Author Archives: Ellen Ross

Surf’s Up!

Now that the Chicago weather is gray and gloomy, it’s time for me to grab my bikini and head for my favorite beach. Movies, I mean. Sun, surf, sand, dune buggies, beach houses, surfboards, bonfires, Dick Dale and the battle … Continue reading

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Posted in Movies, Nostalgia, pop culture | 8 Comments

Scents and Sensability

Do you remember owning a bottle of this?  Or giving one to your mother perhaps? And hey, boys.  Do you remember buying these?                         Do the names “Jade East” … Continue reading

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Posted in New Trier High School, Nostalgia, Perfume, pop culture | 24 Comments

The Chairman

Author’s Note: This post is dedicated to Bernie Kerman.  Ring-a-ding-ding, baby. As you undoubtedly know by now, this Saturday, December 12, marks the hundredth birthday of Francis Albert Sinatra. Born in Hoboken, New Jersey, he died on May 14, 1998 … Continue reading

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Posted in Chicago, Music, Palm Springs, pop culture, Restaurants | 14 Comments

Marinara

Hi, Dear Readers. It’s great to be back.  Hope you all had a marvelous holiday.  I sure did. I went to Seattle to visit my son, Nick, his beauteous wife Missy and the love of my son’s life, Lucy, their … Continue reading

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Posted in Cooking, Seattle, Travel | 12 Comments

The Best Things in Life

IMPORTANT Letter From Elba Announcement.  Dear Readers, I will be playing hooky for the next few weeks.  My next post will be on Sunday, December 6. My birthday is this weekend- November 14 to be exact- and I have a three … Continue reading

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Posted in Blogging | 28 Comments

Benevolent

(Photograph by Kevin Gibson) Even if you live in Chicago, the chances are good that you have no idea where this photo was taken.  I’ll give you a hint.  I bet you’ve passed by its impressive exterior at least once. … Continue reading

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Posted in Chicago, Elks Club, Shopping | 14 Comments

Rear View Mirror

(Photograph by Linda Schwartz) This photograph was taken on October 12, 1990.  In case you don’t recognize us, that’s Nick Ross age 10 on the left, Natasha Ross age twelve on the right and Ellen Ross age none of your … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, Photography, pop culture | 8 Comments

Liar, Liar

There was sad news from the pop music world this week.  Cory Wells, one of the three singers in the band, Three Dog Night, had died in his sleep on October 20. (That’s Cory in the middle.) He, along with … Continue reading

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Posted in Memoir, Music, Nostalgia, pop culture, The 70's | 17 Comments

Birthday Boy

(Photograph by Henry X Arenberg) The guy with the uncharacteristically serious look on his face is our dad, Ben Roffe. The Year was 1989- which made him seventy years old at the time this picture was taken. The Place- Bub … Continue reading

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Posted in Ben Roffe, pop culture, Tributes | 14 Comments

“Wild” by Ellen Strayed

Ever since I moved back to the city of Chicago, I have been on a kick. It’s called walking. I walk everywhere.  It started as a good way to see my brand new neighborhood and get some exercise at the … Continue reading

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Posted in Chicago, Memoir, pop culture | 13 Comments