Author Archives: Ellen Ross

A Bottle of Red, A Bottle of White

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Ellen Ross

The woman pictured above putting the serious chop on some vegetables is the eminent personification of abbondanza herself- Mamma Leone. Founder and culinary genius of the eponymous- but now shuttered- restaurant in New York. Her first customer was Enrico Caruso. … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, Restaurants | 23 Comments

Want Ad

Posted on June 4, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Attractive Man Wanted As Escort. Must Like Fireworks. Are you available for a fun-filled red, white and blue late afternoon bar-be-cue on Saturday, July Fourth? If so, DWF seeking DWM to accompany her to a family-centric, first birthday/holiday celebration at … Continue reading →

Posted in Dating, pop culture | 4 Comments

Welsh Witch

Posted on May 31, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Tuesday May 26 was Stevie Nicks’ 67th birthday. In honor of that milestone, let me take you all back to 1976. Here is her first appearance ever on television with Fleetwood Mac. They’re doing Rhiannon on the Midnight Special. Remember, this … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Nostalgia, pop culture, Television, Tributes | 6 Comments

Car Accident

Posted on May 28, 2015 by Ellen Ross

This post is dedicated to my friend John Yager. Fellow car enthusiast and a true connoisseur. In 1969, my new husband Billy gave my sixteen year old brother his car. Well, technically he sold it to him at an advantageous, “still … Continue reading →

Posted in Cars, pop culture | 22 Comments

Exit Plan

Posted on May 24, 2015 by Ellen Ross

This past Tuesday, May 19, would have been Nora Ephron’s 74th birthday. My heroine. Gone way too soon. But I read recently that she had kept a file on her computer labelled “Exit.” (She herself had pilfered the idea from … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Movies, pop culture, Tributes | 18 Comments

Diversity

Posted on May 21, 2015 by Ellen Ross

PC WARNING: This post was inspired by Louis C.K’s “mild racism” riff on last week’s SNL. It got me reminiscing. In case you aren’t from Chicago, this is Francis Parker School. From pre-K to high school, it is one of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Education, Memoir | 18 Comments

Salad Days

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Ellen Ross

At long last the temperature here in Chicago is forecast to hit 80 degrees today. Yeah! So my appestat automatically dials down to lighter fare. And that means only one thing. Salad. Whether it’s Caesar, chopped or spinning, I love … Continue reading →

Posted in food, Memoir, pop culture, Restaurants | 6 Comments

“Fuck You” Money

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Ellen Ross

This is the new Rolls-Royce Wraith. The Wraith is a V-12, 642 horsepower, two door sports coupe with 2+2 seating and suicide doors. It is controlled by an eight-speed automatic transmission. Combined fuel economy is fifteen miles per gallon. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Memoir, Money, Movies, Music, pop culture | 18 Comments

Casual Friday

Posted on May 10, 2015 by Ellen Ross

In case you can’t figure it out, that’s yours truly in the middle, Natasha Ross Tofias on the left and Nick Ross on the right. This photograph was taken Friday night at EJ’s Place by our dear friend Lili Ann … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Fashion, pop culture | 8 Comments

Carved In Stone

Posted on May 7, 2015 by Ellen Ross

Author’s Note: This post is dedicated to all our fathers. Today, May seventh, is the one year anniversary of our dad’s death. This is the stone that has just been put up to mark his grave. You’ll notice the words … Continue reading →

Posted in Grandparents, Memoir, Tributes | 22 Comments