x’s and o’s

I’ve made it no secret around here that while I love sports — especially college sports — I am certainly not an Illini fan. Not that I openly root against the Orange and Blue — OK, only when they are playing my ‘Cats — I’m just more or less indifferent towards them.

But there are a few things I admire about the program — first and foremost, the work they do in the community. I’m a sucker for athletes who actually give kids something to look up to (when they’re not stealing laptops or almost killing their teammates by driving drunk, but I digress). And surprisingly, another thing that they do that I think is fantastic is Coach Ron Zook’s Illinois Football Women’s Clinic.

Now, you are probably thinking what went through my head when I heard about this program — that it is bound to be a mind-numbing exercise in condescension. But when I happened to attend it several years ago for work, I found it to be just the opposite. Zook, his assistant coaches and the players involved took it pretty seriously. And I actually learned a few things about X’s and O’s. I could have done without the obligatory football coaches’ wives Q & A panel, but I’m sure many of the women in attendance found it pretty interesting.

They must be doing something right, because the women keep coming. This will be the fourth year they have put on the clinic, something Zook brought with him from Florida. So if you’re not busy on June 28 and you plan to root on the Illini next season, grab a friend and head over to the Irwin Indoor Facility. It could make you the hit of your tailgate next fall.

two smart

On Sunday afternoon we ventured out for lunch. Mr. lbotp decided we should go to O’Charley’s, one of the few places in town that sports a (daily) free children’s menu and is one of Peanut’s favorites. Being that it was Sunday, when O’Charley’s serves its Sunday brunch for most of the morning/afternoon, I decided to be a little daring and order her something different than her usual mac n’ cheese.

Boy, was that a mistake. Peanut’s french toast sticks were barely touched, as was the canned fruit. Cries of “cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese” could be heard throughout the restaurant. We decided not to indulge her tantrum, so she basically ate bread and some cucumber for her meal.

I must be as dumb as I look, for in Peanut’s brain, O’Charley’s = mac n’ cheese. Lesson learned; never underestimate a hungry toddler.

instant entertainment

When my nephew was in his toddler train mania stage, my sister-in-law kept a schedule of the local commuter lines in her car, so if they were out and about she could find a real live Thomas the Tank Engine for him. Of course, while we have plenty of trains that pass through these parts, I don’t know of any available schedules, other than the Amtrak variety. Unfortunately, most of those come through town at inconvenient times (too early or too late).

There are plenty of decent train-watching spots to be found, even if it might be a crap shoot that you’ll actually see one. We hit one the other day when we had dinner at Friday’s and snagged a table in its greenhouse area. Peanut was delighted to see the choo choo go by, a real live freight train, just like in her book. The Culver’s on South Neil is good for up-and-close train viewing, but often times the trains go too fast for the little ones to get a really good look.

As for taking her to the Monticello Railway Museum, I’m not sure if we’re ready for that. But this would be a good weekend for it, as it is open Memorial Day.

the season that never ends

I apologize for my unexcused abscence lately. I am still recovering from the cold that ate San Francisco.

Last time I checked, cold and flu season goes from October to April. We are well into May and I am still unwell. This is getting worse than construction in Chicago.

Pardon my whining, I have to blow my nose.

achieving acceptance

It’s taken a long time for my parent’s north Chicago suburban friends and acquaintances to understand and accept that I actually live here. I’m not a student, and never have attended the local land grant institution. I own a house here, pay taxes here, vote here, gave birth to my child here (wow we actually have a real live hospital!).

Over the years I have heard plenty of interesting commentary on my adopted hometown, my favorite coming from people who haven’t stepped foot here since they graduated 40 years ago. But perhaps the most memorable comment uttered by one of these aforementioned people was this golden nugget : “How can you live in Champaign? There’s not even a children’s boutique there!”

It doesn’t know it, but the new Bella Bambini store in Champaign has come to my rescue. This bastion of upscale baby and maternity threads will open in grand fashion on Friday, giving deprived infants, children and pregnant mothers of Champaign-Urbana the relief they’ve been seeking. And all the while, it will finally make it OK for a north suburban girl to call C-U home.

tea party

I’m a sucker for a lot of things, among them 1) tea parties and 2) Allerton Park. So how cute is this:

“Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello will feature a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on May 18. This themed event will include games, stories, activities and costumed characters plus tea party goodies and a book to take home. Register by May 14. Cost to attend is $12 a person and free to children younger than 2.”

Unfortunately for Peanut, she will sleep through most of the party, and we won’t be able to go. But as Mrs. Chicken keeps reminding me, I will preserve that nap at all costs, even if I have to miss seeing the Cheshire Cat.

UPDATE: I just looked at the web site and the party is full. Drats.

happiness is …

beautiful roses for Mother’s Day, the Market at the Square opens tomorrow, the students are leaving, the new walking path in Morrissey Park, Linens ‘n Things not closing, Alto Vineyards’ Music Under the Vines (season starts this weekend), a baby/maternity/kids garage sale, and did I mention that the students are leaving?

an update on old business

Well, looky here. In my inbox today was an announcement from Paris’ Boutique about the brand new Mommy Mixer event! You guys know the drill. And guess what, there’s even a discount. Instead of $100, this one time only, the registration fee will be just $50. Yes, that’s 50% off! And there will be a 10% discount on all Paris merchandise purchased that evening.

It doesn’t take a genius to read between the lines and deduce that the first and evidently now non-existent Mommy Mixer was a big flop. The half-off Mommy Mixer, in case you’re curious, will be on May 21. I wonder if the babysitters will be encouraged to provide their services at half-off too. Giggles.

chocolate on demand

Recently, the news that Ruben’s chocolates was closing up shop hit close to my heart. Ruben’s had an amazing selection of delicacies, and their homemade ice cream was to die for. And the sauce! Oh my heart aches for the sauce.

That leaves us with really one dedicated chocolate shop left in Champaign-Urbana, Moonstruck. Recently Moonstruck, which used to have two C-U locations but now is down to the one in Campustown, was featured in the News-Gazette’s beautifully designed At Home magazine. Moonstruck offers C-U’s best cup of hot cocoa, in my humble opinion.

Moonstruck is a national chain out of Oregon, and evidently it has fallen on hard times in our state’s big city. Last week Crain’s Chicago Business reported that Moonstruck is bowing out of the crowded Magnificent Mile chocolate scene. I hope this is not an omen for our Moonstruck. In fact, this now means that we have something that Chicago doesn’t.

open and shut

I have to admit that I found this week’s re-opening of the Wendy’s on North Prospect and the closing of Jillian’s to be quite amusing.

First off, Jillian’s. I remember the last time I was in the place, it was to watch a Cubs playoff game in 2003. Seriously. The only reason I was there was because back then we did not have local channels on our DirecTV system, and our Fox reception on the regular antenna was awful. Speaking of awful, that’s how I would describe the a) food and b) service at Jillian’s. I found this quote in the N-G article, uttered by the CEO of Jillian’s parent company, to be quite funny: “The downtown has gone through such a resurgence, and we were just enough off the path that it became a tough pull for us.” I’m sorry, but Jillian’s wasn’t attracting the same crowd that hangs out at most of the downtown bars. A better comparison would be the new Jupiter’s, and it probably isn’t that much of a coincidence that Jillian’s closed just a few months after that place opened. But that space — if not in desperate need of an update — is generally quite nice, so I doubt it will be empty for very long.

And now on to Wendy’s. I received several emails from tipsters about it finally gracing us with its presence. As memorable as my last visit to Jillian’s was, I can’t say I remember the last time I ate at a Wendy’s. I just don’t eat that much fast food (although I did have some Chik-fil-a the other day, yum.) But anyway, it’s amazing how taking something away — the chain has been absent from C-U for over 18 months — can make people want it that much more. There’s definitely some sort of psychology at work here. I venture to guess that that place will be quite busy for several weeks, until the novelty wears off again.