I Love Chicago's Elevated Train Lines (aka, The "L")

There's nothing better for getting around, even to O'Hare. I've spent a long time over my years riding these rails, and I don't think I'll be stopping any time soon.

This trip was a Blue Line run from Rosemont, out west, to the city for a weekend visit.

Next to the Slinky, I think this is the most iconic spring in use in the world today.

Panoramic View of Collectivo Coffee (Lakefront), Milwaukee, WI

I couldn't help but take a long picture of this very unique location and always busy coffee hotspot, down on the lake front in Milwaukee, WI. They seem to have a unique combination of upbeat, patient personnel, old and new food and drink options, and people watching for days. Not to mention they're located in an old water facility on the lakefront... it's a great place to get some refreshment or get some work done.

Local Fungi, Madison, WI

It seems like mushrooms have been more common this year than I can remember in years past. I noticed many posts about early spring morels on social media, and I seem to keep seeing them growing wild almost anywhere I venture. It has been consistently damp in most places, so that might be a factor. I found the big guys below a couple blocks from home, growing on someone's front yard. They certainly caught my attention. I don't know enough to know which ones to eat and which ones to leave. Better not try if I'm not sure.

I have a medium-sized hand

Quote of the Day.

"Only when we allow others to be who they are, rather than who we want them to be, will we have peaceful relationships."

Quote of the Day

As Will Rogers wryly noted: “It is not what we don’t know that gets us into trouble; it is what we know that ain’t so.”

Riley House (1908), Madison, WI

If you've been playing along on this blog of late, then you know I've been out for some walks... well, the neighborhoods I've been investigating happen to have some pretty neat historic houses, one of which is featured below...

Stalzy's Deli, Madison, WI

After the hot tea, I needed some real food, and needed to be able to use a debit card. I knew this deli was across the street, and again, it seemed like high time I went in too. Having worked in a deli-bakery in my late teens, I was curious to see how this local version stood up.

They talked a big game, and I have to say, I was eager to try the sandwich I'd picked out ahead of time online, The Brooklyn Breakfast.

They did not have a beer tap at the deli I worked in... probably for the best.

Service was pretty typical for Madison, not "amazingly fast", but friendly and helpful. They took my order within about 10 minutes, I grabbed a beverage out of the self-service cooler and sat at the counter (pretty old-school, and just like the Victory had too). They had plenty to look at while I waited another maybe 10-15 minutes for my order to arrive, and a lot of it reminded me of my days working in the deli in Skokie, IL.

Fresh baked bread is a good sign in any deli, imo. There's no sound quite like a bread-slicing machine in full flight. It's unmistakable.

And when the Brooklyn Breakfast arrived, which consists of Pastrami, a Fried Egg, Brown Mustard, and in my case Muenster cheese, I was ready to devour it... did I mention I was feeding a cold too?

Not even the pickle had a chance of escape.

While I didn't manage to take a picture of it, you can bet their sweets case was very well appointed and both a chocolate covered and plain macaroon both made their way home with me. They were excellent as well, perhaps some of the best I've ever had.

I'll be back to Stalzy's soon, and would be happy to bring out-of-town guests as well.