“Summer Lovin, had me a blast. Summer Lovin, happened so fast. Met a girl, crazy for me. Met a boy, cute as can be…”

“Summer Nights” from the “Grease” soundtrack 

As the kids tumble out of their beds in the morning and prepare to go back to school, I got to thinking…the ultimate back-to-school celebration that is “Grease,” the ultimate (and original) high school musical, was based on the experiences of actor/writer  Jim Jacobs, a graduate of Norwood Park’s Taft High School. 

While the movie “Grease” with John Travolta and the late Olivia Newton-John is the version most famous, the original play was darker, used more colorful language, and was filled with Chicago references, including Polk Brothers (a large home appliance store in Chicago), Carson’s (Carson Pirie Scott department store), the Palmer House (famed Chicago hotel), Elmer and the Elephant (Chicago-based childrens show), Jim Lounsbury (host of a sock-hop television program), and Field’s (Marshall Field’s department store, now Macy’s), per Ovrtur.com.

While the production has been adapted to fit any school, at any time, the core story of Danny Zuko, Sandy Dumbrowski (Olsson for the movie) and the T-Birds and Pink Ladies experiencing the pains of growing up remains  the same. That’s kept it in the public eye for 55 years. 

The Story of Grease: Norwood Park’s own Jim Jacobs  

According to Wikipedia sources, when Jim Jacobs was a teenager, he would imitate playing a guitar with a broomstick. He eventually convinced his parents to pay for guitar lessons. After four lessons, he quit and decided to buy a guitar book and teach himself. From this, he found a simple chord structure: C, A minor, F, G7—later used in “Those Magic Changes” featured in Grease.

In the second half of the 1960s, he found himself at a party surrounded by stoners, disgusted by the state of rock music at the time and longing for the sounds of 1950s rock and roll, he was inspired to write a production based upon life in the early rock and roll era. His influences included Elvis, Bill Haley, Buddy Holly, Little Richard, and Jerry Lee Lewis.

“You know, man, we had drive-in movies, we had the high school dance, there was a girls’ gang at Taft, these tough chicks and they were called the Pink Ladies,” Jacobs explained to NBC5 Chicago earlier this year over the phone. “That was their gang!”

He began working with his friend, fellow doo-wop music fan Warren Casey. “Grease” was named after the 1950s United States working-class youth subculture known as greasers and set in 1959 at the fictional Rydell High School, based largely on Jacobs’s high school experiences and even used the names of some of Jacobs’s acquaintances.

The characters included the T-Birds tough-guy leader Danny Zuko,  torn by his feelings for Sandy Dumbrowski (or Olsson), the wholesome new girl trying to navigate peer pressure and high school social circles; Betty Rizzo, the sharp-tongued leader of the Pink Ladies;  Kenickie,  Danny’s close friend and owner of a prized (though beat-up) car “Greased Lightnin’.”  Finally, there were The T-Birds & Pink Ladies, including  Doody, Sonny, Roger, Frenchy, Jan, and Marty.

Jacobs’ and Casey’s “Grease” premiered on February 5, 1971, at  Kingston Mines nightclub, running for eight months. The show featured Chicago native and future TV/film star Marilu Henner, then a teenager, as Marty Maraschino (“as in cherry.”)

As Wikipedia sources put it, “Grease” was “a raunchy, raw, aggressive, vulgar show,  “mentioning social issues such as teenage pregnancy, peer pressure, and gang violence; its themes include love, friendship, teenage rebellion, and sexual exploration during adolescence.”

The Neon Lights of Broadway 

Producers Ken Waissman and Maxine Fox saw the show and made a deal to produce it Off-Broadway. The team headed to New York City to collaborate on the New York production. Subsequent productions toned down the more risqué content, and parts of the music book were replaced. Featuring future stars like Barry Bostwick as the original Danny Zuko and Adrienne Barbeau as Rizzo, Grease’s 3,388-performance run was the longest in Broadway history at the time. It was surpassed by A Chorus Line in 1983. 

That said, “Grease” remains Broadway’s 18^th longest-running show. 

Today 

“Grease”  lives on today,  through adaptations on TV,  the two movies, in local high school and grade school productions, and countless community theatres across the world. Even Taft High School, who told NBC5 Chicago, “We were able to kickstart our program into another level, and we are one of the top musical producing high schools in CPS,” said Drama teacher Bryan Wilson. “So I guess that is part of the legacy here, thanks to Jim Jacobs.”

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

Too much basil? Believe it or not, that can be a good thing! Sometimes herbs in a garden can go a little crazy and you can only use so much and give so much away. Here are a few ways to extend the life of and make more use of that delicious, fresh basil.

Pesto. Of course, pesto is number one on the list. It is so delicious on pasta hot or cold, but it can be added to cream sauces, mayonnaise or aioli, or vinaigrettes to amp up flavor. There are different variations to try too. Add other leafy greens like spinach, kale or arugula to boost flavor and nutrients. Try other nuts beyond pine nuts. Cashews, walnuts, pistachios, or blanched almonds are good as well as seeds like pumpkin, pepitas or sunflower seeds. Freeze in ice cube trays to use later. 

Basil grated cheese. This is a great addition to cooked veggies, grilled chicken, seafood and of course pasta. Combine equal parts of hard cheese like pecorino, parmesan or aged cheddar and basil in a food processor. Process until it resembles sand. It adds freshness and summer flavor to anything. Store for up to five days in the fridge. 

Basil salt. It lasts for months and adds fresh salty basil flavor to any dish. Add equal parts basil and salt to a food processor and process until texture is fine. Spread evenly onto a parchment paper lined sheet pan. Dehydrate in a 225-degree oven for 20-25 minutes. Cool and store in a glass jar in a dry place

Basil syrup. Use it as a great addition to cocktails like professional mixologists everywhere! It can also add some zest to coffee or tea drinks at home, and it really bumps up your lemonade recipe. Combine one cup of sugar and water in a saucepan, add one cup of basil leaves. Simmer on low heat until sugar is dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Remove basil leaves and store syrup in a jar in the fridge. 

Bonus pro tip: freeze basil like you do pesto. Blend basil leaves in a blender with good extra virgin olive oil till pureed. Don’t over blend as the oil can turn bitter. Pour into ice cube trays and freeze. Store frozen cubes in a freezer bag for up to six months. Add a basil cube to stews, soup, sauces or veggies. Anywhere you need a burst of fresh flavor!

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago

They’re Back, and I’m not referring to those pesky red birds from St. Louis!  Here’s your packed Chicago lineup for this weekend’s enjoyment.

Drawing an audience of over one million to Chicago’s stunning lakefront, the Chicago Air & Water Show brings its summer spectacle with astonishing stunts performed by skilled pilots above Lake Michigan’s waters this Saturday and Sunday (10:30 a.m.-3 p.m.).  As usual, the show can be viewed from its focal point at North Avenue Beach and along the lakefront from Fullerton Avenue to Oak Street.  Plus, the Thunderbirds are back this year to demonstrate their incredible capabilities of the Air Force’s premier multi-role fighter jet, the F-16 Fighting Falcon!  Other performers include the United States Army Parachute Team best known as the Golden Knights along with various military and civilian performers which also includes the Chicago Police Department Helicopters and the Chicago Fire Department Air and Sea Rescue.  It’s the largest FREE show of its kind in the United States, an iconic Chicago event since 1959, and definately not to be missed!

One of Chicago’s most historic neighborhoods is hosting their Taylor Street Little Italy Festa this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-10 p.m.) on Taylor Street between Ashland Avenue and Throop Street in the Little Italy neighborhood.  Guests will be able to sample authentic Italian dishes, gelato, street food, and special menus from the neighborhood’s award-winning favorite restaurants.  In addition, this Festa will feature several stages of music and entertainment from national and local acts; quality merchandise from Italy; and various activities which include the meatball and pizza eating contests, bocce tournaments, and more.  Come celebrate the great history and rich culture of this neighborhood, and of course, its food!

Get ready to sip, savor, and celebrate at Chicago’s 11^th annual Sangria Festival this Saturday and Sunday (12 p.m.-9 p.m.) at its new location near Division Street and Washtenaw Avenue in the Humboldt Park neighborhood.  Enjoy new sangria flavor blends and sangria slushies hand-crafted by local bartenders and mixologists as well as Latin-inspired food at various pop-up food stations.  Plus, activities include live music, dancing, Goya Foods’ 90^th anniversary cooking demonstrations, and artisan vendors.  It’s a celebration like no other where Sangria takes center stage!

One of Chicago’s most vibrant and exciting art festivals returns for its sixth year with the Printer’s Row Art Fest this Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m.-5 p.m.) on South Dearborn Street from Polk to Harrison Streets in the South Loop.  Discover the works of 100 talented, juried artists from across the country showcasing a wide variety of art forms.  Plus, the streets will come alive with live music while the local popular restaurants, cafes, and bars serve up plenty of their local flavor for you to enjoy in between your art browsing’s.  It’s simply all about an open-air celebration of creativity!

For my diehard sports enthusiasts (including me), here’s who’s in town this weekend –

The Chicago Cubs will be hosting the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday (1:20 p.m.) and Sunday (2:15 p.m.) at Wrigley Field (1060 W. Addison St.) in the Wrigleyville neighborhood.

The Chicago Bears are hosting the Cleveland Browns for their first NFL Preseason game this Saturday (12 p.m.) at Soldier Field (1410 Special Olympics Dr.) in the South Loop.

Sue Moss and Dean’s Team Chicago

“I want my baby back baby back baby back baby back baby back ribs!”

Old-time commercial for Chili’s restaurants 

When I lived in Galewood, one of our favorite places for ribs was Gale Street Inn, located a few miles away on the Northwest Side’s Jefferson Park. What they did with ribs…tender, slow-cooked ribs glazed in Gale Street Inn’s own house BBQ sauce…were some of the best we’ve ever tasted. And I’ve been to Memphis and St. Louis, which are also renowned for their barbecue!

History 

As the Chicago Bar Project notes, George Cholies opened Gale Street in January 1963, after being forced to abandon his sandwich shop & tavern across the street due to the construction of the Jefferson Park Blue Line El stop and bus terminal. Cholies sold Gale Street Inn in 1984 to the Karzas family. Both families maintained the quality of their food, taking pride in their service and winning numerous local and national awards. 

However, as Eater recounts, in 2025, the 62-year-old spot closed in June. At the time, owner George Karzas cited staffing shortages as the primary reason for the shutter. Enter Paulo Villabona, a longtime restaurant veteran and neighborhood resident, who purchased the business and officially took ownership on November 1. Dinner service reopened in December.

“To me, buying the restaurant is all about the community,” he told WGN News, per Eater. “Our goal is to keep making amazing food, allow the phenomenal staff to continue to shine, and ultimately keep this pillar of the community alive for another 60 years.”

Not only does the reopened restaurant feature classic ribs and steak, they also feature live entertainment, including weekend French Gypsy jazz and acoustic performances.

And now, the food…

Gale Street Inn has preserved its  tavern-like atmosphere and community ambience. In addition  they’ve expanded their offerings to nclude weekend brunch, Thursday and Friday lunch service, and early/late-night happy hours.

I long for their Parker Rolls, served warm and fluffy, with honey-chive butter. They carry a separate charge but are worth every penny, as are their tangy Deviled Eggs, with crispy prosciutto and fried onion. Fried Calamari has another tangy twist of lemon and pepper tempura and giardiniera aioli. Potato Skins are made with candied bacon, truffle-gruyere fondue and scallion.

Before we get to the ribs, it should be noted that the Gale Street Inn has something for everyone. Take the Tangy Fry Chickie, a sandwich made with a  tender chicken thigh, with sweet-savory-spicy honey-sambal sauce, and served with pickles and house slaw. It can pack a punch!

If a full slab of ribs seem too much, try instead a Rib Sandwich, every bit as tasty and packed with boneless ribs, pickled onions, BBQ sauce, and pickles on a brioche bun, served with coleslaw.  

Chicago’s Finest Ribs come in full or half-rack. They are to be savored, with meat just slipping off the bone, dripping with their famous tangy Gale Stteet sauce. While fries and other sides are available for an upcharge, the ribs come with their own coleslaw.

Other steakhouse options include a  juicy 12oz New York Steak served with a baked potatoand demi-glace. Steak Frites is a 10 ounce grilled Hanger steak grilled, served over red wine reduction and topped with a cilantro chimichurri. Additionally, the steak is accompanied by harissa marinade, whipped ricotta, harissa yogurt, chilled couscous salad, crispy chickpeas, pickled onions, and shoestring fries.

Pescatarian options include Fish ‘n’ Chips, avodka- battered cod and creamy homemade tartar sauce. Walleye Filet has Calabrian chili-butter, potato and caramelized onion puree, with sautéed spinach and fried leeks.

You can add a four-ounce lobster for an upcharge to make it a Surf & Turf. 

As we say at Dean’s Team Chicago, save room for dessert! Banana Bread Pudding is served  à la mode. The popular Dubai-Style Chocolate Pistachio Cake is another popular option, as is their Basque Cheesecake is served with fresh berries and raspberry sauce.

Mine is not the only positive review:

“NEW OWNER SAME GREAT QUALITY. So excited children could once again join the meal. The updates to the place are gorgeous very chic and still very cool supper club vibes. It was great to see Paulo brought back people who had been working their for years. The food was phenomenal service impeccable. Will be back soon!”

“It looks like Gale Street in his back and better than ever! Ribs were delicious. The ambience is beautiful in the service couldn’t be better. The only thing I wasn’t a fan about was the sautéed spinach. There was no garlic. Maybe that’s just my personal preference I prefer more garlic or at least some garlic. Other than that, A+ will definitely be going back again!”

Gale Street Inn is located at 4914 N. Milwaukee Avenue. They are open Monday from 4pm–10pm, Wednesday, 4pm–11pm, Thursday from 11am–11pm, with a last seating at 8:45 PM. Friday, they are open 11am–12am. Last seating at 9:45pm. Saturday from 10:30am–12am, with a  last seating at 9:45pm.  Sunday, from 10:30am–10pm. Last seating at 8:45pm. They are closed on Tuesday.  For reservations, click here. 

Alison Moran-Powers and Dean’s Team Chicago

There’s something about late summer that makes us look at our homes a little differently. The long days are winding down, routines are starting to shift, and suddenly that overflowing garage, tired patio furniture, or neglected closet seems impossible to ignore.

Before fall arrives, take a little time to reset your home. You don’t need a major renovation or an entire weekend of projects. A few strategic updates and simple maintenance tasks can make your home feel cleaner, more comfortable, and ready for the season ahead.

Here are seven things worth tackling before summer officially gives way to fall.

1. Give Your Entryway a Fresh Start

Your entryway sets the tone for the entire home, so start there.

Put away the beach bags, sandals, summer sports equipment, and anything else that has accumulated near the front door. Give the floors a thorough cleaning and take a fresh look at your entryway furniture and décor.

Consider adding a basket for shoes, a few hooks for everyday essentials, or a small console tray to keep keys and sunglasses from taking over the counter.

A clean, organized entrance instantly makes the rest of the house feel more pulled together.

2. Show Your Outdoor Spaces Some Love

Even though summer is winding down, there’s still plenty of time to enjoy your outdoor spaces.

Clean the patio or deck, wash outdoor cushions, wipe down furniture, and remove any leaves or debris that have accumulated. Trim back overgrown plants and give tired landscaping a little attention.

This is also a great time to inspect outdoor lighting. Replace burned-out bulbs and make sure pathways, steps, and gathering areas are adequately illuminated.

A little maintenance now can keep your outdoor areas looking inviting well into fall.

3. Give Your HVAC System Some Attention

Your air conditioner has probably been working overtime all summer. Before the weather changes, give your HVAC system a little attention.

Replace the air filter if it’s due, clear debris away from outdoor equipment, and make sure vents and returns aren’t blocked by furniture or rugs.

If your system has been making unusual noises, struggling to keep rooms comfortable, or simply hasn’t been performing as well as it normally does, late summer can be a good time to have it inspected before you need it for the next season.

Small maintenance tasks can help your system operate more efficiently and potentially prevent an inconvenient breakdown.

4. Declutter One Problem Area

Don’t try to organize the entire house at once. Pick one area that’s been driving you crazy and tackle it.

Maybe it’s the garage. Maybe it’s the pantry, linen closet, kitchen junk drawer, or that mysterious cabinet where everything seems to disappear.

Use a simple three-category approach: keep, donate, and discard.

Once you’ve finished one area, you’ll probably find yourself motivated to tackle another. And if you don’t? That’s perfectly fine. One organized space is still progress.

5. Take a Look at Your Home’s Exterior

Late summer is an ideal time to walk around the outside of your home and look for small issues that may have developed over the past several months.

Check for cracked caulking around windows and doors, peeling paint, damaged screens, loose railings, clogged gutters, and signs of water intrusion. Look at your roof from the ground for anything that appears unusual or out of place.

You don’t necessarily need to fix everything immediately. The goal is to identify small problems before they have an opportunity to become expensive ones.

6. Refresh One Room for the Coming Season

You don’t have to completely redecorate your home every time the seasons change.

Instead, choose one room and give it a subtle refresh.

Swap lightweight summer textiles for slightly warmer textures. Change a few decorative pillows, add a throw blanket, rearrange furniture, or introduce a few seasonal accessories.

Even something as simple as changing the artwork or moving a piece of furniture can make a familiar room feel surprisingly different.

The goal isn’t to make your home look like fall overnight. It’s simply to create a more comfortable transition as the season changes.

7. Make a Fall Home To-Do List

Finally, take a few minutes to think ahead.

What projects have you been putting off? Is there a leaky faucet, a sticking door, a light fixture you’ve been meaning to replace, or a landscaping project that needs attention?

Write everything down, then separate the list into three categories: do now, schedule later, and eventually.

This simple exercise can prevent those little projects from piling up and becoming overwhelming.

It can also help you prioritize improvements that make your home more comfortable today while potentially adding value down the road.

A Fresh Season Starts at Home

A seasonal home reset doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money or taking on a massive project. Sometimes it’s simply about clearing away what’s no longer needed, taking care of the things you’ve overlooked, and making a few thoughtful changes.

By the time fall arrives, you’ll have a home that feels cleaner, more organized, and ready for whatever the new season brings.

And there’s something especially satisfying about heading into fall knowing you’ve taken care of the place you call home.