Chillin' in Chi-town

Despite our exhaustion from all the winter traveling this past weekend we did some more traveling...to the windy city! It was the perfect combination and one of those once in a blue moon opportunities: Family in Chicago and Southwest $29 flights so we hopped aboard a plane on Saturday morning to discover what Chicago had to offer, even in the midst of the bitter winter weather. It was a quick visit (Saturday morning to Sunday evening) but packed with family, friends, fun and of course food! Here are some highlights:

Welcome to Chicago!





SIGHTS
(Chicago is apparently known for its awesome architecture)



Us with the cityscape in the backgroup on Museum Campus

(Yup, that's Sears Tower in the background)

Nature even in the city!

John Hancock Observatory



Willis Tower formerly known as Sears Tower (No, we didn't go up. It was $15 per person!!!)





The view from our hotel room at night (it was a wonderful Embassy Suites)








Cloudgate (aka "The Bean") at Millenium Park

Randomly beautiful church on Michigan Ave. (the 5th street of Chicago)

Our hotel was right by Navy Pier but it was bitterly cold! We tried to see Avatar in IMAX 3-D but it was sold out. So we ended up watching the Wedding Planner in our room. Hahaha, lame!

Us in Old Town

Randomly nice flats

THE GRUB:

Of course we had to get a hot dog so we went to the famous Portillos. It was tasty, but the tamale was better than the dog!

And of course the required Chicago deep dish pizza (Lou Malnati's)

We got to meet up for pizza with Greg's college roommate Peter Ro whom we realized we had not seen since the wedding. Crazy! It was good times (although admittedly I like NY style pizza better...no offense Pete!)

Lunch at the original Potbelly Deli (after half a day of walking around and finding Xoco closed it was so nice and warm and tasty and we were serenaded by a live violinist...very nice!)

Tapas Bar! (pictured is Greg's first taste of real Paella and some yummy stuff in puff pastry. We also got some Patatas Bravas...yay for Brave Potatoes!)

Despite all the good grub my favorite thing was this hot sipping chocolate from a Belgium dessert store called Baladoche. It sales man was very convincing but now I believe him that this is the absolute best. It was like drinking godiva!!! I dunno if I can ever go back to Swiss Miss! (yum, it makes me happy just looking at the picture)

ACTIVITIES:

The Art Institute of Chicago was HUGE!

Modern art is so WEIRD! This is me pretending to seriously contemplate the meaning of an over-sized tissue box. Needless to say we skipped most of the modern section.

Greg liked this one much better

Yay for Monet Water Lilies!!!!! (there was also an excellent collection of Van Gogh, Manet, Renoir and Degas. I love impressionist art!)

The original "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" by Georbes Seurat. Pointillism is so neat. It reminds me of 6th grade when we had to recreate this painting. I think I'll leave the dots to Seurat.

This is what Greg thought of the whole experience

Thankfully our next museum was much more entertaining. The Museum of Science and Industry! (which was just as gianormous!) This museum was so well done and so entertaining (especially since it was free day!). We even got to see a whole display of the growth of a baby (with what we believe were real specimens) which made me even more creeped out to have kids!

Right from the getgo we already knew this was more up Greg's alley....

Greg pretending to be E. Honda from street fighter

A model of Chicago out of legos!

This Submarine exhibit was amazing! It's a real German sub captured from WWII.

We got to hang out with Greg's dad for a bit and we went to church in Chinatown (of course a Chinese church) but got our Asian food fill with dim sum...for breakfast! I also got yummy coconut baos which counteracted a disgusting boba that I thoguht would be good (shockingly Louisville boba is better!)

We enjoyed a night at the theater and got rush tickets to Blue Man Group! It was so much fun and hilarious! I highly reccommend it and it in a way pays back poor Greg who has to put up with my uppity musicals.

In spite of my resolutions we did go shopping, but not for clothes. This is me being thoroughly entertained at the Spice House (Greg got a yummy meat rub and I got rose water & vanilla sugar to take my cupcakes couture. And I got some popcorn cheese seasoning! Yummy!)

That's basically all! We walked and took the subway everywhere which actually ended up really neat b/c despite the harsh weather we got to really see the city and explore. However, my legs were sore two days after we came back to Louisville, but it was good exercise. Before our trip we prayed for flexibility and that we would be able to enjoy time together and see the world through a thankful heart and God definitely blessed us by faithfully answering our prayers. It was a wonderful trip not just because of the food, family and fun things to do but because it was a blessed time of growing together as a couple and praising God for His blessings that He has poured out in abundance in terms of funds, time, a gracious work environment and family. If you ever find yourself in Chicago you can ask us for recommendations it is a great city, even in the dead of winter!