Chicago!

I'm an incredibly spoiled little girl.  I'm sure I didn't need to share that with many of you, but it's true.  I got the wonderful opportunity to go to Chicago with my dad for his annual whatever he does there. I really didn't know what to expect when my dad asked me to join him.  My mom talked about the great shopping, but little did I know just how GREAT the shopping was. I'd say my first trip to Illinois, I couldn't even spell that haha, was a success!

We stayed at the Affinia hotel.  It was so strange staying somewhere with 16 floors, there were more we were on the 16th floor.  I guess I've stayed in Vegas which would have that many but those buildings are gigantic! Chicago is just built up. That probably makes no sense. Whatever, here are pictures. I LOVED the bathroom wall.  It was a metallic peachy color! It is pleasant to have such a nice bell boy, Pedro, always there pushing the spiny door for me. It is just so foreign to me.

 

  

 The first thing we did when we got to Chicago was eat at Gino's East.  Yes it was featured on Man vs. Food and Diners, Drive-in's and Dives.  It was pretty awesome! It is my dad's favorite, I think, place in Chicago.  He kept talking about how when he got a little extra money in dental school him and "uncle" Brent went there.

  

  

 After we ate, my dad showed me Michigan Ave.  Amazing Avenue is more like it.  It was the most wonderful shopping!!! Seriously, I was in heaven. I'm glad everything was in walking distance, I think it'd be awesome to live like that. This was the Chicago River, that could have a new name by now. My dad isn't up to date on all his facts around the city....

  

 That night we went to eat with my dad's good friend, "uncle" Larry. We went to the John Hancock building and ate at the restaurant on the top. I tried to get pictures, but it was really dark and tinted windows.  Signature Room- click that to check out the pictures. It is pretty amazing! The food was definitely a little more fancy then what I'm use to.  It was wonderful! 

After that we went to Larry's apartment and just hung out for a bit.  He lives right by Northwestern...I tried to get a picture of the two of them in front of their school, but no such luck.  But look at my dad, clearly he loves Larry more than me and Gino's, look at that grin! Larry hasn't owned a car since 1986!! I loved Larry.  I think he finally convinced my dad that my brown suede boots are "very hot" cause my dad has never liked them. If only Larry could've taken me shopping....

  

 Friday I was on my own to shop the heck out of those stores.  Oh my, seriously, I can't do it justice.  It was amazing.  Filene's Basement is a definite favorite for me, I went 3 times in one day. I was too nervous to shop the big designer stores alone.  All the sales people, they are a tad more aggressive than I care for, like to compliment me hoping I'll buy something. Never been told I had such beautiful eyes before.  I wish I could've gotten more pictures but I felt so vulnerable being alone, I definitely didn't want to be a tourist.

  

 That night for dinner we went to a sushi place that is on the 6th or 7th floor of the Bloomingdales shopping center. I believe it was called Baisi Thai? You definitely got A LOT of food.  I couldn't finish it all.  We got some crab rangoons to start off. They were HUGE.  The biggest, and most delicious, rangoons I've ever had.  And yes, there was crab in these rangoons haha. The salad was killer with these braces of mine. I couldn't eat it even though it was so good due to all the damage it was doing to my gums cause of these braces.

  

 

On Saturday, I was hoping to get some more shopping in but I didn't get up early enough to check out of the hotel and meet my dad at the ADA building.  So I met him and then we went and hung out at the airport until our flight left.  I ate a hotdog....what hot dog place doesn't believe ketchup is a condiment? Seriously, answer that one for me.  I'm glad to be back home because I feel like I haven't seen my husband or my dogs for so long! It was definitely a once in a lifetime trip and I loved every moment of it! And for the record, all those people who told me I would freeze my butt off were wrong!!! I nearly passed out from the heat.  Those Chicagians like to keep their buildings a touch warmer than I care for.