Almost forgot to post the rest of the trip:
2/28, Saturday
We did our usual and walked over to Starbucks for our coffee/tea. This is were the group split up for things to-do. Hubby, my brother, and I went to Wrigleyville and the rest went to the Field Museum. Of course, my post will be on our trip to Wrigleyville and then meeting the rest of the crew at the Field and a walk over to The Art Institute.
Off we go on the Red line - it so reminds me of our Bart/Muni system, all combined in one. During our train ride there, we noticed how many brick buildings there are. Living in California, we immediately though of earthquake. Here in the Bay Area, either brick is replaced or reinforced.
I digress. We reached our destination and walked around the ball yard and took some pixs. Too bad they weren%26#39;t open for any tours, though the box office was already open. It was great seeing the rooftop bleachers (see them on TV when the Giants are playing the Cubs) on the buildings across the street from the yard and also seeing the seats that are over the brick/cement wall of the stadium (if you%26#39;ve been there, you%26#39;ll know what I mean). We walked up and down Clark, stopped in a few sporting stores for souvenirs then over to Wrigleyville Dogs for our hot dogs. The price was great and the dogs, too. It%26#39;s a small place so I am guessing people take them to-go to the game or eat on the way to the game. Now, what I found amazing was the guy who called out the pick-up orders. If you remember John Belushi doing the SNL skit ';cheese burger, cheese burger'; with that accent, that%26#39;s what this guy sounded like. As soon as he yelled a order, I immediately laugh - I just couldn%26#39;t believe my ears! That was a real treat. We didn%26#39;t stay for very long since we promised the rest of the group we%26#39;d meet them either at the Field or The Art Institute.
Off we go on our train adventure - very easy getting around but as usual, we can never figure which way is North, etc. I%26#39;m always having to ask someone which way is which. So off we walk from Roosevelt station to the Field Museum. It was a nice day and of course, cold. Lots of folks at the Field. The group enjoyed their visit there though they mentioned it would take all day and some to really see everything. Since some of us were leaving the next day, a visit to The Art Institute was a must, so off we went. We just took a walk along Grant Park. I wanted to show them Buckingham Fountain - since it%26#39;s part of my hubby%26#39;s stepmother%26#39;s family. They%26#39;re very nonchalant about their contributions and history to Chicago, oh well. The fountain was fenced off - major renovations going on. Grant Park is very nice. We%26#39;ll have to come back during the warmer days to enjoy it more, especially when the fountain is lit-up and running. If I recall, there was a large statue of Lincoln in the park. It was quite impressive.
Now we are at The Art Institute, the last weekend of the ';free for all of February'; offering. Everyone was there - it was packed. I was there years ago and I couldn%26#39;t recognize the museum - too many people! I got the group to see the Impressionist work and American painters. We were there for maybe about 2 hours. Before leaving, I had to get a picture of the large buddah. We promised hubby%26#39;s stepmom we%26#39;d take a pix. She never saw it in the museum the times she visited there. A small token of a gift for her since she is dying of cancer, as we speak. :( The museum store was also packed, but we managed to get a couple of souvenirs.
Everyone was hungry by now - well, 5pm! I though I take them over to the Russian Tea Room for a bit of tea, but it was a long wait. So Gino%26#39;s was getting more and more appealing at the moment. So, off we went. Now, my hubby and I have been there and thought it would be great way to introduce ';Chicago deep dish pizza'; to the group. Once we got there, they loved the wild decor! We should have left our names on the walls. We ordered our pizzas - and everyone%26#39;s eyeballs got wide! The trick to eating all that pizza - don%26#39;t eat all of the end crust. Believe it, we ordered 3 pizzas, salads, and wings - everything eaten except for most of the crust ends! We took the crust ends back to our rooms - great snacks. Love their cornmeal crust. I%26#39;ve had Chicago Pizza here in SF, but it doesn%26#39;t taste anywhere near like Gino%26#39;s or probably any pizza from Chicago. We have great pizza in SF, but Chicago deep dish can only be had in Chicago. Dessert: Cannoli! Had to have it! Yummy!!!
On the way back to our hotel, we stopped at Filene%26#39;s. Had to show the group this well-known place, though we didn%26#39;t find any deals. So back to our rooms, some folks had to pack - my sister-in-law%26#39;s flight was like 7am! She was up at 4am or some god-awful time to make her shuttle to the airport. BTW, the airport shuttle stops at the Drake twice every hour - for Midway and O%26#39;Hare. The doormen know when the shuttle arrives - so you can figure out when to be there.
Half the crew have all left for home on Sunday. It was just the birthday girl (my sister), hubby and I. We all stayed til Monday.
3/1, Sunday:
Agenda - Russian Tea Time Room, Garrett%26#39;s Popcorn, American Girl
As usual, our Starbucks morning journey.
Hubby and I just hung around the hotel in the morning with my bro. He was waiting for the shuttle to Midway. We then spent the time walking around the immediate area - passed the MCA, a quaint park, down to the lake and over by the University. Checked out the Allerton Hotel - I stayed there years ago. The renovation/redeco looks nice, at least in the lobby area. Then off to Michigan Ave for some window shopping. We weren%26#39;t in the mood to walk around the retail stores or do the Watertower mall. So a drink and appetizer at The Cheesecake Factory was the order at that moment - besides there was lite snow that day and we wanted to stay warm. My sister and her good friend were out shopping. Her girlfriend was doing was major last-minute shopping! Then she was off to home.
Late lunch and off to the Russian Tea Time Room -- thanks to a recommendation on one of my postings here. This place is great - we ordered the Russian Tea Time sampler for 2 and barley soup. Between the 3 of us, we were full! We even tried their vodka flights - three 1 ounce shots, twice! We thought we%26#39;d try just the tea service, but the regular menu looked more enticing. Again, I didn%26#39;t think we%26#39;d be so full but we were.
Forgot to mention before heading into the Tea Room, I took my sister and hubby over to the Palm Hotel. I stayed there a couple of times for business (years ago). The Hilton did a great job with the renovation - wish I could have seen one of their rooms. During our walk-around, I noticed that Carson Pirie Scott was CLOSED for good! I was so surprised! It%26#39;s a Chicago institution, or so I thought. I wanted to take my sis there. I should have done my homework cause it%26#39;s been closed since 2007. So what%26#39;s planning on going in there?
Before heading back The Drake, my sister wanted to go to Garrett%26#39;s Popcorn. I heard about it but never ventured. Surprisingly, it was just down the block from the Tea Room and there%26#39;s a line out the door. Did I mention it was cold out? Freezing. Didn%26#39;t take long and got our orders. Carmel and Corn popcorn.
On our way, my sister wants to get a doll for her daughter - American Girl doll. I%26#39;ve never been in this store. It is huge! A couple of years ago, on a trip to NYC, we happened upon the American Girl store. I didn%26#39;t go in - should have just to see what it%26#39;s like. The Chicago sales person told us that the Chicago store is the biggest. Unbelievable. My niece got a nice gift from her mom and her aunt (got her a violin kit - who would have figured!). Geez, I grew up with only one doll from some nickel and dime store. Times have changed and I%26#39;m not that old! Did I mention - it is a huge store. My husband was amazed that a company would put that much into a doll store. Doll hospital, doll hair, tea room, etc etc.
Well, that%26#39;s it for Sunday - had to go and pack up some of our stuff. Plus, we had to visit the Science Museum tomorrow before leaving. Garrett%26#39;s popcorn was tasty - we had it for our late night snack.
3/2, Monday:
Agenda - Science Museum and home
Again, morning at Starbucks!
My sister and I (as usual) had different ways of getting to the Science Museum. I won; though it wasn%26#39;t the best way. We took the trains - Red then the Green line. At the end of the Green line, we couldn%26#39;t figure where to pick up the bus so we ended up walking several blocks. After several blocks and the help of a lady cop - we walked to the bus stop which took us to the museum. Sis mentioned to take the No.55 bus at the Loop. I thought the train would be faster and easier. Oh well.
We arrived and had a grand time. The miniature city/train set was absolutely fantastic. We had time to see an IMAX show Wild Ocean and the coal miner%26#39;s tour. While I was viewing the train set, I saw John O%26#39;Hurley with his family. Remember him? J. Peterman in Seinfeld and a host to Family Feud.
The coal miner%26#39;s tour was amazing. It%26#39;s just a 30 minute tour and well worth it. There is actually a mine under the museum. The conditions of working there are heartbreaking - and coal mining still exists. All-in-all, it%26#39;s a fun museum and very large. Seems like everything in Chicago is huge - food, too!
It was time to get back and check-out. Sister off to O%26#39;Hare and us to Midway. While we were waiting for our shuttle in the hotel, I noticed a family that reminded me of the polygamy group that was in the news a couple of months ago. Plus, I watch Big Love. No, it doesn%26#39;t make me an expert, but this family had several kids and only a mom and grandmother and some other women with the group - no men folk. They attended the Drakes Tea service - which just happened to open that day (closed for renovation for sometime). When I saw them, they reminded me of some folks back in my home town in the Central Valley of California. Even at that time, I thought they were unusual because of their clothes and hair style. I never thought more of them until now. Now I wonder.
Well, off to San Francisco. We did have a delay due to the high winds - if not thunderstorms, lightening, snow or ice, then winds. We were delayed about an hour. Made a big difference cause we had planned to take BART home - which closed by just a couple of minutes when we got to the station! Had to truck ourselves back on the airport shuttle and back downstairs to catch a cab home. What a crazy cab driver we had - he practically flew us back to our house. That%26#39;s how fast he was going - scared us! Plus, we had to give him directions. We weren%26#39;t going to give him a tip - but he was demanding it and wouldn%26#39;t leave til he got it - hubby gave him a dollar. It was late so I didn%26#39;t give notice to the cab company or I would have called them and complained.
Anyway, we made it home. So warm compared to cold, snowy Chicago.
final report: birthday trip 2/26-3/2Great report! Glad you had fun and thanks for sharing!!!
final report: birthday trip 2/26-3/2oops, I mean Palmer Hotel, not Palm Hotel.
one more time, Palmer House.
Thanks for the report! Yeah, it was a bummer when Carson%26#39;s closed but it was going down hill for quite some time. I know they are trying to get stores and restaurants in there. Flat Top Grill is scheduled to open.
I bet your ';Big Love'; family was an Amish Family.
could be Amish. though about that too. but I like how my mind was going with the polygamy. more interesting.
I guess nothing lasts forever - we%26#39;ve lost so many stores and jobs with this recession.
Great report! We%26#39;ll have to try the Russian Tea Room on our next visit.
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