Ghost in the Graveyard

Well with Catherine gone for the night what else is there to do but go to the graveyard.  We've actually gone a couple of times before because what better place to play ghost in the graveyard but in the real thing.  This was Hayes' first time going and he's a little bit of a liability if you have to hide with him.  After we played for a while, we decided to try some light painting with the camera and a flashlight.  I think the kids might have enjoyed that more than the game.  Then it was back home for a bit of a scare with the movie "The Others".  Sometimes it's good that mom's not around.

~Jeff 

  

 

 

 

Ivey Hope Hopkins

The newest member of the Hopkins family made a visit to Central Illinois all the way from Seattle.  She also brought along her mother, Kira, but left dad at home.  Her cousins, Hayes and Brayden, gave her a warm welcome by throwing various toys at her, so we thought we better let them go wild outside.  Ivey of course was just glad she got to spend time with her favorite uncle.

~Jeff

The Boss

The Boss is a new boardgame that our family has been enjoying recently.  It's a cross between a Clue-like deduction game and an area control game.   You're a crime boss and you send your minions into different cities trying to grab the loot while muscling the other gangsters out of the way.   The only problem is that you can also get killed, put in jail or sent to the hospital; all of which Catherine managed to do on the first turn in last night's game.   Naturally, after the second turn, she remembered something she had to do and quit the game.   Can someone say - Sore Loser!  Anyway this is a pretty quick and fun game that everyone except for Cat seems to enjoy. 

~Jeff

Dining on the Riverfront

We decided to dine at American Tap tonight with our "Today's Hot Deal"  Groupon-like coupon that basically gave us an entree for free.  Our dining adventures around Peoria usually are prompted by our various daily deal coupons and our Peoria Dining Guide coupons, although our Hooter's coupons continue to remain unredeemed despite my weekly suggestions..."dear, they have great wings!".  I thought the American Tap looked interesting because of their specialty Horseshoe sandwiches, which are a local Central Illinois creation containing a piece of texas toast with some meat, topped with fries and covered with a cheese sauce.   I had the pulled pork Horshoe and Catherine had the Philly Steak Horshoe.   Hayes dined on freeze dried yogurt having eaten beforehand due to his parent's frugality.   Oh and we happened to go on a Thursday night which is $2 draft beer night...convenient.  The American Tap is located on the riverfront in the previous "Old Chicago" building.  So afterward we were able to take a walk along the riverfront.  Here's a few pictures from the evening....

~Jeff

State Street, that great street....

Frank Sinatra got that right...the Near North Side of Chicago is a fabulous place to be. Jeff & I took a culinary tour of the Near North part of town to celebrate our 4 year anniversary. Mini shots of blueberry & lime balsamic vinegar concoctions cleansed our palette at Old Town Oil. Hardcore gastronomers dress up their ice cream and other desserts with balsamics. Stunning. A mouth-watering Reuban sandwich with perfectly cured pastrami topped with a secret Russian dressing awaited us at a Jewish deli on Cedar Street. To die for! The Fudge Pot is always a favorite stop...along with Bacino's supreme spinach deep dish pizza. Amazing. If you're in Chicago, I'd highly recommend a Food Planet Food Tour.
Along with fabulous food, you get to learn about the ethnic pockets that make Chicago so diverse. Speaking of which, Jeff doesn't believe any trip to Chicago is complete without a visit to the Steppenwolf Theatre. We saw a matinee of "Clybourne Park," a fascinating nod to A Raisin in the Sun, which explores the issue of race in Chicago in the 1950s and today.
When you marry food, culture and history, it sure makes for a rich experience and well worth getting away from the reality of our daily life to re-engage one another.
I think next year we're heading to Bucktown!

~Catherine