Tomb Sweeping Day

The company I'm currently working for has a factory in China with whom we converse on a daily basis. Today, we received an email letting us know that they would be closed on April 4th & 5th in honor of Tomb Sweeping Day.

"Tomb Sweeping Day?" you wonder, "What is that?"

Since I didn't know what it was either, I did a little Googling and this is what I found:

"Celebrated two weeks after the vernal equinox, Tomb Sweeping Day is one of the few traditional Chinese holidays that follows the solar calendar-- typically falling on April 4, 5, or 6. Its Chinese name "Qing Ming" literally means "Clear Brightness," hinting at its importance as a celebration of Spring. Similar to the spring festivals of other cultures, Tomb Sweeping Day celebrates the rebirth of nature, while marking the beginning of the planting season and other outdoor activities."

"With the passing of time, this celebration of life became a day to honor past ancestors. "

Very interesting. You can read more about it here. Cheers to learning new things everyday.

I want to meet "Sam's Pals." Don't you?

I'm almost positive that I've previously written about my desire... no, my need... to visit the Dead Pals of Sam Sanfillippo. If not, I'm about to write about it now; if so, I'm about to write about it again.

Sam's perky taxidermy collection is another oddball attraction I discovered on RoadsideAmerica.com. (Could I be a bigger champion of any one website? Doubtful.) Apparently, Mr. Sanfillippo has a taxidermy museum in the basement of a funeral home in Madison, WI, with a bunch of little critters set up in all sorts of fun poses. From the little info I've found on this place and on Sam, I've gathered that the animals are donated to him; therefore, I find it perfectly acceptable that they be made into some lively dead art.

Anywho... for over a week I've been trying to find someone to go see this place with me next Saturday. It's only about 2 hours away from my home and it would be a perfect night away - head up to Madison, check out the animals, head just a few miles away to Ella's Animatronic Deli (another RoadsideAmerica find that I can't wait to see), go out to some bars, spend the night, and on Sunday make the short drive home, well-rested and satisfied to have left the state for a bit. Nobody has said yes to my pleas for companionship yet. It's not even that spontaneous of a trip - we'll only be gone for about 24 hours and you still have five days to prepare yourself for a night away. Come on, people. Live a little.

Wish me luck in finding someone to accompany me, and take a minute to check out the links to Sam's taxidermy collection and Ella's Deli.

Ooh! There's one more thing! I found a new blog to worship - Escape Adulthood with Kim & Jason. This awesome couple is on a mission to cure "adultitis," and I am proud to be a champion of their cause, as well. Read some of their posts and you're sure to leave the site inspired to stop acting your age. Amen, Kim and Jason. Amen!

St. Patty's Day is not for me.

Once again, I missed the dyeing of the Chicago River for St. Patrick's Day. It happened on Saturday the 15th. Whoops. Since I missed this time-honored tradition, here's a photo I ganked from one of my favorite travel blogs (http://www.debohobo.com/), so we can all just pretend that I was there to capture the magic for you...


I'm sorry, but St. Patrick's Day is just one of those holidays that makes me want to stay within five minutes of my humble abode (along with New Year's Eve). I hate going to bars and waiting 30 minutes for a drink only to have it knocked over by some drunken idiot before I even reach my table... and that's assuming that I got to the bar early enough to grab a seat between all the sweaty bodies looking for a little green beer or Jager Bomb action. I like to drink and I like hanging out at bars, but I don't like drinking and hanging out at bars on St. Patty's.

Anywho, I hope that you all enjoyed this holiday for me. If you have any photos or tips of awesome places to hang out for "party holidays" such as this one, send 'em my way.

Oh, yeah - Erin Go Bragh!

I swear that I'm still alive!

Things have been bonkers in my little world lately, hence the lack of posts and trip planning. My monetary state is still bothersome and I'm hoping it will straighten itself out soon. I've been in a position where I am not able to follow my number one financial rule - pay yourself first (or pay theALTERNAtraveler first, as it is). I will work it out. Traveling on a budget is my specialty, after all... the unfortunate part is that I currently have NO budget. This Friday, there will be a deposit, no matter how small. During these tough times, I need to remember that every dollar can count towards something fantastic, as long as I allow it to.

In other news, I went to see one of the free movies at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora and it was AWESOME! They've remodeled a lot since I was last there. The Godfather was playing, and it drew quite a crowd. Aside from the obnoxious mother yelling at her child in the seats right behind my friend and I, it was a great time (we ended up moving seats after half an hour and the rest of the showing was pleasant). It was my first time ever viewing The Godfather, and it turns out that I have quite the crush on the young Marlon Brando.

Tonight Jaws is playing, which I would love to see on the big screen, but I had a last minute doctor's appointment come up. I hope one or two of you will go enjoy it for me. It's a 7:30 p.m. Don't miss it!

Omaha, NE (12/14/07 - 12/15/07)

Omaha, NE

I got a late start on my weekend trip to Omaha and Iowa City, not leaving my home until nearly 2:00 p.m. on Friday afternoon. I decided to make a video diary of the whole trip, which you will find in chronological pieces, inserted between my reviews. Unfortunately, the audio on them isn't too great, being that I filmed most of them while driving... I know, how safe! And speaking of driving, don't look at my speedometer readings in the videos - I had a bit of a lead-foot all weekend. Haha! Oh, and did I mention that about an hour into my trip I realized that I forgot my business cards in my other purse? Yeah, guess I should have listened to my own advice about making a list and checking it twice.

theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City (Part 1)


Date(s): 12/14/07 - 12/15/07
Airfare/Gas: Approx. $30 in gas (thanks to the new Prius!)
Spending: Approx. $70
Lodging: $65 for one night in hotel
TOTAL COST: Approx. $165


REVIEWS:


Super 8 Motel - Omaha Aksarben
7111 Spring St.
Omaha, NE 68106
(402) 390-0700
www.the.super8.com/omaha03824

Price Details: $65 per night (2 double beds, smoking)

Like I've said before, a Super 8 is a Super 8. The beds were comfy and the staff was friendly. I ended up getting caught in a snow storm as soon as I arrived in Omaha - and let me tell you, there's nothing more exciting than being stuck in a small hotel room all night, watching Something About Mary and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, and ordering Pizza Hut. C'est la vie! I made the best of it and used the time to look over travel guides and make an entry in my video diary (see below). I'm very thankful that I decided to stay in and didn't risk braving the storm outside, because over the course of the next two days, I counted 21 cars in ditches between Omaha and Illinois.

theALTERNAtraveler - Omaha & Iowa City - Part 2



Sapp Brothers Truck Stop
9905 Sapp Brothers Dr.
Omaha, NE 68138
(402) 895-2121
http://www.sappbrosts.com/

Amenities: Restaurant, Gift Shop, Service Center, Gas Station, Health Center, etc.

** FEATURING: Giant Water Tower Coffee Pot **

After a nice long sleep on Friday night, I headed to the Sapp Brothers Truck Stop to eat lunch at their cafe and check out the giant coffee pot that I'd read about on http://www.roadsideamerica.com/.

Before I made it into the cafe, I stopped and looked around in the gift shop. First, I located the CD section, hoping to find a Willie Nelson disc... it was there that I found all types of musical genres represented, including, but not limited to, classic country, contemporary country, holiday country, blues country, etc., etc.... and yet, no Willie Nelson. Damn. Next, I found a whole display rack of Jesus shirts, based on popular commercial logos. I thought these were hilarious, so I took a few photos of my favorite ones. In fact, I liked them so much that after breakfast, I went back to the shop and purchased one (tongue in cheek, of course). Check out the photos - I think they could induce a laugh in anyone (except the guy who designed them).

I wandered into the cafe and ordered up a "plain ol' grilled cheese and fries," seeing as the one on their menu came with a few different types of cheese and was made on a fancy marble rye bread. I also ordered coffee, and it turned out that this restaurant is one of the smart ones that actually puts the pot on your table - I know Colonial and IHOP do this, too. Genius. The service was friendly and the food was great (even though my sandwich still arrived on the marble rye, despite my request). The menu was standard for a diner, but most recipes had a home-cooked flair to them.

Before I left, I took some photos of the giant coffee pot. I've heard that it lights up and steam comes out of the spout, but, unfortunately, I didn't get to see it in action. It was cool, though!


Durham Western Heritage Museum
(located inside Union Station)
801 S. 10th St.
Omaha, NE 68108
(402) 444-5071
http://www.dwhm.org/

Admission: $7 Adult (senior/child discount, members free)

Originally, I had planned on visiting the Joslyn Museum, but while I was sitting at Sapp Brothers waiting for my grilled cheese to come, I made a last minute decision to check out the Durham Western Heritage Museum instead. I can go to an art museum in Chicago any time I want, but when can I visit a museum inside a beautiful, historic train station in downtown Omaha? Not very often.

As soon as I pulled into the train station's parking lot, I knew I had made the right decision. The building was amazing! It was built in 1931 and is credited as being one of the midwest's finest examples of art deco architecture (and rightly so). Upon heading inside, I saw that its interior was just as magnificent as its exterior. There was a giant Christmas tree on display, and the giant windows added to the magical sight. From the ceilings to the floors, I could have spent an hour admiring the decor.

After my awe ceased, I paid a $7 admission fee and checked out the museum. They had a temporary exhibit that I was very interested in, called "The Enemy Within: Terror in America - 1776 to Today." Honestly, I went in expecting it to be biased, pro-Bush, and anti-Islamic... what I found was quite the opposite. The exhibit featured a comprehensive look at the history of domestic terrorist and foreign agents, dating all the way back to 1776, including communist groups, radical hippie associations, and the Ku Klux Klan (which I found to be the creepiest and most moving installment). I found the whole exhibit so interesting, in fact, that I didn't get to the rest of the museum! It will remain open until January 6, 2008.

The photos I've included in this post are merely a snippet of what I took while in Omaha. You can view the rest of my photos on my Flickr account, on my MySpace, or as a slideshow in a previous post, titled "Omaha & Iowa City Photos."

Omaha & Iowa City Photos

Here are the photos from Omaha and Iowa City. I am in the process of writing reviews and editing videos, so those will not be posted until tonight or tomorrow.



(Mouse over photos for captions.)

Free Movies at the Historic Paramount Theatre in Aurora!

Every winter, the historic Paramount Theatre in Aurora (23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL 60506) runs a series of free movies on Tuesday nights. This year, they are playing such hits as Jaws, The Godfather, Superman, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. They start on January 8th and run each Tuesday for six weeks. You can't get a better price than free! Not only that, but this could be the last chance for most of us to see these features on the big screen.

The Paramount is so beautiful inside! I know they've remodeled it recently, too, so I'm sure it's even more amazing than the last time I was there.

Here's the movie schedule and their website:

Paramount Theatre

23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, IL 60506

(630) 896-6666
Click here to download a full brochure of upcoming events.

Jan. 8 - Superman

Jan. 15 - James Bond Dr. No

Jan. 22 - The Godfather

Jan. 29 - Dirty Harry

Feb. 5 - Jaws

Feb. 12 - Raiders of the Lost Ark

In addition to movies, the Paramount features plays, musicals, comedians, musical acts and other special events all the time. See their website for more information, and join their mailing list while you're there. Supporting the local arts community is sooooo important, no matter what town you live in. The people behind the scenes work very hard to bring a little culture into the lives of us heathens, so make sure they know that you appreciate it. You can support them monetarily through donations, or even by just buying a cocktail and some popcorn to enjoy during the movie or show. Word of mouth goes a long way, too!

Hope to see you at some of these showings!

More info on the Black Angel of Iowa City

Here's a link to a little more info about the superstitions and history surrounding the Black Angel of Iowa City:

http://www.icgov.org/documents/oaklandhistory.pdf



Here are a few of the myths, if you don't feel like following the link (lazy!):

- No University of Iowa coed is a true coed unless they have been kissed in front of the Black Angel.
- Any girl kissed near her in the moonlight will die within six months.
- If a girl who is innocent of men and the world is kissed in front of the Angel, the angel will return to its original color, and the curse that turned it black will be lifted.
- Touching the Angel at midnight on Halloween means death within seven years.
- Anyone who kisses the Angel will die instantly.
- Every passing Halloween causes the Angel to turn one shade darker as a reminder of the people she has killed.

When I visit, I'm totally going to tempt fate and kiss the statue. Hope I don't catch anything, like DEATH! Spoooooooky.........

1st Ever ALTERNAphoto Contest!

That's right! I'm holding the first ever ALTERNAphoto Contest! Here's the lowdown...

• THEME: Best "Tourist" Photo
• DESCRIPTION: Looking for a chance to show off your best cheesy tourist photo? Do you have a photo of yourself posing in front of the Capitol building, waiting at the airport, buying a beaded necklace from a Mexican street vendor, getting your hair braided in the Bahamas, hanging out in front of the Eiffel Tower in Las Vegas, etc., etc.? The funnier and more cliche the better!
• GUIDELINES: Photos must have at least one person in them and they must belong to you, because cheaters never prosper... unless they're really clever and charming. I will post all the entries and will choose a winner on January 1, 2008, who will receive a free gift from theALTERNAtraveler! Bonus props to anyone who sends me a photo in which they're wearing a fanny pack!
• SUBMISSIONS: You can email your photo entry to me at thealternatraveler@yahoo.com. Along with the photo, please include:

1. First name (or nickname)
2. Caption for the photo
3. Website or blog URL (I'm all about free publicity and sharing!)
4. I will also need your full name, mailing address, and email address, if you would like to be in the running for that free gift (I will not share this info).

• DEADLINE: Tuesday, 12/25/07, by midnight.

Good luck, everybody! You only have a couple weeks to submit your photo, so get moving! I hope I get lots of entries!

Milwaukee, WI (10/20/07 - 10/21/07)

Milwaukee, WI

My trusty, and always amiable, travel companion, Brown, and I visited Milwaukee, WI last weekend. We booked hotel accommodations ahead of time, but aside from that we made no plans. We like to wing it, and we're generally pretty good at it, too.

We started out the trip with an impromptu car karaoke sesh of theALTERNAtraveler's unofficial theme song, "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night. You can check out the video below...

theALTERNAtraveler (Milwaukee 10/20/07) Car Karaoke

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Once we arrived in Milwaukee, we had some coffee, got lost a lot, had a delicious Italian dinner, and were misled to a dance club by a well-intentioned cabbie. In between all these events, we also took a lot of photos and a couple more videos, which you can find posted throughout this entry.

Date(s): 10/20/07 - 10/21/07
Airfare/Gas: $35 in gas
Other Transportation: Approx. $50 in taxi rides
Spending: Approx. $60
Lodging: $92 for one night in a hotel
TOTAL COST: $150 each (all expenses were split evenly between both travelers)


REVIEWS:


Super 8 Motel - Milwaukee Airport
5253 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 481-8488
www.the.super8.com/milwaukee03384

Price Details: $92 per night (2 queen beds, smoking)

This hotel is what it is - a Super 8. Our room was clean and the staff was polite - when requested, they called a cab for us, and they also put up with our late night pizza delivery inquiries. The only problem with this place was that it was very close to the Milwaukee Airport, which is not that close to downtown. All hotels located in the downtown area ran between $150 to $250 per night, so we decided to go with the cheaper option. Did you know that cheaper is not always more cost effective? I do now. Next time I would think of springing for a more conveniently located hotel, considering we spent over $50 in cab fares to be transported to and from the Super 8 and to multiple bars downtown. You travel, you learn.

TIP!!! Compare the price to book your hotel directly, as well as through a 2nd party website...

We were originally going to book this Super 8 through priceline.com, but after checking the hotel's website, we found that it was a couple dollars less expensive to book directly through them; sometimes it can run the opposite way, however. Check all your options before charging that card!

EXTRA [TRIVIAL] NOTE: They only had a pencil, not a pen, provided in the room. What's up with that?

theALTERNAtraveler Stalks Some Dudes (Milwaukee, WI 10/20/07)

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Jackpot Vintage Clothes & Collectibles
435 E. Center St.
Milwaukee, WI
Jackpot Clothing on MySpace

We stopped into Jackpot Vintage because it was across the street from a coffee shop that we decided to hit up (Fuel Cafe, see next review). It's a cute little store with nice quality clothing at low prices. I wanted nearly every dress I laid my eyes on! Great stuff. Bonus! While at the coffee shop across the street, I came up with a new slogan for Jackpot: "Best priced vintage - for fatties!" Although they had mostly "regular" sized clothing, there was quite a selection of plus sized mixed in. As a voluptuous lady, I found a lot in there that I could have fit my big, sexy buns into, which is very unusual for a vintage clothing store. Extra kudos to them!

Fuel Cafe
818 E. Center St.
Milwaukee, WI
(414) 374-FUEL
http://www.fuelcafe.com/

Fuel Cafe. Gulp.

I was mega excited to stop into Fuel Cafe, as I'd visited it two years before with other friends and I'd loved it. Unfortunately, it has changed since then. First of all, it went non-smoking. I guess for some people that will be a plus, but not in my book. And not just because I'm a smoker, either... atmospheres change when smoking goes away. Secondly, I'm a big fan of "greasy spoon" diners, and I remember this little indie/hipster cafe smelling of foot the last time I was there, with poor ventilation and dingy table tops... and all of those aspects, when rolled together, gave Fuel a feeling like no other coffee shop I'd ever been to. No more stank. I also remember the coffee being quite tasty, and this time Brown and I were both disappointed with our drinks. On a couple positive notes, the walls were still covered with fliers of local events, and they were kind enough to let me put a stack of my business cards by their register (which I'm sure they'll throw away after reading this...). Eh. Things change.

Why should you visit Fuel? Because they're a small business who really cares about and supports their local community and indie scene. If you're a smoker, just go in the spring so you can sit outside.

In addition to Fuel, I'd suggest a visit to their sister cafe, Comet, which is also non-smoking, but has a clean, modern look to match their clean, modern air.

The Shops of Grand Avenue
275 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
http://www.grandavenueshops.com/

Brown and I wanted to search for new outfits for the evening, so we stopped by the mall in downtown - The Shops of Grand Avenue. It's a great mall (I've been there before), but we didn't realize until paying for parking and walking in that all but two of the stores close at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday. So much for our 6:05 p.m. arrival time! We had to stop by the nearest Target instead. Boo.


Dino's Pizza Restaurant
4252 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 744-0990

After driving around town for an hour or so and getting lost numerous times, we finally found a restaurant that looked enticing - Dino's Pizza Restaurant - a small, casual Italian restaurant near our hotel.

We each tried an Italian margarita, which adds amaretto to the classic formula. It was a bit sweet for my tastes, but it made for a nice dessert drink after our meal. Then we dug into some fried cauliflower, which came with a homemade cheese sauce. Honestly, what would a trip to Wisconsin be without a little cheese? We finished dinner with our entrees, chicken parmesan and mostacolli with Italian sausage. The marinara sauce that came with each had a unique sweet flavor. All in all, our meal was awesome, as was our waitress, who we chatted with for some time.

Oh, yes, and our entire feast, including drinks, was only $28! You can't beat that.

NOTE: We had a group of drunken adults at the table next to us, and one of them had a hilarious "beer call" that he repeated over and over again throughout the night: "P.B.R. me A.S.A.P.!" Nice.


Art Bar
722 E. Burleigh St.
Milwaukee, WI 53212
(414) 372-7880
http://www.artbar-riverwest.com/

I love me some Art Bar! Art Bar is a bit of a hike from the downtown area, but it's worth the trip. Inside, you'll find rotating art and photography exhibits from many local artists. The atmosphere in this place is amazing - it's dark, but not too dark, alive with color, and friendly and welcoming as can be. In addition to having all sorts of art to gaze upon, you can also play a board game or utilize the pool table. Last time I was there, they had a game of "Beer Bong B-I-N-G-O" going. From what I've seen and heard, there are always special events happening here (you can find a very comprehensive listing of such events all over the city in their free entertainment guide mke, which you can pick up at malls, gas stations, etc.).

Unfortunately, by the time Brown and I arrived at Art Bar, it was pretty dead inside (and it was only 11:00 p.m.). We stayed for a drink, checked out the artwork, then called a cab to head back downtown.

Franklin's???
N. Michigan Ave. (near corner of E. Wisconsin St.)
Milwaukee, WI

Well, according to the entire internet, the bar our ever-so-helpful cabbie took us to does not exist. Perhaps I have the name wrong... because I disliked it too much to remember. If anyone reading this knows of a bar named Franklin's, please let me know so I can add some more info here.

Anywho, on with the review...

I told our taxi driver that we wanted to go to a regular bar downtown - not a dance club, not too crowded, just a laid back hang-out. He agreed and seemed quite happy to help, but then he dropped us off at Franklin's...

Brown and I walked in (pessimistically, I should add, after seeing the crowd gathered outside the door) and found ourselves surrounded by ladies in short skirts and men with frosted hair. The line, or rather, the cattle yard-like herd, to get to the bar was so thick that it took me 20 minutes to get a drink. I automatically felt "out-hipped," which I don't take kindly to. We decided to give it the old college try and stayed for two drinks, watching drunken idiots bump and grind on the small dance floor. All in all, neither of us could wait to get out of there and back to the comforts of our hotel room.

Our short time at Franklin's did have two entertaining points - (1) the music was hip-hop-o-licious and (2) we witnessed a scene straight out of the Encyclopedia of Stereotypes - four fantastic black dancers trying to teach a bumbling white girl some moves, to no avail.

We flagged down a cab at about 1:30 a.m. and made a bee-line for the hotel, where I got to watch 54 before drifting off into a well-deserved sleep.


Copper Kitchen Family Restaurant
3935 S. Howell Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 482-1315

We rounded out our trip with breakfast at a local diner. The prices were as good as the food, which was delicious. Check out the video below for a little taste...

theALTERNAtraveler Eats Breakfast (Milwaukee, WI 10/21/07)

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...AND LAST, BUT NOT LEAST, THE PHOTOS!!!

Silvie's Lounge, Chicago, IL (10/12/07) & XO Underground, Morris, IL (10/13/07)

My friend Daniel's band, The day after..., paid a visit to the Chicagoland area a couple weeks ago. I got the chance to check them out at two venues I've never been to before, including Silvie's Lounge in Chicago and XO Underground in Morris, IL. You can find reviews of both below...



Silvie's Lounge
1902 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 871-6239
http://www.silvieslounge.com/ (which they apparently don't update very frequently...)

Silvie's had a very nice atmosphere - it was clean, dark, and larger than many Chicago venues I've experienced. It was divided in half, with one side being the bar and the other side housing the stage. The cover was only $5, but I assume it varies depending on which bands are playing. I don't have too much to say about Silvie's, except that I liked it. There was nothing spectacular or awful about it, and the drink prices were of average pricing for a big city bar.

The stand-out part of my evening at Silvie's was the singer (and her amazing band) that went on after The day after..., named Kat Victoria. Their soulful, funky melodies and harmonies blew me away. Their stylings didn't match with the rest of the bands on the bill, but for once this was a blessing. I picked up a CD, and will definitely be listening to the singer's buttery voice often. They are local to Chicago, and will be playing another show in November. I urge you all to check it out - their tunes made me shake my thang, which I am not easily prone to do. You can find them here on the web.


XO Underground
425 E. Rt. 6 (located in Evergreen Plaza)
Morris, IL
(815) 416-1050
http://www.xounderground.com/

XO Underground is an all ages venue. Normally, this is a big turn-off for me (as a 25 year old), but they had so much going for them that it didn't matter. Just look at their website, and you'll see that they are truly jacks (or jills) of all trades there. They are a store (akin to Hot Topic), a hookah lounge, a music venue, and much more. They have a "cereal bar" (see photo below), which was pretty cool, and they also serve pizza. Between the high ceilings, the chain link fences, and the comfy couches, they've got the atmosphere nailed, too. Did I mention that they also had a great sound man and accoustics?

Best of all, it is truly a passionately run small business. The owner was there collecting money at the door (the cover charged ranged from $7-$10, depending on what time you arrived for the show) and helping to set up the bands. I got to talk to her for quite some time and her heart is truly with the XO Underground.

NOTE: Since this is an all ages venue, they do not serve alcohol. It is, however, B.Y.O.B.! My advice? If a band you like is playing there, don't skip their show just because it's an all ages place - you'll miss out.

10% of Goal Acheived!!!

theALTERNAtraveler is now officially over 10% of goal savings!

TOTAL BALANCE: $1004.00 (10.04% of Goal)

** $9.10 from Donations **

I've given out my first free gift. You could be next! Just donate $5 or more and I'll get that bad boy out to you. Click here to donate.

REMAINING TOWARDS GOAL: $8996.00

It's all happening. I can't believe I'm already at 10% of my goal. Thank you, thank you, everybody. Keep reading, keep passing along the word. Ficky ficky now.

P.S. Two more posts should be up by the end of the day - reviews from last weekend and plans for the upcoming weekend trip to Milwaukee.

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Jazz & Wine @ Walter Payton's Roundhouse, Aurora, IL (10/10/07)

Aurora, IL - Jazz & Wine @ Walter Payton's Roundhouse

My friend Missy won tickets to Jazz & Wine night at Walter Payton's Roundhouse in Aurora. It was my very first wine tasting and it was a blast! Read all about it below.

Date(s): 10/10/07
Airfare/Gas: It's right down the street from me...
Spending: $0 (Since my friend won the tickets, they were free. Normal admission is just $10!)
Lodging: N/A
TOTAL COST: $0
REVIEWS:

Jazz & Wine
Walter Payton's Roundhouse
205 N., Broadway
Aurora, IL 60505
(630)892-0034
http://www.walterpaytonsroundhouse.com/

Admission: $10 (tickets in advance or at door)

It was by chance that I stumbled across such a fun and inexpensive activity to fill an otherwise mundane Wednesday night...

First of all, let me tell you a little about Walter Payton's Roundhouse. It is a restaurant, bar, micro-brewery and entertainment venue in downtown Aurora, IL, right next to the train station. (Too young to know who Walter Payton is? Read a little about him here.) It has a very nice atmosphere, but the drink prices tend to be a little out of my price range so I usually only go there for special events or to attend their comedy club, ComedyComedy.

Anywho, on the last occasion that my friend Missy went to their comedy club, she won tickets to a monthly event held there called Jazz & Wine. Being the lovely friend that she is, she invited me along. Jazz & Wine night includes, you guessed it, jazz and wine! A wine tasting is held from 6:00 - 7:30 p.m., then a jazz concert begins in the room next door.

Until last night, I had never been to a wine tasting. On the way there, I commented to Missy that I just hoped they didn't make us spit it into a bucket like I'd seen on T.V. (Hey, a little wine buzz never hurt anyone...) I was a little nervous, but relaxed once I got there, seeing some people dressed to the nines and others in jeans, all scuttling about from table to table. There were six different wineries featured, and we tasted a bit from each. We spoke to all of the hosts and hostesses and they were great about answering all of our wine-related queries. After a half an hour or so, we were toasty warm and mingling like pros (No limit on the number of samples you were allowed. Uh-oh!). We both found a few wines and a champagne that we enjoyed a lot, and Missy walked out with two purchases - the wines ranged in price from $8.95 (one of our favorites, White Cin from the Fox Valley Winery) to $23.99 (from Planeta Winery, which we both found to be the most knowledgeable and extremely friendly to boot.) The most unique flavors we found were at the table for the Napa Ridge Winery, where we found a spicy picante wine from Chile and an almond champagne.

After the tasting, we moved to the adjoining bar to watch the Nick Besisi Groove Project, which was pretty standard easy jazz. They were all great musicians, but nothing new or exciting to brag about.

All in all, it was an extremely fun, inexpensive and relaxing evening.

NOTES: I spoke with the manager, Nick, who informed me that Jazz & Wine takes place the 2nd Wednesday of every month, excluding December through March. During the summers, it is held outside in the courtyard area. See the website for more info.

PHOTOS! Chicago, IL (9/9/07)

Look who finally uploaded some photos!!! If you can't see the slideshow below, you can view the pictures on my flickr account here. Enjoy!

Chicago, IL (9/9/07)

Chicago, IL - Day Trip

My friends Niki & Nicki (I know, it's adorable...) took me on a belated birthday day trip to Chicago on Sunday. They surprised me by taking me to the museum at the Art Institute of Chicago, as I had never, believe it or not, been to an art museum. After the museum, they took me to Millenium Park, where we ate cookie dough and drank champagne. It was a damn good day.

Date(s): 9/9/07
Airfare/Gas: Zilch (my dear friends paid for gas)
Spending: $27 ($12 admission + $15 lunch)
Lodging: N/A

TOTAL COST: $27

REVIEWS:

The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60603-6404
(312) 443-3600
http://www.artic.edu/aic/

Admission: Adults - $12
Kids, Students & Seniors - $7
FREE on Thursdays from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Parking Garage: $20 all day parking

Originally, my friends and I only planned on staying at the Art Institute for an hour or two, but we enjoyed it so much that we stayed for about four hours. If you're unfamiliar with this museum, let me give you a point of reference - it's the one visited by Ferris and his friends in Ferris Bueller's Day Off.

Some artists whose work I particularly enjoyed viewing were Roy Lichtenstein, Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso and Grant Wood. There was also an exhibit featuring Egyptian artwork, which I was really looking forward to but was a little disappointed with, as it was very small. On the flip side, I was unexpectedly impressed with their giant collection of Renaissance artwork. We didn't get to see all the exhibits, though, because they are building a new wing onto the museum. Next time, hopefully...

The museum is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside, and it was a bit confusing to navigate. They had plenty of security guards to point you in the right direction, but only if you knew the section number or building name, as they had no knowledge of specific artists or artwork.

We ate a light lunch at The Garden Restaurant, which is located in the courtyard, centered around a beautiful fountain. We had a wonderful waiter, Jonathan, for whom I made a sculpture, crafted from four different types of cheeses, in the form of a human head. He really appreciated it and took a photo with us.

All in all, it was a great time. I love being reminded of what a lovely and cultured city Chicago is.