Category: Nonfiction
Music Man: Haydon leads Big Restoration at Ravinia
The grounds of the 121-year-old Ravinia Festival are constantly buzzing., even when fans of acts from Counting Crows to Maren Morris are nowhere to be seen. And Jeff Haydon, who was hired in 2020 after the season was canceled because of the pandemic, is involved with every aspect.
Read more here.
Hats Off to Chicago Artisan Who Champions Rare Craft
Though custom hats such as fedoras were ubiquitous in the middle of the last century, creating headwear out of felt, straw and other material in the 21st century is a rare pursuit. Graham Thompson, 53, along with four full-time and two part-time employees, continues the trade on Chicago’s South Side. The wares are sold at his store Optimo, just steps away from the Board of Trade building on Jackson Boulevard.
Read more here.
Hail to the Victors
In its first visit to The Big House since the Eisenhower Administration, USC traveled to Michigan to face the defending national champions on Sept. 21.
“Welcome to The Big House” said just about everyone to this Trojan fan as we walked in for the first time ever following a festive USC party — attended by the band and Song Girls — 10 minutes away.
More than 110,000 saw a bruising Big Ten battle on a perfect summer afternoon, and in a game a long-time Michigan fan told me they didn’t deserve to win, the Wolverines ran up the gut with great success to beat the visitors.
The good news? All Michigan fans were welcoming of and friendly to their Southern California guests. And what a perfect spot to watch college football.
It’s Hard Not to Relax at the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel and Spa
On a pleasant Friday evening in March, we checked in to the Kimpton Vero Beach Hotel and Spa. Right away at the front desk, we were offered free glasses of champagne — a staple every night at the IHG hotel, along with free wine starting at 4 p.m.
Our two-bedroom suite for the three of us — including my wife and 16-year-old son — was ample in size and featured a balcony overlooking the pool with a view of the ocean. As they slept in the morning, I could quietly head downstairs to grab the daily free coffee and then sneak out to the balcony and answer e-mails when not lured away from the screen to watch the waves.
The staff is truly top-notch. It’s hard to imagine a friendly group, from the valets to the pool man who set up our towels on the chaise lounge. Embarrassed that an engineer had to enter our room to check if an issue elsewhere may have affected us, the staff gave us a $50 credit.
The pool was a great spot for my son and I to toss a football. Even better was the hot tub that had water tumbling over rocks onto our heads. It was impossible not to feel refreshed after five minutes in there. Steps away, bodysurfing beckoned. We simply put our towels and shirts on the beach and tried to ride the waves.
The main restaurant, Cobalt, possesses a first-class atmosphere and features excellent seafood and filets. I ate one breakfast outside, and the view is perfect.
This was our second visit to the spot, and we couldn’t recommend it more. For a place to relax and feel at home — where at the end of eight days we felt like we had just arrived — it’s hard to beat the Kimpton.
A Site of Horror
Presidential assassinations in the United States are rare, which makes the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas all the more gripping. The window where Lee Harvey Oswald fired his shots is still surrounded by the book boxes that hid him — the same configuration as the hour the crime scene was discovered.
Read more at https://classicchicagomagazine.com/assassination-museum-grips-visitors-with-rarely-seen-photos-fascinating-facts/
Fun in Fort Lauderdale
Even having golf star Brooks Koepka bang the Florida Panthers’ massive drum behind their net to rally the crowd didn’t help in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup.
Las Vegas scored less than two minutes into the game and never trailed. Still, our trip to Fort Lauderdale was fun. Among the highlights:
— Our spacious suite at the Atlantic Hotel & Spa meant we were able to stay in comfort. Though the air conditioning was not working in the living room our first night, a technician spent hours putting in a new motor. We were able to use the pool after checking out, a big advantage considering our late-afternoon flight. I tossed the football up in the air in a contest to see which one of my sons would be the first to catch 10.
— For dinner, Steak 954 provided excellent filet mignon — the best my 15-year-old son has ever had — and tasty bernaise sauce. Brunch was superb too; I’d recommend an egg-white omelet with hot sauce on the side and an order of bacon.
Gotham City
Thoughts during a visit to New York City:
–United has the easiest WiFi to sign up for, though it’s hard to beat Southwest’s price of free.
–The taxi line at LGA is measured by how many baggage claims it passes. Amazing that the planners of the beautiful new Terminal B couldn’t ensure quicker taxi service.
–A hotel without a plastic laundry bag is a substandard hotel. Thankfully, The Lexington delivered.
–Touring the 86th and 102nd floors of the Empire State Building is interesting, but the World Trade Center observatory experience is better.
L. A. Confidential
Thoughts from a quick jaunt to the Southland:
— The Australian filet mignon at CUT inside the Beverly Wilshire is outstanding, justifying its high price. The service, as always, is impeccable.
–Manhattan Beach is always a treat, with big waves, beach volleyball and great restaurants. The blackened chicken sandwich at the Shellback Tavern is superb, and it’s a great place to watch sports.
— USC football is back, but the size of the crowd at the win over Washington State was disappointing.
— Breakast at S.A.L.T. at the Marina Del Rey Hotel continues to impress.
Please Come to Boston
Random thoughts about Boston:
–Fin Point at the Hilton has a great atmosphere for a hotel restaurant.
–It’s a short drive into the city from Logan Airport but always a crawl.
–Celtics jerseys abound when the team is going for its first NBA title in 14 years.
–Hard to beat a beautiful spring evening by the water.
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