My Visit to the Midwest

I have known for about six months I was going to be traveling to Chicago in December for work and I was very excited about it.  It wasn't until about a week before I was scheduled to leave that I started really absorbing how cold it was going to be there and how NOT prepared I was for that type of weather.  I would check the forecast every morning and see the highs in the teens and the lows as low as five degrees.  Brrr.   Everyone I talked to said "layer, layer, layer" so that is what I did.  I packed leggings, double the socks, long sleeve shirts to go under everything I was going to wear, and the warmest coat I had - a mid-thigh length wool coat.  Add to that gloves and scarves - and I was as ready as I was going to be!

Tree in the hotel lobby (too tall to get the whole thing!)

I landed on a Tuesday morning and had to head straight to the convention center to meet up with a couple of co-workers to set up our booth.  We were exhibiting at the Midwest Clinic (an educational clinic for high school and college band directors from all over the world).  Once setup was done, I checked into my hotel - the beautiful Hilton Chicago which was right on Michigan Avenue - a shopper's heaven - and was greeted by a 40-foot Christmas tree when you walked in the front door. 

I joined my coworkers for dinner that night - we had some fantastic seafood at Shaw's Crab House where we had crab cakes, lobster bisque, grilled scallops, asparagus, grilled potatoes, and a small cut of steak.  It was all so delicious and we all left completely stuffed.


The next day was a full day of work.  It was a productive day where we talked to close to 500 people and I met people from Australia, Canada, Japan, and all over the US.  I even met the band director for a Lafayette, LA high school and later met a marine (who was there exhibiting as well) who was born and raised right outside of New Iberia!  It was a crazy coincidence and we had a nice chat about the folks back home and how much we miss the good food, the daiquiri stands and the laissez faire attitude of everyone there.  After work that day, a smaller group of coworkers headed to Gino's East in Chicago for some world famous Chicago-style deep dish pizza.  Oh my.  I wish I was better at describing food so that I could accurately tell you how delicious this was.  The picture does it no justice.  I was only able to eat one piece of the pizza - I was so stuffed.  It had pepperoni, a full layer of italian sausage, onions, peppers, mushrooms, and jalepenos.  Oh how I wish I could have had another piece of that before leaving the city.  YUM!

Gino's East Deep Dish Pizza

On Thursday I woke up excited because Nick was flying in to meet me that day so I knew that I would get to get out and walk some of the streets of old town Chicago and enjoy some of the beautiful sights.  Another full day of work and I hurried out of there and back to the hotel to meet up with Nick.  He surprised me with an early Christmas present - a Marmot coat, a fleece jacket to go under, and ear warmers!  YAY!  I could now bundle up appropriately and head out for a night on the town.  In true Chicago style, we walked through the various streets, ending by heading back up Michigan Avenue.  It was snowing for a good part of the walk and so for the first time in my life, I got to walk down the streets in freezing cold weather while getting stung in the eyes with snowflakes.  Sounds pleasant, right?  I can't explain it - but I loved it!  I tried very hard to not look like a total tourist but I did have to stop for a typical "tourist" picture. 

I don't look cold at all, right?!

Nick and I enjoyed dinner at a German-style restaurant called The Berghoff where I enjoyed a delicious Reuben sandwich and a french onion and tart apple soup (which was really good!).  We also made a stop in Macy's for some Frango chocolate mints - and that place was just beautifully decorated!  It was five stories of shopping in just this one store.  We didn't do any real shopping, but it was fun just to look around (and thaw out a little!).  We made our way back to the hotel, swung into the hotel lounge to meet up with a couple of coworkers and enjoy an Irish coffee and then headed up to the warmth of our room.  Oh - I forgot to mention the view from my room... take a look at this!!

Sunrise from my room

Sunset from my room

The courtyard right below my room

On Friday, I had my final day of work  - a long, slow moving day - and while I was there, Nick went out and did his own sight seeing and made a stop at the Field Museum, which he hadn't been to since he was a kid.  He took some cool pictures and really enjoyed the visit.  I wish I could have seen it as well, but there just wasn't enough time in the day.  That night, Nick and I teamed up with the only remaining co-worker still in town and we headed out for a steak dinner at the famous Gene & Georgetti's.  This place was small and crowded, but not in an unpleasant way - in a way that made you feel like you were part of something extraordinary.  The dining area was split between upstairs and downstairs, all hardwood floors, Chicago-style art on the walls, an ambiance that you just don't find everyday.  It claims to be the "oldest steakhouse in Chicago" and let me tell you - there is a reason it has lasted so long.  I had a filet Mignon that practically melted in my mouth and Nick enjoyed a t-bone that was so moist and full of flavor it made your mouth water just looking at it. We wrapped up the night and headed back to our hotel to get ready for our road trip to Indiana the next day.

Saturday morning, Nick and I hopped into a rental car and headed to South Bend, Indiana to visit some of his family and give me a tour of where he grew up.  After a two hour drive along toll roads lined with factories, we arrived in South Bend and began our tour.  Nick took me through his old neighborhood and showed me the house where he spent a good part of his childhood.  The snow covered streets, the old brick roads, the colorfully painted fire hydrants - they all led to a very quaint feeling of a Midwestern neighborhood.  It was nice to get to see a little of his past and now he says that I have to take him to my hometown for the same tour! 

Me & Grandma H :-)

We pulled into an abandoned parking lot that was covered with snow where Nick gave his best effort at showing me the joy of doing doughnuts.  He was disappointed in the lack of "doughnut ability" of the rental car we had but I still enjoyed the spinning that we were able to do.  From there we headed to visit one of his grandmothers.  I know a lot of my followers here knew both of my grandparents - so when I tell you how much his Granny reminded me of a mix between both of my grandmothers, I think you will understand.  This woman is 96 years old, living on her own in the same house she has been in for at least 50 years.  She still gets out and shovels the snow every day and she greeted us with fresh baked goodies (it is Christmas season, after all!).  We spent about an hour and a half there that day, listening to her stories about when she was a young woman, how she met her husband (whom she was married to for somewhere in the vicinity of 60 years), how she learned to fly planes when she was 18 years old (and crashed on her first solo flight!) and so much more.  Nick and I were both enthralled with her stories and I was reminded how very much I miss both of my grandmothers.  I am so glad I got to spend the time with them I did, but there was so much more to spend.  Several times during our visit, I had to blink back tears as I listened intently to this vibrant, humorous woman who was so full of life and yet questioned why she was still here on this earth.  We went back the next day to visit some more before heading back to Chicago to fly home and before we left I was able to get a picture with her.  Of all the sights I saw during my time up north, these visits probably affected me more than anything else.  I am definitely glad that I had a chance to meet her.


We spent the night at Nick's uncle's house and the two of them stayed up WAY later than me talking about old times, family, cars and just about everything else.  But before going to bed, Nick and I did venture out to pick up take-out pizza from a place called Bruno's which makes more of a New York style pizza that was just flat out delicious.  The crust was soft and foldable, the sauce was rich and flavorful and the toppings were fresh.  It was quite a delicious pizza which I was glad to finally be able to try.  Nick has been telling me about this pizza for at least three years!

Bruno's Deliciousness!

The next morning we had breakfast at The Original Pancake House (another favorite of Nick's) with his other grandparents, his great aunt, his aunt, and his cousin and family.  It was a nice breakfast and everyone was really sweet.  It was a little difficult for me to talk to everyone just because of the seating arrangements, but Nick was able to catch up with everyone and  I know they were all glad to see him.

That's me, I promise!

From there, we headed down to the campus of Notre Dame (because I am a dork who likes to see legendary college campuses!) and we even got out of the car to go into the church there (gorgeous!)  and snapped a picture of me in front of the the golden dome (that's real gold!).  Everything was covered in snow, so it was difficult to see the true beauty of the campus, but it was very nice to see nonetheless. 

After the afternoon visit with his granny, we headed back to Chicago, had a beer in the airport and boarded a plane for home.  By Sunday night at 11pm, we were home, laying in bed, and reminicing about our trip.  I don't know when I will get to go back to the Midwest for another visit, but I am really glad I got this opportunity and I really did enjoy getting to see the sights, meet some really nice people and enjoy some delicious food. 

Oh - and for the record, the day after I returned home, I was out doing Christmas shopping, wearing a thin long sleeve t-shirt and sweating.  Gotta love Texas!!