PIR date of 7/13/2012 -Ship04, DIV 816

[Sassy]

Hello to any other fellow NAVY moms with a son in this division?  Just wanting to connect with any others? I"ve received my box, all is well, he says the guys in his division are "animals, beasts!"

[Fancy Nancy]

It sure feels like a Monday today.  I hope everyone had an enjoyable Independence Day.

My compliments to the webmaster of this site.  I love the picture of the sailors in white with red, white, and blue  crepe paper at the top of the page.

I am happy to report that our countdown is now 7 days, 19 hours, and 53 minutes.  I was reading the entries for the group that graduates tomorrow.  It is so exciting to read about everyone's preparations, travels, and plans.  There are tips on places to eat, places to park, etc.  

I got a 5 minute phone call Saturday morning.  It was so great to hear my boy's voice.  I can't wait to see him!

Stay cool....we are going over 100 again today and tomorrow.  I feel like a cave dweller--curtains closed and staying inside.  You know it is hot when I don't feel like drinking coffee!  I may have to switch to iced coffee!

[Sassy]

Hi Fancy Nancy!  yes, this is an amazing website!  Love the banner photo as well!  where did you see the tips on places to eat/park etc.   I went to the discussion group for Div 815, PIR date of 7/6 and followed their discussions.. is it on there somewhere?? not sure??

[Fancy Nancy]

Hi all!

Sassy and Aurora--it took me a while to back track my steps in finding where I found the info on where to eat, etc.  If you go to the group PIR date of 7/6 and scroll down to about the 14th discussion entry, you have it."Where to Eat in Great Lakes."  FTLW posted it--a picture of Snoopy with our flag is the photo to look for.  It is actually a post Fire Team Leader's Wife put up last June.

I am checking into good coffee places.  That is what my son wants first thing!  I am going to check into NorthShore magazine and see what it offers as far as places to go.  I will let you know if I make any wonderful discoveries!

103 degrees here now!

Smiles,

Fancy Nancy

[BaldiLocks]

Hi Fancy Nancy,

Thanks for all your posts and info and the countdown!

My wife is planning to call you over the weekend.

 

Thanks for the directions to the post, I am including the info to make it easier for everyone:

 

 

The Silo in Lake Bluff http://www.silopizza.com/

Giordanos in Gurnee http://www.giordanos.com/locations.html

Someone had asked about shakes. I did not get a shake while there...but there are Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins dotted around the area. I believe there is one on Buckley and Green Bay Road. Then there is the Gurnee Mall which is just a short drive away.

The Mall has a Rain Forest Cafe and LOTS of other eats!

GURNEE MALL

I live in CA. We do not have Cracker Barrels. I don't believe you can GET a bad meal here. Breakfast for four of us was $40 plus a tip. Our favorite breakfast place was not to far from the mall--Cracker Barrel.

There is also an IHOP near it and a Joes Crab Shack. The Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon is in the Gurnee Mills Mall parking lot. It is right off of Grand Avenue. There is also a place called the Steak and Shake that makes hand dipped shakes and their burgers are "steakburgers" Ground from steak, I think. I kept driving past it and thinking that we really ought to try it...but we never did. Lone Star Steakhouse http://lonestarsteakhouse.com/files/home.aspx

I have read a few other posts that this place is very good! Steak n Shake http://steaknshake.com/about-us

Here is a link on this site to a discussion about places to eat.

http://www.navyformoms.com/group/pirreferenceinformation/forum/topi...

Reply by m3 on June 16, 2011 at 11:30am

Just throwing in my 2 cents! In waukegan in the Fountain Square Plaza(5 miles from base), there are a lot of places:

TO EAT:

BW3 (10 discount if your sailor is in uniform)

Chilis

Sweet Tomatoes

Jimmy Johns

Chipotle

Pot Bellies

Dennys

Anastasia's restaurant & sports

Dunkin Donuts

Star Bucks

McDonalds

STORES:

Walmart

Office Max

Fashion Bug

Sallies Buty

Deals

PayLess

GNC

Game Stop

BANKS:

Bank of america

Chase

fifth third bank

CELL PHONES:

ATT

tmobil

And a bowling alley

There is also a gas station

Reply by m3 on June 16, 2011 at 11:36am

Vernon Hills Mall

http://www.westfield.com/hawthorn/

There is also Deer Park Town Shopping center. It's and outside shopping center.

Apple Store

Victorias secret

american eagle....just to name a few stores...

There are plenty of places to eat out there, our favorite is California Pizza kitchen!!

http://www.shopdeerparktowncenter.com/go/dirListing.cfm?FL=All

There is another CPK and Apple store at Northbrook. A little more upscale then the other malls

http://www.northbrookcourt.com/

We spent our PIR weekend at the deer park and vernon hills malls but there are a lot of other things to do!

There is 6 flags great america

Free Jelly Belly Factory Tour in Wisconsin (about 25 min away) Lots of free samples!!

Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago (free! Just have to pay for parking....Its on the outside of the city so traffic is not bad)

And of course all the sight seeing in the city.

Reply by jma1216 Ship 2 Div 940 on Sunday

On Grand Avenue (5404) there is a pizza place named Rosati's. They serve Chicago dogs, italian beef sandwiches, and real Chicago style pizza (thin crust, cut in squares!) It is where I used to eat as a teenager, I grew up about 15 SW of the RTC.

For Friday night graduation dinner we went to Sullivan's Steakhouse, 250 Marriott Dr Lincolnshire. It was about a 20 minute drive from our hotel (Residence Inn, Gurnee). The food was absolutely amazing, and very pricey, about $50.00 + per person, hubby and I got a bottle of wine, about $30.00. We had planned on going in to the city to Gene and Georgettis, but due to time constraints we had to stay closer to base. We had been planning on the splurge since he left.

If you're ready to put a dent in your wallet I highly recommend it, and be sure to try the mac and cheese!!

Reply by JustMe from NJ on Monday

For Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza (and delicious pasta dishes) I highly recommend Lou Malnati's. (www.loumalnatis.com) They have a few locations. We went to the one in Lincolnwood, about 20 minutes from the Naval Base. There is also one in Chicago on Well's ... they have valet parking right next door. There are other locations as well. For GREAT grilled foods - Weber Grill in Shaumburg (also one in Chicago) http://www.webergrillrestaurant.com. Started by the Weber grill family. Everything is cooked over charcoal grills. Delicious ribs, burgers. We also found a polish restaurant with the best homemade polish dishes, including incredible Polish Pickle Soup. The name is Reflections and it is located on Deep Lake in Lake Villa about 20 minutes from Waukegan/Gurnee area. www.reflectionsondeeplake.com. Bon appetit

Reply by Pelican3 (ship 2 div 934) yesterday                Delete

For Great Steaks go to Backyard Steak Pit in Gurnee on Grand Avenue. It does get busy later so go early.

[Sassy]

Wow Baldilocks!!  Thank you soo much!  I nominate you as President of our N4M Div 816 Group!!  I am noticing that no one mentions going to downtown Chicago.  Is that just because it is too far and time constraints are tight?  

[BaldiLocks]

Thank you Sassy, but Fancy Nancy deserves most of the credit !!!

She found the post; I just copied it...

[Sassy]

Okey dokey!  We'll make Fancy Nancy President and you Vice President!  Sure appreciate all the tips!

[BaldiLocks]

I give credit where credit is due and I get demoted from President to Vice President in 15 minutes !!!

Guess I'm not getting very far in Politics...

[Sassy]

LOL!! looking forward to meeting you next week!!

[BaldiLocks]

You too !!!

Hey, I did invent the Internet, if that means anything...

[Fancy Nancy]

If I get to say something about this...LOL....I think Sassy was right in the first place.  I think BaldiLocks should be the President.  Anyone who knows how to copy and paste deserves the job.  I can research...I just don't know enough about using these stinkin' computers.  It is all yours, BL!  

There is a lot in downtown Chicago.  I would say if the sailors have liberty on Saturday or Sunday, a trip downtown and to the Magnificent Mile (Michigan Avenue) is worth it.  I suppose there is enough time if the plan was to go to dinner on Friday....depends on what time the sailors get released.

[sjtina]

Sassy, Chicago is within the 50 miles. The Navy Pier is the most popular spot for PIR. Sears tower too if heights do not bother. Glass elevator on the outside of the building. yikes