In the middle of March, Kyle and I took a trip out to Chicago. We were already planning on going to Indiana to help sing happy birthday to Kyle's Grandma Sabie for her 90th birthday, and we thought, why not stop by Chicago on our way in?
Chicago was a blast. We were very lucky with the weather. It was 50 degrees for the three days we were there, very little wind, and no snow or rain to speak of. Our hotel was right on the corner of St. Clair and Ontario, walking distance to Michigan Ave. and the Magnificent mile. We spent 2 days walking around town, seeing the sites, and eating our way through Chicago.
Our first day in Chicago, we got up and took the Red Line down to Wrigley field. For all of you baseball fans, it is just as you have imagined it. The Wrigley sign, the snow on the field...what? Yup! That was the coolest part. They had the side gates open and were cleaning all the snow off the field. We took a peak inside and were able to snap a shot right before the security guard told us we had gone far enough. We found a local irish pub in the area - you can throw a rock and hit five or ten of them with your eyes closed - and had great grub for lunch. I don't know if it was because we were on vacation, or starving for food, or in Chicago or what, but I had the best pepperjack cheeseburger and ice cold beer I've ever had at 11:00am. Yum.
After Wrigley, we took the Red Line back passed our hotel a few miles so we could take the afternoon to walk through town back to our hotel. We walked through Grant Park and Monument Park, saw the architecture art on display, and walked Navy Pier. We even made it to the Hancock lounge to watch the sunset from 96 stories up. Mental note - if you go to the Hancock building, don't go to the observatory. Save your money and go to the lounge instead. It's free to get in, and the money you would have spent to buy your ticket can buy you a few good cocktails instead.
That night we had a fabulous dinner at Giordano's. Best darn deep dish pizza ever! Kyle and I ordered a small and barely ate two pieces each. I think before we go back to Chicago, we need to prep our stomachs ahead of time to get ready for all the really great food we are going to eat.
The next day, our only plan was to walk around town and see all the stuff we missed the day before. Ha. We stayed close to Michigan Avenue and walked up and down to see all the stores, boutiques and shops it had to offer. We did make it to Portillo's for lunch and had the best italian beef sandwiches. I think after walking a few miles before lunch, anything you eat is "the best you've ever had", but it's true. That evening we had dinner at Hugo's Bar/Gibsons steakhouse. We had great steak, delicious wine, and the biggest ice cream mud pie concoction that I've ever seen. We of course tried to eat the whole thing and failed miserably. Since it was St. Patty's weekend, a "marching band" of sorts came through the restaurant while we were eating. It was a bag-pipe marching band, with men in kilts and the whole bit! It was a great way to end our dinner.
That night we didn't feel like going home just yet, so we walked around town and wound back up in the Hancock lounge. The view from there at night is amazing. The city looks so quiet and peaceful from 96 floors up. It was a great way to say good-bye to a fun city.
The next morning we drove over to Indiana to spend a few days at Grandma's house. Grandma was in the hospital, but no matter, we took the party to her instead! We talked, we sang, we ate cake and had a great time. The best part of all is that Grandma Sabie was able to come home the day before we left. All of her children pitched in to buy her a new leather recliner for her birthday and she loved it. Cheers to Grandma, cheers to Chicago, and cheers to our trip...until we get to go back there again.
