizza REALLY is.

You know why they call Chicago "The Windy City."

You understand what "lake-effect" means.

You know the difference between Amtrak and Metra, and know which
station they end up at. (Notice the preposition.)

You ride the "L."

You can distinguish among the following area codes: 847, 630,773,708,
312, 815, and recently 224.

And, the CHICAGO CLASSIC: You have at some time in your life, used your furniture to guard your parking spot in winter.




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[ken in nisswa]

I was born and raised in Chi-Town,now living in Nisswa Mn.I would
give my left nut for an Italian beef, dipped, with hot and sweet
peppers. Boy I miss the beef and hot dog stands. No such thing up here.

[mbrandt]

You hit it right on the head. LOL

Mark

[DarrenB]

Nice job. If that is'nt Chicago nothing is. Don't forget:

You know you are in Chicago when:

1) You are running late. Jump in the car, pull outta the garage and another car is blocking the alley.

2) The baseball team that stinks can fill their park effortlessly, while the good competitive team has a stadium that is empty.

3)If you don't like your politicians, no problem. They will probably be indicted out of office soon.

4) Construction begins March 1st, and by March 2nd the project is already over budget.

5)Road construction and legnthy delays on I55 begin at the same time every summer; right before the Cardinals come to town.

6)You can forget about ever moving back to your old neighborhood. Your old neighbor has been replaced by a yuppie lawyer, old house has been replaced by a $800,000 dollar condo, and the hot dog stand you used to work at has been replaced by a coffee shop.

[Fibtab]

Does dis bus go to da Loop?

[TK_551]

Born and raised in Chicago, now living in the Rockford area. This gave me a good laugh!

Tom
#551

[Reels]

Thought it would ring some memories. Born and raised on the north side myself.

Glad you enjoyed it.

Ken, if you want some beef, I'll hook you up. Send me an e-mail. You can keep you nut though...


<{{}}><

Remember the Chicago creed on election day.

Vote, and vote often! Especially if you want new garbage cans....

[iamwalleye1]

Where in the rockford area? I live in Roscoe!

[TK_551]

I just moved from Rockford to Byron in December. If you want, email me at C20947@email.mot.com. We can exchange numbers.

Tom
#551

[hgmeyer]

Reels...I laughed so hard I cried. But, to be real specific...It is called Jane Byrne Winter Road Furniture...

BTW... drives my out of town family nuts when I tell them the "museum", "ballpark", "store", or whatever "is about 40 minutes away"...They just don't understand that distance is irrelevant around here...time of day and route over roads is all that matters.

Ken...I might be coming up to Nisswa this summer...e-mail me at hgmeyer@rocketmail.com and I'll be able to let you know...could bring some "beef"...

[Stump]

What a crack up!!!
I live about 40 min. from downtown,not too far(about 15 min.) from the expressway...LOL.I live in Carol Stream,One of da suburbs.
Joking aside ...you guys are not kidding.I have a cabin up north in Park Falls,Wis. Try to find a Italian beef,dipped w/hot and green peppers...they look at you like your nuts!Ask for a beef sand. dipped and you get a thick slice of roast beef with thick gravy poured on top. Try to get a Pizza that doesnt taste like a piece of cardboard with ketchup and cheese on it.You just cant beat the artery hardening food that you can get in Chi-town! "BURP"
Just this mans opinion!!!
Stump

[Reels]

Hey Stump, Im in Hanover Park now, so if you ever want to wet a line, let me know. Have boat will travel. Always looking for someone to fish with.

Ron

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[TK_551]

Ditto for me. Check the above post for my email address and get ahold of me. Always looking for someone to fish with.

Tom
#551

[Esox Warrior]

I'm not from "the city" but the big "burb" 90 miles west, you sure hit it on the head.

[ken in nisswa]

Does anybody still do any SMELTING down by da lakefront?
If memory serves me correct,the smelt run was always around
Easter.Those were the good old days.Hey Reels you bring
the nets and lantern and I'll bring the wood for the garbage
can fire!LOL. I'll bet even the Linder boys remember smelting.

Does anybody have a real Italian beef recipe? I just might have
to go out and buy a meat slicer if you do.I make my own thin
crust pizzas from scratch,the pizzas up here suck!

D

[Bob G2]

Here's a few more....
"It's over by dere"
"I count tree of dem"
When in a restaurant, the waitress asks "What dya wan?"
"Ya wan it dipped or not?"
"I wan a dog wit everyting on it" (Means more than mustard, onions and relish)

[Bob G2]

You are familiar with the following places:
1) Da Loop
2) Da Sout Side
3) Da Nort West Side

And.....
1) Giordano's
2) Portillo's
3) Fluky's
4) Gene and Jude's (The infamous rubber dogs-especially after geting
out of the Thirsty Whale)
5) Superdawg
6) The Original Dove Bars
7) Mario's Lemonade
8) Harold's Chicken Shack (Ever see the Chicken Cadillac??)

[Stump]

Yes,people still go Smelting down by the "Lake".WoW,what a blast from the past.It used to be almost a right of passage to go for an evening of smelting.The experience really cant be described.Nets out,fires burning,beer and booze galore.It was one big fishing party!Five gallon buckets of smelt,people cooking them over the fires and of course you have to eat a live one and bite its head off(its the smelting LAW)Definately a night you will not soon forget!
Reels(RON) and TK551 (TOM) sent me an e-mail anytime,Im always up for fishing! John at fishinjas1@aol.com
STUMP

[DarrenB]

I'm right at the edge of the city(NW side Norwood Pk) and you guys are right about trying to get these Chicago foods elsewhere. Ever try getting a simple hot dog anywhere away from here? Whats with the ketchup on it? Huh..no peppers? In Phoenix AZ they have quite a few Chicago style restaurants like Pizzeria Uno's and even a Vienna hotdog and beef stand. They try but are still nowhere close to the originals. Everyone I know that has left the area really misses the food.

[jeffster]

Hey Stump and Reels
I live in Bartlett, send me an e-mail maybe we can hook up and exchange some fishing spots and other info.

jeffster
jeffbbull@aol.com

[KP]

What? 40,000 Fox Chain stickers sold and no one from da Northwest Burbs?

There is a family owned Lukes Italian Beef in Mesa Arizona.

When I lived in Minnesota and Wisconsin, I'd buy 10 lbs of beef and juice from Lukes or Portillos, separate them into 1 lb bags and freeze them.

I'd also order "Lou to Go" from Lou Malnatis Pizza. Next day delivery to anywhere in the country.

If anyone ever wants to do the Fox or Chain...AKPBrown@aol.com

[Reels]

I work on Schaumburg, Lou's is 10 minutes and Portillo's is just down the street.

Maybe I'll have to go to uncle Lou's for lunch today. A butter crust pan sounds good and Im getting hungry reading all this food talk!

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[Hairy Minnow]

Stop, you guys are making me drool. Let's not forget Novi's Beef in Berwyn, Frankie's hot dogs in Cicero and Home Run Inn pizza. Living in Brainerd for the last 16 years, I demand care packages from my friends when they visit. Think I need to plan a road trip. Nothing like getting it fresh.

[Stump]

Ok,everyone is bringing up names...what about the old guy with the hot dog cart by Lincoln Park and the lagoon.The biggest and best dirty water dogs youll ever have.The guy is a landmark....he has been there since I was a kid( Im 36 ) and he was old then.Must be the hot dogs!
And I cant believe no one mentioned "MR BEEF"...now Portillos is good but you havent had a greezy ol' soggy beef w/peppers until you've had a MR BEEF!! I gotta go get a TUMMS just thinking about it!
Stump

[ken in nisswa]

I forgot to mention they dont sell Old Style beer in
northern Mn. either. Hey guys I'm still waiting for
that Italian beef recipe. I had a dream about a Buono
beef sandwich last night.

[GO 1 FSHN]

I don't know how I missed this post...but now my mouth is watering too! I grew up on the Northwest side of Chicago and still have some family members there. Why haven't they sent me any beefs or pizzas??? I'm now in Central WI. When I go visit my folks for the weekend I don't even request mom's cooking anymore - it is straight to Jays Beefs - or Portillos, or Mr. Beefs, or Yo Joe's, or you get the idea. YUM!!!!!

Joe Totman
MWC #55

[Fuzzy]

How many Bear fans does it take to screw in a light bulb?

Four - 1 to change the lightbulb and 3 to talk about how great the '85 lightbulb was. ;)

[fibtab]

Yea,40 thousand of us and we'll all be on the water on Memorial Day.I'll be trolling Blarney's Island or anchored up at the rt#12 bridge drinking out of the cooler(no retail for me)and checking out the Mamorials

[DarrenB]

You guys are all killing me with this stuff, I'm gonna have to stop off somewhere on the way home now.

I grew up in the neighborhood over by Ashland Stump, and remember that guy too when I'd go fishing in the harbor. You're right he had the best hotdogs in the world and they were cheap too. Last I remember he had moved his operation up near Cubs Park on Southport st, but that was quite a few years ago. Byrons up on Irving Park probably had the next best hotdogs, and another vote here for Mr Beef! Yum Yum!

[Reels]

How did I forget the maxwell street Polish!!

PS- I did go to Lou's for lunch. Im stuffed....

<{{}}><

[WHAT THE H_LL]

DONT YOU EVER WORK????????

[Reels]

Nope.... Not if I can help it! Not with a belly full of Pizza.

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[DarrenB]

Here ya go Ken

http://recipecircus.com/recipes/JoyceS/SANDWICHES/Chicago_Style_Italian_Beef_Sandwiches.html

[SALES?]

Are they hirering?

[dvfx1]

I'm from the northwest sub's(Elgin Algonquin).Now I'm stuck living on Lake Winnebago and dying for an original beef.The closest thing we have is frozen stuff from Vienna, but I guess that's better than nothing.Just not worth the trip to that big traffic jam called Illinois.

[OOC]

dvfx 1,I'll bring some up next time I come up to catch some of Lake Winnebago's most tasty walleyes

[JimStolpa]

I just had to post this after reading about guys from Chicago looking for fishing partners. I belong to a multi-species club in Batavia called Fox Valley Area Anglers (FVAA). We are listed on WC's club list so I don't feel too bad getting a little info. out to guys looking to fish. Our website is www.foxvalleyareaanglers.com Check us out!!! We have 10 tourneys a year and mainly fish for walleye and bass, but the rule is if it has gills it counts. We have been around since 1989.

Regarding food...I love a dog from Superdawg on Milwaukee Ave.

e-mail me..jstolpa@mapessprowl.com

[KP]

I'll trade you your house on Winnebago for my house with the next door neighbor who manages a Lou Malnaties and brings us free pizza at least once a week. Also a Mr. Beef is 1.5 miles away.

I'll get a lawyer to start drawing up the contract. Gotta go buy a 30 cubic foot freezer for all the pizza and beefs I gotta take Nort wit me.