1) ry always finds the best deals! we arrived in chicago and checked into the james hotel on east ontario street. luxurious and chic, and walking distance to most of our items on our agenda.2) so the only times ryan and i typically argue are when we are tired or hungry. i was both when we left the hotel to grab some food, making it a rough start to our trip. after poor gps navigation on my behalf, we finally ended up at the purple pig. this delicious sicilian iris was like a malasada on steroids!
3) well it was a good thing that i was on a diet the three days before our trip, consuming 600-900 calories per day! our second dinner was at giordano's for some classic chicago deep dish pizza. typical me with my eyes bigger than my stomach thought to order a small pizza each so we can sample at least two different varieties. but having to wait 45 minutes for a pie will definitely quench that outlandish appetite.
4) the next morning on our way to the expo, we took a walk through millennium park. a first for the both of us, we had the opportunity to take several pictures next to "the bean" aka cloud gate.
5) mainly for the opportunity to hang with my big bro and cousins, we met the guys at the rock and roll expo so they could pick up their bibs (and perhaps grab a few freebies - dry fit tees, energy beans and samples of beer).
6) and my bottomless appetite continues...off to connie's for more pizza! best part was mikey being unsure of where the restaurant was located. we happened to spot a delivery truck and were able to just follow it to our destination!
7) to start out our delicious meal at my favorite chef's restaurant, topolobampo, i ordered one of their margaritas. perfectly mixed and incredibly refreshing!
8) if chocolate is offered on a dessert menu, i'm the first to sign up for that. but i thought i would be a bit more adventurous and chose the tasting menu with a coconut dish. best. decision. ever. four flavors of coconut: flan, crisp cocada, chewy cocada, coconut-lemon verbena ice cream. heaven in a bowl!
9) we met up with one of ryan's friends at clark street ale house. pretty damn impressed with how much she knew about sports. pretty damn jealous that she used to work with dan patrick at espn.
10) i'd like to say i've done chicago proud with visiting some of their most famous landmarks - navy pier, cloud gate, the hancock building, sears (willis) tower, wrigley field, the oprah show, shopping on michigan avenue. and yet, there's still so much more i want to do. maybe check out a bulls game at the united center, gaze at "a sunday on la grande jatte" at the art institute of chicago, and i definitely want to dip my toes in lake michigan. just more reasons to go back to that toddlin' town!
