Mario's Italian Lemonade
1608 W. Taylor

Was riding home on Halsted before midnight the other night and it struck me it's been all summer and I haven't been to Mario's. Plus, it was hotter than Hades and an Italian Ice would taste so delicious. And I did and it did too. Talked to my old friend Skip, who is the Mario in Mario's. Actually, his father Mario is THE Mario, but he's been dead long enough that Skippy is Mario now. Skippy is King of the neighborhood. and it's right and just what he did to that SOB that pointed the gun at him: ask Carol Marin, she'll tell you the whole story, Bill Kurtis says it's all nonsense, he's just waiting for the Peach flavor which always comes out in August. Easy Bill, easy, it's starting to show. Anywho, it's a Chicago treasure not to be missed. Get over there before he closes for the season, which will be around mid September.

squeeze my lemon till the juice runs down my leg, how many know what I'm talking about, mmm so delicious.

Hold it I missed something wehere did the gun come into a story about Italian Ice?

Between Mario's and the Led Zep reference, you're OK in my book. Personally, I've been wanting to treat myself to some Al's Italian beef for a while now - once I'm back at UIC this fall I think I shall. Yeah, whats the story behind the gun though?

Could'nt he just run over and grab the hammer and pound the guy with the gun down?

Ah, Led Zeppelin, eh? And just where did they rip it off from? Robert Johnson, perhaps?

Perhaps, since Travellin' Riverside Blues is a Robert Johnson cover (albeit a loose one), but who are people more likely to quote?

not really. besides, Mayo at least manages to be entertaining and interesting. i'm still waiting for you to try that...

Skippy’s in the middle of a neighborhood feud with, let’s call him Oscar, since I don’t remember his real name. Oscar made a killing on city construction contracts in the 70’s and now lives nearly alone with his money ($100 Million) and his faltering ego. He’s old and cranky and has decided Mario’s Lemonade stand is a public nuisance (I’m taking Skip’s side in all this so that’s why it tilts to the left a bit). He went over last year to enforce his position and pointed a gun at Skippy and pulled the trigger. Maybe the gun wasn’t loaded and wasn’t intended to be, but when the moment passed and no one was dead, Skip, who as far as Mayo knows, has never taken sh*t or shinola from anyone, yanked the gun from his hand with a fair bit of force I’m sure. Oscar sues for battery and starts a movement to have the stand closed for good (the petition he started got not one single signature, other than his of course). It’s being fought in the courts now and is just about over, with Skippy’s voice being the sane one. Sounds like Oscar is senile, or just plain crazy. He’s at the Lemonade Stand this Spring, for whatever reason, and notices a 4 year old girl throwing away her trash. Being 4, she missed, and Oscar says, “careful you little c*cksucker.” Skip knows everyone, including this girl’s father that’s not 5 paces way and carries with him Latin King tats and a reputation for being an eraser. Call a Mexican man’s daughter, innocent until 15, a c*cksucker and you’ll be beaten and tossed onto the Dan Ryan to die like a dog. Skip, hearing everything, runs a nice bit of interference and keeps everyone alive and out of jail. I love this guy. You can find him most days at the stand with his wife and kids.

1:24 of monster beat, then, If it keeps on raining levees gonna break.

crying won't help ya, praying won't do ya no good

All last night I sat on the levee and moaned. whoya whoya

goin to Chicago

that's Mayo on the harmonica.

Robert Johnson. Although he probably didn't write the lyric either.

Nice read Mayo.

indeed it is. Makes me miss the city even more.

So Mayo, which artist were you quoting?

The thing about the blues is that those cats were always 'rippin off' eachothers lines and licks, thats part of what makes the blues so great...

True that, man. I'm actually in a blues-rock band, and the deeper I dig into the blues, the more and more repeated stuff I find, and the more songs I find out are rough covers of others. Truly a folk art.

I'm goin to send you back to schoolin
Way down inside, honey you need it

Gentlemen please, that's Led Zepplin, When The Levee Breaks from Untitled or Zoso depending...If the quote found you at a loss get your toasted culo over to wherever you buy cds and get a copy. Do it today. Skip Black Dog, skip Stairway, and skip Rock and Roll. Just to get in the mood, start with The Battle of Evermore, then turn it up as loud as you can and start When The Levee Breaks. Play it until it's burned into your memory cells. You can thank me later.

Yo, Mayo..you've made more than a few references to Bill Kurtis. Whats your profession?

Don't work for Bill (right), we're just friends, don't work for Billy (left) either, we's kin, as for Candy Striper, no clue.