Chicagoland

As most of you know, we have a lot of business in Chicago (even though our base is in DC/VA), have an account supervisor there (Cathy Brownlee) and visit there often (about once a month). Personally, I love Chicago. I love to go there. I love all my clients there. I love the hotels I stay in and the yoga studio and the places I eat and all my haunts.

This past weekend, for the first time in a very long time, I went as a tourist. One of my sons, Jake, is moving there in April, so the family, minus our daughter, met up in Chicago to show him around. It was his very first time.

It’s interesting to visit a place that you (think you) know so well with a completely different perspective. For example, I’ve been staying at the Westin Michigan Avenue as one of my favorite hotels for over seven years. I had no idea that the Hancock Building Observatory, with the most magnificent view of the city, was right across the street! I was all consumed with the fact that there’s a Starbucks there and Bloomingdales across the street and a cool food court close by, etc.

Saturday morning we took the architectural/historical boat cruise to look at the city from a different point of view. I saw buildings that I’ve seen hundreds of times, and learned more about where they came from, how they’ve changed and why. Chicago really has the most diverse architecture from refurbished 19^th century icons to the most modern, upscale buildings, all lined up together and looking like they belong because of some very smart, creative architects and city planners.

The fact that it was pouring rain and freezing cold while we were on the river didn’t dampen our spirits one bit. We just looked up and were amazed. The rest of the day was spent discovering the El and walking…lots of walking, all the way from WickerPark to Old Town in Lincoln Park.

My other son, the cook, made sure we experienced some of the hippest restaurants and some of the most urbane and earthy, all as diverse and interesting as the neighborhoods they were in. Even the sports bar we went into on Sunday had the best wings we’ve ever eaten. (By the way, did you know that most sports bars in Chicago only show the Bears when they’re playing?…very tough on the Redskin/Jets fans that we are). 

Sunday, we walked from the hotel to MillenniumPark, checking out TrumpTowers on the way (could not resist). We walked through the Loop and back towards the hotel, stopping at a few famous places, like Ditka’s, on the way. From the sports bar, we each left to return to our homes after a fun-filled, family, tourist-y weekend that I won’t soon forget.

I’ll be back in Chicago in a week or so for Forum’s Holiday Showcase. I think I will look at it a bit differently this time.

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