Chicago

March 15 – 17th, 2019 – The Big 4-0

October 4 – 7th, 2020 – covid current

I wouldn’t say I hate birthdays, but I don’t enjoy them per sé, especially as I get older. I’ve always tried to make them more fun by going on vacation somewhere. My closest friends know this distraction technique of mine very well. We have had some fun, crazy birthday trips. This one was no different. There is a pro and a con with my March birthday…con – it’s usually cold/winter and the pro – there are usually St. Patrick’s day festivities. I decided on a “local” trip and picked Chicago, which has now easily become my favorite big city to visit in the United States.

Hamilton – This has been on my bucketlist for several years. The cost being the biggest deterrent. I just could not bring myself to pay those exorbitant amounts for tickets they were asking at the start of their run. Now several years in, the costs were more affordable. No better day to see it than on my 40th birthday with my sisters from another mister. It did not disappoint. It was absolutely fantastic.

St Patrick’s Day Festivities – Chicago definitely does St. Patty’s Day on a whole nother level. It started off with the dyeing of the Chicago River that morning. We had heard of it, but to see it first hand was amazing. Not only is it green, it is NEON GREEN. So many people out to enjoy the festivities. We started the morning off with a bagpipe performance in the lobby of our hotel and a Guiness…. yup you read that right. More Irish themed drinks to be had throughout the day.

Cloud Gate – or more commonly known as “The Bean” – a public art installation in Millenium Park. I’ve visited this structure pre and post covid pandemic. You used to be able to walk right up to it as you can see in some of the pics. Now, it is cardonned off and you can take pics from afar. As expected there were way less tourists surrounding it, the second time around.

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza – A must have in the city. Controversial on who makes the best. There are several options in the city. As this is quite the meal, we shared one and had leftovers between the three of us. We taste tested Lou Malnati’s and Giordano’s. FYI: We did take a Giordano’s for the road to eat at the airport preflight – it weighed 5lbs)

Coffee Houses – I am definitely a coffee fanatic. I love exploring all the local coffee houses in any new city that I visit. Chicago was no different. We visited a few in my two visits, some unfortunately shut down with the pandemic. Still worth a mention though as they were some fun memories.

Limitless (675 N Wells St location – permanentyl closed)
Stan’s Donuts & Coffee (181 Michigan Ave – open)
Fairgrounds Coffee & Tea (12 S Michigan Ave – temporarily closed) – close to Millenium Park

The Chicago Roastery – Starbucks Reserve – 4 floors and a rooftop terrace. Is there enough to offer to fill this space you ask? Absolutely yes. Definitely worth a visit if you like coffee, tea, pastries or cocktails in a fun environment. Yup, you read that right, there is a bar with coffee inspired cocktail offerings that sounded rather interesting. I chose to partake in a coffee flight of course.

First floor – Roastery
Second floor – Princi Bakery & Cafe
Third floor – Experiential Coffee Bar
Fourth floor – Arriviamo Cocktail Bar

Exploring – Chicago in the summertime is a fantastic place to visit. The endless amount of rooftop bars and restaurants make it difficult to choose and can get overwhelming. A fancy cocktail with a view is a great way to spend the day in this fantastic city. In the winter, they have some fun ideas like outdoor pods, and with the pandemic some creative ideas are being attempted all the time. Every cuisine you could possibly want you can find here. Chicago is also home to a ton of pop up ideas and outings, so definitely do your research before you go. We chose to explore Chicago mostly on foot, but there are other options such as the metro and the rideshare bikes. Uber and Lyft or your car if you prefer would be helpful when exploring the other burroughs like the Wicker Park area.

Enolo Wine Cafe – my love for charceuterie, cheese and wine is well-known. No other way I’d like to spend my birthday meal. Great selection of bruschettas and wine.

The Purple Pig – I have wanted to hit up this place since my first visit. It did not disappoint. Delicious and fun with a great menu.

Table, Donkey & Stick – just looking our usual charcuterie and cheese plates. We found this little hole in the wall place. They cure their own meats and make their own bread. Later to find out it is on the Michelin site with a Bib Gourmand rating.

Etta – another quick stop for a drink. Pretty rooftop patio we stopped at on a hot afternoon.

Big Star Tacos – we went to the Wicker Park location on a another gorgeous October day. Great margaritas and tasty tacos.

Girl & the Goat – The original in the Stephanie Izard dynasty in downtown Chicago. As the first female winner of Top Chef – you knew her food had to be fantastic. The hard part was deciding which of her restaurants to try. Usually booked out months in advance – this is one of the times covid times helped us. We were able to make a reservation with little issue despite the smaller capacity created by the new rules. The waiters and patrons were all

Cabra – another Stephanie Izard restaurant – this time Peruvian theme on the rooftop of the The Hoxton Hotel. The views and ambiance of this place were fantastic. We went right before sundown so the lighting was amazing. Small plates of very tasty dishes. Great date spot for cocktails and small bites.

Portillo’s – one request was to try a Chicago Style Dog. This being a a chicago staple. I had to try it. It was pretty good. I don’t have anything to compare it to (other than my usual Costco Hot Dog) so I can’t say it was the best. If you have a suggestion for another place for a good Chicago Dog definitely let me know.

Bombobar – I was craving dessert and we happened across this place a short walk from Girl & the Goat. They have a diverse menu serving more than just dessert. My sweet tooth chose their signature Bomboloni. It is an italian style hole-less donut and certain flavors come with a “flavor shot” so I chose the classic caramel.

I can’t wait for my next visit. So many more places to see and try. Restaurants galore. Closures and the pandemic has definitely changed the landscape of restaurant dining and tourism in general, but I hope with local support most of these places can stay in business. On the list for next time : TimeOut Market (temp closed), Navy Pier and ton more restaurants.