If nobody hires ex-cons, then we shouldn’t be shocked when they return to lives of crime. So, for the good of Chicago, go pick up a couple of hotdogs at Felony Franks. James Andrews, who owns the West Side dog joint, makes it a point to hire people who have done time, seeing it as a service to a community that’s been struggling with crime for quite a while. There has been some pushback from the community, but Andrews stands by his mission.
The menu is pretty straightforward: hotdogs, sausages, steak sandwiches and French fries – the real deal, from raw potatoes. Orders are take from behind bulletproof glass (common in the neighborhood, unfortunately), but in the spirit of fun, customers are asked, “Are you ready to plead your case?” Also, an adaptation f the Miranda warning hangs on the wall, proclaiming your “right to remain hungry” – as if you’d want to!
If you’re jonesing for a “Misdemeanor Wiener” but don’t live in Chicago, there are restaurants around the country that help the recently released start fresh.
West Coast
Delancey Street: this San Francisco eatery is run by a foundation that helps ex-cons, drug addicts and the homeless get back on their feet.
East Coast Mates Inn: the Trenton, New Jersey joint is on the state corrections department’s campus.
Andrews must be doing something right. Since opening, sales have reached $30,000 a month, and more than a thousand former inmates have applied for jobs.
Conan O’Brien recently made a crack about the city of Newark, New Jersey, on The Tonight Show. But it seems the city’s Mayor, Cory Booker, didn’t find it very funny.
“The Mayor of Newark, NJ, wants to set up a citywide program to improve residents’ health. The health care program would consist of a bus ticket out of Newark,” O’Brien said. Ouch.
The Mayor handled it well though, responding with a YouTube video challenging Conan’s perceptions of the city. “You fail to understand our city is one of the fastest growing cities in the Northeast,” he said. He went on to detail the many improvement made to the city, one that he called “a city on the rise.” He then offered a glimpse of resident reactions to Conan’s crack, including the ego-crushing query of one woman: “Who’s Conan O’Brien?”
With a slight grin, Mayor Booker told Conan he was officially on the Newark Airport’s “no fly list” and closed with “Try JFK, buddy.”
Of course, Conan had to fire back.
He said the ban was no problem; he could easily get to Newark through the sewer system, because, “Everyone knows, all sewer pipes lead to Newark.” He invited the Mayor to come on his show to settle things like “men of honor”, adding that the studio was just five minutes from the Burbank Internatonal Airport. . . which the Mayor was now, of course, banned from.
In response to Conan’s egging, Booker posted another video. This time, he’s calling for reinforcements, saying that he has 566 municipalites backing him because “we in New Jersey roll hard, we roll strong, and we roll together.” And Booker didn’t stop there. He says he’s reached out Newark’s Sister Cities all over the world, which means Conan’s not just banned from the entire state of New Jersey, but also from cities in places like Ghana and even Conan’s own ancestral home of Ireland. “CoCo can’t go go,” the Mayor taunts.
He does offer to come on The Tonight Show show to settle the dispute, but only if Conan will first pay a visit to Newark.
As I sipped a glass of red wine at Harpersfield Winery in Geneva, Ohio on the last Saturday in August while listening to the Hollywood Slim Band, one of my favorite Ohio-based groups, I thought what a perfect finale evening to the last month of summer. The setting sun that cast its warm glow over the scene–plus the plate of cheese, meats and olives served up with warm bread cinched the thought.
When music is mixed with wine and an outdoor winery patio, the combination is unbeatable, particularly when the weather is favorable. September and October offer similar opportunities. Even as temperatures cool in the evening, there are still days left to enjoy a fine glass of wine where grapes hang in luscious bunches nearby and music plays.
Here are 9 more suggestions for wineries with patios or porches that offer live music entertainment. Several have been in business for years, and others are newcomers. At some, when the temperatures cool, music moves indoors.
Arrington Vineyards, Arrington, Tennessee. With its “Music in the Vines” this winery serves up music regulars on various weekend days through October. From the covered deck you can savor wine while taking in a sunset over the Tennessee hills.
Easley Winery, Indianapolis, Indiana. Kids are welcome at Groovin’ in the Garden, this winery’s weekend music happenings. Through September you can listen to music, drink wine and enjoy food while your kids are indulged with grape juice
Greenvale Vineyards, Portsmouth, Rhode Island. At this winery situated on an historic farm, jazz music is paired with wine tasting. For $15, visitors enjoy the music while sampling 6 different award-winning wines. At the end of the tasting, you keep the glass. Outdoor enjoyment comes in the form of daily wine tours.
La Buena Vida Vineyards, Grapevine, Texas. Spanish tiles and flowing fountains are part of the allure that capture a sense of place. There’s live music every Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon.
Mount Pleasant Winery, Augusta Missouri. Established 1859 in the first Appelation Wine District in the United States, this winery offers live music and more. There are murder mystery performances and specialty dinners throughout the year. Click here for music schedule.
Oak Glenn Winery, Hermann, Missouri. The winery sits on land once owned by George Husmann who was instrumental in the early beginning of American wine production.The music schedule is through October.
Sharrott Winery, Winslow, New Jersey. This family-owned winery that focuses on sustainable practices is one of the newest of winery offerings. Listen to live music through September from the lawn and the patio. Click here for the live music series.
Simon Creek Vineyard, Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. With cheese and wine making a fine pair, Wisconsin makes sense as a place to head. At this winery, live music is added to the mix each Sunday through September 20. There are free tastings and tours daily.
Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, Warwick, New York. Located in the gorgeous scenery of Hudson Valley, this winery offers live music each weekend afternoon. Five times a year the winery also hosts music festival weekends.
Here’s a short clip of the Hollywood Slim Band at Harpersfield Winery and Vineyard this past July thanks to Koskim 23 who happened upon the band on a do-it-yourself winery tour of northern Ohio.
Delays in Newark are keeping an entire airline on the ground. We’ve seen how a single flight’s delay can have impacts at airlines across the country, but preventing an entire airline from going wheels up … that’s huge.
JetAmerica has had to defer its launch for a month, citing problems getting takeoff slots at Newark Liberty International Airport. This isn’t the first time an airline’s blamed an airport, but it must resonate with the many passengers who have spent too much time at Liberty gates thanks to delays.
Of course, this holdup is costing JetAmerica, the wannabe low-cost carrier, an absolute fortune. So far, it’s had to refund half a million dollars to more than 6,400 passengers, ostensibly because the folks in Newark temporarily clipped its wings.
If JetAmerica ever does really get off the ground, it will offer 34 flights a day, servicing such desirable destinations as Toledo, Lansing and South Bend.
We rely on these trains every day, but we aren’t keeping them in top shape. More than a third of the trains in these seven locations have equipment near or past their useful lives. The money needed to remedy problems, however, isn’t coming in. Eight percent of the equipment on these lines is in “poor” condition, with another 27 percent “marginal.”
William Millar, president of the American Public Transportation Association, makes the astute observation: “We don’t need another report – we need greater funding.”