ROG AND LARI’S CHICAGO TRIP
“Hawaiians in Chicago”
September 13 to 22, 2011
Once again cheap airfares prompted us to go somewhere… this time to return to Chicago after a 25-year absence. There is so much to see and do in the Windy City, that we couldn’t do it all in 9 days. We used the CTA trains and buses to get around while we were there and saved time and money getting around. The weather was nippy at 50’s and 60’s and mostly sunny with light showers for a couple days. We also got the City Pass, which includes 4 museums and Sears Tower at a huge discount.
I used VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) and found a wonderful apartment in the very nice Lincoln Park neighborhood right next to De Paul University and Fullerton stop on the red line. The owner, Fran, was very helpful and suggested some great shows and restaurants in the neighborhood. We had a completely furnished apartment, like a B&B without the breakfast. Our ground floor apartment could sleep five and has a washer dryer, full kitchen, living room, dining room, study, and a full bath. We loved our home away from home, with wifi for my ipad and cable TV for Roger.
We enjoyed the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum of Natural History, Museum of Science and Industry, and the Art Institute.
Navy Pier was fun1 We rode the huge ferris wheel, took in a play and loved the free Stained Glass display.
With the City Pass, we could bypass the long lines, and our tickets included some extras like the
At the Sears Tower, now renameWillis Tower, at the 103rd floor, they have The Ledge, where you can go out into a glass enclosed deck looking down and around. We also went to Chicago History Museum, which tells about the Great Chicago Fire, and the resulting city plan after the fire. We did the architectural boat ride up the Chicago River where we could see all famous buildings.Imax movie at science/industry, the trained sea mammal show at the aquarium, and headphones at the art museum.
We went to Cellular Field to watch the White Sox play the Tigers and also to Wrigley Field to see the Cubs beat the Brewers. Wrigley Field was built in 1914 and only played day games until 1988 when lights were installed. What is unique about this ballpark is that the houses outside right and left field are taller than the field fence and they have bleachers on top of their houses.
We saw 3 plays. The first one at Shakespeare Theater in Navy Pier, called Murder by Two. One night, we had to rent a car to drive out to Aurora because I bought tickets to My Fair Lady, but didn’t realize that Paramount Theater in Aurora was so far from Chicago. We also loved Million Dollar Quartet, about Elvis, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins all at the same place and singing their music. Great rock n roll on our 46th anniversary.
We visited Harpo Studios, Garfield Conservatory, Lincoln Park, Millenium Park with Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate sculpture nicknamed “The Bean”. We went on a boat ride on the Chicago River and saw all the wonderful architecture. We went to Navy Pier and rode the giant ferris wheel and enjoyed the free stained glass museum. We shopped at Trader Joe’s. We had deep dish pizza at Pequod’s, Italian at Mia Francesca and at Rose Angeli’s both near our apartment, and wonderful steaks at Select Cut also nearby. All in all, we had a great time in the Windy City, and highly recommend it to those who have never been there.
Roger’s Top:
9. I had such delicious meat. A pork chop over an inch thick that you could shred with your fork and it almost melted in your mouth. Plus we had salad and dessert for only $6.50. On this trip, I had steak 3 times. All were excellent but the one at Rose Angeli’s was one pound, dry aged, and just broke the mouth for only $18.00. I’d go back to Chicago just to eat! (Like Japan, Paris, New Orleans and London-NOT!)
8. Chicago has great museums. Interesting and all, but for me, too big and my mind already has so much knowledge accumulated that I could not take in too much more.
7. My Fair Lady. You know, “the rain in Spain”. Excellent play in Aurora, 50 miles outside of Chicago and no train, so we had to rent a car.
6. Museum of Science and Industry. From anatomy to xdqoartuztomy (whatever) for us kids and intelligent adults. Interesting to see how things work. My best museum.
5. Shedd Aquarium was neat and I liked it better than the museums cuz everything was alive and moving.
4. Wrigley Field built in 1914 and the Chicago Cubs. They win less than the White Sox but they won. It’s an old field but very comfortable and easy access to all facilities.
3. White Sox baseball. They don’t win so much, but we saw them winning. They were ahead 5-2 over Detroit Tigers. In the top of the 9th, we figured no sweat, so we left only to find out that they lost in the 10th inning 6-5. What a bummer. At least we never watch them lose.
2. The CTA bus rides. Why? No need walk.
1. By far, the L (elevated train) rides. Why? No need walk.
Lari’s Top:
10. 2 baseball games… especially the historic Wrigley Field
9. All the museums… terrific!
8. The Bean and other public art around the city
7. Our comfy apartment, so convenient
6. The convenient CTA system of the L train and bus system.
5. Theater plays… we saw 3…
4. The delicious meals we enjoyed mostly right in our neighborhood
3. The friendly and helpful people who work at CTA and the general public
2. The Architectural boat ride
1. The Stained Glass Museum in Navy Pier
lariyasui 
