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Archive for the ‘Nostalgia’ Category

JFK

President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade approximately one minute before he was shot, Nov. 22, 1963, in Dallas. Riding with President Kennedy are first lady Jacqueline Kennedy, right, Nellie Connally, second from left, and her husband, Texas Gov. John Connally, far left. The 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination, marked on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, finds his family, and the country, at a moment many would not have imagined in JFK’s lifetime. (Jim Altgens/AP)

By The Editorial Board | Chicago Tribune

Sixty years ago today, Americans of all stripes were shocked when Walter Cronkite told them, wiping away tears, that John F. Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas.

It verges on trite to say everything changed after that. It also happens to be true. As Stephen Sondheim famously wrote in a song lyric, “Something Just Broke.”

But, that truth has taken on new forms as time has passed. The legacy of JFK has evolved as has its lessons for America.

For the first few decades after the tragedy, the narrative was one of before and after. For many, JFK’s death marked the loss of the country’s innocence, as manifested in the turbulent 1960s, the sexual revolution and a litany of cultural changes.

Where were you when you found out? Virtually every American old enough to remember could tell you.

JFK in those early decades was put on a pedestal. He was seen as inspirational (“Ask not what your country can do for you,” “We choose to go to the moon”) and a symbol of a nation on the rise — of a younger, vigorous, forward-looking country.

In more recent times, the legacy has morphed into something more complicated and in some respects worrisome.

The theorizing rampant on the internet — a technological advancement JFK no doubt would find mind-boggling — in some ways has its origins in the still-raging debate over who was responsible for the assassination.

Read more here.

Related:Resident pens revealing book on the Kennedys

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netflix-poste

Home movies

On Friday, Netflix is shutting down its mail-order DVD service. Customers who still receive physical DVDs can hold on to the ones they have. “Please enjoy your final shipments for as long as you like!” the company wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. I misread this as “Please enjoy your final shipments for as long as you live!,” a chirpy and morbid send-off, conjuring images of a devoted Luddite breathing his last in a room littered with faded red envelopes and dusty remote controls.

This is not a eulogy for the DVD. I stopped receiving DVDs by mail more than a decade ago with little remorse. Or at least I think I did. I tried recently to access my complete Netflix viewing history only to discover that all DVD data is deleted 10 months after your subscription ends. Now I’m left with just my streaming history, which begins in 2009 with “Party Down,” a show which, for many reasons, feels recent and very much of the streaming era.

If I’m forlorn about anything, it’s the lost data. I can’t remember a single movie I watched on DVD from Netflix. I remember the first rentals my parents brought home to play on our hulking faux-bois VCR (Billy Wilder’s 1960 film “The Apartment,” “A Little Romance,” with Laurence Olivier and a teenage Diane Lane). I remember borrowing the comically gigantic laser disc of “Koyaanisqatsi” in the college library and renting “Say Anything” from Tower Video in the East Village.

These movies, these moments, are the pegs that threads of memory wind around. Who I was, what I did, how I felt at a moment in time. I rented Jim Jarmusch’s “Down by Law” from Kim’s Video, then I went and got steamed eggs at a cafe. I can see the video on the cafe table. I remember the winter coat I had. I wish I could recall the Netflix rentals, summon the memories that accompany them.

For a short time, Netflix had a feature that I loved called “Netflix Friends.” It allowed you to share your queue with friends and to see their star ratings for movies they’d watched. I remember adding ratings and comments to movies I’d seen before the launch of Netflix, so I could recommend them to friends.

Netflix canceled the Friends feature in 2010. I wish I’d kept track of each movie I watched and the ratings I gave them. Why did I give away the information? Why didn’t I save what could be a log of prompts to help spur memories of other eras, an archive of how I spent my time?

At the end of each year, the filmmaker Steven Soderbergh posts a list of everything he watched and read in the previous 12 months. I’ve been envious of this record, but for whatever reason, maybe because my intake seemed so feeble compared to Soderbergh’s, I’ve never kept a list of my own. That changes now. I downloaded my Netflix streaming history and plan to do so for all the streaming platforms that allow it. I’ll log my viewing in a notebook, be my own data collector, the custodian of my own cultural history.

Source

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Fick This

District 220 Board of Education President Sandra Fick-Bradford was seen leading a cheer during the 2022 Barrington Homecoming Parade. Hopefully District 220 purchased a LARGER selection of t-shirts sizes this year…

“The parade will begin promptly at 10:15 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, We will all meet in the COMMUTER LOT AT THE BARRINGTON TRAIN STATION IN DOWNTOWN BARRINGTON.

The parade will follow the traditional route from past years from Wool Street to Main Street, and west on Main Street toward BHS. If you have a float, please be at the commuter lot at 9:00 a.m.

THERE WILL BE NO CARS ALLOWED IN THE PARKING LOT THAT ARE NOT IN THE ACTUAL PARADE–please communicate this to all members of your group! When arriving the day of the parade, you will be designated a waiting area for your group and float (if applicable).”

Photos from the 2022 BHS Homecoming parade can be seen here.

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BHS Homecoming

The Barrington High School Homecoming is Saturday, September 23rd. Some of the scheduled events are as follows:

Wednesday, Sept. 20

  • Dodgeball Tournament at the BHS Gym at 7 PM. Open to 9-12th grade boys in teams of 6-8. Sign-up deadline is Tuesday, Sept. 19. Winners will receive champion t-shirts and a trophy displayed in the HS trophy case.

Friday, Sept. 22

  • Friday evening acts as a welcome night for all alumni who come in for the entire weekend. While there is not typically anything ‘official’ on Friday, the local venues listed in this packet are typically buzzing with alumni!

Saturday, Sept. 22 (Day)

  • Pancake Breakfast: Annual “Andy Anderson Pancake Breakfast” in the BHS Cafeteria goes from 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM
  • Homecoming Parade: The BHS Homecoming Parade leaves from the Metra station at around 10:15 AM and marches to BHS
  • Barrington High School Tour: BHS has undergone some major renovations over the past year. If you want to check out the new spaces, join in on a tour of the school following the parade. Meet at Door 45 (Main Street side of the building).
  • Tailgate: Join us for the BHSAA Tailgate Party in the Chessie’s parking lot. There will be good food, drink, and music from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. This year’s musical entertainment is The Rolling Blackouts, a local Barrington-based band featuring two alumni.
  • Football Game: The Broncos take on Fremd High School at Barrington Community Stadium starting at 1:00 PM. There will be a shuttle from the Chessie’s tailgate and the halftime celebration will honor the class of 1973!

Saturday, Sept. 22 (Evening)

  • Reunion Night: Saturday evening is when each class celebrates their reunion individually. Enjoy!

The 2023 Reunion Chairs webpage can be found here, and the Barrington High School Alumni Facebook page is here.

Editorial note: We took the liberty of signing Leah Collister-Lazzari and Barry Altshuler up for the Dodgeball Tournament.  It should be a good sport (Two men enter, one man leaves).

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Village Tavern

Long Grove’s The Village Tavern, the oldest continuously operating tavern in Illinois, is in the hands of new owners, which say they hope to maintain the tradition that goes back to 1847. (Brian Hill | Staff Photographer)

Before the advent of the automobile, motion pictures or radio, The Village Tavern wet the whistles of those living in or passing through what would become the Northwest suburbs.

The oldest tavern in Illinois opened in modern-day Long Grove in 1847 as the Zimmer Tavern and Wagon Shop. Later renamed The Village Tavern, the establishment at 135 Old McHenry Road received Long Grove’s first liquor license — signed by Village President Robert Parker Coffin — after the village’s 1956 incorporation.

Ownership has changed hands over the years, but one thing has remained the same: It’s a family operation.

Now, following in the tradition of the Zimmer, Didier, Sayles and Ullrich families before them, the Jarvis family of Arlington Heights has acquired the historic tavern.

Will and Elaine Jarvis, daughter Nicole Jarvis and her husband, Scott Wallace, say they are ready to build on old traditions and add to the tavern’s lore

“We loved the history,” Nicole Jarvis said. “And we loved the fact that it has been family owned for 176 years.”

Read more here.

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Kelsey

Kelsey Road House, 352 Kelsey Road, in Lake Barrington, is set to celebrate 50 years as a landmark destination in the Northwest suburbs. Opened in 1973 (with servers wearing white go-go boots) by Art and Judy Carlson, Kelsey Road House has served generations of residents of Barrington and the surrounding communities.

Recently acquired in April 2023 by the partnership team of Paul Maloney, Karolina Maloney and Paul Brubacher, Kelsey Road House has undergone extensive renovation and refurbishment to its indoor and outdoor spaces. Among the improvements are a revitalized beer garden, large full-service lawn area, improved bar program including seasonal cocktails and craft beer and live music weekly.

Kelsey Road House is hosting a weekend of special events on Aug 18 to 20, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Details and a schedule of events can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

Source

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RF

THE BELOVED LEGACY BRAND’S STORE WILL BOAST THE ULTIMATE RADIO FLYER BRAND EXPERIENCE.

CHICAGO, August 8, 2023 – Radio Flyer, the 106-year-old maker of the iconic Original Little Red Wagon® has announced its first ever retail store, scheduled to open in November 2023 in the popular Woodfield Mall, located in Schaumburg, IL in the Chicago-area. The store, which is the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location after more than a century in the industry, is an exciting new venture for the beloved toy company who is known for its continuous industry innovations, including the recent launch of Flyer™, Radio Flyer’s lineup of electric bikes for families on the go.

Customers can expect the ultimate Radio Flyer experience when they visit the Woodfield Mall store, including:

  • Complete Radio Flyer Product Line: Customers can let their imaginations soar at the only place where families can experience all of Radio Flyer’s award-winning products, including stroller wagons, tricycles, scooters, go-karts, bikes for the whole family, and more.
  • New Products: Explore the brands 60+ new products and unique gift items only available in store, just in time for the 2023 holiday season.
  • Customization & Personalization: Customize the perfect wagon for your family, along with other personalized items, available only in-store.
  • Test Track: Kids can get in the driver’s seat at the one-of-a-kind Test Track for thrilling rides and a hands-on experience in popular Radio Flyer go-karts, scooters, and much more.
  • Flyer™ Bike Shop & Test Rides: Rekindle joy and freedom with the Flyer™ Bike Shop experience, including free test rides for kids’ bikes and adult electric bikes, professional assembly, custom bike and accessory fittings, and more. Electric bikes are changing the way families get around, and this experience will allow those who’ve never tried an electric bike to be able to test ride and explore these two-wheel wonders.
  • Service Center: Extend the life of every Radio Flyer product through a service center equipped to service bikes and other products, making the store a one-stop shop for new or existing customers.

“We are excited to bring our FUNomenal customer service experience to life through our new retail store, delighting fans with our award-winning products,” said Robert Pasin, Chief Wagon Officer at Radio Flyer. “When my grandpa built the first Radio Flyer wagon 106 years ago in his Chicago garage, he always dreamed of creating a space for families to experience the joy of the Radio Flyer brand. I am overjoyed to open our first store and let our customers experience all that we have to offer, whether it’s a kid looking for their first tricycle or a kid at heart looking for their first electric bike.”

During the construction process, Radio Flyer is searching for new team members to fill open positions to support the store, including a Store Manager. To apply or find more information on open positions, please visit https://www.radioflyer.com/careers.

Radio Flyer will release more information about the grand opening in the coming months. For more information on new products or company news, visit Radio Flyer’s website.

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JR Feature QB

John Rosene and the Barrington Hills Polo Club offers a nationally recognized polo school for newcomers to the sport helping generations of families play together on the field

When John Rosene was a boy of 9 years old, his mother signed him up for a horse-riding lesson at the Starlight Stable in Skokie. It was something to keep him busy, not a family tradition. He joined other children from his neighborhood on the bus ride over but didn’t make it to the trail ride. “When they put me on the horse, I was so scared that I got off and stayed at the barn while the other kids rode off,” Rosene said.

A few years later, the Rogers Park native attended a summer riding school at the Northwestern Stables in Morton Grove, now called Freedom Woods. Rosene started at the beginner’s level with the five-day-a-week program where each student learned how to saddle, ride, and hose down the horse, then letting their horse graze while holding its lead line. At 14, he took a job at the same barn where he learned to ride, having 21 horses in his daily care. Feeding, watering, and cleaning the tack and stalls was compensated with two dollars a day—and all the riding he could get in.

At 16, with his driver’s license and a car, Rosene took a job at the same barn for $200 a month and did that for a couple of years before college. “Very few boys stuck with horse riding by that age, so besides being able to ride as much as I could, all the girls were the attraction,” he said with his classic sense of humor.

Rosene bought his first horse during his college years during a gap year in Texas. Having returned to Northwestern University, he met his future wife, Karen, who he intended to impress with his horse-riding skills in a PE class. The two finished school in 1962, and married two years later. They each bought a horse and found an old dairy barn, through some friends, for boarding.

Read the full Quintessential Barrington feature story here.

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Main+Bar

The Anvil Club restaurant in East Dundee will be closing July 30. The prospective new owner plans to turn the restaurant, once a private dinner club, into a Mexican restaurant and bar.

The Anvil Club, an iconic East Dundee restaurant, will be closing its doors for good on July 30.

Though a sale is pending, the restaurant’s prospective buyer plans to transform the storied dinner club into a Mexican restaurant.

“I think it will be a great addition to the community and to downtown life in East Dundee,” said buyer Colin Hegarty, who owns Maple + Hash in West Dundee and Pingree Grove.

Hegarty said he envisions a family-friendly restaurant serving traditional Mexican food with a bar featuring high-end tequilas. Hegarty, who opened Maple + Hash in West Dundee earlier this year, hopes to open the new restaurant before the end of the year.

The Anvil Club announced its closing Wednesday on social media.

“I’m so sad because it’s not just part of the history of the town, it’s part of my history in the town,” said Sarah Brittin, an East Dundee trustee who was a member of the Anvil Club for a few years and has hosted many celebrations there, including one recently for her father’s birthday. “I think a lot of people will feel that way.”

The restaurant first opened as a private dinner club in 1956 when a group of prominent businessmen decided they wanted a place for fine dining without having to drive to Chicago.

Read more here.

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Durty

Durty Nellie’s owner Jim Dolezal talks about the future of the Palatine bar, which he said is going back to its roots with plans for a smaller location inside a proposed six-story apartment building. (John Starks | Staff Photographer)

Durty Nellie’s isn’t quite ready to go gentle into that good night.

Plans to tear down the downtown Palatine nightspot’s longtime home to make way for a new, six-story building is a chance to bring the establishment back to its Irish pub roots, said Jim Dolezal, who co-owns the business with brother Mark.

“We’ve been here so long,” he said. “I’m not ready to call it a day yet.”

Last month, the Dolezals announced a proposal to raze the venue at 180 N. Smith St. — Durty Nellie’s home since 2003 — and replace it with a six-story, 85-unit apartment building.

The new building would include ground-floor space for businesses, including 3,500 square feet for a new Durty Nellie’s. That’s far less than a quarter of the 18,000 square feet it currently occupies. Plans also are in the works for a rooftop element to the new pub.

The project is awaiting final approval from the village of Palatine, but Jim Dolezal sees it as an opportunity to “get back to the roots, kind of where Nellie’s got its start in the old place right down the street.”

That old place is the original Nellie’s, which opened on St. Patrick’s Day 1972 at 55 N. Bothwell St., a site that previously was home to a stable, a speak-easy, a bowling alley and an ice cream parlor.

Read more here.

Related:Durty Nellie’s owners plan to tear down iconic nightspot in downtown Palatine

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