PUP IN THE RUFF

JAKES HOT DOGS the cheapest and best dogs in uptown. started in a small storefront, and grew very quickly. JAKE is a great guy, ran a clean business, and kept you in line. He even introduced me to my first sweetheart. JAKE did well on montrose and sheridan, he owns the whole corner now, hes been there 50 years

uptown

Does anyone remember TOPPERS record shop ? It was cool, you went in pick up a 45 rpm, and played it on an old decca phonograph, if you like it, you bought it. If not, grab a different one. You would pick up that TOP 40 list put out by the radio stations. TOPPERS was a couple doors west of Bank of Chicago. bought my first transistor radio there, about 9 bucks.

EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL

WOW it was posh, long promenade with stores and gift shops, a short little walk across a bridge over a koi pond, and you entered the polynesian village, man was that night club decked out. mom would sneak me in there, and I would sit in the back by the staff area and take in the show. It sure took me someplace I"d never been before !!! big orchestra playing tropical music and a floor show, fruit cocktails to boot, I was in heaven. I had a neighbor who on sundays would take me up in the tower. He was in the civil air patrol, and we would spot air traffic with binoculars. Back then we were worried about commies, you remember we had all those Nikes bases on the lakefront,,,,,,not our feet !!!! All good things come to an end.

SANDS MOTEL

When I was 5 or 6 the lifeguard at the pool would let me swim there, It was for guests only, but in the 50s who cared. there was a restaurant on the corner, it had a african motif, with spears and warrior shjelds, little cozy booths and darkly lit....hmmmm...at a motel. anyway I thought it was pretty neat

the GREEN FAIRY

She has inspired me to remember, the old days. Does anyone remember the PINK ELEPHANT at the wilson ave rocks , there were beautiful paintings of all kinds of different things. Most were drawn an painted by fraternitys and clichs and some local boys who wanted to express themselves, it was very cool. I was trying to find some photos of them through the GREEN FAIRY, no luck so far!!! If you have some, please post them.

HONOLULU HARRYS

Harrys was a night club for everyone. Floor shows,dancing,good cuisine,and cocktails. My parents always went to Harrys,we lived 2 blocks away, it was convenient. Mom worked at the polynesian village at the Edgewater beach hotel, so she felt right at home there, but it wasnt as classy as the village. All the pro ball players came to Harrys, when they were in town. They ate and drank, and then they let loose across the street, on wilson & marine drive. There was Johnnys hot dog stand on the corner then, and next to it were batting cages, where they would proceed whacking baseballs over the fence into Harrys windows, lots of broken glass.Well that didnt last to long.The cages were shut down along with the hot dog stand,making way for Weiss hospital. Johnnys went to wilson & kenmore. Those were the days