Last week, I was in Chicago for the International Home and Housewares show (see my Monday blog post recap here).
This was my first time to Chicago, and while I was there for work, I managed to squeeze just a tiny bit of sightseeing into my trip. I am so lucky that a good friend of mine, Ronda, lives in Chicago. Ronda and I grew up together and have known each other since … well, let’s just say, a very long time.
Ronda was sweet enough to arrange for us to meet for a sightseeing expedition all around Chicago inside the comforts of a van with our very own tour guide, Paul, who snapped this image of us agaisnt the Chicago skyline. And let me tell you people, they don’t call Chicago the “Windy City” for nothing – it was darn nippy outside. Good thing I brought my favorite ski hat!
And although I’m a born and breed Boston Red Sox fan, I can appreciate the Cubbies and the history of their landmark ballpark, Wrigley Field. Wrigley, being nearly as old as Fenway Park (which stands as the oldest ballpark and opened in 1912), is just as steeped in tradition and memories. I can respect that.
What surprised me the most about Chicago was how this very large city somehow makes you feel more like you are in a manageable, walkable, neighborhood town rather than a buzzing metropolis.
The sidewalks are noticeably wider, as are the streets, and this allowed for less crowding and more light. All this added space allows you to stand back, look up, and really see the buildings and appreciate the architecture and history all around.
Another surprise – Chicago’s embracement of public art.
We turned a corner, and there was a towering Picasso sculpture. Down another street, and my favorite artist Marc Chagall created a four-sided mosaic wall mural of the seasons. Yet another turn revealed a space and light to illuminate a corner plaza proudly showcasing an unmistakably bright red Calder.
Wow. I loved Chicago for loving art. It was all around. Along with many parks, thoughtfully designed open spaces, lot’s of light and ….. Food!
Ahhh, the food. So many great restaurants, so little time. Another reason I must return! After our tour around town, Ronda and I checked out Grahamwich. It was divine. I had the grilled cheese on the right which was out-of-this-world yummy. We dined out together one other night at Kuma’s Too, which was also delicious. Yes, I must return if only to experience Chicago’s famous restaurants. (Although if I do, I may be coming home in stretchy pants.)
The architecture in Chicago is amazing. The image below is one of my favorites that I took while on my trip. The Aqua Building was designed by a female architect, Jeanne Gang, and it is the tallest skyscraper to be designed and built with a woman as the lead architect. It was right outside my hotel window. Look at it for a moment. Do you see the waves? Those are the residents balconies and each is different to create the design. It was even more impressive looking right at it. I felt lucky to have this view.
This image was also outside my hotel window of Millennium Park:
Okay, one last view. This was from the front of the Swissotel and you can see Navy Pier and just make out its famous ferris wheel in the distance. I’m guessing that most views of Chicago are pretty amazing at this point. What a good-looking city.
And so on my last day as I was packing up to leave Chicago, we were hit with 9.1″ of snow. I snapped this image with my iphone from inside the shuttle bus as I was leaving McCormick Place only to return to Connecticut and another snowstorm (same storm following me) the day after I arrived home. Snowstorm, travel day, snowstorm. I made it, though, safe and sound.
And while the storm delayed my departure for 24 hours, the new blanket of white made for some lovely city scenes as we made our way slowly across town.
Chicago, I miss you already. I can’t wait to come back – this time, as a tourist, and with my husband and kids, so we can all enjoy exploring you together.
(And for Ronda: it was so great seeing you and your beautiful town. Thanks for the tour and being a wonderful, fun hostess. We WILL make it to Hot Chocolate upon my return! See you soon, my friend. Thanks for the new memories, which I gratefully have added to our old ones).
~Amy
