Chicago, Illinois

Well, I really lucked out!

I was in Chicago for The Taste of Chicago which allowed me to well, taste Chicago. All of it.

I even licked the sidewalk.

Ehhhh. Not really.

But I did have a roasted corncob with soy butter rolled in cajun spices (with a Bud Select—NECESSSARY, it was spicy!), a sample size Chicago hotdog (a hotdog on a sesame seed bun with banana peppers, pickles, mustard and sauteed onions—AWESOME!), spicy as WHOA chicken wings, Chicago Cheesecake, and a chicken dumpling (doughy goodness).

My favorite food item was the corncob. So delicious!

After enjoying the vendors and their vending (!) I absorbed the hot sun of the not-so-windy city as I waited to view sample-sized entertainment by Broadway In Chicago (BIC). Chicago has their very own little theatre district. We say select songs from Wicked, A Chorus Line, Legally Blonde and Jersey Boys. All without waiting 4 hours like some people did. (Stevie Wonder was there 2 night before we got to Chi-Town and over 70,000 camer out to see him, I would have waited 24 hours to experience that!) We did have a seat but we did park our butts on the grass and only had to hang out for 45 minutes–fair trade I say!

This little snippet got my co-worker’s musical juices going and she just HAD to see Wicked. I told her we could try. I am not a HUGE musical fan. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Rent on Broadway—NOT the movie—but other than that I am not all that impressed. Just too, too MUCH for me. I guess that’s the best way to say it.

So the next day, after we took the “express” train back to the hotel from the city—which expressly got us a $60 cab ride AWAY from our hotel–we headed back into family-friendly Chicago again, in an attempt to SHOP (! YAY !) and throw our names in a raffle for 25 dollar front row tickets to see “Wicked.”

I did not have time to buy anything at the many stores downtown because I WON!

Yup. I’m a wiener winner. Yours truly, won herself and her co-worker 4th row “obstructed” view tickets for 25 bucks a piece. And there was no obstruction, expect we couldn’t see the back left hand corner of the stage. But, no one likes that spot anyways…

And this time we took the RIGHT train back to the hotel. See, I’m a quick learner.

We had an amazing stay at the Oak Brook DoubleTree. FREE WARM COOKIES ALL THE TIME! If you are ever in the area stay here! You will never need a thing! They think of everything before you even ask! Loved it. Seth at the front desk is even an alumni of the Walt Disney World College Program, like myself He noticed my Disney-ness before we realized we had the connection!

And don’t think I left the city without a slice of deep dish Chicago-style pizza. The hotel shuttle dropped us off at Giordano’s and we ordered the “Special” deep dish style. It was stuffed pizza filled with onions, peppers, mushrooms and sausage with sauce on top. The crust was to die for. I grew up on flat New York style pizza-which I love- but Giordano’s opened my eyes and mouth to the deep dish pizza.

So a lot of eating went on in Chicago. Nothing wrong with that.

The DoubleTree also has excellent fitness facilities—that helped out A LOT!

Hey! When in Chicago…

Mary Poppins comes to BIC in August I will miss it!

I can’t believe I almost forgot to tell you all about my 4th of July! I spent it at Medieval Times in Schaumburg, IL. They were all extremely generous and even gave my co-worker and I the Red and Yellow Knight to cheer on during the knightly competitions.

I caught the carnation that he threw out to the audience–but I was not named the Queen of Love and Beauty like my Aunt was at her last Medieval Times experience. Some 5 year-old was. Lame. I’m totally cuter than she is.

Even though I cheered loudly while eating my gynormous chicken leg, rib and potato with my bare hands (no utensils at this shindig) he died. We did get to spend some time with the other Knights after the show, the ones who lived through dinner.

Nothing like celebrating our nations Independence with Kings and Queens at Medieval Times!

**BONUS STORY** (because you all have been so good!)

So this was my first time at a Medieval Times. We arrived right before the show started and they rushed us to our seats before the lights went out. As we approached our row I noticed the couple I would be seated next to was geared up in Medieval costumes.

YES! They had seated us next the actors. Shine the spotlight right over here Medieval Times! I’m gonna be a star! The man to my right kept calling me “My lady…” and I told him I liked his tights. He laughed. I then continued our conversation by saying this was my first jousting experience and my co-worker (who had been before) did not tell me I would be under dressed in my jeans and tank top. He asked me if I had anything that he was wearing at home. I explained that I was on the road and left my Velvet garb embellishe dwith gold thread at home.

Here I am chatting it up with the stars of the show. I am so getting a surprise!!

i was right!

When the drink girl came around the hand out alcoholic beverages the man pulled out his cash to pay for his beer.

WHAT?!

They can NOT be drinking on the job. Illegal.

Yea, they were totally just watching the show. Just tourists like myself.

Only they were decked out. And I was asking them about their clothing.

And they totally dressed up in Medieval costumes on purpose, for their own personal enjoyment.

Only in ‘merica my friends.