Restaurant Review: Old Towne Pub and Eatery

Walking into Old Towne Pub, you immediately feel at home, as though when you walked through the door, you’d be pleasantly greeted with a “Hey, Norm!” The dress is casual – no ties required – which really sets the tone for the atmosphere. A wood and brick interior reminds you that you are in a real, old-fashioned pub.

As I took a seat at one of their high-top tables, the smell of popcorn from the back corner begged my nose to meet my stomach half-way. I was there for the menu food though, so the popcorn would have to wait. Within moments of my taking a seat, my friendly waitress greeted me and asked how I was, welcoming me and making me happy.

I ordered some appetizers – the combo if I remember correctly. I had always thought that appetizers were supposed to be a small warm-up, but be prepared: These appetizers mean business. When the meals arrived, I was, admittedly, intimidated (in a good way, trust me). The portions are fantastic; just make sure you’ve brought your appetite. I had their turkey Reuben, and I was reminded of what a sandwich is supposed to be: Plenty of meat, plenty of dressing and condiments. I also had their brat, and as a man who enjoys his brats, I was not disappointed at all. On the side, I tried some of their salsa with chips, both fresh and tasty, and, of course, French fries.

I paid my bill, which was more than reasonable, and took off. As I walked out, I thanked my friendly waitress, but truthfully, it was my stomach that was doing the real thanking.

Pat Ryan is a recent graduate of the University of Illinois, majoring in broadcasting. Pat enjoys music and film and can usually be seen reading or writing in a local coffee shop.

This article first appeared in the August 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.

No Running!

Do you think a lifeguards sole job is blowing that whistle and yelling “No Running”? Think again. After spending the afternoon with lifeguards Katie Kolzow, Kaci Deeter, Ryan McMillin, Ali Fuehring and Manager Dan Koska, I realized how little I know about what they do.

Most of us don’t realize that these lifeguards begin their training before school even lets out. While juggling finals, these safety pros are schooled in CPR, First Aid and go through intense water training exercises to learn or reinforce skills they have from past experience. The list of professional safety equipment that they use as well as the specific training exercises that they practice could fill a book. On top of this to keep those skills sharp, every week the lifeguards have a mandatory refresher course called “in-service”. Throughout the day the lifeguards work together through “Vigilance Awareness Tests” that stage possible pool scenarios to test their response time and skill training. No lifeguard is allowed to take his or her chair on any given day without practicing and successfully completing CPR drills.

When you and your loved ones spend a day at the pool, what’s on your mind? Nothing, you’re completely care-free! That’s because of the people atop the tall chairs, warning your kids not to run. The Sunset Pool lifeguards are there from open to close, making sure you and your family are safe, and as I’ve learned they are certainly well prepared for the task.

Many of the lifeguards have been working at Sunset for years and have formed a bond they refer to as “a sort of family”. Because of the amount of time this team spends together, they have become a very tight knit group. That’s a very good thing, because they need to trust each other unconditionally when a patron is in need. Many of the guards got the job because of family members that were guards or managers at Sunset in the past, making the “family” comparison a bit more literal than figurative.

After learning about all the training these guards endure and how strong a team they have become, I was happy to hear that the biggest danger they’ve had to face this summer was sunburn. So next time you’re at the pool, you can rest easy knowing that the extremely well-prepared lifeguards of the Sunset Pool are keeping a watchful eye over you and your loved ones.

This article first appeared in the August 2008 issue of eGeneva Magazine.