LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION
Chicago, Chicago, that toddlin' town
. Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around! I’m Band-Aid
Palowski, I’m the retired closing pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and I want to
take you to my favorite places in Chi-Town. Now the Windy City is known for
many things, the Blues, crooked politicians, and Chicago style hot dogs, but I
want to take you on a personal walk down memory lane to the places where
significant things happened betweenLibby and I.
#1 Gutheries Bar
This is a local tavern in Wrigleyville where Libby
dropped the bomb on me that I had a son, a son who desperately needed me.
Corner bars are a dime a dozen in Chicago, but I smile every time I pass this
place going to the ballpark now, because it’s not often in life you can
identify the exact spot where an unexpected journey started in your life, but
this little hole in the wall is where the most exciting and heartbreaking
journey of my life began.
#2 737 Restaurant
#3 Lincoln Park
On a dirt baseball field, with no lights, no fans and
just a grumpy umpire for back-up I fell in love with a little boy. He looked
like me, but at six years old he had the wisdom of the man I should have
been. Cass had a crooked smile and a
wicked pitching arm and dimples that matched mine. He taught me what was important in life, with
every word he spoke and every game we played. He was my son and I fell utterly
and completely in love with him.
#4 Italian Village
This a Chicago
landmark is where my family has been dinning upstairs alongside the miniature
Ferris wheel for as long as I can remember. It’s where my parents met Cass and
Libby for the first time, it’s where I faced that fact that all those years ago
in college, I hadn’t given Libby or my parents enough credit. I thought they
wouldn’t think that she was good enough for me, but I realized over a plate of
linguine that I was terrified that I couldn’t be enough for her and the game.
#5 Art Institute of Chicago
#7 Wrigley Field
After everything
we’d been through, this is where I started to fear that I’d lost her forever. I stood on a mound, at the top of my career,
and realized that every single statistic in every single record book, no longer
meant a thing because I didn’t have her waiting in the stands for me. That I
had gained the world and lost the only thing that truly mattered.
#8 Dunkin Donuts Parking lot
This is where I
made the best catch in my life. One was named Duncan and the other one we call
Donut. But you’ll have to read BINDING ARBITRATION to find out what exactly
happened during a blizzard in October in Chicago. Maybe you should all …
Thanks for
stopping by. Next time you’re in Chi-Town look one of my haunts up, they are
all real places you can visit and maybe you can make some memories of your own.
Aidan “Band-Aid”
Palowski
Thanks for joing me for the Girly Books Blog Hop and special thanks to Libby Mercer for setting it up. Make sure you stop by all the stops listed below for more chances to win the great prize package on Libby's rafflecopter! http://libby-mercer.blogspot.com/2013/01/enter-to-win-girly-books-blog-hop-grand.html
Please leave a comment about your favorite location anywhere in the world and the memory that makes it special and I'll draw one name to win an eBook copy of BINDING ARBITRATION and a $10 Starbucks giftcard. Please make sure you leave an email address so I can reach you.
HAPPY READING & REVIEWING!
Elizabeth Marx
Elizabeth Marx
Great post! Never been to Chicago...but I'll get there someday! :) A favorite place for me....hard to say. There are so many! I think one of the places I feel most at peace is at the ocean..any ocean. Just walking in the sand, hand intertwined with hubby's, the waves rolling over our feet, kids running around, playing happily. Pure heaven!
ReplyDeletehaefner919 at yahoo dot com
I love the ocean too, good choice. Thanks for visiting Stephanie, I'll enter your name into the drawing.
DeleteHappy reading and reviewing,
Elizabeth Marx
Oh, I LOVE Chicago. Was just there for the first time over Christmas and I now I REALLY want to go back. And I have your book on my Kindle waiting. Now I'm even more excited to read it :) Not entering giveaway since I'm also a participant in the hop.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by Meredith!Everyone loves Chicago, especially me! Did you just sign with a publisher?
DeleteCongrats,
E
My favorite location on Earth probably doesn't exist anymore in the literal, physical world. It is a God-awful, scratchy, woven, rust- and mustard-colored recliner in my sister-in-law's basement. The handle to make it recline was broken, but I dug my ankles in and hoisted it back so I could get comfortable. That chair survived the '70s. Maybe even the 60s. I'm sure it's in a landfill somewhere beginning it's 1,000 year process of decomposing. It was in that recliner that I lost my virginity as a reader, and became a writer. You see, on a break from college, at my then-boyfriend's, now-husband's sister's house (twice removed), I read Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. And it changed my life. I couldn't believe how absolutely alive the characters were; they breathed for me; posed questions for me; and yet, they were stuffed animals. I laughed; ignored everyone; chewed off all my fingernails as I read, as I touched the words on the page. I marveled at the mysteries of writing. How did he [the writer] DO that? I thought: I want to do that. I want to write. I want to be a writer. I was completely swept away and into the Hundred Acre Wood - and I never left. I'm still there now. With fictional characters and magical settings. I cried at the end when Christopher Robin had to say good-bye. I still cry now, thinking about it. Endings are usually sad and beginnings are usually scary. Those were the moments and that was the spot.
ReplyDeleteForgot to leave an email address for my entry in the "favorite location" post (see above comment). It's julievalerie1@gmail.com.
ReplyDeleteOn another note (unrelated to the contest you are hosting in exchange for a favorite location comment), I really enjoyed your post! As I travel, I'm sharing this quote about location I found on Goodreads:
“It was [Robert Louis] Stevenson, I think, who most notably that there are some places that simply demand a story should be told of them. ...After all, perhaps Stevenson had only half of the matter. It is true there are places which stir the mind to think that a story must be told about them. But there are also, I believe, places which have their story stored already, and want to tell this to us, through whatever powers they can; through our legends and lore, through our rumors, and our rites. By its whispering fields and its murmuring waters, by the wailing of its winds and the groaning of its stones, by what it chants in darkness and the songs it sings in light, each place must reach out to us, to tell us, tell us what it holds. ("The Axholme Toll")”
― Mark Valentine, The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 21
I love this...
DeleteE
My favorite location on Earth probably doesn't exist anymore in the literal, physical world. It is a God-awful, scratchy, woven, rust- and mustard-colored recliner in my sister-in-law's basement. The handle to make it recline was broken, but I dug my ankles in and hoisted it back so I could get comfortable. That chair survived the '70s. Maybe even the ‘60s. I'm sure it's in a landfill somewhere beginning it's 1,000 year process of decomposing. It was in that recliner that I lost my virginity as a reader, and became a writer. You see, on a break from college, at my then-boyfriend's, now-husband's sister's house (twice removed), I read Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne. And it changed my life. I couldn't believe how absolutely alive the characters were; they breathed for me; posed questions for me; and yet, they were stuffed animals. I laughed; ignored everyone; chewed off all my fingernails as I read, as I touched the words on the page. I marveled at the mysteries of writing. How did he [the writer] DO that? I thought: I want to do that. I want to write. I want to be a writer. I was completely swept away and into the Hundred Acre Wood - and I never left. I'm still there now. With fictional characters and magical settings. I cried at the end when Christopher Robin had to say good-bye. I still cry now, thinking about it. Endings are usually sad and beginnings are usually scary. Those were the moments and that was the spot.
ReplyDeletejulievalerie1@gmail.com - "Chick Lit Chit Chat" blog is at julievalerie.com
Julie,
DeleteThanks for stopping by. I think we must locate this chair, imagine the stories it could tell us! But it is sad to say good bye to the friends we make between the pages, it's even harder when they are the people that you've created. But in the words of the immortal Dr. Seuss, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."
Happy writing,
E
Oh, my. I absolutely love the quote by Dr. Suess. Pauline Wiles (writer from England) just shared this wikipedia article with me regarding the location that inspired the Hundred Acre Wood!!
Deletehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnie_the_pooh#Ashdown_Forest:_the_setting_for_the_stories
If you don't mind, I'd like to cut and past that comment I left and send it to her in a private email. I will mention that I posted it on your blog so she can come here and have a look around. Thanks!
Oopps! Nevermind. I can't share the comment with her because it appears blacked out when I cut and paste. I will be telling her about your blog though so maybe she'll hop over and have a look. Take care!
DeleteI'm pretty much a homebody, but if you FORCED me to travel, I'd go to the Inn At Langley, on Whidbey Island in Washington State. It defines luxury and peace, and I can get there in a little over an hour.
ReplyDelete;)
livrancourt (at)yahoo(dot)com
Liv,
DeleteI'm going to have to look this place up, sounds interesting, Whidbey Island, sounds like the place where a mystery takes place. See where the mind of a writer goes. Thanks for stopping by.
Happy reading,
E
i adored visiting london england. i have been there twice already and love the shopping and all the history the city provides!
ReplyDeleteparisfan_ca@yahoo.com
Laurie,
DeleteI want to go to England, it's on my list. I want to visit the British Museum and see the Egyptian artifacts and then of couse I need to go to Cardiff so I can see the seat of power for the House of Imperials in Ascent of Blood. I wonder how I'll feel about it once I've seen it for myself. Thanks for stopping by.
Happy reading and reviewing,
Elizabeth Marx
I was in Chicago all too briefly, and would love to come back! My favorite place varies, but San Francisco is good...lots of book and record stores (plus amazing restaurants), and the different neighborhoods are all very distinctive!
ReplyDeletevitajex(at)aol(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by. I do love the painted ladies of San Fran!
DeleteE
Love Chicago. I do have Binding Arbitration in my Kindle. Can't wait to crack it open! (Or whatever it is you do with a Kindle book. I'm new at this!) Such a fun post!
ReplyDeleteDid you get your Kindle for Christmas? I'd guess you'd have to say, charge it up rather than crack it open! HA!
DeleteHappy reading and reviewing,
E
I'm also quite the homebody and don't travel, but I do remember visiting Panama City Beach, Florida as a kid with my mom and grandparents and was blown away. It was so bright, clean and warm and I could have spent every day on the beach. I hope to get back there one day :)
ReplyDeletejaidahsmommy(at)comcast(dot)net
I lived in Florida for three years so I've been to Panama City a couple of times. I hope you get to visit again someday! Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteE
What a fun, FUN way to blog about Chicago! I love how Band-Aid took us on a virtual tour to all the places that are important to him! I really felt like I was along for the journey! Can't wait to read your book, Elizabeth. :-)
ReplyDeleteAnd I can't come on a Chicago-themed post without giving a shout-out to my all-time favorite restaurant, Pizzeria Uno AKA Uno Chicago Bar & Grill. Tragically there are no franchises in San Francisco, but there's one a couple of hours away and I can usually manage to charm a sibling to drive me out there once a year on my birthday. Hehe.
Fabulous post, and thanks so much for participating in the hop!
Well when you come to Chicago Libby I'll take you to an even better Pizza place, although I still do love Uno's, actually Uno's is in BA! But there's a place in Lincoln Park called Chicago Oven Grinders and your pizza comes out in the pan upside down, it's cheese Nirvana! You're going to love it, plus we get to write on the walls there!
DeleteThanks for setting up the tour and I'll stop by soon!
E
WOW...1) I love baseball and 2) of all the cities we've gone to as a family (for baseball tournies) Chicago has to be my favorite!t 3) The combo in a book is fabulous! I just put both on my to read list on Goodreads!
ReplyDeleteSo I have to ask Cubs or Sox? HA!
DeleteE
Cubs!
Delete:) Go Northsiders!
DeleteE
I haven't been enough places by far! So far it would be either New York or San Fransisco. New York from my trips with my husband, especially the surprise birthday gift of a trip to NYC at Christmas to see the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular (and the tree I bug him about seeing every year!). It was an amazing trip. San Fransisco I visited when I was young and just fell in love.
ReplyDeletedreammie_angel at yahoo dot com
I have got to get to New York, I've been to most of the US and alot of Europe, but I haven't done NY, I think because Chicago's so great and clean that I don't feel like I'm missing anything! Thanks for stopping by, happy reading and reviewing!
DeleteE
Walt Disney World is MY FAVE place ever! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDelete<3 Tobi
tobihelton at gmail dot com
Walt Disney World is awesome, probably going in March when daughter plays softball in Floriday for spring break! Thanks for visiting,
DeleteE
What a fun POV for your blog hop post! Very entertaining. I loved visiting the UK and would love to go back someday. Everything was fanTAStic or massive! In Scotland, our tour guide kept saying, "Are ye daft?" Did she know how to call em or what? Happy hopping!
ReplyDeleteGale,
DeleteThanks for stopping by. Scotland is on my list! Happy hopping!
E
I want to visit Chicago one day. Your post makes me want to go even more. I can't think of my favorite place at the moment.
ReplyDeletestrive4bst(At) yahoo(Dot) com
I hope you get to come someday, my town is your town. You'll love it here! Happy reading,
DeleteE
Great post! I have been to Chicago many times and have enjoyed it. I recognize some of the pictures. One of my favorite places is a hotel called The Willows. It was the most comfortable place I have ever stayed. Amazing. Of course we also ate at the Golden Nugget. Definitely an experience. I haven't read any of this story, but it does sound wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
Oh my, I haven't heard someone speak of the Golden Nugget in a long time. Ha! Your memory brought me a memory! I've never heard of The Willows. Where is it located? Thanks for stopping by,
DeleteE
I loved this post. First, because of the way you transported me to Chicago and second, because Finding Lucas is also set there. :) Travelling with your character through this post was awesome!
ReplyDeleteSamantha,
DeleteThanks for stopping by and visiting with Aidan!
Happy writing,
E
I really loved being in your character's POV. Thanks, Elizabeth. It's so true that places are meaningful to us once we have memories there that take us back.
ReplyDeleteGwen,
DeleteWords written, memories made! Thanks for stopping by.
Happy writing,
E
Gloucester Massachusetts we went there one year and went out on the water and went whale watching it was beautiful
ReplyDeletekaholgate at ymail dot com
Kim,
DeleteI went whale watching in Cabo with a boat full of kids, (I'm talking 12 and under) after about two hours and no whales I was worried about a melt down that would result in a mutiny. Luckily we ran into some whales, and the pod had a baby! It was worth the wait and no one was thrown overboard!
Happy reading and reviewing,
E
Rome, sidewalk cafe sipping a cappuccino and people watching. I felt so peaceful there even with the horrendous traffic.
ReplyDeleteNancy,
DeleteThe traffic in Rome is horrendous! Did you know three people a day die in moped accidents! They have the craziest drivers, I've ever seen! Thanks for stopping by!
E
Of places I have been I would have to say Vermont. Out in the country it is beautiful and peaceful and it feels like home. Most of my family is from there.
ReplyDeleteshan4178 at comcast dot net
I haven't been to Vermont. My daughter is considering several colleges on the east coast so hopefully I'll get to visit the area. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteE
Like Band-Aid Palowski, Chicago will always be my kind of town. I grew up in the suburbs but we would always take trips to the big city. I think my most memorable time there is when I took my daughter to Navy Pier for New Year's Eve to watch the fireworks. They were so beautiful! My daughter also got her first Build a Bear there. She is 19 now and still owns it. Thanks for bringing back all the wonderful memories I have of this town. I now live in Southern Indiana and miss Chicago horribly. I hope to go for a weekend soon.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes,
Marlena
charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks for stopping by Marlena. I love Navy Pier, I think it's the most visited spot in Chicago!
DeleteHappy reading & reviewing,
E
Wasn't the Girly Book Blog Hop fun? I have some news to share with you...
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! I just nominated your blog for the Liebster Award!
To learn more, go to: the "Chick Lit Chit Chat" blog at julievalerie.com for complete details.
If you choose to claim your Liebster Award by posting your responses on your blog, please link back to my blog in your post and tweet or email me your link so I can read your answers.
Have fun, and keep up the great blogging!
Julie Valerie
TWITTER: @JBValerie
EMAIL: julievalerie1@gmail.com
BLOG: Chick Lit Chit Chat at julievalerie.com