I haven’t been back to Chicago in years, and ask Derek, I talk about this city all the time.
I loved my time here, from the restaurant we’d frequent to the swing dancing classes we’d take on Wednesday nights to the late-night el rides back to the apartment after a long day on campus.
There were so many places I missed: New Japan in Evanston (which closed), used bookstores and coffee shops on every block, professional sports. And the food scene here is vibrant and dynamic, with new restaurants always opening and old familiar eateries hanging on with loyal patrons and great food.
I had been bugging Derek to go with me to Chicago, so he could see all the places I used to eat, the people I used to hang out with, the things I used to do. So, since I was going to be in Madison, which is just a three-hour drive away, I thought, “Why not make it a side trip to Chicago?”
So we hopped in our rental car and drove to Chicago — via a craft brewery and Milwaukee,of course.
Here’s what our first day in Chicago looked like:
The Wongs
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11 Comments
Shi-kah-goh
good fun city
enjoy
Somewhere over the rainbow.
nice! tell me you dont sing “my kind of town,Chicago” too,….please.
Picture number 8 is what does it for me!
Hello Cat! nice fuud pictures….
3/7 of a chicken + 2/3 of a cat+1/2 of a goat
i used to complain about going to chicago all the time for work but, now that I don’t go anymore I miss it. i mostly went to the suburbs (hq was in elk grove village at the time), so most of my chicago area experience was egv, schaumberg, arlington heights, and the airport.
the few times I had to go downtown, though (for federal court hearings, down the hall from Senator Barak Obama’s office…he was never there, though) were way cool. after work, just wandering the streets and seeing all the things that you see on TV. having a beer and stuffed pasta while watching the cubs at the bar at Maggiano’s. picking random hole in the wall restaurants in Greek Town (as much as I like pulehu he’e and tako poke, the greek style grilled octopus with oregano and evo is my favorite preparation of that cephalopod). checking out the neighborhood bars just off the miracle mile and the loop. all fond memories.
quick chicago food question: of the three foods Chicago is noted for (not gasto pubs or molecular gastronomy…dogs, pizza and beef sandwiches) which is best? I gotta go: beef sandwiches>chicago dogs (celery salt is key)>pizza.
forgot to mention: if Derek needs to stock up on Japanese/asian staples while you’re there, Mitsuwa Market in Arlington Heights has just about everything he needs. plus, you can gawk at the haole harajuku girls that hang out by the bookstore. truly a sight to behold in flyover country
MMM Chicago foods – A beef sandwhich at Mr Beef on Orleans, a Hot Dog at Jean and Judes or Superdawg, and greasy thin crust (neighborhood) pizza cut into little squares. Will you be taking Derek out to Evanston? Maybe a hot dog at Mustards Last Stand?
If you do get out to Mitsuwa there is a Johnny’s Beef around the corner and the Beef and Italian Lemonade is pretty good.
On your way back to Madison if you happen to be able to go via Milwaukee stop at Kopps for a Butterburger and Frozen Custard!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Alan
$1.50 for a toll seems like a bargain compared to the $4-6 you pay in NorCal. Then again, they all seem pricey when we aren’t used to tolls here in Hawaii. Have a great trip!
You can get good dogs and pizza in almost any city. Italian beef sandwiches are available nowhwere else. It was one of my initial food shocks when I moved away from Chicago for the first time. Beef, dipped, hot peppers. Bad sandwiches are rare no matter where you go.
interesting. i’ve heard of a French Dip, and Philly Cheesesteak. But not italian beef sandwich. Those thin crust squared pizzas are my favorite.Although Chicago Deep Dish has quite the reputation. Yep…i’m now hungry…..how “bout everyone else?…hehe.