#26 Visit Chicago

St. Louis is only 5 and a half hours from Chicago yet I hadn't had a chance to make it up there yet.  A friend that I cheered with at EWU moved there after graduation and we've been trying to meet up but never could.  Our favorite author, Jen Lancaster, posted on her blog that she would be doing a book signing in Chicago.  (Read her blog, she's hilarious www.jennsylvania.com).  We knew that this was a sign to finally get together after not having seen each other in 11 years.  In addition to the book signing, Jen was also hosting a screening of the movie Sixteen Candles, a champagne toast, and a Q & A to promote her book If You Were Here. 

I took the train into Chicago early Friday morning.  Not a bad trip at all.  It still took 5.5 hours but it was much better than driving, especially since gas is hovering around $3.95 a gallon in St. Louis and even higher in Illinois.  I got in to Chicago at 10 and met Amy and her husband at Union Station.  We took the L (elevated train) to their place and settled in.  The weather was crummy so we spent the entire day/evening catching up on 11 years' worth of our lives.  It was great! 

Saturday was the book signing so we headed over to Theater Wit, watched the movie (how have I never seen that whole thing before?!?), and met Jen afterwards. 

 I also met a Gamma Phi from Purdue while waiting in line to meet Jen.  I love that I can have an instant bond with a stranger because we're connected in Gamma Phi.

After the signing we had dinner at Giordano's.  I've never had real Chicago-style pizza and I am in love!  It was so delicious.  A friend told me we could have it delivered here in St. Louis and I am seriously going to consider doing that so that my husband can try it.  Yum.  We spent the evening at a nearby bar and got to spend more time catching up.

Sunday was tourist day and we headed Downtown to Millennium Park and Michigan Ave.  So. Much. Walking!  St. Louis isn't so much a walking city so I was not quite prepared for all the walking we had to do in Chicago.  I'm pretty sure I lost 5 lbs while I was there but the weather was great on Saturday and Sunday so I can't really complain.  After shopping we headed back to Amy's so that I could pack.  She drove me to Union Station and I hopped back on the train.  The ride home was uneventful and I was able to start and almost finish Jen's book (I'll review it in a later post).  I got home safe and sound and rested up to get back to reality Monday morning.

I had such a wonderful time in Chicago.  The city is humongous and a bit overwhelming.  It's very pretty though - the trees and tulips had bloomed and I miss seeing water (I don't count the ugly ol' Mississippi River).  I'm hoping that Amy can make it down to St. Louis in the near future so that I can show her around here.  It's not as big and maybe not as pretty, but it's my home and I love showing it off.  I'm sure this won't be my last visit to Chicago but I know that the next time I go, I'll be bringing better walking shoes!