Ray Hanania
Politics on the menu at these eateries
By Ray Hanania
There are just some places where political-philes love to hang out and talk politics and life.
The top place to go to enjoy a great meal and rub shoulders with politicians and political journalists is Manny’s Restaurant & Deli on Jefferson Street and Roosevelt Road in Chicago. Manny’s has the absolute best corned-beef sandwiches, latkes and matzah ball soup that is as good as my wife and mother-in-law make.
Well, I better say “almost as good” just to keep peace in this beautiful marriage I have.
Whenever I go there I see politicians, clients, candidates, other political consultants, and journalists. It has replaced the old Pump Room where my colleague and friend, Irv “Kup” Kupcinet, used to hold court.
But you don’t have to drive to Chicago to enjoy a great meal and an atmosphere of politics and journalism.
Here are my three favorite restaurants, just a sampling, when it comes to dining in a political atmosphere and also enjoying a great tasting food menu.
- JC’s Pub & Ristorante, 8650 W. Joliet Road, McCook. This restaurant has great food. It’s easy access, located on Joliet Road at the Route 171 underpass.
The owner, Joe Cistaro, is a legend in political circles, having provided fine Italian dishes to politicians and the public for more than 30 years. He’s at the door every single time I visit, welcoming everyone who comes in. You might get a good political story out of him if you chat him up a bit.
I have so many favorite food items there including the small sausage and pepperoni pizza, angel hair pasta with sausage, or a freshly made meatball sandwich.
- Buck’s Pit Stop, 6501 S. Kane, Hodgkins. I love this place. Very affordable and the wait staff so helpful and courteous.
The address may not be easy to visualize. It’s basically located east of LaGrange Road and just east of 65th (Lyons Street) and East Avenue at the corner of Lyons Street (65th Street) and Kane Street, four blocks east of East Avenue. (That address sounds like a typical government job title with too many words.)
My favorite lunch item: the pot roast sandwich with mashed potatoes or onion rings. They also have a phenomenal chicken dumpling soup.
JC Georges, 181 Countryside Plaza (59th and LaGrange Road), Countryside.
The owner, John Georges, is a welcoming sort who makes you feel comfortable as you sit down to enjoy their many great meals.
My favorite is the albacore tuna on their specialty great toasted and always fresh bread, with mashed potatoes. They also have phenomenal chicken dumpling soup.
At all these restaurants, you can’t say enough about the wait staff. They are so efficient, courteous and helpful. They share their stories if you ask about work they did in politics or what family members did in politics. But they don’t bother you and give you a lot of room to enjoy the meal with your friends.
THE POLITICAL GRAPEVINE: Now that we are past the midterm general elections, the focus turns to Chicago and local election contests.
There’s no doubt that voters in the city should reject the re-election bid of Mayor Lori Lightfoot. She has been a disaster as a mayor for failing to protect everyone. She speaks out strongly to defend African Americans and the LGBTQ community, which everyone should. But, when it came to defending white, Arab and Hispanic businesses during the post-George Floyd riots in Chicago, she did absolutely nothing. So many businesses were destroyed and while Lightfoot spoke out on the inappropriate handling of Floyd by Minnesota police causing his death, she said nothing about the businesses and property destroyed by protesters that were owned by white, Arab and Hispanic businesses. They have equal rights, too, mayor, even if you don’t feel they are worth defending.
Another issue is Lightfoot’s targeting of Arab- and Asian-owned gasoline stations. Rather than own up to her misguided policy to deflect from her failure to crackdown on rising street gang crimes, she targeted the Arab-owned gas stations so she could say she was doing something, even though none of those targeted stores had anything to do with the gun violence in Chicago.
Two alternatives to Lightfoot are Dr. Willie Wilson and 15th Ward Ald. Raymond Lopez. Can you imagine how powerful the mayor’s office would be with a coalition led by the two of them?
We can only hope.
Check out Ray Hanania’s columns and political podcasts at hanania.com.
Local News
Lions Club District 1A Helen Keller race draws big field
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The damp weather from overnight rain did not deter more than 100 people on Sunday morning from getting some exercise. The 14th annual District 1A Helen Keller 5k Fun Run/Walk proudly took place along at Harold L. Richard’s High School, 10601 Central Ave., Oak Lawn. “This is a really great…
EPCHS students collect shoes for Christmas Without Cancer Sneaker Drive
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Students in Evergreen Park Community High School’s junior physical education leadership class teamed up with the non-profit organization Christmas Without Cancer to help local families battling the devastation of cancer. The class – taught by EPCHS physical education teacher Ree McDonald – helped gather donations for Christmas Without Cancer’s second…
Swallow Cliff Chapter, NSDAR, honors JROTC cadets
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Swallow Cliff Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, participated in recent JROTC awards ceremonies held at Shepard High School in Palos Heights and Richards High School in Oak Lawn. The DAR JROTC award, consisting of a medal and certificate, was presented to Navy Cadet Emily Schrode at Richards…
Man charged with child abduction in Stickney Township
Spread the loveFrom staff reports A Chicago man was charged last week with child abduction and luring of a minor after Cook County Sheriff’s Police detectives found he attempted to lure a minor into his vehicle, said Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart. According to police, about 4:43 p.m. on Monday, April 22, officers responded…
Worth Library celebrates 60th anniversary
Spread the loveBy Kelly White The Worth Public Library has been around for decades. Resting in the heart of the village at 6917 W. 111th St., the library held an event focusing on its rich background story on April 23 with a historical photo exhibit. “It’s amazing because this library is still so important to…
Rose Zubik, Woman’s Club veteran, installed as 3rd District president
Spread the love Rose Zubik, of Palos Heights, the new president of the 3rd District General Federation of Women’s Clubs-Illinois, lights a candle during the installation ceremony held April 27 at Fox’s Restaurant in Orland Park. Heather Linehan, the outgoing president, is beside her.By Dermot Connolly A longtime member of the Palos Heights Woman’s Club…
Shots fired in Chicago Ridge Commons parking lot
Spread the loveFrom staff reports Shots were fired Wednesday night in the parking lot at Chicago Ridge Commons mall. Police said they received reports of the shooting about 9:45 p.m. No injuries were reported. Multiple witnesses told police four men were walking through the parking lot from the XSport Fitness area. They approached two vehicles…
Hair salon with a ‘flair’ marks first year in Chicago Ridge
Spread the loveBy Joe Boyle Melissa Kowalski wanted to do something meaningful to mark the first-year anniversary of her Flair With Hair Salon in Chicago Ridge. “We did not have a grand opening last year so I wanted to do something really special,” Kowalski said. “We wanted to say thank you to our clients.” Kowalski,…
Palos East fifth-grader wins Scholastic Storyworks writing contest
Spread the loveGabriel Chowaniec, a fifth-grader at Palos East Elementary School, has been named a winner of the Scholastic Storyworks Magazine writing contest. Gabriel, who is a student in Cathy Casey’s fifth-grade classroom, was named one of only five winners nationally for the December 2023/January 2024 competition. Garbriel’s submission for the nonfiction story “The Shattered Land,” “showed a strong understanding of the text along with the ability to author a well-organized…
Shepard celebrates Autism Week
Spread the loveBy Kelly White World Autism Acceptance Week is organized by the National Autistic Society in the first week of April and aims to raise awareness about the challenges autistic people face across all areas of society. Not missing out the opportunity to celebrate all-inclusion was Shepard High School, 13049 S. Ridgeland Ave., Palos…
Neighbors
Mother’s Day is truly a day to be celebrated
Spread the love. Peggy Zabicki Your correspondent in West Lawn 3633 W. 60th Place • (773) 504-9327 . Mother’s Day happens on Sunday, May 12. If this isn’t something to celebrate, I don’t know what is. Motherhood means new life, new beginnings, new possibilities. Even if you won’t be seeing your mom, you can still…
Saint Xavier men’s volleyball finishes historic season in nation’s top 4
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Saint Xavier men’s volleyball team made history by advancing to the semifinals of the NAIA Men’s Volleyball National Championship. But the Cougars fell to eventual national champion Georgetown (Kentucky), 25-21, 25-23, 22-25, 21-25, 15-10, on May 3 at Alliant Energy PowerHouse in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Although there was…
St. Francis first baseman Nate Maliska earns conference POW honors
Spread the loveBy Mike Walsh Correspondent The University of St. Francis sophomore first baseman Nate Maliska was chosen the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference’s Player of the Week in baseball for April 7. In helping the Saints to four wins that week, Maliska went 9-for-15 (.600) with eight RBI and seven runs scored. The St. Laurence…
Baseball | Marist claws way back to .500
Spread the loveBy Xavier Sanchez Correspondent This season has thus far not been what Marist had expected, but the RedHawks came into this week at .500. Marist was 2-8 after 10 games this season, with three of those first eight losses coming via shutout. But the RedHawks turned things around with a stretch of eight…
Red Stars fall to Spirit for third loss in past four matches
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent After enjoying one of their best starts in franchise history, the Chicago Red Stars have slid to the middle of the NWSL standings, with the latest setback being a 4-2 loss to Washington at SeatGeek Stadium. The Stars (3-3-1) entered this week having dropped three of their past four…
Red Stars take aim at NWSL attendance record with Wrigley game
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent The Chicago Red Stars are thinking big when it comes to their upcoming game at Wrigley Field. The team is taking aim at the NWSL record for single-game attendance when it hosts Bay FC at the historic home of the Chicago Cubs on June 8. The record is held…
IHSA announces boys volleyball postseason assignments
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Last year, the area sent a pair of boys volleyball teams to state as Lyons finished runner-up to champion Glenbard South and Brother Rice lost in the quarterfinals. This year, both could face each other in the sectional finals. The Lions picked up the second seed and the Crusaders…
Badminton players from Reavis and Lyons going to state
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Reavis singles player Dania Amjad finished third in the Bolingbrook Sectional on May 2 to qualify for the IHSA state tournament. The Lyons doubles team of Simone Brown and Mia Graziano finished fourth in the York Sectional to qualify for state. The state finals are May 10-11 at DeKalb…
Brother Rice, Sandburg sending boats to bass fishing state tourney
Spread the loveBy Jeff Vorva Correspondent Brother Rice is sending two boats to the IHSA state bass fishing tournament. The Crusaders had first- and third-place finishes at the Des Plaines River Big Basin Marina Sectional on May 2. Sandwiched in between the Brother Rice boats was a group from Sandburg in second place. The Crusaders’…