Thursday Doors: Sigma Alpha Epsilon National Headquarters (OHC 2018)

During Open House Chicago 2018, we visited several sites in Evanston, including the national headquarters of the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon. Regardless of my personal opinion of this fraternity’s history of hazing (for which it has been disciplined at least nine times) as well as of fraternities in general, the headquarters building is an austere […]

Open House Chicago-Part 4: The American Toby Jug Museum

In Evanston is a small museum that most residents don’t even know exists. We didn’t either, until Open House Chicago listed it in the sites to tour in Evanston. In fact, I didn’t know what a Toby jug was. Nevertheless, located at 910 Chicago Ave. in Evanston, IL, the museum hosts thousands of visitors per […]

CFFC: Make Me Laugh!

The theme for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge this week is: Funny. I looked through my photos to see which ones really made me laugh. Here’s what I came up with. Fish mailbox (Dempster Ave., Des Plaines) Speaking of fish, here are fish and duck Toby jugs: Dog Toby jugs: (If you are scratching your head, […]

Getting our kicks in Missouri: Vacuum Cleaners, Murals and Bridges – Day 8 (Part 2)

After leaving Uranus, we finally arrived at Devils Elbow Bridge. Our AAA guide said, “This 1920s-era bridge takes the original 66 roadway across the Big Piney River. Named for the tight bend in the river, the bridge and adjacent town were (and still are) considered one of the most scenic spots on the route.” After […]

Some Denver Doors: Tennyson St., the State Capitol and the 16th St. Mall

June 1, 2018 For Norm’s Thursday Doors this week, I return to Denver, on the day we spent visiting the downtown area. When we arrived in Denver in late afternoon two days before, we went first to our Airbnb to get settled. Our host’s name was Marlene and she was an artist. She recommended several […]

BIG Can Be Beautiful!

Lens-Artists’ photo challenge this week is: BIG Can Be Beautiful Too! Denali – Tallest mountain in the Western Hemisphere (Denali National Park, Alaska, 2016) American Eagle Roller Coaster made out of Legos, using 14,500 Lego bricks with 9,300 feet of track (Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, 2017) Big statue being carved out of rock […]

CFFC: Things People Play With

The topic this week for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge is Things People Play With. (I apply the term “Play with” rather loosely! 🙂 ) Discarded Barbie Leaf and Ducks – Sweden Carnival Ride and Blow-up Slide, Des Plaines Fall Fest 18th century doctor’s tools, Des Plaines Fall Fest Blocks, Des Plaines Fall Fest Visitors try […]

Getting Our Kicks with Route 66 Kitsch (Day 7, Part 2)

June 14, 2018 Catoosa, OK has at least 3 attractions worth stopping for: Interested in river history? Arkansas River Historical Society Museum, 5350 Cimarron Rd., Catoosa, OK Ready for a hike and a picnic? Redbud Valley Nature Preserve, 16150 Redbud Dr., Catoosa, OK Want to see something kitschy (hokey) that has even appeared on a […]

WPC: Works of Art

Sue W.’s Weekly Photo Challenge this week is Work of Art. Works of art are everywhere – an artist’s painting, a mural on a wall, a beautiful building, or natural works of art – a sunset, a rainbow, blooming flowers, animals – and animals creating their own works of art! A work of art doesn’t […]

Getting Our Kicks on the Road in Oklahoma (Route 66, Day 7, Part 1)

June 14, 2018 We left Oklahoma City this morning, and acquired our new Oklahoma Route 66: The Ultimate Road Trip booklet along the way, which lists many more exciting attractions than the AAA guide we’d been using up to that point! This Oklahoma guide has the advantage of listing all the attractions in order as […]