On New Year’s Eve, Miles, John and I went for lunch to Dove’s Luncheonette in Wicker Park. It was my first time there but a favorite for John and Miles. The goal was for John and I to have a biggish lunch, since we knew we’d be eating later than usual that night, and to get Miles a meal, since he had slept quite late (that’s been a theme since he’s been home!). No pics from lunch, but mmmmmm it was really good. I had a grain bowl, Miles had burnt ends hash (nod to KC’s BBQ specialty of burnt ends, aka rib tips in sauce) and John had a brisket taco. Speaking of good food, there are times I’d like to include good smells on the blog – like the deliciousness of the pot of black-eyed peas John is making now for dinner. There are lots of good luck symbols for the new year, and we had lentils last night for good luck, and will be having black-eyed peas tonight also for good luck.
All fed, we walked back home to have some down time before the big night. For me, this was spent knitting while nostalgia-watching Rudolph’s Shiny New Year. Here you can get a glimpse of my hat project and also Father Time on the TV. Readers may be asking how the show holds up – well, I have to say the plot has some holes in it. But the songs inside Father Time’s castle, where everything has clocks built into it, are very cool.
And we don’t have any photos from either of the two parties we went to! But we had great times and company at each. Today, after a nice sleep since we had a pretty late night, we thought we’d get out in the very sunny day and walk through Humboldt Park and around on the 606, stopping for coffee along the way at Ipsento.
The park was lovely, with just a bit of snow that arrived overnight before New Year’s Eve.
Finally remembered my sunglasses – so easy to get out of the habit of bringing them along in winter!
On our way up to the 606, we walked along Humboldt Boulevard and came across a place where the sidewalk turned into a yellow brick road. Thanks for the earlier headsup, Mom, that this is part of the memorial to L. Frank Baum, the writer of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! He lived at this location (original building has been replaced) and wrote the book here.
The corner has a There’s No Place Like Home marker, which we thought was a very apt note to end our winter staycation on! It’s back to work tomorrow, but we did have a very nice time at home. Happy new year, everyone!
The pot of black eyed peas looks delicious! I don’t think I’ve ever had it cooked with carrots, celery, and tomatoes. The hat project looks interesting! Nice day for a walk outside, too. Cool that there is a yellow brick road–or maybe sidewalk at the location where L. Frank Baum wrote the Wizard of Oz.