Illinois 2018: Part 2

Hey all! Time for more memories from our visit to see family and friends in Illinois this year. You can check out part one right here.

First and foremost, new shoes! Wooooooo! :) Better weather finally arrived, so I had to up my game.

Ang and I also had to get our nails done to continue the freshness.

We went out for barbecue with Ben (brother-in-law) and Grace (niece) as well. While the food at Kinfork was pretty damn good, I do have to question their design choice of bug wallpaper in the bathroom. Probably not the best thing for a restaurant…

The food was better than that, fortunately!

Ang also made cookies for everyone. Yummers!

Found a dog in Starbucks…

Went out to meet up with our buddy, Joel, and checked out Dry City Brew Works in Wheaton, IL. Love what Oliver and the gang are doing here!

Do the taco (and enchilada) dance! Mexico Uno in Palatine, IL.

Cookies & Beer event at Tap House in Palatine, IL. Got swervy with stouts and other beers paired with Girl Scout cookies. Deadly!

Good-time hangs with Heidi and Ben, also at Tap House.

My godbrother, Rich, also came to town on business, so we got to have lunch in downtown Chicago and hang for a couple hours. Lao Sze Chuan is still pretty good, but not nearly as bomb as it used to be.

More food, as is normal…Ang made Korean BBQ for the fam. So. Many. Drools.

Bentley, just hangin’ out.

Chill time in the sunny cold with Ben in Wauconda, IL.

Post-softball hangs at Side Lot Brewery in Wauconda, IL.

Ang and I also went to Buffalo Creek Brewing in Long Grove, IL, to see what their brewed up treats were all about.

Me and Big Poppa, chillin’.

A fantastic, Happy Birthday to Mom! That’s one great lady.

Not only did the lovely lady have a birthday, but Mother’s Day was in effect as well. Shout out to all the dope moms out there!

Back at the brewery…ha. This time, we hit up Roaring Table Brewing Co. for the first time. They’re killing it up in Lake Zurich, IL. Shouts to Beth, Lane, and the whole gang over there.

Found some of my old cassette tapes in storage. I clearly removed all the best ones as this lineup is rather…yeahhhhh.

I may or may not have rocked that Lionel Richie tape on our way to More Brewing Co. in Lombard, IL, to meet up with our buddies Joel, Julie, and their fam. A big reunion of love! And beer! And food!

The rain scares Bentley. Poor guy.

Ben made ribs. Life was good.

Bentley, you’ve got something on your face there. Just FYI.

Met up with our buddy, Pedi, for some awesome-tastic ramen at Misoya in Mt. Prospect, IL.

One of our niece’s softball games was cancelled due to rain, so we, along with Ben and Heidi, decided to do the Right Thing™ by hitting up Tighthead Brewing Co. in Mundelein, IL, for the first time. Big thanks to Stephanie for the good times!

After all that, we had to go eat! We hit up Maya’s Restaurant, also in Mundelein, for some Mexican food.

The restaurant was next door to La Luz Bakery, so naturally, we just had to go there. Support your local panadería! :)

George and Martha, the ducks who hang out in Ben and Heidi’s yard, apparently weren’t getting along on this day.

Bentley’s not terribly fond of his new ‘do.

And Louis didn’t really appreciate wearing Bentley’s toys.

Better.

The Hopsmash boys stocking up at Noon Whistle Brewing Co. in Lombard, IL.

Pretty flowers doing pretty things.

Doggy.

A swing through the Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora, IL, for some beer and food. Thanks, Noy!

Cool lights…

Last call with Joel and Julie!

And that’s that! Lots of food and drink and not a whole lot else as we were just hanging out with family and friends. Cheers to good times!

Also be sure to check out our Hopsmash project on Instagram and Facebook.

A very special thanks to everyone at all of these establishments for their delicious food, drink, and amazing hospitality. An extra-special thanks to Ben, Heidi, Grace, Mom, and Dad. Always great times!

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Have you ever been to any of these places? If so, what’d you think? If not, what say ye? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!