Chicago

Rink Rats is in Chicago this week; humid and many tourists. One of America’s great cities.

PLACES – Great places to eat and drink in Chicago: PJ Clarke’s in the Gold Coast area, wonderful old time bar; The Kerryman in the River North area, outstanding Irish Pub; Portillos also in the River North area, best hot dogs and brats in town; finally Gene & Georgetti’s, old school steak house (Franklin Street), Beth Elmore and Sinatra were regulars.

OLD SCHOOL – Wrigley Field, home of the Cubs, is the best old school ball park in the country, no loud music, advertising, obnoxious PA announcers. A wonderful experience for the young and old baseball fan. Thank you Phil, usher in Section 239, a great guy.

The Hotel Felix (111 W. Huron Street) is a boutique hotel with old school charm. Sit in the lounge bar and chat with all your fellow hotel guests. Like to shop (Rink Rats does not) head to Michigan Avenue: The Devil Wears Prada is one of the many upscale stores to add your dollars to the Chicago economy. Also Rush Street has excellent shopping along with of course, bars and restaurants.

LOU PINIELLA RETIRED AFTER YESTERDAY’S GAME – Lou Piniella’s long and colorful career has spanned 48 years, from an aggressive outfielder with a sharp batting eye to a successful manager whose SportsCenter highlight base-throwing tantrums sometimes overshadowed his baseball expertise. The leader of the Chicago Cubs decided to step down after Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Braves … to spend more time with his ailing mother. Piniella finished with an overall record of 1,835 – 1,713, and one World Series title.

FARMER JOHN IS PSYCHED – Vin Scully to return for 62nd season with Dodgers. The 82 year old Hall of Fame broadcaster said Sunday he’ll return to the broadcast booth to call Los Angeles Dodgers games for his 62nd season in 2011. Vinnie is the longest tenured broadcaster in sports history will continue calling all Dodger home games and road games against NL West and AL West opponents. He calls all nine innings of the team’s television broadcasts, while the first three innings of his games are simulcast on the radio. Thank you Mr. Scully.

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK – Birthday wishes and thoughts this week for Kobe Bryant (32), Sean Connery (80), David Gregory (40), John McCain (74), Rachael Ray (42), Luke Russert (25), Shania Twain (45).

OBAMA HAS HAD FEWER LEISURE DAYS THAN BUSH, per CBS News' Mark Knoller: “This is Mr. Obama's 9th vacation since taking office. … He has spent all or part of 38 days on 'vacation' away from the White House. He has also made 14 visits to Camp David spanning all or part of 32 days. It brings his total time away to all or part of 70 days. It's less than the 'vacation' time taken during the same period by his immediate predecessor. (Former President George W. Bush gets the quotation marks, too.) As of this point in his 1st term, Mr. Bush had made 14 visits to his Texas ranch spanning all or part of 102 days. He also made 40 visits to Camp David spanning all or part of 123 days. His 'vacation' total at this point in his presidency was all or part of 225 days away.”

US News rankings: CalTech #7, USC #23, UCLA #25, U of Michigan #29, UCSD #35, UCSB #39, UC Irvine #41, Michigan State #79, U of Arizona #129, and La Verne #136.

Liberal arts colleges: Pomona College #6, Claremont Mckenna #11, Harvey Mudd #18, Scripps #23, Occidental #36, Pitzer #46, St. Lawrence #55, and Transylvania University #88.

UNREALITY - Danielle Staub, best known for her sex tape, plastic surgery revelation and publicity stunt lesbian relationship has been fired from 'The Real Housewives of New Jersey.'

Next week: Summer road trip continues to the great state of Michigan.

Until next Monday, Adios.

Chicago, Il.
August 23, 2010