And that's exactly what happened, we haven't traveled for a while, but since the other half is quite the U2 fan, and I'm grateful she likes U2 vs. say Celine Dion or something, when she asked a few months ago if I wanted to go to Chicago to see them, I was in.
Saturday
So last Saturday (9/12), we hopped on a 9AM flight from Newark to O'Hare, that oddly, wasn't too late. The flight was short and good, and I lucked into snagging the exit row seats where there are only 2 next to each other and not three, so we were able to avoid sitting next to a mutant. For the trip, as we're on an Amazing Race tv show obsession lately, I loaded half of Season 3 onto the PSP. So we watched that on the way over. We took the Blue line into the city (the best way to get to the city from the airport, and cheapest), and checked in at the Club Quarters in the Loop. Not the most luxurious hotel, but, it was A) Within walking distance to Soldier Field to see the show and B) Cheap with bonus C) Free bottles of water, which for some reason is the most useful item, along with free internet access, a hotel can provide.
After checking in, we threw down our bags in the room and went back out to walk around Chicago. We attempted to eat lunch at one of Rick Bayless' places, but the long wait and high price didn't make it worth it. So, instead, we had a pizza at the famous Gino's East. Next, we hit Afterwords bookstore, which, if you've read this blog before, is a critical stop on any trip to Chicago. From there up and down Michigan Avenue back to the hotel.
After a mandatory 2 hour rest break (note Amazing Race reference here), we walked over to Solider Field to see U2. Snow Patrol opened (they were good and seemed really happy to be there) and U2 followed with a really good show. The other half took some great pix, considering we were in the upper deck. You can see them here. The weather was great, and overall the stadium was nice, aside from the bottleneck of crowd getting out of the stadium. One trick I learned quick is to right around the Field Museum instead of left when leaving, it lets you cut in front of about 10,000 people.
There were a ton of people walking back into the Loop, which helped when walking around at 11:30 at night. By the time we got back, we were starving, so we stopped at another of my favorites places: Miller's Pub, where I had (yet another) Miller's butt steak. This was the first time the other half had gone here, so it was quite special for her to see her husband's butt handed to her on a plate. We rolled back to the hotel, and rolled into bed.
Sunday
We slept in, and had a big breakfast downstairs at Elephant & Castle. From there, we walked over to Millennium Park and wandered around. We stopped in at the Architecture Institute (http://www.architecture.org) then went back to the hotel to change. For next, we were off to my friend Jennifer's house in Batavia. To get there, it was an easy ride on the Metra train from Union Station (a 3 block walk from the hotel), and not shockingly, some more Amazing Race was watched on the way. The train's last stop is in Aurora, (Wayne's World! Wayne's World! Party Time, Excellent!) where Jennifer met us and gave us a tour of the area. We had dinner at her place, and were graciously welcomed by her and her husband. It was nice to get out of the city for a bit and see other parts around Chicago. Oh, I failed to mention here, that our latest addiction (in addition to the Amazing Race), the Beatles Rock Band was played at her house, as I had gotten the game just a few days before, and she had asked to bring it so she could check it out.
I never really dug the Rock Band games, as most of the songs on them are crap with the exception of 1 or 2 that are actually worth it. On the other hand, the Beatles Rock Band is pure genius, as generally all Beatles songs are good to sing/play along too. My other half is patiently awaiting a U2 Rock Band game. If that were to ever happen, I doubt she'd ever see daylight again...
After dinner and dessert at Jennifer's, we took the train back to Chicago (watching more of the Amazing Race) and went back to the hotel. The train ride each way is about an hour and a quarter, so it's a good distance out there.
Monday
Our last day in Chicago was by no means restful, as we got up, packed, checked out and dropped our bags off at my company's office there as I was going to cram in a lunch with coworkers I never get to see and another meeting which I wanted to have while I was there (even on vacation, you sometimes need to take care of business). But first, we made our way to the Museum of Science and Industry via bus (you really can't go wrong with public transportation in Chicago) to check out Harry Potter: The Exhibition (http://www.msichicago.org/whats-here/exhibits/harry-potter/) which just happened to be running. As we're both fans, it seemed like the perfect thing to check out. Unlike the crappy Star Trek exhibition I saw in Philly a few weeks ago, this one was done right. They had a ton of props from all the movies, and it was set up in a professional and entertaining manner that made the cost seem worth it.
After seeing the exhibit, we had just enough time to wander around a bit before heading back (by bus) to the office, where we caught up with friend I haven't seen in a long time. We all grab lunch at Sopprafinna and then I have my meeting.
With a few hours to kill before we head out to O'Hare, we decide to check out the new wing of the Art Institute of Chicago since it just opened. The wing was nice, but the art, which is modern, was not to my tastes (which is a nice way of saying that I think my dog could paint better). We go back to the office, grab our bags and hope the Blue line out to O'Hare.
Dinner is fast food from Wolfgang Puck's (mainly because we found seats), and in the oddest of oddities, we arrive back at Newark on time.
It was a quick trip, but it was a good trip. And it's certainly not the last of 2009 as there are at least 2 more trips coming...
