Saturday, June 28, 2025

Midway Chamber of Commerce's Patriot's Day Parade a Big Success

By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post


Once again, the Patriot's Day Parade on Archer Avenue was a success.

As usual, the stars of the show included the boys and girls, moms and dads, grandmas and grandpas at the curb--so the photos the SWCP has are heavy on spectators and light on actual parade units.

The community owes a big, big debt of gratitude to Midway Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ellen Brown, as well as the MCC officers, board of directors and members. This parade matters--not only to Garfield Ridge, but the entire Midway area--and the MCC rescued the parade (a few years back) when no one else did.

We also commend the MCC for choosing Al Cacciottolo as parade grand marshal. It's entirely fitting. Over the last 40-plus years, no one has done as much to promote and improve Garfield Ridge, Clearing and the rest of the greater Midway area as Al Cacciottolo.
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A business owner, business leader, crime fighter, high school baseball coach, organizer of charity drives and so much more. Little wonder so many people call Al the Mayor of Midway.
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Fittingly, Al received the red carpet treatment, riding in style--a cherry-red 1969 Pontiac Firebird owned by Geno Randazzo of All Exterior Contractors.

The Southwest Chicago Post had freelance photographer Kelly White out there with cameras. Others also contributed to this grouping of photos. Do you have parade photos you'd like added to this collection? We expect this post to remain live for years to come--something folks may always go back to and look at with a nice sense of nostalgia.

If you have photos of people and parade units not seen here, please email your best shots to editor@swchicagopost.com, and chances are, we'll add them to this collection.

So here are a bunch of parade photos--in no particular order, of parade units and people at the curb. Enjoy!

May your Independence Day be meaningful, joyful and safe.








Background

The parade was founded in 1969 by Chicago Park District official William O. Lipinski, who would later serve as 23rd Ward alderman and then U.S. congressman. The parade was one of a variety of ways Lipinski--fiercely patriotic--tried to instill love of country and community in the neighborhoods he served.

When Lipinski left office in early 2005 and was succeeded by his son, Congressman Dan Lipinski, the younger Lipinski became the parade's host. With Dan Lipinski's departure from Congress in early 2021, the parade became an orphan until it was rescued by the Midway Chamber of Commerce.









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Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Café 63 Celebrates 10 Years of Success

Diner Serves Small-Town Charm in the Big City


By Tim Hadac
Managing Editor
Southwest Chicago Post

A little diner with a big heart is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Clearing, and everyone is invited.

Café 63, 6411 W. 63rd Street, will be offering everything on its menu for $10 or less, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 14. For customers dining in, there will be raffles for $10 Café 63 gift certificates.

"It's our way of saying thanks to the neighborhood for being so supportive of us over the years," says Donna Andrews, who founded the diner with her husband, Chef Dale Andrews. "This has been a wonderful experience for both of us, and we hope it continues for years."
Chef Dale and Donna Andrews




Launched in an era when independent, family-style restaurants were closing all across the Chicago area, Café 63 successfully bucked that trend by creating a diner with a genuinely warm, small-town vibe. That continues in 2025.

"This is still a place where customers come in and actually introduce themselves to me," Donna Andrews says. "And then once they're seated at a table, they often greet and start conversations with customers at other tables. It's really something to see. It's the kind of thing you almost never see in restaurants anymore. But yet, we see it here every day."

Café 63 has earned a reputation as a small business with a big heart, most notably for its success in supporting the Chicagoland Toys For Tots program. The business also serves as a place where local children whisper their Christmas wishes to Santa Claus, as well as give hugs to the Easter Bunny each year.

Beyond the friendly atmosphere is the real star of the show: a menu that includes familiar favorites, as well as the occasional quirky offerings that showcase the culinary talents of Dale Andrews, a highly respected chef acclaimed for years as an outstanding caterer and a developer of unique, tasty spreads.

Café 63 is a place where diners may fill up on steak and eggs, for example, but also enjoy quirky additions like Spam, fried bologna, Cap'n Crunch french toast and more. Reflecting the neighborhood it serves, Café 63 also offers dishes with Mexican, Polish and Irish culinary twists.

In addition to the 10th anniversary celebration on Saturday, Café 63 will celebrate Father's Day on Sunday, June 15 with a special that includes two grilled center-cut pork chops, baked potato/baked beans and cornbread, all for just $14.95. That's in addition to a range of daily specials for just $9.95.









 









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