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  • April 25, 2013 | By

    99 bottles of beer on the wall…

    In a recent restaurant survey, Duke’s Alehouse and Kitchen in Crystal Lake was one of the top favorites, so my wife Judy and I invited friends Mike and Darby McGuigan to join us on a Sunday night to find out if the restaurant lived up to its reputation and high marks.

  • April 25, 2013 | By

    A behind-the-scenes star who makes the dancers shine

    This week, I am putting the spotlight on one of the “stars” of the very popular TV show “Dancing With The Stars.” He is the heart and soul of all the great music used on the show, other than that provided by musical guests. He is Harold Wheeler, the musical director of the show that is now in its 16th season.

  • April 25, 2013 | By

    Baked Stuffed Mushrooms

    This week’s recipe is from Edgewater resident Fran Holmstrom. Not only did she send in one of her recipes, but she also tells us about her recipe blog. Is that great or what? Here’s what Fran wrote in to me:

  • April 11, 2013 | By

    A little dining gem in the country

    Travel just about 20 minutes from Sun City and you will find a pearl of a restaurant called Art & Alma’s Century Inn. I planned to visit this establishment for some time and finally worked it into my schedule. Fellow musician Bill Brindell and his wife Loretta have been after us to join them for a meal at the Century Inn for some time.

  • March 28, 2013 | By

    Live from Ft. Myers, FL, it’s baseball season!

    It’s late February in Ft. Myers, and I’m at JetBlue Park for the first game of Spring Training between the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays. For true baseball fans, this is the “hope springs eternal” day, as fans come from as far away as Canada to watch grown men play a boy’s game, one that doesn’t even count in the standings.

  • March 28, 2013 | By

    Do-it-yourself dining at Jiang’s Mongolian Grill!

    After returning from several months in Florida, it was time to catch up with three of my grandkids. I invited our 14-year-old twin grandsons, Jack and Nick, along with their sister, Sophia, age 9 (going on 20), out for a special treat: dinner at one of the recently opened restaurants in Algonquin Commons called Jiang’s Mongolian Grill.

  • March 28, 2013 | By

    The man who brought the Bossa Nova sound across the equator

    This week I am featuring a man whose music is a favorite of many jazz artists and pop singers — Antonio Carlos Brasileiro de Almeida Jobim, or Tom Jobim, as he is known in the music world.

  • March 14, 2013 | By

    Hampshire’s Rose Garden offers prime service, average food at great value

    Here’s another restaurant that was recommended by a reader. Recently, we drove to nearby Hampshire for a lunch in a typical small town diner. It’s the place the “locals” come for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

  • February 28, 2013 | By

    Sammy’s Italian Vegetable and Sausage Soup

    This week’s recipe is one of my own, a very zesty and healthy soup perfect for these cold winter days. This is a soup that, combined with a loaf of Italian bread, becomes a great meal.

  • February 28, 2013 | By

    Niko’s Lodge delicious from appetizers to dessert

    A Sun Day holiday party afforded me the opportunity to review the relatively new Niko’s Lodge in the Algonquin Commons. Twenty fellow columnists and personnel of the Sun Day Newspaper met in a private area of the restaurant to celebrate and enjoy a meal together.

  • February 28, 2013 | By

    Billie Holiday’s extraordinary voice and story

    Neighbor Stan Auster asked that I write about his favorite vocalist, Billie Holiday. Billie, born Eleanora Harris (1915-1959), was an American jazz singer and songwriter who was nicknamed “Lady Day” by her friend Lester Young.

  • February 14, 2013 | By

    Peanut Butter Candy

    Recently, Judy and I were at the Lessners’ home for game night. On this particular night, Denise Lessner served these scrumptious homemade delights called Peanut Butter Candy.

  • February 14, 2013 | By

    Sponsor’s offers tasty food but prices are hit-and-miss

    One of the reasons I love writing this column is that so many of you write me with your restaurant suggestions. Last month, one of my friends called to tell about the opening of a new restaurant in town.

  • February 14, 2013 | By

    The harmonica, a unique spice in the jazz cookbook

    Here’s an instrument that has a long history in jazz music, but very little recognition. Its unique sound capabilities add a warm, bluesy quality to any arrangement.

  • January 31, 2013 | By

    All about vibes

    One of my favorite instruments is the vibraphone, or vibes, as they are commonly known. Over the years, three performers stand out as the best vibes players ever: Lionel Hampton, Red Norvo, and Gary Burton.

  • January 31, 2013 | By

    Restaurant survey results and readers’ comments Part II

    Favorite Pizza Restaurants – 20 nominations – Top 10

  • January 31, 2013 | By

    Cooking With The Geezer – Creamy French Onion Soup

    This week’s recipe is from a reader who prefers to be anonymous. It’s a great version of French onion soup. Very simple and very good, a little different than the standard version.

  • January 17, 2013 | By

    Cooking With The Geezer – Chocolate toffee cinnamon rolls

    This week’s recipe is one from someone who wishes to remain anonymous. It looks scrumptious. Although after pigging out through the holidays, you might want to save this recipe for a special occasion. Yeah, like I’m going to wait that long to try this one!

  • January 17, 2013 | By

    Bebop era marked by giant steps in jazz

    This column is all about the Bebop era. Fundamentally and simply put, Bebop, or Kansas City jazz as it was originally called, was and is a major component of all jazz music.

  • January 1, 2013 | By

    Restaurant servey results and reader comments, Part I

    Note: First, thanks to all the residents that responded to our survey. I must admit that I was amazed and surprised to read some of the responses for a variety of reasons, especially by the large number of restaurants mentioned.

  • December 20, 2012 | By

    The little house with the big sandwiches

    Our editorial manager, Mason Souza, has been telling me about a place in Algonquin that he says makes the best subs around. I’ve always been a big fan of Bubs Subs, so I said we need to have a run off to see which shop comes out on top. So, it’s Bubs Subs vs. The Algonquin Sub Shop, affectionately known as A.S.S.

  • December 20, 2012 | By

    Chuck’s Italian Wedding/Chicken Soup

    This week’s recipe is from a regular contributor to this column, Chuck Maniscalco of N-33. I have to admit it; this guy is my cooking god. He even makes his own Italian sausage that beats anything offered in stores. Here’s a great and very unique soup recipe perfect for the coming winter months. Thanks, Chuck.

  • December 6, 2012 | By

    Two Tails serves a bounty of fish seasoned in any number of ways

    Two Tails Eatery is a pretty unique dining spot, as it is also a market that sells meats and seafood on a retail basis. My wife Judy and daughter Sharon joined me for dinner at this unpretentious establishment that offers lots of choices in entrees, sandwiches, soups, appetizers, salads, and a kid’s menu.

  • November 29, 2012 | By

    An exploration of great modern-era sax men

    This column is all about the Sax Men.

  • November 21, 2012 | By

    The incredible influence of football

    Maybe you hate football, maybe you are addicted to it, or maybe you don’t even care about it one way or another. The fact is, all sports played and watched in our country have an enormous impact on our economy and our lives, but none more than football.

  • November 21, 2012 | By

    An old-fashioned supper club, spiced up Italian-style

    Back in my youth, Chicago was known for its great supper clubs. Places like the Edgewater Beach Hotel and the London House were destinations for senior proms. These were restaurants that offered entertainment as a package deal, usually with a cover charge depending upon the quality and cost of the performers.

  • November 15, 2012 | By

    Braised turkey and dressing

    Here’s another way to cook a turkey that I found to be a great alternative to the conventional way. The benefit of braising is that both white and dark meat come out perfectly cooked and seasoned, juicy, and carving is so much easier.

  • November 15, 2012 | By

    Paying homage to the first lady of song

    In previous columns, I’ve only mentioned some of the great female vocalists while writing about other musicians. It’s time to pay homage to an all-time great vocalist who began as a jazz singer but later became hugely successful in pop. The undisputed First Lady of Song is, of course, Ella Fitzgerald, who used her voice like a musical instrument.

  • October 25, 2012 | By

    Cooking with the Geezer: October 25, 2012

    This week’s recipe is from me, and as you might expect, it’s traditional Italian. More specifically, it is Sicilian, which is my heritage. All four of my grandparents were born and raised in a small town near Palermo.

  • October 25, 2012 | By

    Reap your senior discount rewards at these local spots

    One thing is for certain about seniors: we love deals, especially meal deals! If you are a Seinfeld fan, you probably remember the episode when Jerry visits his parents in Florida and they go out for dinner. They arrive just as some of his parents’ friends are leaving the restaurant. The friends immediately question why they arrived after the early bird specials. What typifies the senior crowd more than catching the early bird bargains? Seniors love deals whatever the time of day!