Letterboxing!

On Sunday I went Letterboxing. I got the idea from this article in the Courier. A friend and I went followed this clue to a forest preserve I never knew existed–Voyager’s Landing.

We had to climb up and down a lot of small yet steep hills to get to the hidden box.

Finally, a letterbox!

It had lots of stamps in it from other people who had found it over the past two years.

There were two boxes hidden, but we only found one. We weren’t sure what “a sleeping giant” in the clue referred to–another tree?

Tags: Elgin, forest preserve, fun, letter box, letterbox, letterboxing, nature, outdoors, photography, photos, Voyager's Landing
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Boricua Fest coverage @ DNA’s blog

I really wanted to check out Boricua Fest (a Puerto Rican festival in Festival Park) today, but I had already committed to two barbecues. No fear! DNA (Downtown Neighborhood Association) was there in full effect and took great photos. Click here to view.

Tags: Boricua Fest, DNA, Downtown Neighborhood Association, Elgin, Festival Park, fun, IL, Illinois, Puerto Rican
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Gasthaus in the news

The Gasthaus at 15 N. Grove is my favorite Elgin bar. They recently underwent major renovation and scored a sweet article in the Courier as a result. Click here to read it.

Tags: bar, Courier News, downtown, drinks, Elgin, games, Gasthaus Zur Linde, IL, Illinois, music
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Saturday @ Foxfire Fest

Sorry this is so late! I got caught up reading a hilarious blog called cakewrecks (click it!) and spent up my spare internet time not blogging.

On Saturday August 2nd I showed up at Foxfire Fest pretty early to set up the bike corral. I sat there checking bikes in and out from noon to 2 pm. I got there before the radio people.

A fire truck pulled up and fire fighters hooked it up to a hydrant across the street. The water was used for a game where kids sprayed water at a paint can hanging on a string, seeing who could push it farther.

After my bike corral shift I went to listen to Treologic, a hip hop group from Chicago. They were my favorite musical act of the entire Fest. Anyway, here is a video:

Unfortunately, I was one of the only people in the audience. My guess is that is due to three things: 1) the Courier wrote that the first group started at 4 pm on Saturday and 2) the City of Elgin probably doesn’t know how to promote to hip hop fans 3) 2 pm is way too early for music that mostly attracts young people.

After Treologic I went home and took a nap, which unfortunately caused me to miss Starship. I made it back in time for Blues Traveler, of which I am what you might call a fair weather fan. If they come to my city and play for free, I’ll check em out. Here’s a video:

Finally, the fireworks! Video:

Tags: bicycling, bikes, Blues Traveler, Chicago, Elgin, festival, fire truck, fireworks, Foxfire Fest, hip hop, IL, Illinois, music, photos, Treologic
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Letterboxing in Elgin

Click here to read an article about letterboxing in Elgin.

Has anyone engaged in this? I don’t fully understand it, but apparently there are little wooden boxes hidden all over the place and if you find one you stamp a piece of paper in it to let the owners know you were there. Also there are clues involved. Where do you get the clues? Does a clue inside a letter box lead to a different letter box? If so, how are you supposed to find your first letter box?

I would really like to get involved with this.

Tags: Courier News, Elgin, forest, IL, Illinois, letter box, letter boxing, letterbox, stamp
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Friday @ Foxfire Fest

I went to see the Elgin Symphony Orchestra. I was a bit disappointed that they played Western, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. I took a short video that has poor sound and picture quality–enjoy.

Next were the fireworks, which were absolutely amazing. I took a bunch of photos, but they all turned out like the one above. I think it looks like a bad t-shirt in need of a howling wolf.

Tags: Elgin, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, festival, fireworks, Foxfire Fest, fun, IL, Illinois, music
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