prairie girl musings

Tag: Chicago

  • The Windy City

    The Windy City

    Chicago, oh Chicago! Where do I begin?

    I returned to the Windy City this past weekend, and what an adventure it was!

    My parents met Nick’s parents for the very first time. (We’ve been dating for over five years!) They spent the previous week in Toronto, and we chose Chicago as the neutral grounds for our ‘Meet the Parents’ trip. The fact that the New Zealand All Blacks were playing the USA Eagles, drawing large crowds from both New Zealand and all over America, only reaffirmed this decision.

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    Despite the initial nerves, everyone got along swimmingly and we managed to fit in quite a lot of sightseeing in between the rugby watching/celebrating. If you’ve never watched a rugby game before (my parents’ hadn’t) seeing the All Blacks is akin to seeing the Rolling Stones live in concert. They are mesmerizing on the field, and you too will be a rugby convert.

    I was pretty set on hitting up a few of my favourite Chicago spots in between all the rugby action. Although I missed out on a few spots, C.C. Ferns, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream, and The Bongo Room, to name a few, I’d highly recommend the following:

    Heritage Bicycles
    This bicycle shop and café is an excellent way to kill two birds with one stone. I stopped here to ogle the bicycles and sample the delicious coffee, and wasn’t disappointed!

    Stan’s Donuts
    Cake-style donuts made fresh to order in an assortment of flavours. I sampled old-fashioned pistachio and it was incredible!

    Big Star
    I visited Big Star on my most recent trip to Chicago and ordered from the takeout window as I was alone and didn’t have reservations. What a wonderful decision that way, these are the best tacos I’ve ever eaten!

    Avec Restaurant
    This tapas restaurant is probably the best I’ve ever been to. Everything on the menu is amazing! And all the servers were dressed up as their boss from Halloween (I only know because I inquired.)

    Sprinkles Cupcake ATM (no shame!)

    Intelligentsia Coffee (I was able to take home some of my favourite Black Cat espresso beans!)

    Millennium Park & The Art Institute of Chicago:
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    We also spent a great deal of time perusing the beautiful architecture Chicago has on offer. I’m ever amazed by this city’s skyline.



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    Deep dish pizza from Lou Malnati’s is also a winner in my books!

    Thanks for reading, let me know your favourite Chicago spots!

  • Next Stop: Chicago

    Next Stop: Chicago

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    Chicago’s been on my list of must-see cities since my family visited (sans moi) a few years ago. Granted, I was living in New Zealand at the time, so passing up on a few North American trips didn’t seem like such a big deal. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to visiting the Windy City! I’m especially excited to see Chicago’s outdoor public art, something it’s known for around the world. Chicagoans truly take pride in their city, which makes it such an amazing city to visit. My New Yorker cousin (who formerly lived in San Francisco and Toronto) said that she loves Chicago because even the homeless marvel at their city: “Would ya look at that sculpture? It’s beautiful!”

    My sisters and I will arrive in Chi-Town tonight, and I’ve already drafted up a list of things for us to do. Of course, there won’t be much time for sightseeing as we’ll be in meetings all day, but a girl can dream:

    1. Ukrainian Cathedrals: I can’t wait to check out the majestic domes that peek out over the treetops in the Ukrainian Village of Chicago.

    2. Pilsen Murals

    3. Spend an hour perusing the Randolph Street Market

    4. Grab a coffee at The Wormhole on Milwaukee Avenue

    5. Indulge in a slice of Chicago’s deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s

    6. Sit down for well-crafted cocktail at The Violet Hour. 

    7. Warm up with a hot chocolate from Hot Chocolate.

    8. Check out the Chicago skyline atop the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower).

    9. Enjoy a rooftop drink at our hotel’s bar.

    10. While there’s no shortage of good breakfast places in Chicago, I’ve heard that Bongo Room serves the perfect laidback morning feast.

    11. Visit Tribune Campus at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

    Have you ever been to Chicago? What are some must-sees and dos for a non-tourist traveller?

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    xoxo, Vanessa