Chicago Bears – Training Camp, Bourbonnais, Illinois
Unfortunately, the highlight of my season of NFL viewing came at training camp in Bourbonnais, Illinois. 2009 was a rough year to be a Bears fan, but the memory of going to the Bears camp with my son and daughter made it less painful. At least we could say, ‘hey, I got his autograph’ while watching the sad games.

This year we arrived at 4:30 pm on a Saturday, just in time to get in line for a 7:00 pm practice. Apparently there were close to 9,000 people there that night. Since we arrived early we were lucky enough to get a seat in the stands and had a good view of the practice.

We ate pizza in the stands, watched practice under the lights, and got a few autographs (Roberto Garza, Tommy Harris). Staley, the Bear’s mascot, kept the kids amused. There were local and national press personalities wandering around and Staley did some ridiculous things to them. He was especially goofy with Jay Glazer of Fox Sports. Luckily, Jay was a good sport about it all. He even stopped to talk to my kids and chat with other fans for a while. The atmosphere was friendly, fun and very family-focused.

Since we live in Wisconsin, behind the “Cheese Curtain”, it was nice to mingle with fellow Bears fans. We met fans from Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Kansas City. We met Lance Briggs’ mom at the hotel where we stayed. She was friendly to my kids, first asking them lots of questions about who they liked on the Bears, then springing it on them that she was Lance’s mom. You could tell she was really proud of her son and, as a parent, that was pretty cool to see.

This year, there were some great new family ideas implemented by the Bears. For the day-time practice, they roped off an area for “kids only” to get autographs. There were also many free activities such as bounce houses, train rides, and coloring contests. Going on the weekend is not nearly as nice as a weekday trip- more crowds, more noise, more waiting- but it’s all we could do this year and these family-friendly additions made it more ‘bear’-able.

Although there were many things I remember about that weekend, I would say I was most impressed by the parade that the people of Bourbannais held for the return of “Charlie Company”. While we were driving around town we noticed hundreds of families lining the street with “Welcome Home” signs. Soldiers were coming back from Iraq or Afghanistan. The people of Bourbannais provided an excellent homecoming for their soldiers- clearly much more important than any training camp.

After the season, my friend and I talked about skipping the 2010 camp. After thinking about it more, if all continues to go well from me, I will go back. It is fun for my kids, the people of Bourbannais are nice (and appreciate the business camp brings), and my kids are still young enough to want to hang out with me. Getting to games may be too expensive for the family, but training camp is an affordable way to see your favorite team up close.

Hidden Gems in New Jersey
When I told friends and co-workers that I was going on a trip to New Jersey for my wife’s cousin’s wedding, they were quick to joke about the state with a questionable reputation. I am here to say that I actually look forward to going to New Jersey. It could be my wife’s side of the family, who are truly wonderful people, or it could be that New Jersey actually has some very cool things going for it. I think it is both. I will share some of the things we did, but will not share my wife’s family.

Eppes Essen Deli/Restaurant, Livingston, NJ
http://www.eppesessen.com/index.html
This was our first stop and a fine introduction to the world of delicious food we always enjoy in Jersey. I’d had sandwiches catered from here before, but I’d never been to the restaurant itself. While some restaurants bring popcorn or a bread basket before your meal, Eppes Essen brings a relish tray, complete with homemade pickles, peppers and onions and a bowl of zesty coleslaw.
How awesome is that?

My wife and I split a #12 Triple, which had corned beef, pastrami, turkey, Swiss cheese, coleslaw and Russian dressing. It was $16.95 and worth every penny!!! It was 4.5 to 5 inches thick and was so incredibly good that I could have eaten the whole thing. I’m a food guy and I now have a picture of that sandwich on my cell phone. It was that good.

J.R Cigar – Whippany, NJ
One day while out for a drive, we drove past a massive store called J.R Cigar. We out-of-town guys all wondered if a store that large could actually be a cigar shop. We learned later that it is a favorite spot of our Jersey uncles and cousins and with good reason.

We, of course, found the first free moment to sneak away from wedding prep to investigate. It was better than we could have imagined. In one building there was a HUGE cigar warehouse, a high-end liquor department, a smoking bar and restaurant, and a gift shop for men’s items (such as car accessories, men’s and women’s fragrances, lighters & clothing). We enjoyed a smoke and a scotch in the attractive bar. This place was so amazing we managed to sneak back a second time in our short trip.

Statue of Liberty
The wedding was on a Sunday. After a great wedding and party, we needed another day to recover and do a family activity. We decided on a Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Cruise through www.statuecruises.com.

I highly recommend taking this tour from the New Jersey side, because there were less people on the tour and the lines were much smaller to get back on the boat between stops than for those who took the New York based tour. Both landmarks offered headphone guided tours that added to the experience, while separating us from one another a bit. The same information was written on all the displays and we would be more likely to discuss things if we weren’t wearing them. It was a fantastic experience and my kids were genuinely moved and impressed. My wife had never done the tour, even growing up traveling to NJ frequently, and we felt as much reverence for the sites as they did. I would say this is a must do for families.

SPECIAL NOTES:
• Not everyone gets to go inside the Statue, you have to purchase and sign up for special tickets/pass for access to the inside. We saw many people get in line only to be turned away because they did not have the pass. These tickets must be purchased in advanced. In addition, you need a different (more special) pass to get up in to the crown.
• There is a great deal of security- waiting in lines, going through a blower machine- it might be a good idea to talk to your kids to prepare them for this.
• We had a limited budget for the gift shop and each child got something pretty cool for a pretty decent price. The coolest thing we got was a Statue of Liberty 3-D puzzle, which my son absolutely loves.

Dating My Wife in Steven's Point, Wi

While going on an overnight date with my own wife was complicated to arrange, it was well worth the effort. Recently, when she went to Stevens Point, Wisconsin for a conference, my in-laws agreed to take the kids for one night. I took two days off of work and joined her.

After dropping the children off at school, I made the two and a half hour drive to meet her for lunch. From the beginning, it was amazing how simple things were without kids. We ordered, ate, and talked, all without interruption. Wow!

My wife went back to her conference and I went to Point Brewery for a tour. Because I was the only person on the tour, it was a little dull. I highly recommend bringing your own crowd if you go on a weekday. The brewery looked small, but once inside it was impressive. Point makes a great variety of Point beers as well as, their recent acquisition, Samuel Page. I tried several brews in the sampling room, but drinking alone is boring, so I tasted some soda and ended my tour. I proceeded to the gift shop and bought some soda for the kids. In addition to the standard brewery stuff, they had custom beer labeling, where you could customize the labels on a case for a special occasion. That is a cool idea.

After that, my wife and I met back at the hotel. When we were ready to go out, again it was surprisingly easy, just get in the car and go! We went to the Schmeeckle Reserve for a nice walk. There were several nature paths to choose from and a nature center (looked informative, but it was closed). Along the path we found a cool bench swing that hovers over a pond, so we sat for a bit watching a listening to nature things.

The Hilltop Pub & Grill Restaurant was our chosen dining option. It was casual, had plenty of beer options and we picked a table in the bar with no wait. It could be that we were really hungry or drunk (figuratively) with our newfound freedom, but we had the best cheese curds we have had in a long, long time. That is saying a lot, since we live in Wisconsin. We ate other food as well, but it paled in comparison to those deep fried cheese curds.

Back at the hotel, by 9 p.m. of course, we decided we couldn’t call it a night just yet. We hit the restaurant in the hotel, called The Tilted Kilt. Lot’s of scantily clad young women offering beverages to the patrons did not deter us from our good time. We played several games of darts while having a few beers- something we loved to do during our dating days. All in all, it was about three married-months of dating in one day.

The next morning we woke bright and early for a 7:00 AM tee time at Sentry World Golf Course. I told the starter that my wife had a conference to get to by 8:30, so he started us off on the back nine so she could see the flower hole. I was really impressed with the time he spent on explaining the greens, natural obstacles, and points of pride. I was the only one golfing. My wife was there to root me on and enjoy the scenery. It was an impressive course and quite a bargain for $56.00 with a cart. We both enjoyed this quiet time together in the morning- another rare treat.

After golf, I headed out and was home by 12:30, in plenty of time to meet the kids after school. I was happy to be home and glad I made the effort to steal some moments away with my wife.

Now that you are on your own, here are a few suggestions:

Hefner’s Custard
(262) 376-0601
N71 W5184 Columbia Rd
On the outskirts of downtown Cedarburg is a little gem of a burger joint called Hefner’s Custard. Everything on the menu is good, especially the burgers. I prefer “the works” with grilled onions. The custard is fantastic, too! There are counters and stools to eat at and Hefner’s has classic video games and pinball available while you wait. A burger and a custard shake will only set you back about $6-7 dollars and provide you the sustenance you need to walk to my next recommendation, Silver Creak Brewing Company.

Silver Creek Brewing Company
N57 W6172 Portland Rd
Cedarburg, WI 53012-2021
Phone 262-375-4444
http://www.silvercreekbrewing.com/mill/index.html
Nothing like a nice, cold beer after a day of avoiding shopping. You can enjoy a beer in an extremely cool location, right along the river in downtown Cedarburg. If the weather is cooperating the outdoor patio provides a nice view. This roughly restored old mill is an interesting historic home to the brewery, which provides an excellent variety of beer, both imports and in-house brews. While there is not a full menu for food, they offer cheese platters and yummy beef sticks for snacking. Sit outside or inside, either are great environments that support your quest for rest and quality beer consumption. If you are there with the kids, they also brew root beer to enjoy while watching the ducks play in the nearby river.

August Weber Haus
W63 B678 Washington Ave
Cedarburg, WI 53012
262-618-4453
It’s time to catch up with the rest of your party. Maybe you should get back together and actually go through some of the shops to get some good gift ideas for your wife, mother, or mother-in-law. After the shopping, I suggest you try the August Weber Haus for dinner. A former cheese shop, it now specializes in Fondue. Not a bad idea for a business conversion. Jacob, the present owner, bought it from his parents, who used to run the cheese shop. He’s taken the quality products, morphed them into melted form, and added an impressive wine and beer selection.

The first time my wife and I went, we just had a drink at the bar. Jacob and the other staff were so friendly that we decided to come back for dinner. The small place can be elegant, casual, family friendly or cozy and personal. There were several other couples, but we noticed a family of five cheese fonduing at the bar and a mother and daughter who came in just for chocolate fondue desert. We ordered the August by Land and Sea, which included chicken, tenderloin, shrimp, and lobster tail. It was an excellent choice for two. The fondue is a blend of broth and spices that add a light flavor to the veggies and meat. The dipping sauces were unusual, providing perfect accents for the various selections. There is also outdoor seating, but I’m not sure if you can do fondue out there. It is the perfect place to relax and visit, while maintaining the Cedarburg feel of the day.

Leisure Time Charter - Fishing on Lake Michigan
There are many activities dads do out of necessity, such as mowing the lawn, home maintenance and, of course, going to work. While all of those things need to be done, they do not create special memories. I doubt you’ll tell stories of your “best ever” lawn mowing moment. Now, fishing is another story entirely. I am not an avid fisherman, but I have a brother who absolutely loves fishing and hunting.

He has helped me introduce the sport of fishing to my children, explaining the different lures and fish you can catch, usually in embellished ‘uncle-speak’ that makes them sound like mysterious lake monsters. When the fishing is slow he tells great stories or lets the kids steer the boat.

This summer, my brother is coming from Minnesota to visit and he is looking to go fishing on Lake Michigan. A former co-worker had once told me that her husband was a charter fisherman. She was very nice to work with, so I looked him up at Leisure Time Charter (web site http://www.fishmilwaukee.com/)

The site is laid out well and will tell you what you need to know about booking a charter with him. We would love to do this, but it is best to have a bigger group, so we will ask some cousins from Chicago to join us. After all, a quality experience like this is best shared with people you enjoy. While you will spend more on an experience like Leisure Time Charter than you would on a small lake, it will be well worth it. The trip lasts anywhere from 5 to 8 hours. As a fun and meaningful memory for dad and his friends, siblings or cousins, consider fishing Lake Michigan with a charter.

Learn more about Leisure Time Charter and Captain Mike Pjvevach at:
www.fishmilwaukee.com
The site has great information on:
• The types of fish you may catch
• Frequently asked questions
• Rates and seasons

If you have travel or dad related trips that you would like to share or if you have experienced with Leisure Time Charter please contact: travel@dadspa.com

American Science and Surplus - http://www.sciplus.com        
(414) 541-7777
6901 W Oklahoma Ave
Milwaukee, WI

Are you looking for something fun for you and your kids to do on a rainy day? Do you want some place to find the odd supplies you may need for school science project? Are you looking for a quirky gift for dad for Father’s Day? Maybe he has been dying for Moving Sand Art or those swinging Silver Balls that are powered by momentum and have been a mainstay of many-a-man’s office. Has dad lost his marbles? He can find replacements here. He may even locate the robot he has been looking for or find a reasonably priced alternative fuel vehicle (not to drive, but to build as a project with the kids). There is even a “Magic 8” ball called the Sarcastic Ball.

Our family spent about an hour and a half there and I made it out by only spending $6.50. You can make it as reasonable or expensive as you want. Each child got something that would have cost 2 to 3 times as much at a museum gift shop and we didn’t even have to pay admission. Half of the place is a pleasantly-odd mix of educational, gag, and entertaining products. The other half of the store is literally surplus of small tools, plastic bits, tape in odd colors, automotive parts, rolls of wire. My son and my favorite item was the programmable, remote-controlled robot. We managed to play with him without plunking down the $70 price tag to bring him home (although it was tempting). Who knows, maybe my son (or I) will get it for his next birthday.

Make it a half-day event by getting lunch at Sonic (car-hop style restaurant new to the Milwaukee area) or add a tour of nearby Miller Park, or a whole Brewer’s game to really spoil you and the kids.