After a bunch of delays and mishaps, this trip finally got off the ground (although for the first 12 hours, Valerie's and Katherine's planes did not). All of us dutifully showed up at the airport on Friday night: Adam flew in from San Juan, Valerie flew in from Columbus, and Katherine from Washington, D.C. I walked on a plane at 4:45 and had a nice five hour trip to Chicago. Valerie showed up at the airport about twelve hours later (Thanks AA!). Katherine got in on Saturday night (see her story here) but rallied for a late night dinner.
Our initial impression: we like Chicago. It is like New York in size and status --
[view from Hancock Tower]-- but a little lower key, a little more neighborhoody. In other words, its a place where people can afford to live without working 14 hours a day. After dinner and beers with Rob on Friday night, we went to pick up Valerie early Saturday morning. Rob -- the ever-gracious host -- drove us around Chicago for a few hours. He really has a second career awaiting him as a tour guide.
We got home and went to Ann Sather for breakfast where we tried some very tasty lingonberry pancakes and cinnamon rolls drenched in frosting. Next, we went down to the Chicago Blues Festival.
Chicago is one of the main centers of blues in the United States - largely as a result of the northward migration of people from the Mississippi River delta. The festival was a lot of fun - Chicago is well known for its festivals - it was just as much about food stands and vendors as the music. That being said, the music was pretty cool.
[This guy - a Louisiana bluesman - is named Drink Little. No kidding.]
While we were there, Rob and I decided to hoist a really large hot dog, another thing for which Chicago is well known:
(Ingredients of a Chicago hotdog: a poppy seed bun, hot dog, tomatoes, onions, a pickle, mustard, celery salt, sport pepper.)
After the blues festival, we walked over and saw Buckingham Fountain (notorious as the fountain that appeared in 1980s sitcom Married with Children):
Next we went to Millennium Park. We're big fans of large outdoor sculpture gardens - there is a beautiful one in Washington, D.C., and the Rodin Museum in Paris is also really cool. One of the coolest things in the park is a fountain where you can take off your shoes and cool your feet, which is surprisingly refreshing.
We also hit the amphitheatre:
(The sculpture in the background was designed by Frank Gehry.)
And this thing:
Which made me hungry for Jelly Belly jellybeans, and Valerie hungry for frijoles! Next, we walked around downtown Chicago, by the river:
(Us in front of the Chicago River)
Afterwards, we went to the Hancock Tower - the indoor time was much needed, after a few hours of walking around in the sun (Adam turned into a strawberry by the end of the day). Hancock Tower is the third tallest tower in Chicago, and is well-known for the bar and restaurant at the top - so we got in for free! The views are incredible - probably even better than the Sears Tower, and you can see all the way to the outskirts of the city!
(View from Hancock Tower of the city and lake Michigan)
We got home and went to Ann Sather for breakfast where we tried some very tasty lingonberry pancakes and cinnamon rolls drenched in frosting. Next, we went down to the Chicago Blues Festival.
Chicago is one of the main centers of blues in the United States - largely as a result of the northward migration of people from the Mississippi River delta. The festival was a lot of fun - Chicago is well known for its festivals - it was just as much about food stands and vendors as the music. That being said, the music was pretty cool.
[This guy - a Louisiana bluesman - is named Drink Little. No kidding.]
While we were there, Rob and I decided to hoist a really large hot dog, another thing for which Chicago is well known:
(Ingredients of a Chicago hotdog: a poppy seed bun, hot dog, tomatoes, onions, a pickle, mustard, celery salt, sport pepper.)After the blues festival, we walked over and saw Buckingham Fountain (notorious as the fountain that appeared in 1980s sitcom Married with Children):
Next we went to Millennium Park. We're big fans of large outdoor sculpture gardens - there is a beautiful one in Washington, D.C., and the Rodin Museum in Paris is also really cool. One of the coolest things in the park is a fountain where you can take off your shoes and cool your feet, which is surprisingly refreshing.
(Our feet in the pool cooling off.)
We also hit the amphitheatre:
(The sculpture in the background was designed by Frank Gehry.)
Which made me hungry for Jelly Belly jellybeans, and Valerie hungry for frijoles! Next, we walked around downtown Chicago, by the river:
(Us in front of the Chicago River)Afterwards, we went to the Hancock Tower - the indoor time was much needed, after a few hours of walking around in the sun (Adam turned into a strawberry by the end of the day). Hancock Tower is the third tallest tower in Chicago, and is well-known for the bar and restaurant at the top - so we got in for free! The views are incredible - probably even better than the Sears Tower, and you can see all the way to the outskirts of the city!
(View from Hancock Tower of the city and lake Michigan)Afterwards, we decided to do a little shopping: the Crate and Barrel headquarters, a two floor REI (backpacks for China), Eddie Bauer, Williams and Sonoma - lots of fun (although no purchases). Afterwards, we took the subway back to Katherine and Rob's place in Lakeview - a really hip neighborhood with cool bars, restaurants, and a doog boutique that caught Valerie's eye. Rob went to fetch Kat from the airport, while we cooled down in their townhouse. Kat finally arrived, and after a few drinks and some guacamole, we headed to dinner at Le Colonial -- a French Vietnamese restaurant with very tasty food.
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(A picture of Rob, Katherine, Adam, and Valerie outside the restaurant)
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(A picture of Rob, Katherine, Adam, and Valerie outside the restaurant)Sadly though, Chicago is far away from our homes. So the next day we rolled out of bed late, had breakfast, and headed home.
On the way home, I had a triumph of strength (cue theme from Rocky). The scene: Newark Airport. The challenge: make it from Gate A23 (far south side of the airport) to Gate C123 (far North Side). The contestant: a stocky jew with a backpack filled with dirty clothes and a bag of cherries. The prize: not having to spend the night on an airport bench.
And they're off! Adam is bounding up the jetway, knocking people over left and right. He runs, catches the shuttle where he plots his next move. As soon as he gets to Gate C71 he runs up the stairs. Passersby notice a blur of brown and black as Adam, arms flailing, approaches the gate yelling "stop! stop! I'm here, I'm here!" The gate attendant is locking the door, the airplane hatch is already sealed: will they let him on? Time is running down....and he makes it!
If that dramatization doesn't get your blood rushing, just think: my plane arrived at 8:42. I made an 8:50 flight. On the other side of Newark airport. Oh yeah!
Next time: Valerie's in Florida, Adam's back in PR, and the doog is at the pool, sipping a Bovril cocktail.
On the way home, I had a triumph of strength (cue theme from Rocky). The scene: Newark Airport. The challenge: make it from Gate A23 (far south side of the airport) to Gate C123 (far North Side). The contestant: a stocky jew with a backpack filled with dirty clothes and a bag of cherries. The prize: not having to spend the night on an airport bench.
And they're off! Adam is bounding up the jetway, knocking people over left and right. He runs, catches the shuttle where he plots his next move. As soon as he gets to Gate C71 he runs up the stairs. Passersby notice a blur of brown and black as Adam, arms flailing, approaches the gate yelling "stop! stop! I'm here, I'm here!" The gate attendant is locking the door, the airplane hatch is already sealed: will they let him on? Time is running down....and he makes it!
If that dramatization doesn't get your blood rushing, just think: my plane arrived at 8:42. I made an 8:50 flight. On the other side of Newark airport. Oh yeah!
Next time: Valerie's in Florida, Adam's back in PR, and the doog is at the pool, sipping a Bovril cocktail.
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2 comments:
Yea! You made your connection. I'm so impressed. And I literally cracked up at that hot dog picture. Awesomeness. Thanks so much for visiting!!!!
Your forgot to mention my awesome photography skills! BTW - I think his name was Drink Small.
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