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The ‘in-between’ seasons drink

Published by admin on Mon, 08/26/2019 - 3:23pm

This is an odd time of year. School is in session, but it feels like summer outside. Both baseball and football compete for television time. It's a little bit summer and a little bit fall. This calls for the ultimate “in-between” cocktail for your upcoming game day gatherings, the centuries-old American original crowd pleaser, Fish House Punch.

Is there a doctor in the house or in the town?

Published by admin on Tue, 08/20/2019 - 4:37pm

Contrary to popular belief, doctors were not all that scarce in the 19th century. First because the amount of schooling necessary to call yourself a doctor was much less, and second if you called yourself a doctor and you acted like a doctor, then for all intents and purposes you were a doctor. After all, how was anyone going to know any different. Today we look at doctoring in Wilmington, good, bad and weird.

A friendly game turned serious

Published by admin on Tue, 08/20/2019 - 4:35pm

When we elect our city, or for that matter, county, officials, in most cases we know the person. Sometimes we vote for them just for that reason, rather than voting on their qualifications. This sometimes results in an official who is not fit for his job.
This was the case in Braceville in January of 1897 when the Marshall's office was held by a man who just did not like confrontation. It all started with a game of Seven-Up (a popular card game) that escalated to a show down.
The following has been taken directly from the Feb. 9 edition of the Joliet Daily News.

AFL-CIO has much to boast about during Carrigan’s exit

Published by admin on Tue, 08/20/2019 - 8:04am

The Illinois AFL-CIO hosted its annual State Fair reception last week. The highlight was probably a speech by Gov. JB Pritzker, who thanked his audience of union leaders for their support in the 2018 campaign and for their help passing an enormous amount of legislation during his first session of the General Assembly.
But there was also some real news. The event was the last time Michael Carrigan attended as the organization's president.

The easy to make, easy to enjoy Cosmo

Published by admin on Mon, 08/19/2019 - 4:56pm

When I hear a cocktail described as a “classic”, the images of Old Fashioneds, Martinis, and Manhattans fill my mind. The classic cocktail category is an exclusive club of venerable drinks, many of which have been around for over a century.

Learn to pour what a Frenchman would like

Published by admin on Mon, 08/12/2019 - 3:20pm

When in France, drink as the French drink! This includes tasting a wide variety of wines and liqueurs while touring the City of Lights, and kicking back with the quintessential French cocktails, the Kir and the Kir Royale.
The Kir and Kir Royale are wine-based cocktails named for priest Canon Felix Kir, a French Resistance hero of the Second World War and mayor Dijon from 1945 to 1968. As mayor he was a proponent of promoting local products to the broader French market, and found a delicious way to do just that by creating the Kir.

Reading, 'riting and 'rithmetic, or schools and scholars

Published by admin on Tue, 08/06/2019 - 11:02am

It comes earlier and earlier every year. Time was when I was a youngster, it didn't start until the second week of September. I am talking abut the start of the school year, and it is almost upon us. Today we look at early education in Wilmington and vicinity.

Women criminals, what to do with them?

Published by admin on Tue, 08/06/2019 - 10:59am

Women are the flowers of society, being pure of heart, chaste of mind, and incapable of intentionally doing wrong. This was in essence the prevailing notion of the weaker sex during the 19th century. Of course, it has no basis in fact. Women were fully as capable of committing crimes as men, but with perhaps, less opportunity. In Braidwood, women were saloon owners and frequenters as well.

Here’s what happens when you’re disloyal to Mike Madigan

Published by admin on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 4:36pm

When House Speaker Michael Madigan announced in February of 2018 that he'd fired Kevin Quinn, the brother of Madigan's alderman and political general, he said he made the decision because of Quinn's "inappropriate conduct" with Alaina Hampton, whom he called a "courageous woman." Hampton had come forward with allegations of sexual harassment by Quinn and retaliation by Madigan's organization.
But Madigan also said at the time that Quinn had failed to "exercise the political judgment I expect of those affiliated with my political organizations and the Office of the Speaker."

Don't be afraid of Zombies

Published by admin on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 12:56pm

The undisputed kings of the tiki bar menus are the Mai Tai and the Zombie. I have some good news, and some bad news regarding the royal court of tiki. First, the good news. The delicious top secret Mai Tai recipes have come to light in the information age and they are easily reproduced at home. Seriously, you can make a Mai Tai in your home bar that is better than 95% of the Mai Tais served in commercial bars.