We took a vacation over Labor Day to the greatest city in the United States. I have been dying to visit for so long, and Blakeley and Lee finally talked us into planning a trip! (Or was it the other way around? doesn't matter.) We were both prepared since reading this book and thinking we were know-it-alls:
Or was that just me? doesn't matter again
Our first plan was to take the overnight train from Memphis, which lasted a couple of days until we quickly bought plane tickets instead. I had super high expectations for the trip and assumed I would be let down, but I was absolutely not. I LOVED it there!!
Joe and I arrived Friday night and took the train to our hotel (not the best beginning to the trip, Joe's train neighbor had definitely urinated on himself and smelled horrible!) and tried to figure out what we should do.. We decided to go to the bar on top of the Hancock Tower, and when we got there we had to wait in line like Night at the Roxbury! We watched the man in front of us try to pay off the bouncer and get rejected, and then FINALLY made it inside. It was definitely worth the wait, the view was awesome!! The drinks were quite pricey so we each had one, checked out the view and left to go explore.
View from the top!
Overly excited to be in Chicago
My Moscow Mule.. Joe got a Pimm's Cup
We walked around Rush Street and tried to find Joe a hot dog (no luck) and then sat down at a place called Tavern on Rush to have some more drinks and do some people watching... VERY entertaining!
The next day we walked to Millennium Park, did a little Zumba, and checked out the bean and the gardens before we got on a bus to go to The Houndstooth bar to watch the Alabama game in Wrigleyville with Renee and Poindexter. We walked in the bar and immediately knew half of the people in there - so random! I got to drink yellowhammers and we waited on Christine and Sarah Blake to meet us so we could go to our boat tour at Navy Pier.
The Bean!
Me doing Zumba in the Park
My favorite thing I have ever seen - people doing segway tours! HAHAHHAAH!!!! What nerds!! (I was 100% jealous)
It decided to rain for the hour our boat tour was, but no problem, they were selling ponchos and beer! We learned about architecture and some Chicago history. It was lots of fun.
Ready to learn
Our walk home in ponchos
After the tour we walked home to get ready for our fancy dinner reservations at Gibson's Steakhouse. The food was so delicious, and we dined sitting between Jay Sean and Jesse Jackson!
Me and Joe's Chicago cut steak.. this thing was HUGE!!
Being super cool and taking a picture "with" Jesse Jackson
After dinner we went to a piano bar and stayed out a little too late...
Howl at the Moon
The next day we walked to Millennium Park so Sarah Blake could see it, and then we went to Wrigleyville to meet everyone for brunch at Uncommon Ground before the Cubs game. We had some awesome bloody mary's with some kind of worchestire salt rim, and Blakeley and Lee were very Chicago-ey and ordered "sidecars" which is just a glass of beer- I think its an excuse to have more than one drink at a time..
Sarah Blake got jealous of their sidecars and got herself one... she was very happy about it!
We went to the game and Joe immediately ate two hot dogs and we found some seats to watch the Cubs win! There were some superfans sitting around us who do not miss a game and were recording stats (or something.) Intense
So happy to be at Wrigley Field!
Being scared of fly balls. All bigger pictures are courtesy of Blakeley Nash photography..AND Christine!
After the game we went to the "Cubby Bear" which quickly turned into a "club" scene at around 4 pm - we were not feeling it! We went to meet Renee for a barbecue at her friends apartment and learned some new local Chicago drinking games. We also met a famous person who will be in a movie with Rachel McAdams in February! No I do not remember her name.
At the Cubby Bear
After this, we decided to go meet Sarah Blake and Christine at Gino's to try deep dish pizza. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that Gino's is byob, so we quickly found a liquor store and got some wine. We couldn't believe how good the pizza was, none of us thought we would like it! Now Joe wishes he could get it in Oxford... Someone told me that you can order it online and they will ship it from Chicago! Oh technology
Gino's East
Joe thinks it tastes like "pizza cake"
The next day we went back to Millennium Park so Christine could see it (I was a Millennium Park professional at this point) and then went to eat brunch with Taylor and Zac. After all of this we were getting pretty tired and decided to spend the rest of the day shopping on Michigan Avenue on the Magnificient Mile. After Sarah Blake and Christine left for the airport, Joe and I went back to Millennium Park and ate a Chicago dog and watched all of the people and action around the bean. We did NOT want to leave but finally we had to :( We got some Garrett Popcorn and ate it in the airport. It may have been the best Labor Day weekend ever!
My first Chicago dog, yummy!
So sad to leave my favorite city, and ready for another trip!!!
