Biking Chicago: Simply Magnificent

As my closest friends and family members know, riding a bicycle is one of my favorite activities. Learning and touring through the city of Chicago is another. An on June 25, 2012 - I was given the opportunity to combine both passions. The result was an experience I'll never forget - and hope to repeat in the very near future.
My travel mate Ramon and I began our bike tour by parking near his former home on 16th and Jefferson street in the Pilsen neighborhood. From there, we rode down Canal Street to Roosevelt, from Roosevelt east to the Museum Campus, right along the lake northbound east of Lake Shore Drive past Buckingham Fountain, along the Chicago River and then to the highlight of the day.
The Magnificent Mile.
Riding a bike northbound on Michigan Avenue from the Fort Dearborn site to the John Hancock Center is a thrill. With the wind behind our backs on a 72 degree not a cloud in the sky day, it was heaven.
Or maybe just Chicago, which in my book is pretty darn close.
From there, we rode up to Oak Street Beach to get beautiful pictures of the Chicago skyline from the north and the choppy waters of an angry Lake Michigan late in the day. All the while watching beachgoers play volleyball with the Drake Hotel as a backdrop.
As much as I love traveling, no place will ever be more thrilling than the town I can proudly say I was born in.
On our route home, we passed famous sites such as Holy Name Cathedral, Rush Street, the Greektown neighborhood, Picasso sculpture and the Art Institute of Chicago. Not to mention a water break at the fountains of Millenium Park.
If you own a bike and are anywhere close to Chicago, biking through the entire city is an experience that should not be skipped.

Georgia road trip recap

Each road trip keeps getting better and better. Here is a brief recap from the one I just completed to Central Georgia.

March 20, 2012:

Spent the day driving to Nashville. Stopped in Louisville early in the day to see the Louisville Slugger factory and museum - which included a purchase of two mini Louisville Slugger bats. Quickly walked through the lobby of the Muhammad Ali Center only to find the greatest of all-time did not want a statue constructed. Favorite part was the drive down Third Street, going through the Old Louisville neighborhood with 100-year-old homes and then the University of Louisville campus, which looked very nice. Best part of Louisville was seeing Churchill Downs - the home of the Kentucky Derby with a statue of Barbaro.

On the way from Louisville to Nashville - Alyssa and I stopped at the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky which is new. Lots of old Corvettes and information, fun time.

After getting the Kentucky sign at the Tennessee border - we made our way to Nashville. When I got to downtown, at first I thought it was boring being a Tuesday night. But around the Bridgestone Area, I was able to get a ticket to the Predators hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers which provided a pleasant surprise to a trip I assumed would include no sporting events.

Preds fans were surprisingly passionate, yelling out "YOU SUCK" every time their team scored a goal, which was puzzling as to what they meant by that.

Downtown Nashville at night was interesting - at least on Broadway - where bars and restaurants were open late with almost all of them featuring a musical group. There were also individuals outside playing violins, guitars, and such. It truly is "Music City."

Saw a guy with a Preds jersey running from police only to get caught minutes later near the Ryman Auditorium.

March 21, 2012:

After breakfast at Cracker Barrel, we checked out the Opryland Hotel and the Grand Ole Opry house that "Made Country Music famous." Went downtown to se the Country Music Hall of Fame and to get daytime pictures of Fort Nashbrough and the downtown restaurants before leaving for the Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga area.

Although we were in a rush - getting the Welcome to Alabama sign was a must - and we made a detour off I-24 to get it through the town of South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

Filled up on gas in Bridgeport, Alabama,

Made it to Lookout Mountian a little too late to get the Incline Railway tour, but did have a guided tour of Ruby Falls, a breathtaking underground waterfall below the peak of Lookout Mountain. Afterwards, we were given a chance to go to the top for a nightime view of the city of Chattanooga and the Chattanooga Valley.

Ate dinner at the Cracker Barrell in Ringgold, Georgia before making our descent through Atlanta and finally to the Budget Inn in Forsyth, Ga. that night.

March 22, 2012:

After the Budget stay, which featured a woman that talked a lot as well as many stray cats, we made our way to Macon to see the Cherry Blosson Festival and get Alyssa's first Waffle House experience.

nice day in Macon - highlighted by a gospel choir that was performing during the Festival. The cherrys were a blossoming.

Went from Warner Robins hotel to new one in Byron with a swimming pool. Met with Adriana and the group that night in WR.

March 23, 2012:

Early morning trek to Plains, Ga. to see the Jimmy Carter Nat. Historic Site, Boyhood Farm and Billy Carter Service Station. Nice Georgia experience driving through back roads to get to the town that jump starter Carter's 1976 Presidential campaign.

Rehearsal for wedding at Rain Church and rehearsal dinner at Rusty's in Perry.

March 24, 2102:

Wedding Day. My first experience as a wedding photographer for the wedding of Adriana Koch and Allen Clayton.

March 25, 2012:

Spent time with the newly weds, ate at Cheddar's in Warner Robins before making our way to Calhoun, Georgia for the night.

March 26, 2012:

Last day of trip. Took photo of Georgia state sign. Stopped at Dinosaur World in Kentucky for an exterior photo.

The pride of March

March is my favorite time of the year. I was born in March - brought home from the hospital on the day of Chicago's downtown St. Patrick's Day Parade.

In addition to being the unofficial start of spring and warmer weather - March is my favorite month because it celebrates the Irish (whether you actually have Irish blood or not) while March Madness encompasses everyone (whether you are a basketball fan or not).

This year, we have already seen two monumental basketball upsets - with second seeds Duke and Missouri being ousted in round one within an hour of each other. This proves to be an exciting NCAA Tournament.

But my favorite thing about the month is the parades. And last weekend, I had a chance to attend and cover the Michigan City St. Patrick's Day Parade - but also make a long-awaited return to the South Side Irish Parade, which has made its return to Western Avenue after a two-year hiatus.

Both parades had the perfect weather, atmosphere and people.

Everyone was well-behaved - even on Western Ave., where parade-goers knew this would be the last one if they weren't behaved.

The SSIP featured a few of my favorites - including the Marist High School band, SXU 2011 NAIA Champions, the Wee Folks of Washtenaw-Talman (who began the original parade in 1979) and the Gainer Family, a long-standing south side parade tradition, as well as an emotional tribute to the fallen Cpl. Conner Lowry - a Beverly native who died while fighting in Afghanistan.

Many attendees had donned shirts proclaiming the 2012 event as "Conner's Parade."

The bagpipes really got people in the mood for both parades.

In Michigan City, the Summer Festival float (of which I was on for the route down Franklin Square from 4th to 11th streets), was situated right behind a group of pipers in kilts.

The say everyone loves a parade - and last week that was the case on both sides of Lake Michigan.

Photo: Bagpipers march down Western Avenue during the return of the South Side Irish Parade.

IHOP gives back

The Michigan CIty IHOP was one of many nationwide that participated in "National Pancake Day," where donations for a free short stack of pancakes were used to benefit the Children's Memorial Hospital.

Random thoughts

I am very glad the New Orleans Saints will be getting punished for carrying out a "bounty" system for three years under former Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams. I knew they were a dirty team in 2009 when they beat the Colts in the Super Bowl. Williams himself "joked" about how he wanted to take Peyton Manning physically out of the game. People thought he was joking but that may have been part of the plan if things did not go the Saints' way.

I think the Illinois legislatures who reintroduced a bill to make horse slaughter legal again in Illinois should be ashamed. It's animal cruelty and anyone who supports it is either inhumane, emotionally bereft or stands to gain financially from the slaughter of horses.

When a department head - whether any illegal activity has taken place or not - loses the trust of his or her workers, it is time to move on to someone else.

Indy's time to shine

Since 1997, I have been a frequent visitor to the capital city of Indiana. As a die-hard Colts fan dating back to the days of "Captain Comeback" Jim Harbaugh, my father and I usually make at least one trip to Indianapolis a year for a Colts game.

I have also been on hand for three Big 10 Men's Basketball Tournaments and the 2011 Drum Corps International show.

But I will be making a special trip down there today for an event that has never occurred within driving distance in my lifetime - that being Super Bowl weekend.

Some of my favorite Indianapolis moments since 1997 include:

Meeting Jim Harbaugh (1997, on field)

Meeting Peyton Manning (1998, in the Hyatt hotel elevator)

Touring the RCA Dome (1998)

Being in attendance for infamous Jim Mora PLAYOFFS???!!! game against the San Francisco 49ers (2001)

Seeing punter Hunter Smith score a touchdown on a fake field goal against the New York Jets (2003)

Seeing Peyton Manning's 48th and 49th touchdown passes, then an NFL record in an incredible come-form-behind overtime win against the San Diego Chargers (2004)

Waiting inside the RCA Dome for the Colts to arrive with the Lombardi Trophy for the Super Bowl Champions rally (2007)

The final regular season game at the RCA Dome (2007)

The first ever game (preseason) played at Lucas Oil Stadium (2008)

Incredible classic comeback win over the hated New England Patriots after Bill Belichick's 4th and 2 gamble (2009)

To the NFL - I can only hope that Lucas Oil Stadium becomes a regular Super Bowl site. Indy has always done a fine job hosting sporting events like the Big 10 Tournament, Indy 500 and also a number of conventions, auto shows, band competitions and the Drum Corps world class finals.

Go Indy, it's your time to shine.

Super Bowl deja vu

Other than the night the Colts beat the Bears in a torrential downpour, I cannot remember being happier about a Super Bowl outcome than when the New York Giants stunned the undefeated New England Patriots and became Super Bowl XLII champions.

Four years later, we get another go-round, and this time it's right in our backyard.

With the Colts bowing out of playoff contention pretty much the moment the season began, all I was hoping for out of the 2011 season was a good Super Bowl match-up that would have story lines galore in Indianapolis.

Well that's exactly what we have - with Eli Manning, Peyton's little brother, attempting to defend the house his brother built against his brother's biggest rival, one Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

Can Eli outdo Peyton by winning a second Super Bowl in a stadium with a poster of Peyton on the front?

Will the Patriots avenge a four-year grudge against the very team that prevented their perfection of 2007?

And will Indianapolis, America's best mid-size town, prove that it was a good choice to host the Super Bowl.

Let's hope the answers to those questions are: Yes, no, and yes.

Go Giants!