It's the Fourth of July weekend here in the USA, so we're taking the day off.

Be sure to catch our next show on July 19th!

--Lisa & Joe

Tonight we visit one of our very favorite restaurants of all time: Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant and Pub in Arlington Heights. And it's about time, too... we certainly go there enough. :-) So pull up a bar stool, pour a Harp, and enjoy the comfort of an authentic Irish pub right here in our own town.

We follow that with Lisa's first adventure in making a blueberry pie from scratch. Yummmmm.

We love hearing from you! If you'd like to tell us about your dining experiences in your town (or anything else that's on your mind), please write to us at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or leave a message at 206 203-3283!

"Please Heart You're Killing Me" is by Eleanor McEvoy. "Love" is by The Dream Academy.

This episode's running time: 31:26.

Summer '08 is here in our hemisphere, and it's time to get out there for some Cheap Date goodness!  Join us on the patio for a glass of Zolo Torrontes, this week's restaurant review, and some recommendations for upcoming events...

First off, we share our thoughts about Gumrai Thai, a relatively new restaurant in downtown Arlington Heights.

Then, we talk about two bike rides in which we took part: Bike the Drive and The Miller Lite Ride for the Arts.

We round out the show with some of our favorite, cheap, Summertime things-to-do, including the Arlington Heights Evening Music Programs, Frontier Days, Capannari's Ice Cream Family Nights, and Elk Grove Village's Rotary Fest.

Something you'd like to share?  Send your throughts to cheapdateshow@gmail.com or leave a voice mail at 206 203-3283.

"Summer's Cauldron" and "Grass" are by the fabulous XTC. 

This episode's running time: 32:34.

In Vino Veritas, as they say.  No, this is not an excuse for us to drink and 'cast, it's a recap of our visit to Southwestern Michigan's Harbor Country where we sampled some great wine and enjoyed some wonderful food over a beautiful spring weekend.

Come along with us as we tell you about the Tabor Hill Winery, Redamak's, Red Arrow Roadhouse, Brewster's Italian Cafe, and Ozzie's Eatery.  And if you're still hungry after all that, there's no hope for you at all. :-)

We'd also like to welcome our new listeners who discovered us theough the article that appeared in The Daily Herald--  here's a link to the piece at the Herald's sister site, beepcentral.com!

Happy Memorial Day weekend to our listeners across the US-- Summer is officially underway!

The part of the Chocolate Torte in this episode was played by pastry from Urban Harvest.

Tell us what's on your mind-- send us e-mail at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or leave a voice mail at 206 203-3283. We love your feedback!

"Listen to the Music" is by The Doobie Brothers, from a 1979 Soundstage TV appearance.  Party on.

This episode's running time: 26:48.

Lisa has returned, and everything is back to normal.  Well, sorta. :-)

This time around we enjoy an amazing breakfast at the L&L Snack Shop in Des Plaines, Illinois.  Listen to the show for all the delicious, not-exactly-lo-cal details! 

L&L Snack Shop is at 456 E Northwest Highway in Des Plaines, 847 803-6767.

We also follow up on what you call the drink made of many drinks, and we do a mini-review of a new candy from the Mars people: Mint Crisp M&Ms.

We love your feedback!  Send us e-mail at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or leave a voice mail at 206 203-3283.

"Ja Sei Namorar" is by Tribalistas.  "Love" is by The Dream Academy.

This episode's running time: 27:00.

This week's show is actually two podcasts in one, kind of like what they used to say on the old Certs commercial.

First, you'll join us for the most recent episode of Discover Woodfield! as we visit the 15th Annual Original Chef's Fest at the Arlington International Racecourse. This is our Third Annual visit to the Fest, and once again our pals Liz and Bob accompany us along with Becka and Emma.   Lots of food and fun, as well as some sweet Barbershop singing from The Arlingtones.

Then we announce the winners of our "Favorite Cheap Date" contest and read some of the entries.  We had tons of responses, so thank you all for participating!

Lisa is feeling under the weather this week, so Joe is your cruise director for this episode. Or maybe he's more like Gopher, your yeoman purser.  :-)  At least there are no Kermodian rants this time around.

"Keep The Whole World Singing" and "Stout-Hearted Man" are  performed by The Arlingtones, who provided live entertainment during Chef's Fest.

Thanks again for your feedback and comments!  As always, you can reach us at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or on our voice mail line at 206 203-3283.

This episode's running time: 26:04

We're on the road this week, so join us as we talk about the great time we had at Club Lucky in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood.

Don't forget to send in your entry to the Cheap Date Contest-- there's still time!  Just tell us about your favorite Cheap Date-- whatever it is, wherever it is--- and we'll draw two entries who will each win a brand-new 2 GB iPod Shuffle!

Send your entry to cheapdateshow@gmail.com with "Contest" as the subject line.  The final day to submit your entry is this coming Friday, April 18, 2008, and we'll announce the winners on our April 26th Cheap Date Show!

And as always, please keep those comments coming! You can reach us at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or leave a voice mail at 206 203-3283. Your feedback makes this show even better, we promise. :-)

"Oh Babe, What Would You Say?" is by Norman "Hurricane" Smith.

This episode's running time: 22:29

Chocolate, peppers, and... bacon??  Tune in to hear about the fabulous Easter candy we scored from Vosges Haut Chocolat and Anderson's Candy Shop, both of which are internet-ready sources for chocolate goodness.

We also talk a bit about our first anniversary and the pizza at Chicago's legendary Lou Malnati's, which is also available through the web.

There's still time to enter our fabulous contest!  Just send us your favorite date idea and we'll draw two winners for brand-new 2 GB iPod Shuffles! We'll announce the names on our April 26 2008 show, so send your entry to cheapdateshow@gmail.com and be sure to put the word "Contest" in the subject line.

Send us feedback at cheapdateshow@gmail.com or leave us a voice mail at 206 203-3283.  We love hearing from you!

This episode's running time: 28:54

"Reciting Shakespeare" is by Dundrearies.

"Love" is by The Dream Academy.

It's not what you think-- but it is another fabulous episode of the Cheap Date Show!

We talk about our experience watching a taping of NPR's "Wait Wait Don't Tell Me," and then we share our dining adventure at Thai Urban Kitchen in Chicago. Listen carefully to Lisa's description of the tofu. :-)

We also review the new General Foods On-The-Go "coffeehouse" drink mixes, and then Joe shares his breakfast experiment: french toast made with Irish Soda Bread.

Don't forget to enter our contest to win one of two brand new iPod Shuffles! Just send us your favorite date idea and we'll draw two winners and announce them on our April 26 2008 show! Send your entry to cheapdateshow@gmail.com and be sure to put the word "Contest" in the subject line.

Drop us a voice mail with your comments! Dial 206 203-3283 and tell us what's on your mind!

This episode's running time: 22:14.

"Tuesday Morning" is by The Pogues.

That's "A Nonstop Parade of Deliciously Seasoned Meats," yo.  Join us as we visit Texas de Brazil in Schaumburg, where Lisa had her very first experience with a churrascaria.  Mmmmm... meeeaat.

Joe talks about his visit to Palo Alto and offers some thoughts on Evvia Estiatorio and La Bodeguita del Medio, two really cool places with great food.

Then, Lisa describes the birthday breakfast she made for Joe, including this awesome Spicy Mocha. 

That oughta explain why we've been at the gym all week.

We (heart) your feedback!  Drop us a note at cheapdateshow@gmail.com, or leave a voice mail at 206 203-3283. 

This episode's running time: 31:52

"Pascifica" is by Los Straitjackets.