Chicago Kenny's Tours and Road Trips

06/16/2024

Today's Bear's Game is at Brookfield Zoo.

There's a rumor started by me, that photographer Haley Carney hopped the fence to get a closer shot.

02/16/2024

Currently reading this recent release.

Dive into the story of how railroad land at the nexus of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan was transformed into a commercial and residential high-rise enclave. 𝙁𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙍𝙖𝙞𝙡𝙮𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙍𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙨. Available now on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CNDBH3T4

12/14/2023

Last night I made my annual pilgrimage to Chicago's Sauganash Neighborhood.

12/08/2023

Can you guess the name of this statue?

12/05/2023

From the glory days of Marshall Field & Company.

In late autumn a team of professional timber cruisers and a store representative would head to the forests around Lake Superior. Their task was to find a symmetrical balsam fir at least seventy feet tall. The top forty-eight feet would be lopped off and the branches tied back to prevent damage.

A bulldozer was required to clear a path through the forest, followed by a sled carrying the tree. The tree would arrive in Chicago on a Saturday night by train, and streets would be blocked off to facilitate the journey to the store.

The revolving doors at Randolph and State would be removed and once inside the tree would be hoisted seven floors through the lightwell, then moved to the Walnut Room where she would be erected by block and tackle. This process took about three hours.

Eighteen trimmers, some suspended by boatswain’s chairs freed the branches and decorated the tree with 1,500 ornaments and thousands of yards of lights, ribbons, and garland.

Three firemen were hired each year to watch over the five-story tall Great Christmas Tree.

12/04/2023

I bumped into Santa at Jimmie's Red Hots at Grand and Pulaski.

Out of respect, I kept the conversation short. I wouldn't want his fries from Jimmie's to get cold.

12/02/2023

I'm flipping a coin to decide on where to go to pick up dinner.

Heads = Brother in Laws for rib tips.
Tails = Brother in Laws for rib tips.

Heads it is!

I've been smelling the smoke and asking for extra napkins at this joint since the late 70s or early 80s.

Back then it was known as Fredine's.
Today, they are located on Chicago Avenue just west of Hamlin.

12/02/2023

Two Marathon Dancers at the White City Amusement Park in 1931. They danced a total of 1343 hours and the last 500 with no rest.

Why did they do it? This was a contest that 126 couples entered. It occurred during The Great Depression and the Grand Prize was $1,000. I believe every dancer was paid something to live off.

During the Depression, these contests were popular in big cities across the country. At one Marathon, nine couples were still dancing after 145 days! Of course, there was a system in place for taking breaks and sleeping. The dancers were fed eight times a day. A medical staff was present and needed as more than a few contestants were carried off on a stretcher.

The event's organizers usually made a hefty profit.

08/23/2023

Sorry Clemenza, I left the gun but did not take the cannoli. They had a slice of Tiramisu with my name on it.

Hanging out on Grand Avenue in Little Sicily. Neighborhood joints are my favorite.

The homemade bread turned my Italian sub into a great sammich. They hooked me up with mostaccioli and meatballs for tomorrow.
Life is good!