Chicago
Halloween 2015
Another smooth non stop flight from LAX to Midway. #LUVSWA. Always grateful for how Southwest operates with efficiency and courtesy. But this trip was special. T found us $86 fares. Roundtrip! Yup. Non-stop day time flight for under $90 there and back to Chicago. I cant repeat this enough. We watched a movie (Glen Cambell doc) and we were there. Hopped on the EL for the orange line ride to just south of the loop.
We booked a new to us hotel at the wonderful Marriott Renaissance Blackstone for a different vantage point of this beautiful city. We are usually River North or the Marriott on Whacker-also beautiful-see past posts for wonderful experiences there. #MarriottRocks. We checked into this smaller and historic hotel and we were treated to a room upgrade facing the lake over Grant Park. It was night when we checked in but before we finished our pre dinner cocktails with Elisabeth, fireworks erupted on Navy Pier. It was a great view of a great show for Halloween night.
Dinner was in the hotel at the anticipated yet underwhelming Jose Garcas Mercat a la Planxa. It was tapas that left us wanting for Purple Pig. It was very good but the bar is high in Chicago.
Lis and I headed to a Scouts, a local watering hole, to take in the Halloween vibe and watched ND football and World Series at the bar. It was a blast and the costumes were everywhere.
Great vibe, great service.
Lis and I headed to a Scouts, a local watering hole, to take in the Halloween vibe and watched ND football and World Series at the bar. It was a blast and the costumes were everywhere.Great vibe, great service.
Set the clock the next morning to see sunrise over Lake Michigan then took the train to Mass at St. Clements.
We walked through the beautiful Lincoln Park neighborhood checking out the spooky decorations on our way from the train to church. A beautiful and brisk Chicago morning, we are appreciating the 40 plus degree
weather.
We walked through the beautiful Lincoln Park neighborhood checking out the spooky decorations on our way from the train to church. A beautiful and brisk Chicago morning, we are appreciating the 40 plus degree
weather.
Off to brunch lunch at Little Bad Wolf. This is a small fantastic place serving great eats and featuring inspired cocktails. What a great combo to share with Elisabeth pal Katie not far from the Hollywood Beach Palace. We would go here again, we wish we had a place like this near home. Our Sunday stroll continued spotting not one but two corgis!
It is an obsession and we probably have startled more than one dog owner with our star sighting reactions. Of course we meet and chat and photograph. Winston and Molly the cardigan were more than happy to say hello as we share corgi stories with
their owners.
It is an obsession and we probably have startled more than one dog owner with our star sighting reactions. Of course we meet and chat and photograph. Winston and Molly the cardigan were more than happy to say hello as we share corgi stories withtheir owners.
Back to the Marriott for evening views and concierge snacks in our beautiful panoramic room. We watched the sunset light up soldier field while the Bears were trying their best. We headed to a bar to take in the world series and munched on wings for a light dinner. 
Monday morning was sparkling and we stuck to our plan to walk Grant and Millennium parks. The fall colors were in full glory and the skyline followed us along our path.
A great way to start any morning with a walk in this amazing city. After getting cleaned up we met Lis at the train station to transfer to the green line out to Garfield Park Conservatory. It was like a paradise in the middle of a soon to be bleak winter. Flora and fauna were spread over an acre and we walked for a couple hours enjoying the sights and snapping cell phone pics at every turn. Like these.
I got a hankering for a Chicago dog and with a quick yelp search and an Uber tap we were off to Jimmys Red Hots for a stand in line and know your order dog that included fries in the bag. Maybe not the best dog we have had but it qualified and hit the spot only the way a true Chicago dog can. Back to downtown for a some shopping and walking and shopping and more walking. |
| Looks like broccoli, tastes like amazing. |
Evening was spent in paradise which is of course The Purple Pig. #PurplePigAmazes. This is a must try spot which will require an hour in line outside in the cold but they have added cocktail service while you wait and a tent outside adds some much needed table space. The food is out of this world and the tapas dishes and great brews are fun to share and fawn over and post and text.
The last day we spent wandering through Old Town and exploring another Chicago hood. We bought olive oil and fudge. Sounds like necessities to me.
A short walk from our hotel to the orange line for the goodbye view of the city back to Midway.
Another great outing to one of our favorite places. We'll be back.
