Chicago

Day one:
After a 7 hour drive (ok, ride) across the Midwest with my dear friend, Nichole, her husband, Steve, and Bob I find myself in the midst of a quaint but clearly privileged neighborhood. The house is decorated perfectly paying respect to the 1920's builder while in contrast, illuminating the spirit of it's inhabitants. Victorian florals amidst the deep cabernet wood and rich marble accented by modern technology create a symphony of stunning traditional and contemporary style. The only thing surpassing its beauty are the inhabitants, whose genuine love for life is apparent upon first greeting. Immediately I am drawn in by their hospitality, a rare and coveted trait by any standard. As stories are shared and otherwise very separate lives intermingle over the infamous Nancy's Pizza; I marvel at the way lives intersect leaving an etching on your memory and if you're lucky, on your heart. Tonight, the etching is immortalized by the gift of a photograph - a captivating piece captured by the keen eye of Bradley Warren; one half of the the houses occupants, and Lori, the other half, as she dazzles us with her natural magnetic charm. As the night closes in, each couple retiring to their respective rooms for what promises to be much anticipated slumber, I am grateful to reflect upon such sweet memories of my first night in the Windy City.


Day two:


It should come as no surprise that uninterrupted sleep eludes me but alas I wake far too early for a vacation day and contemplate the days events. I don't get far because I have absolutely no idea what we have planned, just that I am on board for whatever the day brings. I rise, collect some reading material and head out to the patio to take in the freshness of the early morning. Except for the occasional jetliner passing almost low enough to see its passengers, it is a serene setting complete with fragrant flowers silently ushering in a new day. The day commences with shopping where the only damage worse on our pocketbooks is the astronomical toll fees.  After the tolls and paying tax on clothing, we have single-handedly supported the state of Illinois, you're welcome, residents.


Day three:

CHI Town or bust! Brad has graciously offered to be our tour guide in the city. We begin with a sight-seeing excursion aboard the public transit system known as the Metra where, as with any transit, the people watching is always a highlight. We make our way through the city with Brad occasionally summoning us to "gather 'round children" so he can share information nuggets about the waterways, buildings, and fixtures. We make our way to what the residents begrudgingly announce as the Willis Tower but quickly add that any true Chicagoian will always regard it as the infamous Sears Tower. Thanks to Lori's connections we escaped the long lines and Fast Passed our way to the 103rd floor. The 360 degree view of the city is nothing short of spectacular but what really got me excited was standing on The Ledge. Stepping out on to what I can only liken to a plexiglass box jutting from the side of the building I catch my breath as I look all 103 stories down as if I'm standing in mid-air. What a rush! If it wasn't for the crowds of people clamoring in to get their chance at standing the in the clear box I could have lost myself in the magnificence of it all. Brad chooses The Artists Cafe for lunch because of its non-tourist, authentic Chicago fare. I, of course choose the menu item that makes me giggle; its called Yaya's Spankopita - funny, right? It's a Mediterranean spinach dish that hits the spot! On our way through the city we stop and take in the sights and sounds of children playing in the Millenium Park waterfall. Next we head to Grant Park where Bob and I make a mental note to return one day. Around the park we find The Bean...it's a 23 million dollar stainless steel...well, bean! Amazed at the sights in its reflection, one of them being us, I joined the hundreds of others in a photo frenzy attempting to capture just the right reflective bean pic. Navy Pier welcomed us afterward where we took a speedboat tour of Lake Michigan aboard the SeaDog while the spunky tour guide ended each segment with a hearty "rrrr-ruff ruff!" It was entertaining to say the least. I've never been so thankful to not be a college student taking odd jobs to supplement my tuition.  We end our quick trip to the pier with a Ferris Wheel ride and as the car rotates us through the air I am struck with appreciation toward our car-mates for their request to join them on this adventure. Dinner is at a great Mexican restaurant called Catina Lardeo where the only thing better than the handmade guacamole and mojito's was the impeccable service - thanks, Chuy for making it such a memorable experience!


Day four:
After a much needed run due to the countless (as in, I took a vacation from counting them) calories and a breakfast that could wow Julia Child, the girls and I take a trip to do some boutique shopping which quickly results in once again stimulating the Illinois economy. Because we have been told that this evening is a surprise in honor of celebrating the Vogt and Dillner Anniversaries (June 26th for both), Nichole and I are chomping at the bit to ready ourselves for whatever the night has in store. Settling on cute sun-dresses and fancy jewelry we are set for our night. With Brad at the helm we pull into the Ravinia parking lot unload our picnic wares and set a course to find some prime real-estate on the lawn. Upon finding the perfect spot, Lori sets out a homemade picnic-style spread fit for royalty and soon we are basking in the warm weather with full bellies and enjoying the company of our different worlds intersecting. Tonights entertainment is Garrison Keillor and I finally understand what all the fuss is about - that's one crazy-looking funny dude! After Ravinia we set out to stalk the wealthy neighborhoods and drool over their homes - I think Bob "Bub" as he was dubbed this night, was in his glory taking in all that "old money" can buy. Since we are heading back to MN in the morning, our last stop was Portillo's for an authentic Italian beef hot dog - it was worth trip, yum!


Day five:


A quite drive home in a car of exhausted friends is how this trip ends but not before we stop in for some Wisconsin cheese curds via Nichole's request... unfortunately, they were out of curds that day. No, really, the cheese place in WISCONSIN was out of cheese. If you ask Nichole about it, you may have to wait until the absurdity-induced laughter subsides.


A million thanks to Brad and Lori for opening your home and being incredible hosts. If there was an award for this, you'd be the reigning champions. To Nichole and Steve, thanks for the new memories on the road to becoming old friends.