THIS YEAR I EXPERIENCED MY VERY FIRST FRIENDSGIVING AWAY FROM HOME IN A NEW CITY. I VISITED A FRIEND WHO GOES TO NOTRE DAME, SO WE SPENT THE FIRST FEW DAYS IN SOUTH BEND WHERE WE CELEBRATED THANKSGIVING. THEN WE VENTURED DOWN TO CHI-TOWN. MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE CITY WAS THAT IT WAS INCREDIBLY CLEAN, THE PEOPLE WERE GENUINE AND CHICAGO HAD A FOOD SCENE THAT WAS HARD TO BEAT.
WE HAD APPROXIMATELY 48 HOURS IN CHICAGO AND HERE IS WHAT WE ACCOMPLISHED:
A TOUR OF THE DRIEHAUS MUSEUM: A HOME THAT ONCE BELONGED TO BANKER SAMUEL MAYO NICKERSON AND HIS WIFE WAS RESTORED BY RICHARD H. DRIEHAUS TO PRESERVE THE 19TH CENTURY ARCHITECTURE, DESIGN PHILOSOPHIES, ART COLLECTIONS AND MORE. A PERSONAL FAVORITE FROM MR. DRIEHAUS'S COLLECTION WAS THE TIFFANY NAUTILUS SHELL LAMP.
FOOD PARADISE FOUND AT
SAWADA FOR THE BEST MATCHA LATTE ALONG WITH A DOUGHNUT VAULT DOUGHNUT. ANOTHER POPULAR RESTAURANT IS THE
LITTLE GOAT WHERE THEY SERVE UP UNIQUE DINER FOOD, LIKE THE SOURDOUGH SPICED APPLE PANCAKES OR THE MACHO NACHOS THAT COMBINED BRAISED PORK, BEANS, PICKLED PEPPERS, AVOCADO, ALL TOPPED WITH MELTED CHEDDAR CHEESE. OF COURSE MY TRIP WOULD HAVE BEEN INCOMPLETE WITHOUT TRYING A CHICAGO HOTDOG AND ITALIAN BEEF SANDWICH, SO
PORTILLOS WAS THE PLACE TO GO.
WICKER PARK WAS A FUN NEIGHBORHOOD WITH BOOK STORES, GOOD EATS AND A LOT OF LOCAL BOUTIQUES LIKE
HOME + LIFESTYLE. ITS RED BRICK INTERIOR AND CROWDED DISPLAYS GAVE IT A COZY FEEL, AND THEY HAVE A GREAT SELECTION OF HAND CRAFTED ITEMS FROM INDEPENDENT DESIGNERS. A GREAT PLACE TO DO SOME CHRISTMAS SHOPPING.
A VISIT TO THE BEAN (PICTURED AT THE TOP) MAY HAVE BEEN A TYPICAL TOURIST MOVE, BUT WE WENT AT 8:00 A.M. ON A SUNDAY MORNING TO AVOID THE CROWDS. THE CURVED SURFACE OF THE OVERSIZED SCULPTURE REFLECTED THE SUN PEEKING THROUGH THE SKYLINE OF THE CITY.
Post a Comment