deep dish pizza – The View from a Drawbridge

I can’t believe I’m only now finishing my blog posts about our visit to Chicago. After all, it happened 6 months ago. I used to be so organized. When did I lose all control? Oh, that’s right. It was about the time I became an adult and began to have more to keep track of. I guess I should allow myself a little grace, then. Anyway, there is so much to the Chicago experience, but not everything constitutes a free-standing post, so this one will be written in an “everything but the kitchen sink” style.

First of all, I can’t stress enough the sensory delight that is a Chicago deep dish pizza. There was a Pizano’s Pizza right near our Airbnb, so eating there was one of the first things we did. I can’t say if that’s the best of deep dish pizza or not, but I was in culinary heaven, for sure. And there’s no better way to get a feel for Chicago than sitting in a little restaurant with a big picture window, eating pizza and watching homebound commuters blow down the street. It really is a windy city, but we were warm and cozy and left with full tummies. Perfect.

And let’s not get into the Chicago vs. New York pizza rivalry, here. I happen to love them both. But if you want a laugh, check out this YouTube video where Jon Stewart gives you his hilarious opinion on the subject. Apparently, it stirred up a lot of controversy at the time.

We wandered around Chinatown one evening and had wonderful Chinese food at the Emperor’s Choice. Again, I have no idea if this is the best Chinese food Chicago has to offer, but I’m confident that even their worst Chinese food is better than Seattle’s best. It astounds me that Seattle doesn’t have a clue about Chinese food (in my experience), when they have so many excellent Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Indian, Filipino and even Malaysian restaurants. Go figure.

If you’re able to visit Chicago, try to get accommodations in the Loop area. It’s centrally located, and close to Chicago’s Rapid Transit System, which is one of the best I’ve ever seen. I could see myself never bothering to own a car in this city. If the L doesn’t do it for you, there are also busses, taxis, and ubers. All told, I’m sure that the expense you incur traveling this way is much less than a car payment plus paying obscene amounts for parking, maintenance and gas.

Yes, there’s the occasional unpleasant odor of urine at many of the stations, and you’re going to encounter some crazies, but it gets you where you need to go, quickly and efficiently. And I love the sound of the L. It’s a Chicago sound. Our Airbnb was right next to it. Fortunately, we were on the back side of the building, but from there, it sounded like ocean waves, and it actually lulled me to sleep. (The construction workers throwing what sounded like bricks into a dumpster in the alley below our window at 5 am every morning, on the other hand, was not the best start to the day. Cities, man…)

Another wonderful neighborhood is Hyde Park. The historic houses are gorgeous, and way beyond my price range, but it makes for a pleasant walk. And Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House, which I blogged about before, is right there.

One thing that should never be missed on a visit to Chicago is Cloud Gate, aka “the Bean”. But we managed to do that, despite our best efforts. It was in the middle of an active construction site, and there was a high fence surrounding it, so we couldn’t get in. We were able to see the tippy-top of it by standing on a retaining wall, but that felt like a tease. Oh well. They say that the construction should be complete by Summer, 2024.

As with all trips, there were several things we would have loved to have done, but just didn’t have time. These include visiting John Hancock Center, as an Uber driver told us that the best view in all of Chicago is from its women’s bathroom. (I have no idea how he knew that and it seemed inappropriate to ask.)

And, nerds that we both are, we’d also like to visit the Museum of Science and Industry, the Chicago Architecture Center, the Adler Planetarium, and the Shedd Aquarium. We wished we had time to explore Little Italy, and do a night drive, as we have enjoyed doing in other cities. We didn’t do it this time around, because with Chicago’s excellent transit system, we didn’t really need a car. Chicago just might merit a second visit.

Ironically, by the time you read this, I’ll be near the end of my next vacation, so brace yourself for more travel news, dear readers. Keep watching this space. Until next time!

Travel vicariously through this blog. And while you’re at it, check out my book! http://amzn.to/2mlPVh5

First of all, no, I did not go on a first date while in Chicago. Give me a little credit! I’m married! But having said that, Dear Husband and I did do the things mentioned below, and it was all romantical and stuff. So I had to put it out there as a suggestion, because if someone took me on a first date like this back in the day, I’d have been swept off my feet.

Start off the evening with some authentic Chicago deep dish pizza at some intimate little bistro near the city center. Not only is this the ultimate comfort food, but it takes longer than a regular pizza to cook, so you’ll have more time to talk. (Allow for that extra time in your plan, because you don’t want to be late for the next part of the date. Show this person that you put thought into this, and that you’re logistically coordinated.)

For our deep dish experience, we went to Pizano’s Pizza on Madison Street, right near the Loop. Is it the best pizza Chicago has to offer? I have no clue. But we thought it was fantastic. I’d definitely go there again if given the chance. (Shoot. Now I’m craving deep dish pizza.) Wherever you decide to dine, if they take reservations, make them, because there’s nothing worse than craving something, and showing up only to discover there’s no room or there will be a long wait.

Assuming everything went well on the date so far, you’ve gotten a chance to get to know each other better (because you’ve shown interest by asking questions, of course), and you’ve indulged in comfort food. Your bellies should be all warm and content by now. Let’s assume the ice is officially broken.

Now it’s time to go to phase two of this date. Head over to the Chicago Riverwalk Jetty, between Wells and Franklin Streets. We were able to hop on the Loop and we got there in no time. (I have to say, public transportation is abundant and convenient in Chicago. We took advantage of it every chance we got. We didn’t even bother getting a rental car for this portion of the trip. No need. That, and parking is expensive.)

The Riverwalk is romantic in and of itself, and if you arrive there early, you can take a stroll. But the block I mentioned above is where the magic happens, every evening, 9 months out of the year.

I’m talking about Art on the Mart. This is a vibrant, moving, colorful digital art display that is projected on the 2.5 acre façade of The Mart, which is the building directly across the river from you. Stake out a seat on the benches in this area, or stand if it’s a more heavily attended evening, and you’ll be perfectly positioned to hear the music that is coming from the permanently installed speakers behind you. That music is part of the experience, and it is synchronized with the moving images.

Art on the Mart occurs nightly, 9 months out of the year. And it’s free. You can’t beat that price!

The start times vary with the season, because, of course, the display is best viewed after dark. Check the Art on the Mart website to verify the time before you go, because if you show up late, you might miss something good. This year, the schedule was April 14^th through June 7^th, 8:30pm to 9:30pm; June 8th to September 13th, 9pm to 10pm; and September 14th through December 30^th, 7:30pm to 8:30pm.

If you want to impress your date, you can hit them with some fun facts about Art on the Mart. For example:

Through the magic of digital mapping, none of the laser projections shine in any of the building’s 4,262 windows. (I found that fascinating, and I’m sure it’s a huge relief to any employees or visitors who happen to be in the building’s offices, design showrooms, restaurants or retail facilities .)
The “palette” used to create and display this art is the size of about 2 American football fields.
Art on the Mart hosts the work of a diverse range of artists, and these artists are changed periodically, so you can enjoy different displays if you visit several times throughout the year.
The project’s goals are to provide public access to innovative contemporary art for Chicago residents and visitors alike, and to inspire positive community engagement along the river.

While we were there, the artists featured were Yiyun Kang and Charles Atlas. Sadly, that show will be over by the time you read this. Check out some of the videos Dear Husband made, below. And if you are unable to see those, I’ll throw in a few still images, although they really don’t do the work justice. But there’s always the Art in the Mart website, and the beauty of that is that you can see the work of past artists online, from the comfort of your own home, so check it out.

The reason I believe that this would be the perfect first date is that the night will still be young when the event wraps up, and if the date went badly, you can go your separate ways and still have time to chill out before climbing into your lonely bed. But if the date goes well, you will still have time to have more fun with the person you chose to spend the evening with. And in a city like Chicago, the possibilities are endless.