THE REAL RED LION PUB IN THE ULTIMATES#8

Marvel created the Ultimate Universe to eventually represent the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The only drawback being that Thor was drawn like Brad Pitt and he was even referenced as Brad Piit in a Thor film. These issues all came out between 2002 and 2007, and this new Earth allowed for different uniforms and origins, little tweaks here and there. THE ULTIMATES were effectively The Avengers that we see in the films.

I'm not certain why Scottish writer Mark Millar pulled this out of his butt, but he had Captain America go after Hank Pym (Giant Man) while in his regular identity as Steve Rogers. The Red Lion was where Twilight Tales began, the weekly reading series created by Tina Jens. I was the very first reader, on 22 NOV 93, the day Bill Bixby died of cancer.

The interior is incredibly accurate. The chairs, the portraits on the walls, the stairwell leading up to where we did the readings. I call it the "real" Red Lion, because the original was torn down and turned into a sports bar.

THINGS ABOUT THE IMMEDIATE PRESENT VIA EMAIL THAT CONFUSE ME

MOVIE NIGHT POSTPONED FOR CLOWN CLUB PERFORMANCE: THAT'S BURBANK!

THE CHICAGO NAKED BIKE RIDE

I took some photos just to see what I look like for the ride, and I hope I get a suntan by June 4th. The ride is all about body positivity and bicycle awareness, so I'm being body positive by posting some practice photos.

THE OAK LAWN EASTER TORNADO: APRIL 21, 1967

Often called the Belvidere tornado, it has always seemed weird to me. That town had as many dead as in our area, and a lot of housing was destroyed, but Belvidere is up near the Wisconsin border. Don't combine the two.

Regardless, I can recall the day because there were high winds everywhere and no one was allowed to go out to play. I was eight and wasn't even allowed across the street. Just as well, as the tornado struck less than a mile from my block, killing people in traffic and inside of a restaurant serving Easter dinner.

THIS CAN'T END WELL. 87th & ABERDEEN.

NOTRE DAME, OUR MOTHER

The closest church I could imagine to hurting over when I watched the images of the fire would be that of St. Stanislaus Kostka here in Chicago, a church so revered that the Kennedy Expressway had to curve around it.

YEP. IT DONE SNOWED. ALREADY MELTING AND A HAPPY WALK WITH MY DOG

MY DAD'S OLD POLICE TRENCHCOAT AND MY FLOYDS KNOBS SLICKER

This came up when a friend and I were discussing Steve Carella, the main character in Ed McBain's 87th Precinct series. I sent him these photos and told him that is how you would see most cops when they are wearing suits out in the rain or at funerals, none of this all black crap you see on TV and in films.
Our weirdo store HOBO closed, and they had all sorts of oddities on the cheap. I bought the rain slicker as much for the low price as for it saying Floyds Knobs IN on it, which is indeed a real town. Near French Lick, which is an entirely different story.