Rocky Mountain "Hi"

News from Colorado ski country....the resorts and ski shops are in the process of expanding their rental inventory, in an attempt to make it easier for tourists to come out and play. Over the last year or so, many airlines have started charging for checked bags, including premiums on a 2nd or 3rd checked bag. That intimidates many people who are used to bringing 3 or 4 pieces with them to ski (boots, skis, suitcase, etc.). Particularly hard-hit are families, who can just about be priced out of the market. The ski shops feel this will help people travel lighter, and once they arrive they can still enjoy all that Colorado has to offer. I applaud their creativity in a struggling economy.

With the recent Election behind us, there is a new form of tourism making its way to the Midwest. People are flocking to see the home where Barack Obama lived in Chicago. It may not yet be in the class of "George Washington slept here", but it's equally historic in its own right. Just because it's new and hot as a tourist destination, if you do go to Chicago, be sure to catch a number of other fabulous highlights. Here's a Top-10 List for your listening and dancing pleasure:

1) Wrigley Field. It personifies baseball history, and if the Cubbies happen to be in town, there's nothing quite like it.

2) Second City Comedy Club. If there's a cradle of comedy genius, this is it. Irreverent, slapstick, a little on the blue side, cutting-edge improv at it's finest. World class.

3) Gino's East (pizza). The original home of Chicago deep-dish pizza. Small, a bit crowded, not an ounce of class to be found, but BOY is that good pizza! Two of us tried to split a medium, and couldn't come close to finishing it!

4) Buddy Guy's Legends Blues Club. Once again, if you're looking for high-class and posh, this is the wrong place to come. But if you want genuine Chicago-style blues of the finest order, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything better on planet Earth. Never heard of Buddy Guy? That's a shame....Eric Clapton called him the "greatest guitarist of all time", and his influence on Rock, R&B and Blues is immeasurable.

5) The Navy Pier. Opened in 1916 in downtown Chicago as a shipping and recreational facility, it now showcases unique restaurants, boutiques, and theater events. There's the 50,000 sq. ft. Children's Museum of Chicago, a 440-seat IMAX theater, and a 32,000 sq. ft. indoor botanical garden. An excellent all-'round day for the entire family.

6) John Hancock Observatory. Always something going on, and the bird's-eye views of Chicago and Lake Michigan are stunning.

7) Lincoln Park Zoo. One of the Nation's best.

8) Grant Park. Beautiful place to stroll, and now has the historic presence of an Election-night happening, featuring Barack Obama and a quarter-million of his closest friends.

9) Art Institute of Chicago. Possibly the greatest collection of fine art in the Midwest.

10a) Magnificent Mile. This area of Chicago is legendary for designer shops, one after another, in a stunning array of chic, class and style.

10b) Chicago-Style Hotdogs. Nothing like 'em, folks. You might think you've had one, but until you have one in Chicago you've not done the real deal. There is a specific, time-honored method of EXACT ingredients, from dog to bun to all the extras. Any variation (including being eaten outside of Chicago) voids the authenticity. You'll be asking "where DO they get those little peppers??!"

And that's not all. Go see Oprah! Ride to the top of the Sears Tower. Take a day cruise or fish on Lake Michigan. Walk the famous downtown bridge area over the Chicago River. You'll be amazed at the color of the water, too. Looks almost like the Caribbean Sea it's such a lovely shade of blue-green. Lake Michigan itself is ten times cleaner now than years ago, and is now an area of pride for the city. Ride on the "El" (elevated train, like an over-the-ground subway). Chicago's nickname is the Second City, but it's second to none when it comes to a good time.

Police Blotter Time:

The proprietor of an Arkansas recycling plant was suspicious when a group of youths brought him a large, 63-pound grey metal bar. He said "Boys, what you've got yourselves there is a big 'ol hunk of lead", and he paid them $30 for their trouble. He got one of the boys to sign for the $30 and post his address on the receipt. After the young gentlemen left his office, he called local police to report the incident. It turns out, the 63-pound metal bar was a solid silver ingot, valued at $15,000. Police Detective Mike Stegall investigated further, confronting the boy who had signed for the $30 with his parents present. He confessed and implicated five of his friends as accomplices. Turns out, the boys had stolen 2 safes, which contained a rare D.H. Lawrence 1st-edition book valued at $5,000, silver and gold coins valued at $25,000 and the silver ingot. The rare book was still missing at last report, but most of the other items had been recovered. The would-be criminal geniuses had managed to get a total of $70 for their $45,000 worth of loot. When asked why they did it, the response was "we needed gas money."

I guess mowing lawns, raking leaves or getting a job would be out of the question, eh boys?