My Kind of Town

In my own modern adaptation of "Goldilocks and the Three Cities," Las Vegas would be too "hot" (for temperature and trouble-making), New York would be too "cold" (for native personality and general pretentiousness) and Chicago would be juuuuuuust right.

Chicago Skyline at Night from Lake Michigan

Now, please don't get me wrong. I adore Las Vegas and New York and have been several times to each. I visit Vegas for the phenomenal shopping; it's like Disney World for grown ups, all bright and shimmering. I visit New York because it's our country's largest city, rich in history yet mysterious and wonderful - American culture on speed. Recently, however, I have fallen in love with Chicago, but it took me a while. The first time I travelled to Chicago I was dating J.T., and all I can remember from that trip is the bitter cold. Lesson learned: Don't visit Chicago in the winter months. For a girl from hot, humid Alabama, it was like taking a polar bear on a trip to the African Serengeti; I was totally out of my element climate-wise. On my second visit, it was a whirlwind trip for a road race where I merely played tag-a-long, so I didn't get to experience much of what the lakeside city had to offer. However, like most things in life, third time's the charm. I was officially hooked on the Windy City (Random fashion aside: It's not a great idea to wear skirts/dresses in the "city of wind gusts". You'll end up working way too hard keeping the fabric around your lower half and your modesty in check.).

Unlike New York and Las Vegas, which are overly exposed in movies and television shows, Chicago (at least for me) was shrouded in some mystery. I truly did not know what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised.

*EATS*

Chicago is one of the few cities I've visited in which I can honestly say I've NEVER had a bad meal. Every mouthful consumed in Chi-Town has been absolutely scrumptious, and my "must eat/must try" list grows with every trip.

"Must Eat"

• Rick Bayless' Topolobampo - Delicious cucumber mojitos and upscale Mexican food (Make reservations 6-8 weeks in advance.) Alfresco dining is a must for people-watching while you eat.
• Bandera - Their jalapeno & cheese cornbread is to die for. 
• Howells & Hood (located in the Tribune Building) - Famous for their enormous beer selection; but the food is yummy, upscale American (lobster rolls, gourmet hamburgers, fish and chips, etc.), and the atmosphere is fantastic. I'm going back to try their peanut butter cup pie. 
• Another Rick Bayless restaurant - Frontera Grill - a little more fancy than Topolobampo but still so good (Make reservations well in advance!).
• Gino's East - Traditional Chicago deep dish pizza (a little touristy but good)
• Pizano's - A native Chicagoan favorite and my favorite pizza in the city too. 
• Miller's Pub - An accidental gem we stumbled upon late one night. Good pub-type food but also a Chicago landmark frequented long ago by celebrities like Marilyn Monroe and still famous for their Canadian baby-back ribs. 
• Riva Crab House - A wonderful seafood restaurant on Navy Pier with some of the best waterside and city views in the area. We had my birthday dinner here! Great entrees with even better desserts!

Like any big city, there are a lot of hungry folks running around so it's best to make reservations well in advance. Suggestion: Make reservations a few weeks out using the website or app called Open Table. Set up a profile, download the free app, and make your reservations. Once you arrive in the city and itinerary changes occur, you can easily update and edit your reservations, hassle-free, by using the app on your smart phone. It worked like a charm for me, and we never had to waste time waiting around for a table.

And, before I forget, there are 2... no 3 other important culinary experiences you must have before making your exit from Chicago:

1. "Chicago Mix" popcorn from Garrett's Popcorn, a Chicago tradition 
2. "Cronuts" - half donut and half croissant - from Glazed & Infused
3. Brownies from the Palmer House Hilton (They invented the brownie for the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago). 

*LODGINGS*

I've stayed in several Chicago hotels during my travels, but none can match the historic Palmer House Hilton for timeless beauty, perfect location, and incredible service (Palmer House employees are, in my experience, the nicest and most accommodating people in the city.).

And again, there's that delectable brownie. They serve over 300,000 of them per year.

*SHOPPING*

The Magnificent Mile is the premier shopping district in Chicago. All the best shopping is conveniently located on (or just off) this mile-long strip of Michigan Avenue. I cannot name them all, but you're sure to find your favorite store. In addition to shopping, there are some great restaurants and interesting historic sites on the "Mag Mile" as well. Both mine and my husband's favorite is probably the Tribune Building because of its very unique features (see below for details).

*ATTRACTIONS*

Cloudgate or "The Bean" - a famous sculpture in Millennium Park

Millenium Park - Check out their movies in the park and workouts in the park online schedule. Doing yoga with 200 or so people in the park was an unforgettable (and FREE) experience!

Bike Rides - Chicago has a bike-share system in place - DIVVY Bikes - that makes it relatively easy to rent a bike for an hour or so and tour the city on two wheels. There are great bike/run paths along the lake that offer spectacular views of the city and other attractions. Plus, it's a great way to get some fresh air and exercise. 

Lincoln Park Zoo - IT'S FREE!!!

Theater - Million Dollar Quartet, a show about the budding musical careers of Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Carl Perkins, is a must-see and is a super fun experience for the audience, lots of singing and dancing to be done!

The Field Museum - a museum of Natural History and home of "Sue," the world's largest, most complete, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton. Very cool.

 

Soldier Field - Home of the Chicago Bears professional football team

Baseball - U.S. Cellular Field: Home of the White Sox and Wrigley Field: Home of the Chicago Cubs

U.S. Cellular Field: Atlanta Braves vs. Chicago White Sox

"Star Wars Day" at U.S. Celluar

JT's "the Braves are losing" face

The SHEDD Aquarium - One of the best aquarium's I've even been to!

One World: Beluga Whale, Dolphin and Seal Show

Architecture Boat Tour - The best one is led by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. It is my absolute favorite thing to do in the Windy City. Chicago is the equivalent of an American Venice; it's a city founded on the water, so by boat is the absolute best way to see it!

 

Buckingham Fountain - It's gorgeous during the day, but at night, it's illuminated by a variety of colorful lights. Plus, the views of the city skyline are beautiful from this vantage point. 

*RACE DAY*

My husband, JT, has taught me that the best way to get to know a city is to run it. That's what made the Rock n Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon so much fun, seeing parts of the city that I never would have known existed until I travelled on foot through the various neighborhoods (and with my family no less). To add to the excitement typically felt during race day was the fact that this was my first 1/2 marathon since having my first baby, Charlie, in January. What a milestone, and what a fantastic way to celebrate! 

I've always loved Frank Sinatra, his songs, his movies. The tune he sang about the Chicago is one of my favorites, and it sets the city apart from the others as a place that's truly special...

Chicago, Chicago, that toddling town 
Chicago, Chicago, I'll show you around, I love it 
Bet your bottom dollar, you'll lose the blues in Chicago 
Chicago, the town that Billy Sunday couldn't shut down 

On State Street, that great street, I just want to say 
They do things that they don't do on Broadway 
They have the time, the time of their life 
I saw a man, he danced with his wife in Chicago 
Chicago, my home town