This past Sunday, March 5^th, we had the pleasure of being a part of the 2017 St. Patrick’s Day Family Parade in Countryside. We drove a Cubs Toyota Tundra that was fully decorated for the theme, and were surrounded by vehicles from our dealer family, such as Continental Honda and Continental Mitsubishi.

We drove by multiple houses and saw lots of families and children enjoying the parade. Several dogs were being walked in front of us, and the children were very excited about seeing them and petting them. Since we were driving a Cubs vehicle, we played the ‘Go, Cubs, Go’ song, and had many people singing along. We also handed out Toyota tote bags, which came in handy considering all the candy that was being passed out.

Given that it is a St. Patrick’s Day parade, we saw a lot of people dressed up in all-green attire, as well as younger girls wearing a traditional Irish dancer costume. We also saw lots of green Blackhawks jerseys, as well as Southpaw, the White Sox’s mascot.

Overall, we had a great experience at the Parade and enjoyed the time we spent with families and other local businesses celebrating this holiday. To check out the videos of our experience, follow us on Facebook!

Last week we told you what we were expecting at the 2017 Chicago Auto Show, and now we can show you everything we saw! The Toyota display was full of great cars and an amazing customer experience. The test track showed you how great our Toyota RAV4 and Toyota Highlander handle different weather conditions, and the green screens allowed you to take photos looking like the adventurer you are.

Toyota had some concept vehicles that definitely look like something from the future. They had a revamped Toyota Corolla that was showcased at SEMA in Las Vegas, a few cars from Toyota Racing, and all the Prius models. They also had a virtual reality experience where you could learn and experience everything about the Toyota Safety Sense while a dummy ‘drove’ you around town.

The icing on the cake, though, had to be the 2018 Toyota Camry and Toyota C-HR. Customers finally got an opportunity to get close and personal to the new models making a debut later this year. The Toyota Camry was completely redesigned and we must say it looks spectacular! As for the Toyota C-HR, it is the perfect SUV for someone looking for all of the perks of an SUV, but in a more compact car. Both of the C-HR models present at the Auto Show had a two-tone exterior. Toyota is giving the opportunity to customers to have a fun car that they can customize so it looks more unique.

Check out some of the pictures of the Auto Show below and on our Facebook page, including videos of our Chicago Auto Show experience.

Our team is the best, and we do everything in our power to celebrate our beloved Bears. One of the most treasured pastimes is the tailgater. If you are going to tailgate this season, you have to do it like a true Chicagoan. Allow us to help you prep for your next epic tailgater in Chicago.

Chicago is the Best Place to Tailgate in the Nation

In 2014, FOX News published its list of the best tailgating locations, and Chicago made the top 10. Chicago tailgates also ranked eighth among the most searched tailgates in the NFL.

What You Need to Know About Tailgating at Soldier Field

This year is the year you will plan your own tailgater at the Field, and we can help you with a few tips.

• Tailgating is allowed on top of Waldron Deck and in all surface lots at the Field.
• The parking lots open four hours before the game starts, and all vehicles must be out of all the parking lots within two hours of the game’s end.
• Make sure you have obtained a parking coupon prior to showing up to the Field.
• If you have alcohol, it is not allowed in family-friendly lots.
• You cannot bring tents, canopies, inflatable toys, or deep fryers to the tailgate.

Top Things to Bring to a Bears Tailgater

We polled a few tailgate veterans and created a list of the top things to have at your first Bears tailgater.

• Epic food, which must include a burger between two grilled Krispy Kreme donuts
• Bears regalia, blankets, and paint
• Warm beverages
• Water
• Games to keep the fun going for hours
• Coolers, tables and chairs

 Now that you have planned your tailgater, we can think of a group of people to help you test out your tailgating skills.

When you commute in and around Chicago, you might have your own answer to that question. When it comes to good drivers in the area, does it ever feel like you are the only one? Well, you might be right. Apparently, Chicago’s drivers are some of the worst in the nation. Were you surprised?

What is the Cost of Bad Drivers?

Bad drivers cost you a lot more than your sanity and anti-anxiety remedies. Bad drivers are tearing up our streets, raising car insurance rates, causing accidents, and taking money out of our wallets every year.

WalletHub.com said traffic congestion is costing us about $124 billion every year, which breaks down to $1700 per household, but that’s not all. We shell out more than $500 per year in maintenance and repairs on our cars, thanks to the bad roads in the US.

Chicago Drivers are 8^th-Worst in the Nation. Doh!

Congrats, Chicago. We ranked in the top ten for the worst drivers in the nation among 100 of the most populous cities in the US, according to WalletHub.com. According to the site, Chicago has some of the highest parking rates in the nation and highest maintenance costs.

The Chicago Tribune reports nearly 800 accidents occur in Illinois every day. In 2013, nearly half the amount of accidents in the state occurred in the Cook County area. In 2013, traffic accidents killed 130 people.

According to QuoteWizard.com, the average cost for insurance in Illinois is $731.23 per year. The rates are impacted primarily by driving conditions, road conditions, and weather conditions. In 2013, Chicago police wrote more than 211,000 traffic citations, the number of fatal accidents in 2013 was 124, and over 5% of drivers who requested quotes online from QuoteWizard.com disclosed violations on their driving records.

You can't visit Chicago without tasting our famous pizza. While known for the rich, deep-dish style, we also specialize in crispy thin crust. If you're really hungry, try a slice of the stuffed pizza pie! Whatever your preference, we have a crust for everyone. Here a just a few of Chicago's best pizza paces to get you started on your delicious journey.

Nancy's Pizza

Nancy's advertises as the “Original Inventors of the Stuffed Pizza”. Order the 2 ½ inch thick stuffed pizza and you'll have enough to eat for days. Nancy's stuffed pizza has two layers of crust, with sauce on top, then cheese and toppings stuffed between. Make sure to wear a bib!

My Pie

Enjoy a deep dish delight at My Pie in Bucktown. The crust is thick and crispy, with a special sauce and a recipe so secret that only the founder knows what is in it. My Pie has been open since 1971 and offers pizza by the whole pie or slice, so you can choose based on your appetite that day. We have a feeling one slice will not be enough once you get a taste!

Luigi's Pizza and Pasta

On the other end of the pizza spectrum, we have Luigi's, who is known for their thin crust. Don't worry though, you can get a scrumptious slice of deep dish here as well. The owner will not give away his secret sauce recipe, and has been in the pizza business his whole life, so he knows his stuff.

Santullo's Eatery

If you're looking to cheat a little, you can get Chicago's version of a New York style pizza at Santullo's. Not only are their pies delicious, they are affordable. Santullo's offers daily $2 special on slices of pepperoni, sausage or cheese. If you're feeling adventurous, try one of the popular pepper jack macaroni and cheese pizzas!

Is your mouth watering yet? This is just a taste of the pizza Chicago has to offer.

The Windy City is known for its food, art, music and culture, but you may not know that it is the birthplace of many famous people! True, many well-known people have lived in Chicago and call it their home, but they weren't all born here. Check out this impressive list of famous politicians, celebrities, entrepreneurs and more who were born in Chicago.

Ray Kroc

If it wasn't for this man, we wouldn't have The Golden Arches all over the world. Kroc is the man who joined McDonalds and turned it into the fast food empire that it is today. He learned his business savvy from having roots in Chicago.

Bill Murray

Still one of the funniest celebrities out there, Bill Murray was born in Chicago's North Side. After conquering Saturday Night Live, he went on to make the now legendary films Caddyshack, Stripes, Meatballs and Ghostbusters. He loves golfing so you may see him on some of Chicago's links.

Hillary Clinton

No matter what your political stance is, you have to applaud how far this 2016 presidential hopeful has come. Mrs. Clinton was born in 1947 in Chicago, and has gone on to make the city quite proud.

Pat Sajak

It's hard to remember a time when Wheel-of-Fortune wasn't on TV. This witty game show host was born in 1946 in Chicago. However, his birth name was actually Patrick Leonard Sajdak. I guess he forgot to take a “d” for $1,000!

Ted Kaczynski

Chicago is known for its history organized crime and gangsters like the infamous Al Capone. Unfortunately, it is the birthplace of another famed criminal, Ted Kaczynski, aka the “Unabomber”. He still remains one of the most famous villains of our time.

Walt Disney

Where would we be without Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, not to mention Space Mountain? Walt Disney started with his cartoons and they grew to become the colossal Disney empire that it is today. Born in Chicago in 1901, Walt Disney's contributions to the world of animation and imagination go unmatched to this day.