LouieB

Yea, its just a couple weeks. LouieB

Seems like only yesterday, or maybe not. Walking on the moon took alot of chutzbah. LouieB

The "no differnce between candidates" drum is kinda boring. If the legistlative branch of this country works correctly, both parties DO vote the same way on most bills and get them out of Congress and into law. Also there are HUNDREDS of bills that go through Congress so at least part of the time even under the worst of circumstances, folks on both opposite sides of the aisle vote the same way. Big dea. On the other side of the coin, Ryan isn't all that conservative when it comes to spending money the way he wants to spend it. LouieB Really. Sorry to step on your post, but clearly t

Sure they are, but it isn't his finances that is going to win the day, it is going to be women's health issues or something more esoteric. No one who is ready to vote for Romney gives a rats ass if he is hiding money. I heard from some pundit the other day that this whole election is actually going to boil down to about a dozen counties. Millions of votes and only the whim of a few people will decide the next President of the US of A. LouieB

What no story about Social Security buying hollow-point bullets? All this is interesting but won't impact the actual election. No one is going to be presuaded by any of this ultimately and perhaps sadly. LouieB

Okay, I will buy that. But few of the fiscal conservatives that are truly fiscally conservative speak out enough to be noticed. LouieB

Time marches on. The angry young men turn into angry old men. LouieB

Parker has been writing good material all along. His Bloodshot albums are all quite good. LouieB

If you are a fiscal conservative these days, you get linked to the social conservatives at the hip, which is certainly a bad place to be. LouieB

I would agree that the orginal Als is probably the best of the lot, but its in the old neighborhood, Also agree that the Mr. Beef staff can be jerks. I have been to Johnnys but only after I stopped eating meat so can't attest to the quality of that, but they do make good Italian lemonade aid and pepper and egg sandwiches. Johnny's WAY off the beaten track. Edit-the Buona Beef places are also pretty good. It seems like the local chains have become pretty much the same, so the original places including Mr. Beef, Johnnys, Romas (a couple locations) and Max's (up near me) have true partisans.

Oh yea, Kokomo was huge, Must have gotten him through the last 30 years. I should know what that kind of clothing is called but I have no idea. LouieB

Thanks for the info on the funeral. I will try and make it. LouieB

While Phyllis was truly a pioneer, she was also terribly unfunny. But she certainly had a unique act, which must have been funny to someone. LouieB

Scott blew it by not joining the Mamas and Papas. So instead of being part of a group that made gobs of money, he has ended up as a one hit wonder. But at least he got that one hit. I have seen that vid and it is hysterical. LouieB

Sad. Takes me back. LouieB

Sorry I didn't read this before posting. Four years ago we had this conversation here about Jeff's overt support of Obama and how people felt about it. He did and people didn't like it. So it goes. Edit again-I saw Tom Morello at a Woody Guthrie show here in Chicago. I am not a RATM fan, but just on the basis of seeing the guy one time I can't imagine Paul Ryan enjoying their music. Morello was extremely outspoken on any number of issues. What about Rage does Ryan actually like? If I was at a show where people were espousing racism or anti-semitism, I sure wouldn't just ignore that and th

If I never hear another Ted Nugent or Hank Williams Jr. song it will be too soon. Somehow I can't see how anyone can listen to Rage Against the Machine and not hear their lyrics or their intent. Some instances of political attitudes by artists have to color how a listener feels about them, which is the point of this article. Can you truly enjoy Woody Guthrie's songs without understanding and at least partially agreeing with his politics? I don't think so, but maybe others are able to divorce themselves from the lyric content. LouieB

Here is an op-ed piece from the NY Times today. this one is dedicated to the neocon members of the VC community who say there is no connection between music and politics. Enjoy. LouieB August 18, 2012 As Woody Turns 100, We Protest Too Little By LAWRENCE DOWNES In October the Kennedy Center will throw a centennial party for Woody Guthrie, a star-studded concert with tickets topping out at $175. It will be America’s ultimate tribute to a beloved troubadour. “Through his unique music, words and style,” the Kennedy Center says, “Guthrie was able to bring attention and understanding

Al's is a large chain that was an outgrowth of one beef stand on Taylor Street that won a Chicago Magazine contest/article many years ago. When I went to their website I notice they only advertise a handful of sites in Chicago (and a bunch in other towns), but I know there are many more than that. (Franchise arrangements?) Al's is pretty good, but I think Portillos is better. The Mr. Beef on Orleans is only one place and maybe the most famous beef place in town. Chicagoans can argue about such mundane shit as who has the best hot dogs, beef, deep dish pizza, all day long. Good location f

Jazzfest is right downtown so there is other stuff to do right next door. Going during the day to the side stages is plenty fun for people watching, and doing stuff in the part adjacent to the fest. And yes you can walk all over from where you are staying. If you have a stroller you will fit right in in such hip neighborhoods at Wicker Park and Lincoln Square, where an infant has become the newest hipster accessory, if you have upgraded from a dog. Regarding dogs, hot dogs in particular, the thread that was posted about good places included a mention of Portillos, which ihas a place pret

Regarding parking, don't park at the hotel. FInd a city or some other lot and park there. You can find lots in the River North area that will be considerabley less. Look for the green and white P sign. At the city/private non-hotel lots you should be able to park for about 30-40 per 24 hours. It's a crap shoot too. (Just so you know the Mile North is not downtown per se, it is just north of the Loop which is downtown. Good place to stay.) I like Hot Dougs,and it is a great hipster destination, but if you have a child they aren't going to know the difference between Dougs dogs and Veinas

Well some were more successful than others. No biggie. It was also a way for me to get my lazy ass out of the house on a Tuesday night. These gigs never started until really about 10:30 and I never made it all the way to the end for any of them despite my best efforts. Usually Von stopped playing at a certain point and let a pickup band take over. The pick-up band was a real crap shoot and sometimes wasn't worth sticking around for. LouieB

I hope someone chimes in here. Lots of folks have stayed here since 1994. Depending on if you want to stay downtown or a neighborhood. I know some folks have stayed at the little hotel by the Vic and had an okay time. (Belmont and Shefield). Also the Days Inn on Diversey. As far as Chicago Hot Dogs, everyone has their favorite. I stopped eating them a few years back and I know some of my old faves have closed up. Wolfy's still makes a good one I think, but that is not in a neighborhood you will go to. Look for a Vienna Beef sign though. Others?? LouieB

That's a great question. I would doubt it, but they were great. Individually the guys developed to be quite proficient. Hey, so don't reply. For some of us Von was a significant local figure. It is not unsual that he died, because he has been sick for the last couple of years and hasn't even been playing, but that doesn't stop people from posting death notices about some pretty obscure musical figures here. The sad part about Von's passing is not that an old man passed on, but that he embodied quite a bit of musical history. And if you don;t like jazz, so be it too, although with all due

As usual we are talking to ourselves. I drove by the New Apartment Lounge yesterday and took a picture to post on Facebook. It is very sad that we won't be going there ever again for one of those wonderful nights. LouieB