Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Brisket from Pappas, Tacos from JITB, more

So this brisket was bought and tasted in Texas but mainly being eaten in Chicago.

The trip - begins with a ride on the 80 to the Blue Line where perhaps I will get a photo later of the escalator broken down again, emphasis, again.  Switched at Clark and Lake to the Orange.  Delta to Atlanta and then to Houston.  Rented a car in Houston.  Reverse trip to Chicago then the Orange to Harold Washington, the Purple to Belmont and the Brown then the 80 home.  Elevators up down and transfers announced and signage of the same for connections are very misleading and if you need to make those connections with differing abilities the signs and announcements should bring to mind lawsuits and criminal charges.

This is, iirc, the third Pappas restaurant and second Pappas Brisket House location.


I am sitting under the gable in the drive thru.


A look


a taste then bagged for flight home


a second look


oops



plated, still great but that first fresh bite in Texas was the best.


Inside Harry's


Outside Harry's




Even a vacant lot in Texas very much in an urban area yet with room to breath


And of course brisket


Wilson and Douggie, Stop Sarah, Sarah stop, Sarah stop


Harry's coffee and eggs


Caleb and Air Hog


ummmmm


Often forgot to take pictures before eating



Sorry, good pic of the food


Smokehouse burger at Cheddar's


Chicken Tenders and tender times


Talapia, coleslaw and broccoli casserole 


Lupe Tortillas







remnants of a three



Greasy mess. so bad in so many ways but so good





She got it totally right






Mayhaw Jelly, Chow Chow, Roast Beef but still airport

Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Not really a blog post

and if you pony up for expensive hardware and software you can watch them.

#Chicouncil is kicking off in just a couple minutes. Watch live and follow along via Twitter. http://bit.ly/1iWBcou
Please turn off your Caps Lock key. It looks like you are shouting.  or so said EB plus likely too Windy even in the Windy City.

>> THANK YOU.
>> RESOLUTIONS?
>> A RESOLUTION FROM HIS HONOR THE MAYOR.
WHEREAS ON THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY THIRD, 2014, OFF DUTY CHICAGO
POLICE OFFICER FLORES STAR NUMBER 1 5489 STOPPED WITH HIS WIFE, SON
AND NEFF FEW AT A DRUGSTORE LOCATED ON THE MILWAUKEE AVENUE IN ORDER
TO USE THE ATM MACHINE INSIDE OF THE STORE AND UNBENOUNSED TO HIM, AN
ARMED ROBBERY WAS TAKING PLACE INSIDE OF THE STORE.
WHEREAS THE OFFENDER A MALE DRESSED IN A HOODED JACKET WAS STANDING
IN LINE NEAR THE CHECK OUT COUNTER, WHEN HE REACHED THE CASH REGISTER
THE OFFENDER PULLED A BLACK HAND GUN FROM THE RIGHT POCKET OF HIS
JACKET AND ORDERED THE ELDERLY CASHIER TO GIVE HIM THE MONEY IN THE
REGISTER, FEARING FOR HER OWN LIFE AND THE CUSTOMERS SHE BEGAN TO
PLACE THE MONEY IN THE BAG, PRECISELY AT THIS MOMENT, THE OFFICER
ENTERED THE STORE, SEEING THE DISTRESSED CASHIER EMPTYING THE
CONTENTS OF THE REGISTER INTO A BAG AND SEEING THE BUTT OF A HAND GUN
PROTRUDING FROM THE OFFENDER'S POCKET OFFICER FLORES AND WITHOUT
REGARD TO HIS PERSONAL SAFETY, SPRANG INTO ACTION AND DISCREETLY
PRODUCING HIS OWN FIREARM, HE QUIETLY WALKED UP BEHIND THE ARMED
OFFENDER WITHOUT ALERTING THE MAN TO HIS PRESENCE AND AFTER MAKING
EYE CONTACT WITH THE CASHIER AND RAISING HIS JACKET TO EXPOSE HIS
POLICE BADGE HE ANNOUNCED THAT HE WAS A POLICE OFFICER AND ORDERED
THE OFFENDER TO PUT UP HIS HANDS AND SURRENDER, AND WHEREAS, WHEN THE
OVER 300-POUND OFFENDER REFUSED TO COMPLY, A STRUGGLE ENSUED BETWEEN
THE OFFICER AND THE OFFENDER CAUSING BOTH MEN TO FALL TO THE GROUND
WITH OFFICER FLORES LAPPEDING ON TOP OF THE OFFENDER, STILL REFUSING,
HE TWISTED AND TURNED HIS BODY TOWARD THE OFFICER SHOUTING THAT YOU
WILL HAVE TO SHOOT ME I AM NOT GOING TO BACK TO JAIL, HE ORDERED THE
OFFENDER TO SURRENDER WHICH HE REFUSED TO DO, INSTEAD REACHING FOR
THE WEAPON IN HIS POCKET.
WHEREAS FEARING FOR HIS OWN SAFETY AND THE LIVES OF THE INNOCENCE
EMPLOYEES AND CUSTOMERS IN THE SFOER HE WAS FORCED TO FIRE HIS WEAPON
AT THE OFFENDER STRIKING HIM AND BRINGING THE STRUGGLE TO AN END.
MEANWHILE, CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
ARRIVED ON THE SCENE TO RENDER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ROBBER WHO
WAS TRANSPORTED TO LEATHER GENERAL HOSPITAL WHERE HE LATER DIED FROM
HIS INJURIES, THE OFFENDER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ARMED ROBBERIES AT
THREE OTHER RETAIL STORES AND HAD ROBBED THE SAME DRUGSTORE JUST ONE
WEEK BEFORE.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT WE, THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO, ASSEMBLE THIS FIFTH DAY OF
NOVEMBER, 2014, DO HEAR BY HONOR AND COME MEND THE OFFICER WHO IN
KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT,
ACTED HEROICKLY AND WITHOUT STANDING RESULTS UNDER DANGEROUS AND
UNANTICIPATED CIRCUMSTANCES AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT A
SUITABLE COPY BE PRESENTED TO THE POLICE OFFICER, FLORES AND PLACED
ON PERMANENT RECORD IN HIS PERSONNEL FILE AS A TOKEN OF OUR
APPRECIATION AND ESTEEM.
THANK YOU.
>> ALDERMAN BURKE.
>> I MOVE THE SUSPENSION OF THE RULES FOR THE IMMEDIATE CONSIDERATION
OF THIS RESOLUTION.
>> HEARING NO OBJECTION, SO ORDER.
>> YOUR HONOR, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL IT HAS BEEN
SAID HAS IT NOT, THAT TIMING IS EVERYTHING.
AND SOME MORNING, IN LISTENING TO CLERK MENDOZA RECOUNT THE DETAILS
OF THIS RESOLUTION, WE REALIZE ONCE AGAIN THE WISDOM OF THAT
OBSERVATION.
THIS MORNING, WE CAN JOIN IN HONORING A REMARKABLE CHICAGOAN, A MAN
OF AMAZING COURAGE, OFFICER FLORES, WHO HAS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT ALSO
HAD GREAT TIMING.
THAT MORNING, WHEN HE WAS OFF DUTY, OFFICER FLORES ENTERED THAT STORE
AND HAPPENED UPON AN ARMED ROBBERY IN PROGRESS.
HE KNEW THAT IF HE DIDN'T TAKE ACTION, THE RESULTS COULD BE DEADLY.
BUT WITHOUT REGARD FOR HIS OWN SAFETY, HE IMMEDIATELY ANNOUNCED HIS
OFFICE AND ORDERED THE OFFENDER TO SURRENDER.
WHILE THE SITUATION ESCALATED QUICKLY AND THE OFFENDER WHO
INCIDENTALLY, MR. PRESIDENT AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WEIGHED OVER
300 POUNDS, REFUSED TO COMPLY.
AND BEGAN STRUGGLING WITH THE OFFICER.
AND IN THE SCUFFLE, OFFICER FLORES, FORTUNATELY GOT ON TOP OF THE
OFFENDER, WHO WAS ATTEMPTING TO SHOOT HIM WITH HIS GUN.
AND AT THAT POINT, OFFICER FLORES HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SHOOT THE
OFFENDER.
THE OFFICER NOT ONLY PLACED HIS OWN LIFE ON THE LINE, BUT HE ACTED
WITH QUICK THINKING UNDER VERY TENSE AND DANGEROUS CONDITIONS.
WHEN WE DID THE RESEARCH ON THE BOOK END OF WATCH, WE WERE AMAZED AT
THE NUMBER OF INSTANCES IN WHICH CHICAGO POLICE OFFICERS HAVE BEEN
KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY, WHILE TECHNICALLY OFF DUTY.
IT IS REMARKABLE THE NUMBER OF TIMES OFF DUTY COPS HAVE BEEN KILLED.
AND IT IS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT SENSE OF OBLIGATION, AND THAT SENSE
OF DUTY AND THAT NEED TO SERVE AND PROTECT, DOES NOT END SIMPLY AT
THE END OF THEIR SHIFT.
AND ONCE AGAIN, THE IMMEDIACY OF OFFICER FLORES'S RESPONSE AND HIS
WILLINGNESS TO TAKE POLICE ACTION LEAVES THE REST OF US IN AWE.
AND SO THIS MORNING, I AM PROUD TO JOIN WITH MAYOR EMANUEL AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL OF SOLUTING THE VALOR OF OFFICER FLORES WHO
TAKES HIS PLACE IN THAT REMARKABLE HISTORY OF LAW ENFORCEMENT
PROFESSIONALS, PEACE OFFICERS, WHOSE VIRTUE HAS LED THEM TO DO
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO OFTEN AT VERY GREAT
RISK TO THEMSELVES.
AND SO OFFICER FLORES, BECAUSE OF YOUR QUICK THINKING, YOUR
RESPONSIBLE ACTION, YOU PREVENTED A ROBBERY, YOU TOOK ANOTHER
DANGEROUS GUN OFF OF THE STREET, AND YOU AFFIRMED THE OATH THAT YOU
HAVE SWORN TO UP HOLD AS A MEMBER OF THE FINAL POLICE DEPARTMENT IN
THE COUNTRY.
AND THE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR
BRAVERY AND YOUR RESOLVE.
THANKS FOR DOING YOUR PART TO MAKE THE STREETS OF CHICAGO SAFE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HEROISM, YOU MAKE ALL OF US INDEED PROUD.
AND WE ARE PROUD TO WELCOME YOU TO THIS HISTORIC CHAMBER TODAY
ACCOMPANIED BY YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR SON WHO HAS A CHANCE TO HEAR HOW
MUCH THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO APPRECIATE WHAT YOU AND THE BRAVE WOMEN
AND MEN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF POLICE DO EACH AND EVERY DAY.
MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND ALL OF THE BRAVE
WOMEN AND MEN OF THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.
CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU.
>> ALDERMAN?
>> I TOO IN SUPPORT OF THE RESOLUTION, AND OFFICER I TOLD THEM AND I
SAID THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE A MOVIE AND YOU HAVE YOUR WIFE, YOUR CHILD,
AND YOUR NEPHEW WITH YOU AND YOU STILL SPRUNG INTO ACTION AND THEY
ARE WATCHING THIS, AND I COMMEND YOU AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT
BRAVERY, IT IS THAT REALLY IMPRESSIVE WHAT WENT ON HERE AND THANK YOU
FOR SAVING LIVES AND DOING WHAT YOU DID, THANK YOU.
>> OKAY.
>> ALDERMAN POPE?
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I TOO RISE TO JOIN IN THIS RESOLUTION
AND OFFICER FLORES I WOULD LIKE TO REITERATE WHAT HAS BEEN SAID, YOUR
BRAVERY AND COMMITMENT EVEN WHILE YOU ARE OFF DUTY WITH FAMILY IN
TOTE YOU SAW AN INDIVIDUAL IN NEED AND SPRANG INTO ACTION, YOU ARE
WELL SHORT OF 300 POUNDS NOT JUST YOUR BRAVERY TO SUBDUE THIS
OFFENDER BUT THE INSTINCTIVE NATURE AND THE TRAINING THAT TOOK OVER
TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO SUBDUE THIS INDIVIDUAL AND YOU ARE NOT
GOING TO OVER TAKE HIM PHYSICALLY, BUT THAT TRAINING AND WILLINGNESS
TO PROTECT SOMEONE ELSE AND YOU SPRUNG INTO ACTION AND HOW DPRAIT
THAT WAS AND TO REALIZE THAT WAS A REPEAT OFFENDER AND WAS GOING TO
CONTINUE THIS TYPE OF CRIME SPREE AND HURT OR KILL SOMEONE IN THE
FUTURE, YOU ARE A GREAT SUCCESS AND SOMETHING THAT YOUR SON, OR
SOMEONE THAT YOUR SON CAN LOOK UP TO AND I KNOW THAT HE IS PROUD NOW,
AND WE ARE PROUD OF YOU AND THAT COULD HAVE BEEN MY FRIEND, A
COLLEAGUE OF MINE IN THAT STORE, SO THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> ALDERMAN MORENO?
>> I AM PROUD TO RISE IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION, AND TO THANK
OFFICER FLORES TO HOW HE ACTED AND IT IS CLEAR THAT EVERY ONE OF OUR
OFFICERS AND YOU CREATE A GREAT EXAMPLE HERE.
AND REGARDLESS OF YOUR SITUATION, AND IN UNIFORM AND OUT OF UNIFORM
AND ON DUTY AND OFF.
AND YOU ARE READY TO DO THE JOB.
AND FROM THE MINUTE THAT YOU ARE SWORN IN.
AND THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION HAPPENED IN THE HEART OF THE 45TH WARD.
AND NOT TOO FAR FROM THE 16TH DISTRICT AND THIS WAS A REPEAT OFFENDER
THAT HAD COMMITTED A SIMILAR CRIME IN THREE OTHER LOCATIONS.
AND I THINK THAT IT IS SALIENT TO POINT OUT THAT YOU WERE DEALING
WITH SOMEBODY WHO WAS DEALING WITH SOME PERSONAL ISSUES AND MENTAL
HEALTH ISSUES, THAT WE HAVE TO BE COGNOSCENTE OF THAT YOU PUT
YOURSELVES IN SITUATIONS ALL OF THE TIME THAT YOU DON'T KNOW THAT
WHAT THE OFFENDER IS THINKING, WHAT HIS INTENTIONS ARE, AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ON BEHALF OF THE 45TH WARD
RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT WERE READY TO DO YOUR JOB, DESPITE
THE SITUATION THAT YOU ASSESSED VERY QUICKLY, AND RESPONDED
APPROPRIATELY TO.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.
>> ANYBODY ELSE?
>> IF NOT,... OKAY.
>> THANK YOU, MR. PRESIDENT, I HAVE ASKED TO SUPPORT THIS RESOLUTION,
AND COMMEND THE POLICE OFFICER, OFFICER FLORES IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU
AND YOUR FAMILY.
I GUESS THAT I GOT TO START OFF BY SAYING, BEEN THERE DONE THAT.
OFF DUTY INTERVENTION CAN BE REALLY BE CHALLENGING BOTH AT THAT
MOMENT AND AFTERWARDS AFTER YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF THE REPLAYS
THROUGH YOUR MIND.
AND SO, LIKE, JUST TAKE MY HAT OFF TO YOU.
AND FOR STEPPING UP AND TAKING THE ACTIONS THAT YOU TOOK.
AND PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY AS WELL AS THOSE PEOPLE IN THAT STORE.
GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE WITH US TODAY.
>> THANK YOU, ALDERMAN.
>> ALDERMAN FIORETTI?
>> I WANT TO RISE AND I WAS NOT GOING TO SPEAK ON IT AND I NOTICE
THAT YOUR FAMILY IS HERE AND YOUR FAMILY WAS THERE THAT DAY AND YOUR
COURAGE AND YOUR COMMITMENT AND YOUR PASSION TO YOUR CAREER, IS
SOMETHING THAT WE ALL ADMIRE.
AND WHAT YOU DID THAT DAY, TOOK EXTRAORDINARY COURAGE TO PROTECT NOT
ONLY THE PEOPLE THAT WERE IN THAT STORE, BUT YOUR FAMILY TOO.
AND SHOWS THE DEDICATION OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENTS AND I WANT TO THANK YOU, AND I WANT TO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DID THAT DAY AND SOMETIMES RESOLUTIONS
LIKE THIS DON'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT YOUR CAREER.
BUT CLEARLY WHAT YOU DID THAT DAY IS JUST PART OF WHAT YOU DO EVERY
DAY.
THANK YOU.
>> ALDERMAN SPOSATO?
>> I STAND ALSO IN SUPPORT OF THIS RESOLUTION AND I HAD THE PLEASURE
OF TALKING TO HIM BEFORE COUNCIL AND HE TOLD ME EVERYTHING THAT
HAPPENED.
AND SO LIKE LIKE HE SAYS, TIMING IS EVERYTHING, RIGHT PLACE RIGHT
TIME AND YOU LIVE IN THAT COMMUNITY AND I CAN'T IMAGINE WHAT YOU WENT
THROUGH HAVING YOUR FAMILY WITH YOU THERE AND I AM NOT SURE IF THEY
WERE IN THE CAR OR THE STORE BUT EITHER WAY HAD TO BE AN INTENTION
SITUATION, GREAT JOB, IT IS SWAL GREENS THAT I GO INTO EVERY ONCE AND
A WHILE AND I KNOW THAT IT HIT CLOSE TO HOME FOR YOU, GREAT JOB BY
THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.
I, CONGRATULATE YOU AND ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, THANK YOU MR.
PRESIDENT.
>> ANYBODY ELSE?
IF NOT, I WANT TO SAY TO YOU AND YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, IT IS OBVIOUSLY
WE WILL BE QUICK, BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE A YOUNG ONE
WITH YOU, DOING UNBELIEVABLE.
BUT IT IS CLEAR BASED ON THAT, YOU WERE GOING WITH YOUR FAMILY.
JUST ON A WEEK, AND JUST SHOPPING.
BUT, YOUR SENSE OF CODE OF HONOR AND YOUR SENSE OF SERVICE, YOUR
PROFESSIONALISM IS NOT ONLY ON WHEN YOU ARE WEARING YOUR UNIFORM AND
BADGE, IT IS PART OF YOUR DNA AND WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE YOU IN THE
SERVICE OF THE CITY AND THE RESIDENTS IN THE CITY OF CHICAGO, IT IS
CLEAR FROM YOUR FAMILY VALUES HOW THEY RAISED YOU AND I WANT TO THANK
YOUR FAMILY, FOR SHARING YOU WITH THE REST OF THE CITY.
BECAUSE WHAT YOU DID THAT DAY, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE CODE, NOT JUST
OF WHAT YOU ARE TRAINED AS A POLICE OFFICER, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING,
DEEPER, THAT SPRUNG INTO ACTION.
AND THAT SHOWS THAT YOUR SENSE OF NOT JUST COURAGE, BUT ALSO YOUR
PROFESSIONALISM AND THE WAY THAT YOU BELIEVE OF WHATCY POLICE OFFICER
HAS TO DO IS NOT ONLY WEARING YOUR UNIFORM IT IS PART OF YOUR
PERSPECTIVE AND CHICAGO, AND SO BEHALF OF THE CITY OF CHICAGO AND THE
RESIDENTS THAT WANT TO HAVE THE PEACE OF MIND THAT THEY CAN GO TO A
WALGREENS, THANK YOU.

Monday, November 3, 2014

BBQ For All The Others at IBBQA Autumn Smokeout

I did not see any brisket.  I enjoyed this anyway because I had my own brisket three days this week and I have tickets to Houston very soon.

A friend says everyone likes links so I will try to give you a few.

Illinois BBQ Alliance

Honky Tonk BBQ

Chicago q

Barn Burner

2 Skinny Cooks

Stand Up For Kids

Boofhead BBQ

SMOQUE

Sweet Baby Ray

Amazing Ribs Reviews

Bub City

Barn and Company

So maybe a few raised to the few links.  I am sure there were more but they did not get around to talking to this strange old man wandering around this event.

As is often the case this trip began with a trip from The Six Corners to Free Geek Chicago then on down to one of my other favorite six cornered intersections in Chicago.  On the 56 at North constructions keeps you having to watch where to get on and off.  Then the 72 over the river a few blocks to the stop closest to Joe's Bar.

Other than what you can see from the pictures of so many of BBQ's class acts being there and which I have tried to link to it was a pleasure to meet new folks, see folks from last year and meet the Stand Up For Kids folks.  A real treat talking to Lee Ann Whippen of Chicago Q who has entertained us on TV BBQ shows and Willie Wagner who entertains us out of his Pilsen based Honky Tonk BBQ.

Music was fun as well but I do not know who those guys are.