Traffic Guy

The Traffic Guy Hears...

... that the former McCormick Boulevard is getting piled higher and higher at the corner of Green Bay. The material will be recycled and reused in the new McCormick Boulevard. The interesting letters spray-painted on Bridge and Payne streets near the McCormick intersection are a little puzzling - "RCA" and "HSC." Once you get to McCormick and see the construction, it seems "RCA" must mean "road closed ahead," but what does "HSC" mean?

... that water-main work on Brummel between Dodge and Asbury is supposed to continue through July 7. The running of the water in the new mains in south Evanston will coincide with the running of the bulls in Pamplona.

... that the City just bought 350 trees to be planted in parks and parkways this spring and summer.

... that the CTA is going to replace the Church Street viaduct, at a cost of more than $3 million, using mostly federal funds. Right now the Purple Line trains have to slow down there because the structure is so deteriorated. CTA folks say the Purple Line is the sixth-busiest rail line in the CTA system, totaling 3,033,576 rides in 2005. They say they'll replace the concrete viaduct with a new steel structure and put in new abutments, retaining walls, foundations, waterproofing and drainage systems. They'll also replace the rail ties and put new landscaping and "lighting enhancements" under the bridge. Sounds like a plus for downtown. CTA and the City have also identified four other viaducts in need of replacement (this could have been done by drawing station names out of a hat), which they'll undertake as soon as they have the money.

... that AAA Chicago Motor Club seems to think that gas prices are so much higher in the Chicago area than in other parts of the state because we're using more ethanol up here - and that's more expensive than regular gas. (Kind of counter-intuitive, wouldn't you say, because we're supposed to be getting off the oil diet). But folks at the biotech conference last week said they think they have a way to use the whole corn stalk and maybe even soybeans to produce ethanol, which should make it a lot cheaper. Meanwhile, Evanston's own Senator Jeff Schoenberg, along with Rep. Jack McGuire of Joliet, led a coalition of elected officials and business, labor and education leaders from across Illinois in calling for the state to more than double its annual budget for passenger-train service. The Senators also said they lobbied Amtrak CEO David Hughes to try to get some federal assistance to add more round-trip service.

From our readers: To TG: I've been anxiously waiting for some information to be posted about what on earth happened to the ice cream store at Chicago and Dempster? Hasn't that place been there for like 50 years?! ... And just when the ice cream had gotten SO good with the change to Evanston Creamery a few years ago. Their ice cream was unsurpassed. Now there is no ice cream store within walking distance for us ... no ice cream store to stop by on the way home from the beach with the kids. ... No ice cream store to walk to on a warm summer night. What will become of this space? I have heard that it will be a pizza place. Any light you can shed on the matter would be greatly appreciated!

From TG: That ice cream store surely is a loss. Does anybody know what's going to go there? TG hears that the Marble Slab Creamery on Church and Coldstone on Sherman are gone, too. Meanwhile, to other bygone restaurants.

To TG: Can you ask if anyone out there has an old Dominion Room recipe for fruit salad dressing? Dominick's sold it for years under the DR label but I haven't seen it in quite a while. It was kind of thick and possibly had some tomato in it and, I think, pomegranate seeds. That is my hazy recollection. Maybe someone from the DR family is still around who could supply the recipe. It was one of the best I've ever had. I keep trying recipes as I see them printed in various places but haven't found one that even touches DR's. - Emily Guthrie

To TG: And now TG traffics in history. Your March 22 column brought back memories of Old Evanston. Martha Logan remembered the B&G restaurants. But, from my arrival in Evanston in 1957, the three locations that became B&G were owned by Walker Brothers. The Walker Brothers' Pancake House was new at about that time. Burger Chef, Burger King, McDonalds? Before those restaurants arrived in this area, there was Henry's. I seem to remember a Henry's on Green Bay next to Walker Brothers' Pancake House. Another Henry's was on Skokie Boulevard near Golf Road (next to a small amusement park). This was back so far in time that the Old Orchard Shopping Center was still in the talking stage. How about The Hut on Clark Street, around the corner from Hoos? How about The Huddle, the Northwestern-themed coffee shop in the Orrington Hotel? Oh yes, TG. Those were the days. - Dean Garrison

From TG: Read on.

To TG: Gleaned from Evanston City Directories and old phone books in the Evanston Room at Evanston Public Library: Walker Bros./B & G: 1945 Central, 1740 Sherman, 1522 Sherman, 505 Main. Toddle House: 935 Chicago, 1816 Sherman, 601 Howard, 966 Linden, Winnetka. Also a district office at 1718 Sherman. All four Walker Bros. addresses were B&G in the 1962 City Directory. Unflattering nicknames for B&G were "Bugs & Garbage," "Barf & Gag." After an extended social evening on the south side of Howard, some of us young ne'er-do-wells would go to the Toddle House on Howard for breakfast. We called it the "Aluminum Room." — Ashley Kennedy

From TG: TG has been overwhelmed at these memories. Read on. To TG: I have enjoyed hearing from your readers about bygone-era Evanston restaurants, because I've been trying to find someone other than my family and oldest friend who remembers Andy's Hamburgers. It was on Green Bay just south of present-day Office Depot. The burgers were on buttered, puffy buns, the milkshakes had a syrup line and milk line clearly marked on paper containers, and the French fries had a special smell, look and taste. I suggest that the Evanston Historical Society consider an exhibit exploring the history/memories of restaurants in Evanston. -Sincerely, Gregg

From TG: Ms. Goode to your rescue.

To TG: I need to correct myself - last issue I said that I thought Vera Megowen's lovely restaurant had been on Chicago Avenue. A relative has told me it was in the 1600 block of Orrington. Your column has brought out memories from many Evanston "old-timers." We may not be able to stop! Here's another old favorite from the 40s - Andy's Hamburgers, on Green Bay Road (north of Central Street). -Best, Margot Copeland Goode

To TG: Vera Megowen's was on the first floor of the building next to the Carlson Building on Orrington. The site was later Betty's of Winnetka, but when it was Vera Megowen's it had a huge Venetian glass chandelier. I've always wondered what happened to that. Also Vera Megowen was honored by a park on Hinman between South Boulevard and Keeney. The Dominion Room was on the corner of Hinman and Davis, where the Davis Street Fishmarket is now. - Cherie Weil

To TG: I believe Vera Megowen's was replaced by the John Evans Restaurant. The painted sign for John Evans is still visible high on the south wall of the apartment building adjacent to the Carlson Building. - Sarah Wylie

To TG. Vera Megowen's Tea Room was at 1641 Orrington, north of Cooley's Cupboard. Does anyone remember Robin Hood's Barn, and Chicken in the Basket, both on Chicago Avenue? — Frank Tolford

From TG: Somebody ought to do a map or a recipe book on these old restaurants.

The Traffic Guy Thinks...

... that the story about Wilmette police officers' visiting nail parlors to request that patrons use their seat belts after their manicures is pretty amusing.

... that Evanston could use a business that reserves a parking space for you if you just call ahead. The Wall Street Journal reports that MobileParking LLC operates in Baltimore, New York and Chicago and plans to go nation-wide later this year. XM Seattleite Radio Holdings gives real-time parking space availability in San Francisco, LA and Detroit. Guess where the service "ParkingCarma" is located?