Comments for The Adventures of Elginista

Comment on 47 Categories: Brainstorming for Downtown Elgin by Involvement Goes Beyond the Voting Booth | The Adventures of Elginista

Involvement Goes Beyond the Voting Booth | The Adventures of Elginista — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 04:01:02 +0000

[...] for such a discussion – it’s one of the advantages of our nearly-blank slate. The 2011 session proved very interesting – especially looking at the changes in the past 18 months. The event is free and open to [...]

Comment on How Do Others See Us? by Crysta

Crysta — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 03:01:28 +0000

Really well balanced list, Pat – thanks for compiling!

On the other side of it, here’s a new parody of the original Dove ad, which reminds us to look at the negative, too: http://youtu.be/T8Jiwo3u6Vo

Comment on How Do Others See Us? by Patricia Hill

Patricia Hill — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 16:28:21 +0000

Great architecture in pre-WWII areas of town, much of it degraded by artificial siding and replacement windows; boring landscaping–lawns and yews–with lots of exceptions, lots of gardens. A lot of areas down-on-their-heels–the real estate crash hit Elgin hard, at least in my neighborhood. Good infrastructure, tree planting, downtown looking better, but not dynamic. Do not take enough advantage of our river–should be more views and access. My own neighborhood–lots of dog walking, creates friendliness. Also more children playing outside–bike-riding, playing ball, etc. than in more prosperous neighborhoods. We don’t have a park, so kids play throughout the neighborhood.
Wing Park and Lord’s Park are treasures, although I would like to see their oak savannas maintained as savannas, not as trees and lawn. The preservation of the Lord’s Park Pavillion and Old Main has been awesome and not only did they contribute to the stability of the neighborhoods they are in, but to the whole city. The Aquatic Centers are great; the Hemmens, the Rec Center, the new golf course and Wing Park Golf Course, the library and its branch, ECC and its new facilities, the Elgin Academy and its new building, and now we have the incredible and unique grounds, at least, of the Country Day School back. Elgin has had a long history of outstanding music and drama, which continues today, and now art has been added to the mix–all of these add the culture and dynamism of the city, which in my mind attracts middle and upper class people to our city.
Even though Elgin has a 100,000+ population, in many ways it is still a small town–everybody knows everyone else.
Elgin has a GREAT nature center, but I think it’s under-utilized. We have 3 state designated Illinois Nature Preserves, well-tended by their stewards–Trout Park, Bluff Spring Fen and the Sleepy Hollow Ravine–more than any other city in Illinois. I also love Burnidge Forest Preserve within our borders.
I think Randall Road with all its incredibly ugly malls is itself incredibly ugly and it makes me angry that I am forced to use some of the businesses–Target, USPO, Office Max, and Hobby Lobby–located there. I miss our old downtown with its locally owned stores and shops, like one stil sees in St. Charles and Geneva.
Oops–just noticed the 10 words or less directions, so I’ll stop now. Thanks for providing this forum, Crysta.

Comment on Good Tidings & Nature’s Peace in California by Clarence Hayward

Clarence Hayward — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:29:24 +0000

Crysta,

You reignited my longing to some day drive that coast, preferably in a 1967 Corvette convertible with the top down and the Beach Boys singing as loud as I can take it on a warm, sunny, summer afternoon. It is a bucket list desire of mine.

Comment on Hoodie Weather by Good Tidings & Nature’s Peace in California | The Adventures of Elginista

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:42:52 +0000

[...] weather was perfect – hoodie weather, in the upper 50s/low 60s. Yet warm enough to sleep with the windows open, listening to the roar of [...]

Comment on Good Tidings & Nature’s Peace in California by Patricia Hill

Patricia Hill — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:57:30 +0000

Great piece, Crysta. It’s been years since I visited that area.

Comment on A Week In Italy by Flora Geltner-Sweeney

Flora Geltner-Sweeney — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 07:34:35 +0000

Crysta, Everytime I read another of your posts I become more confidennt that I could do this to.. Wish me luck in my pursuit.

Comment on Spring Thaw in Downtown Elgin by Crysta

Crysta — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 17:21:07 +0000

This sounds fantastic! We got enchiladas and a burrito when we went, but this sounds like a home run.

Comment on Spring Thaw in Downtown Elgin by Judi B.

Judi B. — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 22:05:28 +0000

Totally agree re comments on new morning restaurant “On the Side.”
Have been twice and have savored new spin on old favorites. Good find Elginista!

Comment on Spring Thaw in Downtown Elgin by Marc Westenburg (@mwestenburg)

Marc Westenburg (@mwestenburg) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 14:04:32 +0000

if you go to mr. tequila’s, open the menu straight to the second-to-last page. do yourself a favor and order one of the parilladas for what effectively amounts to a metal altar of assorted meat, accompanied by grilled onions and peppers, served directly at your table. sides include the ubiquitous refried beans, rice, and warm tortillas. they apparently only serve parilladas multiples of two, but even that is deceiving: my wife and i were certain we could have fed three or four from the smallest offering. at $22 for the two-person “meat” option (i.e., chorizo, pork strips, steak and chicken breast), this is also probably one of the best deals on the menu, as well.