Two-for-one tickets for red-hot Thunderbolts

While the White Sox are desperately trying to stay in the playoff chase and the Cubs have long abandoned any such hopes, the Southland's very own Windy City Thunderbolts are in good position to clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth. The Thunderbolts have won 18 in a row at home and are in first place in the Frontier League East Division.

The Thunderbolts have six regular-season home games left at  Standard Bank Stadium (14011 S. Kenton Ave., Crestwood). Tomorrow and Wednesday night, when the Thunderbolts host division rival Oakland County, all tickets are Buy-One, Get-One-Free. If that's not enough, the first 250 fans will receive a free T-shirt on Tuesday and a free hat on Wednesday. And don't even get me started on "Thirsty Thursday" ... $1 domestic draft beer!

For more information, go to the team's website here.

Papa Damiani Pizza moves to northwest Indiana

Lou Damiani shows off the sign from the original location.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

Papa Damiani Pizza, a fixture in Dolton from 1957 until its closing in April, reopened a few weeks ago inside the North Woods restaurant at 8101 Wicker Ave. in St. John, Ind. For more information, visit http://www.northwoodsdining.com/ or check out their page on Facebook.

Bench Warmers closes in Lansing
Bench Warmers Sports Pub closed suddenly over the weekend at its longtime home at 3325 Ridge Road in Lansing. The location had been operated by a member of the same family since it opened as the Lansing Tap and Ridge Room in 1947.

Lansing Tap was renamed Bench Warmers in 1984 when Bill and Cheryl Last took over operations from his father. Cheryl’s son Tim Geeve took over the establishment a few years ago.

Bench Warmers reopened a few years ago after a fire almost destroyed the business.

Chinese restaurant changes name
Tan Chinese Kitchen at 312 N. LaGrange Road in Frankfort has reopened as Ocean Chinese restaurant. The phone number is 815-464-8896.

Grand opening celebration at Orland Wine
Orland Park Wine and Spirits is celebrating its grand opening this weekend at 8600 W. 159th St. in Orland Park with wine tastings, seminars and visits from Chicago sports legends. New owners took over the store back in February.

Former Chicago Bear Dan Hampton will be on hand from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday while former Blackhawks goalie Tony Esposito will be there from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, I’d call 708-460-4300. There is a website at http://www.orlandparkwineandspirits.com/ but it hasn’t been updated since July.

New name for Mokena restaurant

Golden Oak Restaurant and Waffle House in Mokena.

By Bob Bong
Southland Savvy

New owners recently acquired the former Kingsberry restaurant at 19845 S. LaGrange Road in Mokena and have renamed it Golden Oak Restaurant and Waffle House. It is still a breakfast and lunch place open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, call 708-478-4430.

New eats in Evergreen Park
The culinary offerings in Evergreen Park expanded this week.

Cavatappi, a brick-oven pizzeria and wine bar, opened for business on Monday at 3020 W. 95th St. in the former Mulchrone’s. For more information, call 708-576-3055.

And Taco Fresco, a Mexican carryout restaurant, opened recently at 3342 W. 95th St.

Vision group moves to Orland Park
Kirschner Vision Group recently moved its second office from Oak Forest to new digs at 7026 W. 159th St. in Orland Park. The main office remains in Homewood. For more information, visit its website at http://www.visionsource-kirschnervision.com/.

MMA academy opens in Mokena
Mandori Jiu Jitsu has opened at 10112 W. 191st St. in Mokena. The martial arts academy specializes in Brazilian jiu jitsu. For more information, call 708-478-3310.

Food 4 Less breaks ground in Chicago Heights
The long-awaited Food 4 Less grocery store in Chicago Heights moved a step closer this week when ground was broken on Monday to remodel the former Dominick’s Finer Foods at U.S. 30 and Western Avenue. The new store is part of Kroger Foods discount division, which now has stores in Oak Forest, Dolton, Alsip, Burbank, Joliet, Crest Hill, Hammond, Ind., and Chicago. The new store is expected to be ready by February.

Catching up
Michael Flamburis in March opened a Greek restaurant called It’s Greek To Me at 13119 S. LaGrange Road in Orland Park with plans to open an adjoining breakfast-lunch restaurant called Country Cottage Café a few weeks later. Those plans changed and the adjoining restaurant has since opened under the name Little Greek Cottage. The cottage like most breakfast-lunch places is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. with It’s Greek to Me open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call 708-923-1400.