Ring Out The Old, Part Two. (Or, Losing A Tasty Part Of History.)

From The Chicago Tribune.

Tucked deep into the fine print of a Chicago Daily Tribune end-of-year business report on Dec. 31, 1898, was the announcement that Herman Berghoff's brewing company of Ft. Wayne, Ind., would pay $175,000 to rent a building at the corner of State and Adams Streets for five years. Herman Joseph Berghoff figured Chicagoans might have a taste for his heartier Dortmunder-style beer.That turned out to be a pretty good deal for Herman Berghoff Brewing and Chicago, which have been synonymous for more than a century. But nothing lasts forever, not even an icon that serves up more than ample quantities of beer, brats and wiener schnitzel to the masses. Thus, there was no hiding Wednesday's news that the Berghoff Restaurant, now in the building next door to that first location, will close in February.Some Chicagoans are taking the news hard. But maybe they can take solace in this. The restaurant's closing is not the result of some corporate takeover like the one that will obliterate the name of Berghoff's equally famous Loop neighbor, Marshall Field's, next year. Nor is it the result of some real estate transaction that will destroy the 1872 gemutlich charmer that houses Berghoff's so skyscraper condos can be erected.No, this is Herman Berghoff's 70-year-old grandson and his wife deciding to retire and turn the business and building over to their daughter's catering company. It's all in the family. While the Berghoff Restaurant will disappear as a public space and become home to private, catered parties, the famous bar will not.The bar that was the first Chicago establishment to get a liquor license when Prohibition ended in 1933, and that made history in 1969 when seven women protested its men-only policy by demanding service, will remain a part of city lore. So, Berghoff fans mourning its loss, buck up. At least Berghoff's beer will still be frosty cold and on tap at 17 W. Adams St.

Ring Out The Old. (Or, Some Bush Bashing Before The New Year.)

Surfing the web and found this.......

Auld Lang Impeachment -- Song Parody (Sing to Auld Lang Syne)
By Madeleine Begun Kane

Bush/Cheney's wrongs won't be forgot.
Each one we'll keep in mind.
These evil men must be locked up
For all their many crimes.

They spied on U.S. citizens.
They lied us into war.
And now it's time for righteous folk
To shove them out the door.

They both abused our Bill of Rights.
Took money from the poor.
Said up was down and black was white.
They are evil to the core.

They plundered our great nation's wealth.
They've terrorized our land.
Impeach George Bush and Cheney too.
It is time to take a stand.

A toast, then......

NLT: A Recap.

M. Chamberlin and I met at the mahogany bar last evening for the final meeting of the No-Love Thursday Drinking Club and Mutual Aid Society for 2005. There was so little love that we were the only two members present; everyone else was apparently either still shaking sand out of their underwear, or in their basements making sure the homemade beer was fermenting and the ammunition supplies were stocked for the upcoming New Year's revelry. Stories were shared, cocktails were downed, and fellowship abounded. The official meeting took less than fifteen seconds, followed by the customary refreshments (and let me say, Evan Williams is now officially an honorary member of NLT.) Despite the lack of sex toys, and a pleasant dearth of singing loudly and off key, it was a enjoyable experience. We adjourned at a reasonable hour for gentlemen, and vowed to continue the tradition into 2006.

Happy New Year from the NLT crew to you and yours.....

Some Thoughts For The Day.

The statistics on sanity are that one out of every four Americans is suffering from some form of mental illness. Think of your three best friends. If they're okay, then it's you.

--Rita Mae Brown




Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught.

-- Sir Winston Churchill (1874 - 1965)

A Thought For The Day. (For All Of My Auld Aquaintances.)

Working on my list of new years resolutions, and trying to get caught up this week....may post more, may not. Keep checking back. In the meantime, if I don't get back before the weekend, Happy 2006. May it be a better year than the last one.....

What are your New Year's Resolutions for the year ahead? Post them in the comments, if you dare.....


AULD LANG SYNE
Words adapated from a traditional song by Rabbie Burns (1759-96)

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne?

CHORUS:For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup of kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint-stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o kindness yet,
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd monie a weary fit,
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl'd in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.


And there's a hand my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o thine,
And we'll tak a right guid-willie waught,
For auld lang syne

Definitions: auld lang syne - times gone by
be - pay for
braes - hills
braid - broad
burn - stream
dine - dinner/ evening time
fiere - friend
fit - foot
gowans - daisies
guid-willie waught - goodwill drink
monie - many
morning sun - noon
paidl't - paddled
pint-stowp - pint tankard
pou'd - pulled
twa - two