Chicago, IL

Ahhh! Chicago! 2nd visit here and I loved this town the first time. I could live here if it weren't so cold in the summer. ABH has work to do in this great city, so I must accompany her to ensure there is no bad shenanigans going on. And as a bonus, Robbie, who has been in New Orleans for work, will be flying in to join us.

Gratefully ABH booked the tickets so we arrived at the hotel at midnight last night and we wake up ready to take on the city (well at 10am anyway). We are staying at the University Club of Chicago (on Monroe & Michigan), right across from Grant Park. Not too impressed with the hotel. For a private club with all it's pretentiousness, I was gobsmacked to find two huge holes in the wall outside our room, with no indication that work was taking place. But it's a great location, and free - so that's the last of you hear me bitching about it.

We started with a late breakfast / early lunch at a favorite place from last time. The South Water Kitchen. Just typical bar and grill food, but a nice restaurant, good food and good service to get the whole shebang started.

From there we walked back down to Grant Park and Art Institute of Chicago to begin our cultural education. There is a lot of Modern Art which is too highbrow for A & I , but there is plenty for us to enjoy. Like Seurat's "A Sunday On La Grande Jatte", Wood's "American Gothic", some El Greco, a Lichtenstein and some Monet. Glad we stopped in there, even if he museum layout is a little confusing.

As is usually our want on trips away, the afternoon nap called us away from the city for a period of time. I rested while the boss did some studying. Basically we were killing time waiting for Robbie to fly in that evening. We ended up meeting him at his hotel (The Essex Inn) before we headed up to the Chicago Chophouse for a late dinner. This restaurant is a legendary Chicago steak house and it did not disappoint. Beer. Wine. Steak. Potatoes. It's all good. We did head out to look for a bar to have a drink after dinner and ended up at the Hard Rock Hotel. It surprises us in other towns when last call is midnight. Las Vegas has spoiled us. It was this time last year we last saw Bob (his annual work pilgrimage to a meeting in the US) so it was good to catch up with him. But we still have 3 days of adventure.