Chicago in two days!

Oh what a beautiful city! Though I have flown through Chicago many times this is one of the first times I got to just enjoy the city for the city. The best way I can as an out sider show off this amazing city is just tell you what we did and what we Loved (witch happened to be most of it). The biggest hint for travel I can give is ask the locals, and keep asking, ask the cabbies, waitress, shop attendants, even concierge. A lot of times attractions put on events for locals to get their word of mouth out and even drop tickets off at big hotels. After awhile you'll get the idea what the busy locals have taken time for and you can plan accordingly. The best thing about my in-laws is that they love to play it by ear so we went to Chicago with no more plans then our hotel reservation. On our first day we googled best cheesstake and it came up with Fat Tommy'switch was Just the ticket!

The In-law shared "The Grabber: Bacon wrapped, deep-fried Fat Tommy (fat dog)" this dog was spoken about with reverents for days! The husband got the "Ditka Dog: Bacon wrapped, deep-fried Polish. Comes with mustard, cheese and grilled onions" witch had him engross the whole meal. I had the Philly Chicken witch was my whole reason for Googleing the restaurant in the first place and it did not disappoint! Fat Tommy's is an out of the way, hole in the wall place that is not to be missed, because beyond the grate food the man behind the counter was our first local connection, and when we ask what the "must see's in Chicago" were, he when off on such a thrill of locations that when our food came he left us to eat while he wrote out a list for us. This was a big guide for our trip starting with his suggested must see the Chicago architecture tour if you have any interest in detail, history or architecture you should truly enjoy this boat ride.

There is a open bar, entertaining tour guide, fun facts and views that you can only see by the water. Though I would suggest bringing your sunscreen and hat if you do a day tour or a swetter if you do the night tour. The museum sorry the Art institute of Chicago is an amazing adventure that really will stay in my hart and mind for long to come (see my last blog for more on it)

Then it was off to our hotel, and I must admit I am a sucker for a good deal, and can't complain about our hotel. Priceline you are a friend to me and gave this vacation a place of rest in the middle of our run, run, running. We ended up with lovely rooms at the Hyatt Regency Chicago (the largest Hyatt in the world). Then there was dinner, and dinner in Chicago means little Greece and Greek Islands This was the best meal of the trip, I had the Vegetarian Mousaka, oh how much I am craving it again, already! Really everyone at the table was vary happy with there food and stuffed by the end of it. Steven my father in-law's chicken was the peek of his whole trip.

The fun thing about traveling with couples is in the midal of a meal if some one gets a wild hair and wants the night not to end, well why not look up comidy clubs and see if you can get in? Thats just what happen at dinner, stuffed with delishus greek food Iphones out, then taxi and off to The Comedy Bar and don't you know it we got in, great seats and a good show. Three comedians later and abbs killing us from laughing so hard we headed back to the hotel for some much needed sleep.

The next day we were ready to hit real Chicago food, Ah lunch! if you ask around there are two places battling it out for best pizza in Chicago: Giordano's and Lou Malnati's, so we randomly chose Lou Malnati's and though we did not make it to Giordano's, I did not mind.

Lou Malnati's was everything we were looking for in Chicago pizza: atmosphere, the game on in each corner, and pizza to make you rethink all the pizza you have ever had, thick flavorful crust, deep lair of good cheese and a sweetish real tomato sauce. What to do after crazy good pizza? Slow down and stroll Shedd Aquarium and we did it all, 4d theater, not my cup of tea (I'm not one for getting eaten by a shark, sorry). Jellyfish exhibit, wow jellies are Crazy, there really freaky. Also the aquatic show so cool, just fun and neat, and can I go again? and is there any way I could pet all the animals? It's great when you get to experience something that makes your brain all curious and energetic like a kid again.

All the vast beauty of the oceans, lakes and rivers of the world, gave us just enough time to skirt back to the hotel and change up to our fancy clothes and head out to the "best stake in amarica"(If you ask food network or my husband) at David Burke's Primehouse

Now keep in mind this is a MEET place the tables are even covered in leather, so me being a not so meet person I go there for my man. Though if you have an intrast in the "stakyist" stake you have ever had you may end up loving the 40 through 75day age stakes, but if you are not one for the flavors of blue-cheese/scotch like fermentation, this is not the stake for you, though as you can tell Kelly my mother in-law is LOVING it!

this was the wrap up to our whirlwind Chicago adventure. All and all I am so thankful to my in-laws, my husband and the great city of Chicago for an amazing weekend with more beauty than my poor brain knows what to do with.