Columnist

The Rum Ramsey, mixology’s best kept secret

Published by admin on Wed, 05/15/2019 - 9:00am

In the cocktail world, nearly all “secret” recipes eventually come out of the shadows. Trader Vic's Mai Tai, Floridita's Daiquri and Donn the Beachcomber's Navy Grog have all been tracked down and published.
Then there is the Rum Ramsey: a recipe known to only one family and served in only one New Orleans restaurant.

Grandstanding reps let the rest do heavy lifting

Published by admin on Mon, 05/13/2019 - 11:21am

If you listen closely to what Democratic state Reps. Sam Yingling and Jonathan Carroll are saying in public about their opposition to Gov. JB Pritzker’s graduated income tax proposal, they appear to believe that Pritzker’s proposed tax rates aren’t high enough.
Yingling and Carroll are both demanding significant property tax relief. “In Illinois,” Rep. Yingling wrote in the Tribune last week, “the disproportionate reliance on and financial burden of property taxes to fund government — roads and bridges, education, police, fire and other essential services — is devastating.”

The changing face of the Island

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2019 - 9:00am

The Island City, that's Wilmington's nickname; in honor of the island in the Kankakee River that aligns with the old part of the city.
That small piece of ground has seen all of Wilmington's history come and go, and in the process changed its look many times. Let's look at a few of its faces. And note, the terms “North Island” and “South Islan” are modern names. There is in fact only one Island.

One week in the life of a strike, 1877

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2019 - 9:00am

When we met last it was July of 1877. The miners had been on strike since early spring.
The coal companies had brought in strike breakers, known as “black legs” composed both of white and black men, but the whites had left town. And to top it off, a Pinkerton agent was killed by a drunken striking miner. The stage is set for violent confrontation.

The classic or frozen Daiquiri - which do you prefer?

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2019 - 9:00am

Ask 100 people, “What is a Daiquiri?” and I suspect that you would receive a wide range of responses.
To some, the essence of the Cuban classic cocktail is an image straight out of 1920s Havana of a coupe glass filled with rum, lime and sugar.
To others, a Daiquiri is a giant, frozen, whipped cream topped wonder available in all colors of the rainbow.

State’s violence interruption program worth the investment

Published by admin on Wed, 05/08/2019 - 8:00am

The Chicago Police Department reported last week that the number of people murdered in the city fell 10 percent during the first four months of 2019 compared to last year during the same period.
While that's good news and part of a two-year downward trend, lost in much of the coverage was a worrisome murder spike in the month of April.
The Chicago Sun-Times counted 62 Chicago homicides in April, up from 37 in April of last year and 48 in April of 2017.

Celebrate Tiger Woods’ win with an Azalea

Published by admin on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 9:00am

Last month Tiger Woods did something that shocked not only the golf world, but the world at large when he won his fifth green jacket at the Masters Tournament.
Tiger's victory at the 2019 Masters comes 22 years after his first Masters win and 15 years after he previous win. That's 81 PGA tour wins for Tiger, 15 of which are majors.
This week we toast Eldrick Tont Woods with the official cocktail of Augusta, the Azalea.

Miners vs. coal companies, Round 3

Published by admin on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 9:00am

It is the spring of 1877. Once again the coal companies propose to reduce the wages of the miners. But the miners have had two years of that, and they have vowed not to let it happen again. And this time they have political clout, the stage is set for Round 3 - time for the knock-out punch.

Gold, gumption and Goose Lake

Published by admin on Wed, 05/01/2019 - 9:00am

It always surprises me when I read about someone in the 19th century who traveled, moved and changed jobs constantly. Somehow, I think of that as a modern scenario, enabled by rapid transportation and communication. N.N. Osburn proved me wrong. He had the gumption and energy that would make him wealthy.
Nial Nye Osburn was born in Athens, OH, Nov. 19, 1819. When he was 22, he made his way to the middle west, stopping first in Iowa.

‘Toilet scandal’ could devastate budget, more

Published by admin on Mon, 04/29/2019 - 11:17am

There's probably never a good time for a news story about how a source claims you, your wife and your brother-in-law are under federal investigation. But when that report is aired just days before what is likely the most consequential five weeks of your entire governorship, that's definitely not an opportune moment.
Chicago's public radio station WBEZ reported on April 24 that a single law enforcement source claimed Gov. JB Pritkzer, his wife MK and his brother-in-law Thomas Muenster "are under federal criminal investigation."