On the road again.....Kankakee, Illinois.

MJ5150 · #1 10-19-2008, 11:38 PM

I was in Colorado last week. Right now I am coming to you live from Kankakee, Illinois. I flew into O'Hare at 9PM and made the drive out here, which was about an hour and 45 minutes. I'll be here until Wednesday

It was dark when I landed, so I can't see anything as far as the landscape and things around me, not even the sites of Chicago. It smells like farmland out here, so I will be interested to see what everything looks like in the morning. I wish I was closer to the actual city of Chicago so I could have gone into town one evening after I get done working. I wanted to drive around and see if I could find some of those legendary Chicago gangsters like the Blackstone Rangers, the Bricks, or Vice Lords. I've also heard the mafia is alive and well in Chicago, so at least the white boys are keeping represented as well.

I've heard I am not far from the Chicago Bears training facility. Maybe I'll drive over there and get a couple pictures for Jive and see if there are any cool tributes to Sweetness or the '86 team there.

-Mike

GregC · #2 10-19-2008, 11:59 PM

You're in the boonies, Mike, that's for sure. You also would have been better off flying into Midway, if possible, given your location. I hope O'Hare wasn't too bad. I'm surprised you couldn't at least see downtown when you landed.

I'm in the city proper, on the North Side right by the lake. If you do get into the city, let me know. I work downtown, we could get some pizza.

MJ5150 · #3 10-20-2008, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregC

You also would have been better off flying into Midway, if possible, given your location.

.....we could get some pizza.

I looked into that. There were no direct flights from Seattle to Midway on the days I needed to travel. I even checked flying out of Portland, Oregon.

Now that would be cool to have lunch with another Gator in Chicago, but I doubt I can swing it this time around.

-Mike

GregC · #4 10-20-2008, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I looked into that. There were no direct flights from Seattle to Midway on the days I needed to travel. I even checked flying out of Portland, Oregon.

Now that would be cool to have lunch with another Gator in Chicago, but I doubt I can swing it this time around.

-Mike

Ah, bummer on the flight.

I typically go into work late and stay late (to avoid rush hour traffic), so dinner is a possibility for me as well, if you can hack it.

Selta · #5 10-20-2008, 05:38 AM

Dude, when are you coming back to Altoona?

Chicago is my favorite city to visit. Ah how I want to go back...

MJ5150 · #6 10-20-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Dude, when are you coming back to Altoona?

Chicago is my favorite city to visit. Ah how I want to go back...

I'll be in Altoona on December 6th. I'm going to the Dallas game on the 7th, so I'll spend the day before back home visiting.

As for Chicago...I won't be checking it out. It's too far to drive from here. I'm near a neat looking river and some farm land though!

-Mike

MJ5150 · #7 10-20-2008, 08:14 PM

Alright.....so what is it with you people out here and "Italian beef" anyway? You guys have "Italian beef" sandwich shops all over like Seattle has Starbucks.

I decide to go in and get one today to check the hype. I didn't want to offend the people in the joint, so I said it was good and left. I didn't lie, it was good. But it tasted like any other roast beef sandwich I've had. What's the big deal?

-Mike

iamlowsound · #8 10-20-2008, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregC

You're in the boonies, Mike, that's for sure. You also would have been better off flying into Midway, if possible, given your location. I hope O'Hare wasn't too bad. I'm surprised you couldn't at least see downtown when you landed.

I'm in the city proper, on the North Side right by the lake. If you do get into the city, let me know. I work downtown, we could get some pizza.

I love the north side of Chicago. If I could choose one city to live in, it would be Chicago. Too bad that is not a possibility.

lowsound

snappytom · #9 10-20-2008, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Alright.....so what is it with you people out here and "Italian beef" anyway? You guys have "Italian beef" sandwich shops all over like Seattle has Starbucks.

I decide to go in and get one today to check the hype. I didn't want to offend the people in the joint, so I said it was good and left. I didn't lie, it was good. But it tasted like any other roast beef sandwich I've had. What's the big deal?

-Mike

All beefs are not created equal.
Don't know if there are any in Kankakee, but go to a Portillos if you have a chance and get a combo (Italian Beef and grilled Italian sausage) with peppers (hot or sweet). They are the best.

MJ5150 · #10 10-20-2008, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snappytom

All beefs are not created equal.

OK, I'll try a few more. There are certainly plenty to pick from. Today, I went to Boz Hot Dogs.

-Mike

heroincredible · #11 10-20-2008, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snappytom

All beefs are not created equal.

True statement. Nothing in the world comes close to Alberta beef.

RedemptionBass · #12 10-20-2008, 10:44 PM

Kankakee?

Ouch. Sorry, man.

MJ5150 · #13 10-21-2008, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedemptionBass

Kankakee?

Ouch. Sorry, man.

Yeah, me too. When my boss said Chicago, I was excited about the trip. I didn't realize I was 80 miles from Chicago and stuck in this little podunk town. I went to Bourbonnais last night and found a cool place to eat.

-Mike

Selta · #14 10-21-2008, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

I'll be in Altoona on December 6th. I'm going to the Dallas game on the 7th, so I'll spend the day before back home visiting.

As for Chicago...I won't be checking it out. It's too far to drive from here. I'm near a neat looking river and some farm land though!

-Mike

Let me know when you get in. I have that saturday free

. First round's on me!

#15 10-21-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedemptionBass

Kankakee?

Ouch. Sorry, man.

One could do worse, like, oh, say, Robbins.

Georynn · #16 10-21-2008, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snappytom

All beefs are not created equal.
Don't know if there are any in Kankakee, but go to a Portillos if you have a chance and get a combo (Italian Beef and grilled Italian sausage) with peppers (hot or sweet). They are the best.

+1 Portillos... Combo... Wet... mmmmm

MJ5150 · #17 10-21-2008, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Georynn

+1 Portillos...

Sorry fella's, ain't gonna happen this go around. I don't know this area very well, but a quick check of their website and a look on Mapquest doesn't pull up any results near where I am. I am at exit 308 off I-57.

-Mike