Chicago Day #2 and #3

Day Two- Chinatown, Greek Town and Shedd Aquarium

JP and I took the L everywhere around Chicago. It was great cheap and on time transportation. It makes me think that someday when the LRT in Minneapolis can actually connect suburbs and cities we might actually be able to get rid of our car.

This was a beautiful welcome sign when we entered Chinatown. It was great exploring the shops...I was getting low on shoes and was able to purchase two really neat pairs. I also got a great print for our living room wall. Stopped for a small snack of veggie dumplings, crab won tons and pork pot stickers.

After Chinatown we took the L to Greektown. We weren't really sure where it was so we ended up walking a few blocks before we hit a great little eatery. We were both so exhausted that we ordered a beer and just relaxed. We bought two bottles of wine from the restaurant that had been directly imported from Greece. Then we walked over to this bakery for some sweets. Pictured above are some of the great items we bought there.

That night we went to here jazz music at the Shed Aquarium. This happens every Thursday. It's $10 to get in and most of the exhibits are open. The jazz was great and truly complimented the atmosphere. The coral reef was my favorite part...amazing colors.

This is what Chicago looked like as we were heading back into the city to our hotel. JP and I walked along the water's edge to Navy Pier and then cut back in. What a beautiful night.

Day Three-Taste of Chicago and Pizza

JP and I got to The Taste around 11:00 on Friday. We headed right to the cooking tent and watched a little cooking demonstration by the chef from the Chicago Botanical Gardens. The shot above is right off Lake Michigan.

Our first "taste" was a fried plantain and steak sandwich with garlic mayo. Wow! Talk about amazing... It was one of the best mini sandwiches I've ever had. We also tried some mango chutney fries.

After The Taste JP and I took an architectural boat cruise with some of JP's friends. Then we all headed to Pizzeria Due. Talk about a packed place...We waited about an hour for pizza and a seat, but man was it worth it. I seriously think it was the best deep dish pizza I've ever had. A friend had told me to go to Gino's East, but it was the 4th and all places were packed so we just stuck it out.

Thursday and Friday were both long and wonderful days. I think we walked a minimum of 6 miles a day around the city. It was hot and humid, but that didn't keep us down. We were two crazy ladies on the town.

Fake Day One---Chicago

Dinner Wednesday night of sushi and noodles....

We drove down Tuesday night and stayed at my cousin Lynn's house in Milwaukee. Wednesday we woke up and drove into downtown Chicago and checked into our room at the Homewood Suites. The room had a kitchenette, living room, bedroom and bathroom. We got comfortable unpacked and decided to start walkin the town. We walked along the river for a while and then stopped to get a beer at a cafe.

Later we walked to Navy Pier (picture above) listened to some music and just relaxed. Later on the way back to we picked up some sushi and noodles and cocktail makins' and headed back to our room. We had a light super and then left on the L to JP's friend's BG and his girlfriend L's place north of Chicago. We got there around 6:30 and traveled by car to Evanston. There we met L's sister and her boyfriend. We sat lake side for some of the best fireworks I honestly have ever seen. We then went to Wrigleyville for some late night snacks of fries and pie a la mode. It was a great little punk diner with veggie food and a great atmosphere. Overall day 1 ranked at an A+. JP and I were exhausted and fell into bed at the end of the night.

Stay tuned for day 2!

Gettin' Ready

Chicago it's almost here. Tomorrow my friend JP and I leave for our whirlwind trip to Chicago. We'll drive down Tuesday to Milwaukee and stay with my cousin LW overnight. And then...Chicago!! More on that to come later.

Had a great weekend. Friday hung out with the Gacek clan. Had dinner and then hung out in the backyard with SS. Tim and SS built a garden fence. CG and Tim played ladder golf. SG and I held the twins and got a ton of bug bites. But it was all worth it for a wonderful night outside. We closed the evening with the German (original) version of Settlers of Catan, which Steve found at Savers and kindly donated to our game collection. MS and her friend Toni showed up later and the ladies talked while the boys played.

Saturday I met Teresa for coffee in the am. Then I picked Ms. Eleanor up for some auntie time. She spent some time with us smiling and cooing. I got some great pic of her that I'll post later. Saturday evening we went to MW and RW's house for a BBQ. We were the first ones there and last ones to leave. After numerous games of ladder golf and crochet we ended the night with a handy game of Frisbee.

Sunday woke up at 11. Yes, that's right friends, Sarah Dallum slept in. An occurrence that normally never happens to this vibrant creature. Once every three years when the moon is full the SD creeps into a hole of sleepiness and her husband wakes up first. Crazy! Most people wait their lifetimes to see it. Anyways, I woke up and Tim was downstairs playing Zelda. I gardened for most of the afternoon. We were supposed to go to the beach with the Suss/Christopher clan, but would have cut it close with our plans for dinner at J&D's. So, I finished gardening and we went over to J&D's for a splendid dinner of homemade pesto, salad, and strawberry shortcake. It was a beautiful evening so beautiful that we totally lost track of time and stayed till 10.

Today I feel like I could have used a couple of extra hours of sleep, but this week will be pretty quiet in the office so I'm not too worried.

Chat more later.