When I was young, relatives and family friends would travel to the South or West sides to buy barbecue. Some came in from the suburbs to get their barbecue fix. They would brag that it was the best barbecue they ever had. When I worked in Lawndale as a police officer, there were some good barbecue places we frequented.
I’ve eaten in many of Chicago’s barbecue places, including Smoque, Smoke Daddy, Honky Tonk, and Chicago Q. While they are all good, the best barbecue in the city is the African American barbecue places serving Chicago-style barbecue. I used to patronize Bibs and Ribs in Hyde Park until they closed. Most are located on the South and West sides of the city.
A few BBQ places tried to open on the Northside and did so-so business. The pandemic caused many to close. Most of the South and West side barbecue places are only carryout and or delivery. A few have long lines to get in and it is best if you order ahead.
We have the Chicago-style hotdog and Chicago -style deep-dish pizza. Chicago-style Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style gyros, and Chicago-style tavern pizza (Round pizza cut into small square pieces) In the mid-20th Century there was Chicago-style chop suey, mostly sold in the Southside African American neighborhoods to workers. It was a filling, nourishing, and most important, inexpensive lunch.
As Nick Kindelsperger points out, Chicago-style barbecue is prepared in glass aquarium style smokers unique to Chicago. Chicago-style barbecue is also more pork-centric, especially rib tips, pulled pork, and hot links.
Though some of the South and West side’s barbecue restaurants have been around and popular for decades, the term Chicago-style barbecue never caught on like other foods.
Over the past several years, barbecue restaurants cooking other styles of barbecue such as South Carolina and Texas styles opened. Many like those mentioned above are popular and draw crowds while touting their “styles” of BBQ.
Chicago-style barbecue, like other foods, is truly unique to our city and the style should get the recognition it deserves. The pitmasters who create this deliciousness should also get more recognition, not just from the food world and media, but the public.
Chicago’s pit masters should, if they haven’t already, form an association. They could create a marketing and branding plan to popularize Chicago-style barbecue and put it in people’s minds just like Chicago-style hot dogs, beef sandwiches, gyros, and pizza.
There is no reason Chicago-style barbecue cannot be as popular or in the language as other Chicago-style foods. Food writers should jump on the band wagon too, sampling the food from various barbecue places and touting Chicago-style barbecue.
Look up Chicago-style barbecue places, try them, and even wait in long lines. You will be surprised and pleased. Tell your friends or bring them along. The only way to celebrate and promote Chicago-style barbecue is for people to patronize these places, eat the food, and get the word out there.
Mr. Kromelis has been a familiar figure in the Near Northside for decades. He could be seen walking in all kinds of weather. He is easily recognizable by his shoulder length gray hair and mustache. According to relatives, he is not mentally ill, he just loves to walk and loves Chicago.
Mr. Kromelis might be homeless, but he has siblings, nieces, and nephews. According to various sources, his family moved to Chicago from Lithuania when he was a child. His father owned a tavern. The family moved to Michigan after selling the bar. Kromelis returned to Chicago, obtained a peddler’s license, and began selling jewelry and watches on the streets. He lived in an SRO until a developer converted it to condos.
The various homeless camps in Chicago offer some havens, as there is safety in numbers, especially at night when people are asleep. But there have been instances of people starting tents on fire or burning camps down when people are not there.
It is estimated that the homeless population in Chicago is over 16,000 people, including those who temporarily move in with friends or relatives, couch surfers. The city is doing little to assist them, contrary to what they claim, just like their lies about public safety.
The city is doing everything to assist developers to build mid and high rises for people with money. There is no push for housing the homeless in residences with various social services. There is no push to develop or repurpose housing for the homeless. But, hey, look what they are doing for the whiny bitchy bike people? They bend over backwards for those over privileged entitled stinking sweat hogs.
Chicago is a city run by scoundrels. The NIMBYs are just as evil. Chicago has no values except greed, lust for power, and apathy towards the most vulnerable in society. The motto of Chicago should be non Damnare, “We don’t give a damn.”
At least two people were shot in separate incidents in the Loop as revelers filled Chicago’s downtown area to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. At times, members of the crowd overwhelmed Chicago police, threw bottles and other objects at officers, and even tried to pull some cops from their patrol cars. (CWBChicago)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Summer of Joy quickly turned into her Fall of Folly. Her plan to control the unsanctioned Mexican Independence Day “celebrations” failed worse than it did last year. The revelers even shut down DuSable Lake Shore Drive to race, do donuts, and shoot off fireworks.
Lightfoot failed again. She should have either planned a downtown parade or shut down all access to the downtown area. She knew full well her grand idea would be a failure, yet she persisted.
DUMBER
Image: PV Bella
Superintendent David “Tex” Brown never fails to surprise and always surprises with his failures. His latest plan, strategy, deployment, scheme, scam, or outright lie is not only mind-boggling, but ridiculous. Chicago Police will employ spike strips that destroy tires, to curb drivers doing donuts on our streets, blocking off traffic and emergency services, and posing a danger to all. The policies for employing the spike strips virtually prohibit the police from employing them. Worse, the spike strips are not for urban streets or the donut racers. Great, waste of taxpayer money to purchase the equipment you are virtually making it almost impossible to employ, and looking foolish simultaneously. This article lays out Brown’s idiocy.
Dumbest
“Democratic politicians including Lightfoot, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have vowed to welcome the migrants and provide a full range of services to meet their immediate needs.”
“Well, until they actually showed up. Then Mayor Lightfoot shipped them somewhere else without warning.” (Darren Bailey)
Darren Bailey, the gift that keeps on giving, and supposed Christian Warrior man of the people who is living in the lap of luxury in the former Hancock building, is not only the dumbest goobernatorial candidate to run for office in modern history, but he is a candidate for the dumbest supposed human in Illinois. (The jury is out over Bailey being human or possessing any shred of humanity)
Yeah, Lightfoot or her people could not find a few minutes to give a heads-up to the suburban mayors. It was a dumb boneheaded move on her part. But she made many dumb boneheaded moves while in office, so what else is new?
Bailey claims and preaches he is a Christian. He reads scriptures during his morning campaign videos. So, let’s see what kind of Christian he really is. The next and future bus load(s) of immigrants to hit Chicago should be rerouted to Clay County, where Xenia, Baley’s home village is.
The immigrants can be dropped off at the entrance to Bailey’s thousands of acres of farmland. We will see how devout Bailey and his local mackerel-snapping Christians are in practicing Jesus’s message of hunanity.
Let’s see if Bailey, his villagers, and other community members will embrace and help or shun the immigrants, proving their epic Christian hypocrisy.
Will they be good Samaritans or bigots like Darren Bailey? The state could and should provide a State Police escort to ensure the immigrants are delivered to Bailey’s farm. If the drivers refuse, the city or state should tow and impound the buses. Let Arizona and Texas figure out how to get them back from the auto pound in one piece.
Maybe Bailey and his villagers can find some scripture to deny mercy, kindness, succor, and love of his fellow human beings. Maybe somewhere in his patriotic Bible, there is a verse that kindness is strictly reserved for citizens of the Good Ole U.S. of A, except the homeless, poor, elderly, veterans, and sick, who Bailey and his ilk would deny help.
When Bailey loses the election for governor, I am sure Xenia will welcome their village idiot home with open arms. They may even hold a clown parade with fools, jesters, and animal acts. They can have a tractor parade and a twenty-one gun salute for their local loser.
Speaking of bussing, I have another one of my modest proposals. Predictions are this winter will be brutal. Mayor Lightfoot should start preparing now. She should get the religious, business, corporate, millionaire, and billionaire community together to raise millions of dollars to help our massive homeless population survive the winter since the city is doing little to nothing to help them, just like they are doing little or nothing for public safety.
I propose before winter sets in, the homeless be given round-trip bus tickets to various cities in Florida, especially the beach cities. Their possessions could be inventoried and placed in secure storage until they return. They should be given gift debit cards with enough money to set up camps and buy provisions to carry them over through the winter on Florida’s beaches, parks, and other open spaces. Miami, Tampa, Daytona, Palm Beach, St Pete’s, Orlando. Jacksonville and other tourist cities should be targeted to help the homeless survive winter.
Some busloads can arrive in front of wherever Governor Ron DeSantis lives to set up camps. They could take over golf courses, even Mar-a-Lago. Golf is a useless leisure activity for lazy people who like to dress funny and try to put their little balls in bigger holes. Croquette, badminton, and ping-pong require more skill and athleticism than golf.
The homeless would live in a warm climate through the winter. They could return to Chicago in the spring. Maybe by then, this city of failure and folly can figure out a better solution to help people in dire need instead of major developers constructing ugly buildings and their private suburban-style highrise neighborhoods for people from somewhere else.
Pritzker’s campaign released a statement saying, in part, “… despite regularly disparaging the City of Chicago as a hellhole, Bailey seems to have no problem enjoying his high-rise digs on the Magnificent Mile. He is grossly out of touch with Illinois families.” (ABC 7)
Wealthy farm boy Darren Bailey moved into the former Hancock Center, one of Chicago’s most iconic and expensive buildings. He is living in one of Chicago’s wealthiest neighborhoods, high above the city, which he calls a hell hole. What Chicago culture will farm boy Bailey immerse himself in living among his fellow millionaires?
Geez, this guy is suffering from a tertiary case of clownmydia. If Bailey were serious about absorbing the city’s cultures- yeah plural, he would move into the neighborhoods of Lawndale, Little Village, South Shore, Hyde Park, Logan Square, West Lawn, Garfield Ridge, Mr. Greenwood, Austin, University Village, Englewood, etc. etc. etc.
The only culture Bailey wants to absorb is that of people just like him, the wealthy. He is a stone’s throw away from his opponent, incumbent, J.B. Pritzker’s home. Since he also moved into a tourist area, he can absorb tourist culture. You know, wandering around aimlessly, buying all kinds of useless junk, eating mung and dreck in higher priced crappy chain or franchise restaurants, and acting like the rube and bark chewer he really is.
Hell, he can even wear cargo shorts, a backpack to stuff bought junk in, and a bright yellow tee shirt sporting “I’M WITH STUPID.” You know, in case he gets lost, the police can find his staff who wear the same tee shirts.
Bailey is the most clueless candidate for Illinois governor in modern history. He is a clown running a clown show. Bailey is tone-deaf and has no clue about the poor optics he is giving off. Do not expect him to walk anywhere in Chicago during the day or at night, “immersing” himself in the culture. Bailey does not even know the various definitions of culture.
Darren Bailey will learn nothing about our diverse multi-cultural city hiding in his aerie high above the city streets. He might learn about peregrine falcons as they nest high in high places.
Does anyone believe Darren Bailey will walk the neighborhoods, pressing the flesh with ordinary hard-working citizens in this city? Will he film himself walking the streets, learning about the various cultures in Chicago Will he eat in the real ethnic cultural restaurants in the various neighborhoods? Or will he fake it like he did recently when he claimed to witness open-air drug sales and meth bags at his feet?
Darren Bailey is a charlatan and a fraud. His entire campaign is the equivalent of a Ponzi scheme. He built it on ignorance of the issues, the powers of the governor, a mile-high stack of lies, and mackerel-snapping bible verses.
The Illinois GOP should be appalled that their candidate is woefully ignorant of anything to do with government and governance. But, they are stuck. According to their bylaws, they must support the candidates on the ballot no matter how horrendous they are.
There is one thing we should question. Is Bailey or his campaign paying the rent for his luxury Hancock aerie, or is it an in-kind donation from wealthy supporters? Inquiring minds need to know.
Jazz great and legend Ramsey Lewis died this week. Lewis was a son of Chicago. He was born, raised, lived, and died in this city. Mr. Lewis recorded over 80 albums and received many awards, including three Grammy awards. Mr. Lewis was a fixture at the former Mr. Kelly’s. on Rush Street, where Gibsons is now.
By the time Ramsey Lewis was 30, he was one of the country’s most successful jazz musicians. In addition to composing and performing, Ramsey Lewis hosted radio shows in Chicago. Mr. Lewis was a fixture at the former Mr. Kelly’s. on Rush Street, where Gibsons is n
Godspeed Mr. Lewis. You were devoted to your art and loved Chicago.
First Alderwoman Michelle Smith came up with her solution to stop street robberies in her ward. Handing out whistles to constituents. If they see a robbery, they can blow their whistles. The new adage is. “If you see something blow something.”
Along comes Chicago Police Superintendent David “Tex” Brown with his “solution” to deter catalytic converter thefts, which are plaguing the city. Paint the converters pink. Yeah, that will stop the thieves.
Like all of Brown’s plans, strategies, deployments, schemes, and scams, this new one will be a failure too. Thieves do not care if the converters are painted. Brown evidently does not know the psychology of thievery, like he knows nothing about urban policing.
Between Brown and soon to be former alderwoman Smith, it is hard to determine who is the bigger clown. How can anyone take these people seriously? When is Mayor Lori Lightfoot going to fire this poor excuse for a police superintendent and put someone competent in charge who knows what they are doing?
Vehicles have license plates and VIN numbers. That does not deter thieves from stealing or carjacking them. Most stores have cameras inside and out. They do not deter thefts or looting. CTA El stations, trains, and buses have cameras too. They do not deter crime on public transportation.
Painting catalytic converters will NOT deter the thieves. They will continue to steal them, sell them, to recyclers who will profit from them. No one cares if they are painted pink, or any other color.
The news media in Chicago refuses to lash out at Brown for this ridiculous idea. Of course, they also refuse to criticize or editorialize over his continual failures to keep this city safe. One could wonder what other knuckleheaded ideas are floating around in David Brown’s empty cranial cavity.
David “Tex” Brown failed Chicago. He failed the police department. He failed us, the citizens. He failed the rank-and-file police officers. Brown is the definition of failure.
The news media fails us by not demanding Lightfoot fire him. The alderpersons fail us by not demanding Brown be replaced.
The biggest failures in Chicago are the citizens, who should be up in arms, revolting against the retention of David Brown. We are being victimized and there is no end in sight. Brown can toss all the data and data analytics pornography he wants. It is meaningless drivel. Public safety in Chicago is the ultimate oxymoron. Crimes daily plague every neighborhood. Each and every one of us is a potential victim of crime, especially violent crime.
Any vehicle parked on the street can have its catalytic converter stolen. Painting them will stop nothing. It is a hair-brained scheme and scam. Some car dealerships fell for this con game too, offering to paint the converters. The dealership owners are as dim-witted as the average Chicago voter.
What will Brown’s next failing idea be when all those painted catalytic converters are stolen? Inquiring minds want to know.
The McCaskey Bears released a rendering of what their new stadium in Arlington Heights may look like. If you like Legos¨, you may love this piece of dung. The hormonally charged McCaskey fanbase Chicago sports news media went gaga over the release, claiming the McCaskey Bears move would be a boon for Chicagoland.
How dumb, never mind. The Chicago news media are the dumbest people in this city, next to our elected officials. There will be no boon for “Chicagoland.” Long-time Chicago reporter, Fran Spielman, was interviewed on WBEZ this morning. She was bubbling over the economic boon “Chicagoland” will receive if the Arlington Heights deal goes through. She also reported the McCaskey’s are eligible for a forgivable loan from the NFL to build their stadium. The Cheapskate and chiseling McCaskey’s must be in greenback heaven. They will put up pennies on the dollar of their own fortunes.
There will be no economic boon for “Chicagoland.” There will be a boon for North Suburban Land. Chicago will lose out big time. People come from all over to see the Bears or their home teams play here, especially Midwesterners. They stay in Chicago hotels for the weekend or a night. They eat in Chicago restaurants. They visit tourist attractions. They pay fees and taxes that go to the city for their tickets and sales taxes on food and other purchases. All that revenue will dry up. Who benefits? Arlington Heights and the surrounding suburbs, not Chicago.
As I wrote before, the Bears could have had a world-class stadium in Chicago anytime they wanted over the past forty-plus years. George Halas, his son-in-law, and his grandkids are all cheapskates and chiselers. They would not put up or borrow one red cent to build a stadium in Chicago. They wanted the City of Chicago to front all the costs. The McCaskeys squeeze a penny so hard they make Old Abe scream. That is how cheap they are.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is delusional if she thinks she can keep the Bears in Chicago. The McCaskey’s are suburbanites and exurbanites. They hate this city. Their headquarters are in Lake Forest, not Chicago. One brother lives in Kane County. They grew up in the suburbs. They are not Chicagoans. They do not and never had a relationship with the city except getting wealthy from Chicago fans.
It would be nice if the hormonally charged teenagers in Chicago’s news media would do some historical research on the offers made by past mayors to build a stadium and the team’s refusal to pony up money or loans to pay for it. But it is the Chicago news media, a poor excuse for journalism in this city that had a history of fearless journalism and courageous editorial boards.
I wrote this in my office away from home, my local saloon. When a discussion started about this issue, all the patrons were against the deal. There was derision spewed against the team and the McCaskey’s. The saloons that will benefit from this are the ones devoted to opposing teams like the Lions, Packers, and Vikings. The rest of the city will see no benefit.
I said it before, and I will say it again. The Bears deserve the door to hit them in the a$$ on their way out. Hard enough to sack the McCaskey’s. Chicago owes nothing to them. They did little for this city. As for me, a former fervent Bears fan, I will always root for the Bears opposing teams.
“The city seems so serene this morning. Quiet and peaceful, but so far this Labor Day weekend, there have been over 40 shootings and 6 deaths! This is unacceptable!I stood in the South and West sides of Chicago yesterday witnessing cash drug deals and empty meth bags at my feet!This is not how it is supposed to be! This is the bad fruit of failed government, and JB Pritzker is responsible for it.As your next governor, our streets will be safe, our schools will teach our children to work and thrive, and you will benefit more from your hard work!” (Darren Bailey/Facebook Post)
GOP gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey posted the above photo on Facebook today, Apparently, he is enjoying the lux pleasures of the Gold Coast, high above the city responsible for the labor movement.
Yesterday, Darren Bailey posted several photos on Facebook with his wife attending and enjoying themselves at the Taste of Polonia on the Northwest Side. They met with, pressed the flesh, and had photos taken with the people they met.
Pictures tell the truth.
There are no photos of Bailey campaigning on the South and West Side streets of the city, not one. No photos of Bailey attending outdoor events in those neighborhoods. No photos of him meeting, greeting, or pressing the flesh with citizens in those neighborhoods. There are also no photos of cash drug deals or the empty meth bags at his feet. By the way, how does Bailey know they were meth bags? Were they labeled? Did he have them tested? How do we even know Bailey visited those areas this weekend?
Where are pictures of Bailey at Chicago’s Labor Day Parade Saturday on the Southeast Side or the earlier Bud Bilikin Day Parade? Where are pictures of Bailey at other major public events in Chicago?
How is Governor Pritzker responsible for the decades-long problems plaguing those neighborhoods? What about all the past Democrat and Republican governors? Were they too responsible for the public safety issues in Chicago?
What about the state legislature that he is a member of? Will he bypass their powers, wave his wand, and save Chicago? Does Darren Bailey even know about the separation of powers or how Illinois government is supposed to operate? By the way, Bailey voted no on every public safety bill passed by the legislature this year, including the prohibition of the sale and possession of ghost guns and law enforcement notifying the F.B.I. if human remains cannot be identified within 72 hrs.
Darren Bailey never states how he is going to solve these intractable issues if, by the slim to none chance, he is elected. He has no solutions or policies. Not one. He is all talk and empty vague promises.
The governor is not responsible for crime control or education in Chicago. The governor cannot keep Chicago’s streets safe. The mayor and City Council are responsible for public safety and education. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and the City Council failed Chicago.
Bailey avoids the Chicago news media like the plague. They are rarely, if ever, at the events he attends in the city. Why didn’t he have them on hand to record the supposed drug sales and meth bags? Why didn’t he have them follow him campaigning on the streets of the South and West Sides?
Every time Darren Bailey flaps his soup coolers about Chicago he exposes his total ignorance of urban issues, especially public safety, education, and the limited powers of the governor.
Darren Bailey is no champion of public safety or any other critical urban issue. To advocate issues, one needs knowledge of them. Bailey lacks knowledge of urban issues and basically anything else. He must be the most unlearned gubernatorial candidate to run for high office in this state in modern times. Unfortunately, he will still have his seat in the state senate when he loses the election, where he can vote no on more public safety issues.
It did not take long for another lie by Chicago Superintendent of Police. David Brown got caught telling another whopper. If Brown gets better at this, he could be a Chicago politician. This week Brown claimed he would not cancel officers’ days off over the Labor Day weekend.
After Brown made his claim on Monday, CWBChicago reported that CPD had already distributed two “weekend cancellation matrix” spreadsheets that showed officers would have days off canceled for Labor Day and other major holidays, including Christmas. (CWBChicago)
Then there is this:
Brown’s backtrack on Tuesday afternoon came in a written statement in which he outlined “safeguards” to “ensure [officers] have time to rest and re-energize.”
But, the statement only promises to give cops two consecutive days off once every 13 weeks. (CWBChicag0)
Superintendent David Brown has been abusing his police officers mercilessly. He does not care about their health and welfare, which is the highest responsibility a leader has. Brown is no leader. He is a petty tyrant. Brown has no sense of decency.
Brown and all the exempt command staff must work their days off (Saturdays and Sundays) every time officer time off is canceled. If the officers are suffering, the command staff and their families should suffer too. The whole idea of rank has its privilege should be tossed aside. Leaders should lead by example. Funny how our local news media editorial boards did not think of this.
If Brown lied about this, how many more lies has he fed the gullible Chicago news media and the public over his reign? It cannot be repeated enough. Brown is incompetent, should have been fired long ago, and should be fired now before things worsen.
Where are the alderpersons? They should be furious with Brown and Mayor Lightfoot. They should demand that Lightfoot fire Brown. The police officers and we are their constituents. We are paying the price for Brown’s failures and lies. Yet, most aldermen do not care about their constituents or public safety.
In another inept, poorly thought-out plan, strategy, deployment, whatever, Brown laid out how he will stop drifting, the shutting down of intersections for street racing.
“If they don’t have their cars, we don’t have this problem,” Chicago Police Supt. David Brown said. “So our efforts all culminate to do one thing. We’re focused on taking the cars that are drag racing and drifting in Chicago such that they can’t do it again.” (ABC 7 Chicago)
His dim idea is to have police with other city agencies intervene with salt trucks, and tow trucks task force style to break up the events and tow the cars involved. Past efforts by police to break up the races led to police cars being damaged, violent encounters, and officers injured.
If the bystanders and racers are willing to attack police vehicles and officers, what will stop them from attacking tow and other truck drivers? He should lead the task force in person. He should be on the street with the task force. Make him face the mobs leading from the front, instead of being a chairborne commando.
We are going from Mayor Lightfoot’s Summer of Joy to David Browns Fall of Folly.
