Chicago - Day 2
We slept in a little bit, showered, and checked out. We decided to give the pizza place another try. It did not look promising when the girl at the counter barely looked at us and mumbled something about the buffet, pointing to another room. The waitress that greeted us there was much more pleasant. We got a table, ordered our beverages, and proceeded to pig out on pizza. We did find it odd that they had "fake" (fountain) iced tea at a bar/restaurant. The Greek place had fake iced tea as well. Maybe Chicago folks aren't into real iced tea. At least it wasn't sweet tea.
The TVs in the restaurant were once again fixated on M.J. They made it sound surprising that even though the physical autopsy was already done, it would take weeks to get the toxicology back. Anyway, while we ate Dustin called to find out where we were at and what our plan was. I told him we would be coming by after lunch. He and Maria were both working from home, but Dustin indicated that it would take next to nothing for him to be persuaded to blow off the rest of the day and hang out with us.
After lunch we walked to "the loop" where we picked up the train. It was the Brown Line for those in the know. It was quite warm out with real high humidity, so we were soon working up a sweat walking the 6-8 blocks to the station. The train was air conditioned, but it was still a little warm.
We made our way out to the 'burbs. While on the train Dustin texted me and said they were running late for their own lunch and to let us know when we got off the train. When I called him at his stop he told us to keep ourselves busy for 20 minutes while they finished lunch, so we stopped at a local coffee shop and had our beverages outside in the shade. Jaime had coffee and I had a smoothie. After a while I got another text message saying it was safe to come over so we walked to their apartment 5-6 blocks away. Fortunately we had a decent amount of shade for that walk.
Dustin greeted us at the gate and took us up to their flat. It was a nice place with lots of hard wood and a decent amount of space. It was an old building, but comfortable. We talked for a bit but soon decided to leave so that Maria could get some work done. We decided to go to Andersonville, a town within walking distance. Maria would join us out there in a couple of hours. We filled up some water bottles and headed out.
Andersonville is a nice little town. There were lots of shops and restaurants. Dustin pointed out some of the sights as we went. We eventually ended up at In Fine Spirits. We went into the shop to look around and ended up talking to the owner for quite a while as we shopped. He told us about some of the new items, like the kit you could use to age your own whiskey. He also told us about and let us try a rye-based whiskey from Montana of all places. It was pretty good. We also talked about the artisan crafted gin and absinthe that they sold. Jaime and I have always wanted to try absinthe so we bought some (with Dustin's encouragement). Well, we did not buy it right then, but said we would be back after enjoying a cocktail next door. It was under the same ownership and had both a bar and patio.
So we went next door so we could enjoy, as Dustin put it and I quote, "The best gin and tonic in the world." We were immediately distracted by a new adult beverage they had just tapped that day. It was a stout that had been aged in Islay whisky casks. I do not recall the brand. We ordered three of those and went out to the patio.
It was still warm outside, but we had some shade on the patio. It was nice to sit back and do nothing amongst friends. As an added bonus we had the patio to ourselves until right before we left. Once our stouts were finished we moved onto something lighter. You don't really want to drink too much of that heavy brew on a hot day. Jaime ordered a Pimms cocktail. Dustin had a gin and tonic, ordered off-menu with their special ingredients. I had a vodka and gin drink with lemon served in a martini glass. I'm not a big gin fan, but I figured that was the place to give it a try. It was very good.
A little before 5:00 Maria called and said she would be joining us. She arrived about when we were finishing up. Then we went next door so we could buy the absinthe. I also bought a bottle of apple wine for Dustin and Maria as a thank you for letting us crash at their place. I knew Dustin wanted it and would not let me buy it, but he was in the restroom so could not object. Maria said, "He's going to be mad at you." I said, "Let him be mad."
Since Maria had brought the car, we drove back home. Our plan was to go to Spacca Napoli, an authentic Italian pizzeria. We had about 15 minutes to kill before they opened for dinner, so we dropped off the car and walked the couple of blocks.
One thing Jaime and I were looking forward to for weeks before the trip was the food. We knew that we would be taken to some excellent places. Not necessarily fancy places, but the places well known by locals and by foodies like Dustin. Spacca Napoli was just such a place.
We took a seat on the patio. Dustin ordered two bottles of wine, one white and one red. For an appetizer we ordered a dish consisting of honeydew melon and prosciutto. The mix of sweet and salt was perfect especially complemented by the tang of the wine. For the main course we ordered three pizzas baked in an old wood burning brick oven. Jaime and I split one with provola (provolone), prosciutto, arugula, parmesan, and olive oil. Maria had a Florentine style pizza. Dustin had either a funghi or a sausage pizza. We all shared from each other's plates. I'm glad we're all comfortable enough to do that because it lets everyone try things.
For dessert we ordered three limonchellos and I think an averna for Maria. I had never had limoncello and it was quite good, although I'm guessing ours was a higher quality than normal. I don't remember what we had for actual dessert, but they were fantastic. Again we each had a few bites from each other's plates. Dustin ended up paying for the meal, which we objected to but I kind of figured he would do that. That was why I was glad we picked up the bar tab at In Fine Spirits. Try to get all philanthropic with me, will ya!
After stuffing ourselves silly, we walked back home which was quite refreshing. That is one benefit of living in the city (or 'burbs), at least when it isn't 10 below. On our way back we stopped at a party store to pick up supplies for the next leg of the evening: Chez Grimm.
Dave lives a handful of miles away and not easily accessible by train from Dustin and Maria's place, so we took a cab. We snuck in the locked door by following some people that lived there. It was a nice place in what appeared to be a pretty new building.
We spent the evening hanging out with Dave, Kristen (Dave's girlfriend), Josh "lesser Tondo", and Dave's dogs, Frodo and Gomez. I had some Blue Moon to start. Then Dustin and I helped ourselves to Dave's Scotch collection. I think I had a Macallen 18. Later on I had a margarita. During that time we played some pool, listened to some tunes, relaxed on the balcony, and later hung out on the roof. Dave's place has a great view of the Chicago skyline. We didn't stay very late and eventually took a cab home.
[Pictures] [ Day 1] [ Day 3] [ Day 4]
The TVs in the restaurant were once again fixated on M.J. They made it sound surprising that even though the physical autopsy was already done, it would take weeks to get the toxicology back. Anyway, while we ate Dustin called to find out where we were at and what our plan was. I told him we would be coming by after lunch. He and Maria were both working from home, but Dustin indicated that it would take next to nothing for him to be persuaded to blow off the rest of the day and hang out with us.
After lunch we walked to "the loop" where we picked up the train. It was the Brown Line for those in the know. It was quite warm out with real high humidity, so we were soon working up a sweat walking the 6-8 blocks to the station. The train was air conditioned, but it was still a little warm.
We made our way out to the 'burbs. While on the train Dustin texted me and said they were running late for their own lunch and to let us know when we got off the train. When I called him at his stop he told us to keep ourselves busy for 20 minutes while they finished lunch, so we stopped at a local coffee shop and had our beverages outside in the shade. Jaime had coffee and I had a smoothie. After a while I got another text message saying it was safe to come over so we walked to their apartment 5-6 blocks away. Fortunately we had a decent amount of shade for that walk.
Dustin greeted us at the gate and took us up to their flat. It was a nice place with lots of hard wood and a decent amount of space. It was an old building, but comfortable. We talked for a bit but soon decided to leave so that Maria could get some work done. We decided to go to Andersonville, a town within walking distance. Maria would join us out there in a couple of hours. We filled up some water bottles and headed out.
Andersonville is a nice little town. There were lots of shops and restaurants. Dustin pointed out some of the sights as we went. We eventually ended up at In Fine Spirits. We went into the shop to look around and ended up talking to the owner for quite a while as we shopped. He told us about some of the new items, like the kit you could use to age your own whiskey. He also told us about and let us try a rye-based whiskey from Montana of all places. It was pretty good. We also talked about the artisan crafted gin and absinthe that they sold. Jaime and I have always wanted to try absinthe so we bought some (with Dustin's encouragement). Well, we did not buy it right then, but said we would be back after enjoying a cocktail next door. It was under the same ownership and had both a bar and patio.
So we went next door so we could enjoy, as Dustin put it and I quote, "The best gin and tonic in the world." We were immediately distracted by a new adult beverage they had just tapped that day. It was a stout that had been aged in Islay whisky casks. I do not recall the brand. We ordered three of those and went out to the patio.
It was still warm outside, but we had some shade on the patio. It was nice to sit back and do nothing amongst friends. As an added bonus we had the patio to ourselves until right before we left. Once our stouts were finished we moved onto something lighter. You don't really want to drink too much of that heavy brew on a hot day. Jaime ordered a Pimms cocktail. Dustin had a gin and tonic, ordered off-menu with their special ingredients. I had a vodka and gin drink with lemon served in a martini glass. I'm not a big gin fan, but I figured that was the place to give it a try. It was very good.
A little before 5:00 Maria called and said she would be joining us. She arrived about when we were finishing up. Then we went next door so we could buy the absinthe. I also bought a bottle of apple wine for Dustin and Maria as a thank you for letting us crash at their place. I knew Dustin wanted it and would not let me buy it, but he was in the restroom so could not object. Maria said, "He's going to be mad at you." I said, "Let him be mad."
Since Maria had brought the car, we drove back home. Our plan was to go to Spacca Napoli, an authentic Italian pizzeria. We had about 15 minutes to kill before they opened for dinner, so we dropped off the car and walked the couple of blocks.
One thing Jaime and I were looking forward to for weeks before the trip was the food. We knew that we would be taken to some excellent places. Not necessarily fancy places, but the places well known by locals and by foodies like Dustin. Spacca Napoli was just such a place.
We took a seat on the patio. Dustin ordered two bottles of wine, one white and one red. For an appetizer we ordered a dish consisting of honeydew melon and prosciutto. The mix of sweet and salt was perfect especially complemented by the tang of the wine. For the main course we ordered three pizzas baked in an old wood burning brick oven. Jaime and I split one with provola (provolone), prosciutto, arugula, parmesan, and olive oil. Maria had a Florentine style pizza. Dustin had either a funghi or a sausage pizza. We all shared from each other's plates. I'm glad we're all comfortable enough to do that because it lets everyone try things.
For dessert we ordered three limonchellos and I think an averna for Maria. I had never had limoncello and it was quite good, although I'm guessing ours was a higher quality than normal. I don't remember what we had for actual dessert, but they were fantastic. Again we each had a few bites from each other's plates. Dustin ended up paying for the meal, which we objected to but I kind of figured he would do that. That was why I was glad we picked up the bar tab at In Fine Spirits. Try to get all philanthropic with me, will ya!
After stuffing ourselves silly, we walked back home which was quite refreshing. That is one benefit of living in the city (or 'burbs), at least when it isn't 10 below. On our way back we stopped at a party store to pick up supplies for the next leg of the evening: Chez Grimm.
Dave lives a handful of miles away and not easily accessible by train from Dustin and Maria's place, so we took a cab. We snuck in the locked door by following some people that lived there. It was a nice place in what appeared to be a pretty new building.
We spent the evening hanging out with Dave, Kristen (Dave's girlfriend), Josh "lesser Tondo", and Dave's dogs, Frodo and Gomez. I had some Blue Moon to start. Then Dustin and I helped ourselves to Dave's Scotch collection. I think I had a Macallen 18. Later on I had a margarita. During that time we played some pool, listened to some tunes, relaxed on the balcony, and later hung out on the roof. Dave's place has a great view of the Chicago skyline. We didn't stay very late and eventually took a cab home.
[Pictures] [ Day 1] [ Day 3] [ Day 4]