weekending in chicago

i kick-started the weekend with a brisk, swift walk along the river and through the woods friday morning.

it put me in a happy place for the rest of the day.

all winter i began each day curled up inside with a book.

now that the weather is changing, i'm beginning each day with a dose of fresh air and a sweat.

it was time for a change.

it's been a good change.

lily and i decided it was finally time for some foot attention.

after school, we went for the first pedicure of the season and now our toes are pretty and we are ready for flip flops.

i was up early saturday for a 24 hour girl's trip to chicago.

it felt good to get out of dodge for a little adventure.

we arrived in the windy city just in time to lunch at monteverde.

chef sarah grueneberg has established quite a gem in the west loop.

we started with proscuitto toast, which was as delicious as it was beautiful.

 the octopus spiedino was my favorite preparation of tentacles ever.

the egg yolk raviolo was delicious and decadent and perfect to share.

we had to leave room for the raspberry zeppole after all.

btw...i don't do donuts, but these were so perfectly light and airy that i was smitten.
i'm still dreaming about the zeppole.

we walked the streets of chicago taking in the sites before stopping at 2 twenty 2 for a happy hour drink.

then we cleaned up and made our way to the cadillac palace theatre to see rob lowe.

or rather to listen to rob lowe tell stories.

he's got some good ones after 50 years in the business.

my favorite was one of the last of the night and it involved a saxophone, david foster and bill clinton.

he's funny and personable and real. 
and he has a gaggle of middle aged groupies who carry on like tweens.
hmmm.

we walked about after the what rob called a ted talk, only less pretentious.

we checked out a club our friendly waiter recommended earlier.

we checked it out from the sidewalk.

we never went in.

the music was loud and not of any genre we were remotely familiar with.

jess and i agreed that we'd be okay with the rooftop bar at the hotel.

it was fun and chill and more our speed.

we ordered a bottle of wine and an almost midnight snack.
i was happily in bed with a book shortly after 12 o'clock.
bar closing days are over.

sunday we woke to a grey even colder day.

we braved it and walked to millennium park to take pictures of the bean and then we walked on to grant park.

rob lowe confessed that he loves this park and city and that the favorite movie of his career was about last night. 

our walking tour was cut a little short when it started to rain and then pour.

we sought shelter under a courtyard of trees and then we hailed a cab back to the hotel.

no biggie that we had 3 umbrellas back at the hotel.

on the way out of town, we made an impromptu stop at ginos east for chicago-style pizza.

when in chicago.

like jess did a u turn right on la salle.

impressive.

we enjoyed the delicious food and the vibe of the talented live entertainment.

i brought a pizza to go for my family for dinner...a 10 pound souvenir.

my souvenir: the memories made.
long live all the fun we had.

i was ready and happy to head home, but i'm looking forward to visiting again soon.
next time i'll visit with my other best girl.