Chicago - The City

Chicago felt like a big city with a small town feel. I knew we were in the third largest city in America. But everyone was so friendly, it felt made the city seem more personable.

We walked every where! Saturday, after driving around with a Realtor (who gave us a TON of info), we 'shopped' at all these stores we only ever get to see in catalogs and online. It is incredible what is available in a big city.

Later that night, we took the L to Lou Malnati's for the 'original' Chicago pizza. We walked around downtown and window shopped. I think our drool is still on the sidewalks.

After dinner, we hopped back on the L to Millennium Park. Wow. It was so impressive to see the 2-story fountain with faces of real Chicagoans, and the amphitheater - wow! The kidney bean was pretty impressive, even at night. We were going to go skating, but we thought it might not be a good idea for Jason to show up at church on Sunday, with a broken ankle. Everywhere we went, the city was clean and the people were friendly.

On Monday, we walked from the ah-mazing brownstone we had the honor of staying at, to Nookie's for breakfast, before walking over to the church building. But first, we stopped at a park field house and a library. Nookie's is famous. You have GOT to eat there. It was so good. I wish I could have saved it for later. It was so much and so tasty.

Okay, time needs to be devoted to where we stayed. MB's house was so beautiful. She has a 4-story brownstone with a roof top deck. What we loved about her home was that you could stay there for 3 months, yet still turn and find something new and really cool, or unique - either in the architecture, or the decorating. The tile work in each of the bathrooms is breath-taking. I could sit and stare at her tile for hours. MB is so sweet and kind and hard-working and generous. You can't help but love her.

We had a great time exploring the city. J and I love the architecture and the pulse of the city. We didn't take pictures because a picture could never tell even a fraction of the story. Each building is so unique. We found beauty in looking out a window at a brick wall with a fire escape. I think we were born to live in a city. It's what we've talked about doing since before we got married.

Today, J and I were talking. You know, we are so in love with living in a big city. But we realize that if we get there and we hate it, guess what! We can move!!

Tuesday March 18, 2008 - 11:57pm