My home town

Here's a picture of part of my home town, River Grove, Illinois, just outside Chicago, just underneath the DesPlaines River. This doesn't happen very often, just when the river gods want a really great 100% all-beef Vienna brand Chicago style hot dog. This is Gene's & Jude's. Yes, that's the name, despite the sign on the left, which is wrong. Really great hot dogs, fresh cut fries, tamales, sodas, and unless things have drastically changed, nothing else. People line up, in long lines, in hot, humid, sticky weather to have these dogs, and they're worth it. 100% worth it. Don't believe me, just ask the river gods.
http://www.roadfood.com/Reviews/Overview.aspx?RefID=2284

Right down the road is an unlikely Tiki Bar, Hala Kahiki, http://www.hala-kahiki.com/. I don't know if they were under water, but if you're going to make the trip (and you should) to Gene's and Jude's, you might as well go down the road and have one of those fruity drinks strong enough to knock the back of yer head off, while you're at it.

I haven't been back there in years, having moved to the deep south, well past the ghost of Comiskey Park, but I'm going back soon, and if the water's down by then, I'm going. See you there.

Comments

raymondburr said…
Mel, I really, REALLY, hate to tell you this, but the word I got from one of your satanic underlings (one that is near and dear to my heart) is that Gene's & Jude's will not be reopening, and for that matter, neither Gene's nor Jude's. I know, that is unfathomable, and inconceivable, and hopefully untrue, because, you see, I'm selfish, and I don't want a depressed Mel darkening my doorway. However, please don't give up hope, because I have heard that there is still a chance that Gene & Jude's might reopen. Let's keep 'em crossed.
9:10 AM
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