Big Ten Stadiums/Arenas (or Towns/Campuses) You Have Visited

Mr. Tibbs · Oct 24, 2022

Fighter of the Nightman said:
"We serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast, and we don't need any characters around to give the joint 'atmosphere!'"

Clarence: I'll take a spiced mulled wine, no, no , a flaming rum punch

Nick: That's it! Out you two pixies go... through the door, or out the window!
Hold on, Nick! What's wrong?
Nick: That's another thing. Where do you come off calling me Nick?
Well... Nick, that's your name. Isn't it?
Nick: What does that have to do with anything? I don't know you from Adam's off Ox.

NJJ871 · Oct 24, 2022

Mr. Tibbs said:
Clarence: I'll take a spiced mulled wine, no, no , a flaming rum punch

Nick: That's it! Out you two pixies go... through the door, or out the window!
Hold on, Nick! What's wrong?
Nick: That's another thing. Where do you come off calling me Nick?
Well... Nick, that's your name. Isn't it?
Nick: What does that have to do with anything? I don't know you from Adam's off Ox.

Thanks all for the "It's a Wonderful Life" memories! I lost my wife to cancer about 4 weeks ago, and it was her absolute favorite movie.

And I'll take one of those hard drinks as well, none of that flaming rum punch (unless that's all you got)

dbeaverfg · Oct 24, 2022

Battle89 said:
All this lamenting about now-closed bars...that did not yet exist when I was there! Ouch, I feel old.

I'll pour one out for R&R's, O'Malley's, and Gully's.

View attachment 20847

Original Illini Inn, original White Horse, Cochranes, Bonis, Round Robin, T Bird, Trenos, Deluxe and Panama Reds get my glass raised to them.

Mr. Tibbs · Oct 24, 2022

NJJ871 said:
Thanks all for the "It's a Wonderful Life" memories! I lost my wife to cancer about 4 weeks ago, and it was her absolute favorite movie.

And I'll take one of those hard drinks as well, none of that flaming rum punch (unless that's all you got)

I didnt lose a wife, but I lost a son 3 years ago . And he loved that movie as well .
May your Faith, your Family and your Friends help your through these difficult times .

Its not been easy for me. He was 28 and worked for me as well.
My other employees still talk about him all the time . That actually helps me

pruman91 · Oct 24, 2022

Sorry to hear about your losses , Mr. Tibbs and NJJ..........................getting so wrapped up in the Illini here and sometimes we forget what actually matters......

I lost a daughter 47 years ago and still have trouble talking about it ......Once again , all my sympathies , my brothers........................

NJJ871 · Oct 24, 2022

Mr. Tibbs said:
I didnt lose a wife, but I lost a son 3 years ago . And he loved that movie as well .
May your Faith, your Family and your Friends help your through these difficult times .

Its not been easy for me. He was 28 and worked for me as well.
My other employees still talk about him all the time . That actually helps me

Thanks very much for the thoughtful reply, and I'm sorry for your loss - I can't imagine it. We had 19 years of on again, off again, and it still does nothing to prepare you.

But like you said so well, faith, family and friends are a remarkable wall to lean on. One day at a time...

NJJ871 · Oct 24, 2022

pruman91 said:
Sorry to hear about your losses , Mr. Tibbs and NJJ..........................getting so wrapped up in the Illini here and sometimes we forget what actually matters......

I lost a daughter 47 years ago and still have trouble talking about it ......Once again , all my sympathies , my brothers........................

Thanks very much Pru, much appreciated.

dbeaverfg · Oct 24, 2022

NJJ871 said:
Thanks very much for the thoughtful reply, and I'm sorry for your loss - I can't imagine it. We had 19 years of on again, off again, and it still does nothing to prepare you.

But like you said so well, faith, family and friends are a remarkable wall to lean on. One day at a time...

Lots of us in the same boat here. Lost my wife one year ago in October. She was from Wisconsin but became a huge Illini fan. Accepted my proposal standing on the steps of the auditorium.

pruman91 · Oct 24, 2022

dbeaverfg said:
Lots of us in the same boat here. Lost my wife one year ago in October. She was from Wisconsin but became a huge Illini fan. Accepted my proposal standing on the steps of the auditorium.

Sorry for your loss db......cool deal about the proposal acceptance...............................This is one of the many things i love about this board , the sharing of personal experiences with others in the Illini brotherhood..............................

This board has been a safe haven for me for a long time , but I relied on it more through the pandemic and my self induced isolation.........One can never have enough friends whether you have known them for a long time or never have met them but share an identity of Illini fanaticism.............

Let's go Illini !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!................FB and BB in the same week................What a life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Captain 14 · Oct 24, 2022

aiwpfan said:
Both those beat the current Trapezoid of Sadness they currently play in:

Chernobyl comes to mind

GrayGhost77 · Oct 24, 2022

aiwpfan said:
Both those beat the current Trapezoid of Sadness they currently play in:

Feels like it needs an AT-AT walking outside of it.

Mr. Tibbs · Oct 25, 2022

aiwpfan said:
Both those beat the current Trapezoid of Sadness they currently play in:

one has to wonder what in the world were some of these architects thinking , back in the early 1970’s ?

and what peer group & client organization chimed in and said “ yea, your scale balsa wood model looks great , build it ! “

redwingillini11 · Oct 25, 2022

GrayGhost77 said:
All the places that had character have been torn down and replaced by soulless high rises. Firehaus, Clybourne, Kam's, CO Daniel's, the former Cochrane's/Orchid/Tonic, White Horse, and more. The old Espresso Royale on 6th and Daniel is gone too now. Where do students have to hang out now and study, socialize, or blow off steam? Not nearly as many of those places as there used to be. Sad.

Ugh I forgot about the Espresso Royale. Not that it was that much of an institution, but it had so much more character and charm than any Starbucks you can find on campus. I'm not sure who is to blame for these changes other than the greedy corporate developers, but all that are responsible make my enemies list.

IlliniShelt · Oct 25, 2022

redwingillini11 said:
Ugh I forgot about the Espresso Royale. Not that it was that much of an institution, but it had so much more character and charm than any Starbucks you can find on campus. I'm not sure who is to blame for these changes other than the greedy corporate developers, but all that are responsible make my enemies list.

I blame that espresso royale on 6th and John for my caffeine habit. That was a really cool place though.

Rad · Oct 25, 2022

Anyone ever hit the off campus local bar with the cool/cheesy sign near Carle Hospital......Les's Lounge? Or play shuffle board at Pia's in west Champaign? Fun times in the mid 80s!!

Fighter of the Nightman · Oct 25, 2022

Rad said:
Anyone ever hit the off campus local bar with the cool/cheesy sign near Carle Hospital......Les's Lounge? Or play shuffle board at Pia's in west Champaign? Fun times in the mid 80s!!

I didn’t attend U of I, but I have been to Champaign quite a few times for games and have made it a point to set foot in just about every bar! Only one I’m missing in Campustown is Illini Inn and I guess the new Kams. Downtown, I have been to all of them except Jupiter’s.

All of that is to say I’ve explored practically none of the rest of Champaign or Urbana! Need to get to some quality spots over there.

SampsonRelpenk · Oct 25, 2022

Fighter of the Nightman said:
I didn’t attend U of I, but I have been to Champaign quite a few times for games and have made it a point to set foot in just about every bar! Only one I’m missing in Campustown is Illini Inn and I guess the new Kams. Downtown, I have been to all of them except Jupiter’s.

All of that is to say I’ve explored practically none of the rest of Champaign or Urbana! Need to get to some quality spots over there.

I'm no expert as I haven't lived in the area for over a decade, but Huber's in west Champaign is a good one (Ron Turner's favorite according to my dad). In Urbana, Rose Bowl is a great dive with live music basically every night, and Bunny's has a bunch of TVs and good bar food.

altgeld88 · Oct 26, 2022

redwingillini11 said:
Ugh I forgot about the Espresso Royale. Not that it was that much of an institution, but it had so much more character and charm than any Starbucks you can find on campus. I'm not sure who is to blame for these changes other than the greedy corporate developers, but all that are responsible make my enemies list.

I was on campus in July for the first time in 22 yrs. The Espresso Royale at Oregon and South Goodwin is still there. I got my coffee each morning there, and great sandwiches at The Bread Company next door.

But, yeah, the destruction of those small retail places like Doc Js and such over by 6th is very sad. And Green Street… *sigh*.

Big Ten Stadiums/Arenas (or Towns/Campuses) You Have Visited

White and Sixth