Wrigley Reunion

Chicago, Illinois, July 2013. Did you know the Wrigley "was Chicago's first air-conditioned office building"?

We step off the gondola.

Jasper, Alberta, Canada, July 1968. Our tour of the Canadian Rockies brings us to the top.

It's Lithuania Week ...

... all week at the University Club in Madison. We enjoyed our meals there last year, and we'll be there tonight for a Madison Vilnius Sister Cities, Inc. dinner.

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Madison, Wisconsin, March 2015. Don't miss the Cepelinai (the star of the show).

Biting my Lip

Bulger Park, Veterans Park District, Melrose Park, Illinois, Autumn 1965. I appear nervous about this recitation.

Check out the jukebox.

Camp Leader

Hanau, Germany, about 1946. My friend Nijole's Father addresses the Displaced-Persons camp residents. Read more about Nijole's postwar experiences here.

Thanks to my friend Nijole for making this photo available to us.

Taps

St. Casimir Catholic Cemetery, Chicago, Illinois, November 14, 2015. We said goodbye.

Holiday-Weekend Reunion

Verona, Wisconsin, July 2, 2015. Go to town and watch the parade.

"Over the fifteen years that Putin has ruled Russia, the story of the Great Patriotic War has acquired new meanings and symbols. Stalin’s name and likeness have gradually been reintroduced into the story–and into the streets of Russian cities."

A Russian examines the symbolism of Victory Day.

See also here.

Sold Out

Madison-Vilnius Sister Cities this week celebrated Lithuania's Restoration Day. The organization sponsored a banquet at The University Club; guests dined on Šaltibarščiai, Cepelinai, and Honey Torte. The food was authentic and delicious.

The University Club offered a Lithuanian menu this week. Mom and I popped in for lunch today. Misery! The Cepelinai we craved were sold out. So we had the Cabbage Rolls instead. The Cabbage Rolls were good, but Cabbage Rolls are something we easily make at home. Cepelinai are a production, and we rarely cook them. As a result, we didn't have what we had sought. We did start out, however, with the Šaltibarščiai. I thought the soup was excellent; Mom claimed my recipe is better. *Blushes.*

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(I asked the server to show me the machine the cook had used to grate the potatoes.)

Young Performers

Melrose Park, Illinois, June 1970. The students from our Lithuanian School perform at the "Lithuania Day" celebration.

Five-Star Reunion

Salzburg, Austria, July 1971. The hotel was the "Österreichischer Hof" when we stayed there. Now it's the Hotel Sacher Salzburg.

Related by Marriage: Armored Group Headquarters

Camp Irwin, Barstow, California, 1951. Mr. Irene's Dad was a tank instructor, so he's reporting to the correct building.

Keeping her cool.

River Forest, Illinois, November 1975. I served one year as a "photographer" for the high-school yearbook. Here, I captured the amazing nun* who taught our AP English class. She's also the woman who organized and chaperoned that trip to Greece. I credit her with refining my understanding of culture.

*The women who ran the high school were "sisters," not "nuns."

A New Honorary Consulate

On Monday, October 13, 2014, Lithuania opened an Honorary Consulate in Wisconsin. Mr. Irene and I attended the ceremony at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

The ceremony took place in the Senate Chamber. A Lithuanian flag stood with the Wisconsin and United States flags.

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The Lithuanian Consulate brought its insignia.

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The Lithuanian coat of arms, the Vytis, also draped the Speaker's podium.

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His Excellency Žygimantas Pavilionis, Lithuania's Ambassador to the United States, inadvertently photobombed this shot of the Senate Chamber murals.

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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Lithuania's Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas Linkevičius, and Honorary Consul Leslie Liautaud prepared for the ceremony.

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Governor Walker opened the event.

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Foreign Minister Linkevičius offered some thoughts before the investiture.

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Honorary Consul Liautaud received a Lithuanian flag during the ceremony.

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Ambassador Pavilionis addressed Wisconsin's ties to Lithuania.

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Honorary Consul Liautaud spoke for a few minutes.

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Everyone enjoyed the speeches.

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Well done!

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Lithuania's Honorary Consuls from other states arrived for the investiture ceremony.

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Although members of the media recorded the event, the ceremony got little attention in the news.

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After the ceremony, guests moved to the Senate Parlor for refreshments.

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Lunch.

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Guests enjoyed catching up with old friends.

The Baltic Way

The Baltic States today celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Baltic Way.

Here's Google's Doodle for the day.

ADDED: Video here and here.

Forty-Five Years Ago

Suburban Chicago, July 20, 1969. Here's another "screen shot" Dad took during the broadcast of the moon landing.

Border Reunion

Door County, Wisconsin, July 2007. Things mature quickly.

July 4

Grand Lake, Colorado, July 4, 1967. Catch up on Americana. (Don't miss The Monkees float).

Miss Mildred

Lake Nipissing, Ontario, Canada, July 1965. Thanks for the tip about the fishing spot!

Presidential Palace

Vilnius, Lithuania, August 2011. Today's post about Steven Tyler's visit to Vilnius reminded me of the image of the Presidential Palace my Toronto Cousin took when she visited Lithuania.

Thanks to my Toronto Cousin for making this photo available to us.