A hot dog the way God intended them to be. The culinary pride of Chicago
I’ve just returned from a 10 day extravaganza in Chicago and its various suburbs. I saw just about every family member and friend that I have. And I sat in traffic for endless hours.
One thing I don’t miss is car ownership. I love my insular little life here on the UWS that does not require me to drive on 290 in Illinois.
So what did I do? A summary and some observations:
- Girls in Chicago love sundresses and flip-flops. Effortless chic.
- I went to a baby shower, and saw firsthand the obesity problem our country is experiencing. Girls, please start moving! We are an unhealthy country.
- North Avenue Beach in the city is a hotbed of social activity. Hotties looking to hook up at one end, and mommies and kids on the other. Guess which side I was on?
- The suburbs have some amazing water parks. The Lombard Park District and Naperville’s Centennial Beach were impressive. I will grudgingly admit that some aspects of suburban living are positive.
- I hung out with my sister and friends in Andersonville and Lincoln Square. Both are really vibrant neighborhoods, if a bit far from the expressways.
- Blackhawks and Cubs gear are the unofficial uniforms of men in Chicago. I saw a lot of Crocs, too. Sigh.
- I managed to somehow lose two pounds while I was there. I’m totally writing a book about the hot dog/sausage pizza/HoHo/ice cream/no walking Chicago diet. It will sell millions. Speaking of hot dogs…
- God, I love a good hot dog. And damn, are they great in Chicago. If you ever visit, it’s a must-do. Hit any neighborhood hot dog stand. You won’t be disappointed.
- There was a near-Armageddon storm that blew out the electricity for several hours. I took the kids to see Toy Story 3. If you have children who have monkey phobias, under no circumstance should they see this film. I sat on a bench outside the theater for the last half hour of the movie with my five-year-old who was convinced the monkey was an agent of Satan.
- I wrote some articles for Fashionista about shopping in Chicago. Read them here and here.
- Probably the weirdest thing I saw was in a playground in Arlington Heights. A woman in a bikini (who was at the playground alone sans children) with a very leathery tan hopped on a swing and then lit up a ciggy. Classic. And classy.
Click through my slideshow below for more Chicago moments. You can click on individual pictures to enlarge them:
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- Maybe you’ve heard that the Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup?? These stands were on every corner trying to capitalize on the victory by selling gaudy T-shirts. Chicago is a sports town
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- Such a unique beach skyline. Lake Michigan was freezing cold, but crisp and fresh. This is an amazing urban oasis
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- This cop came galloping up the beach. What a tough beat he has
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- Lest you think that the East and West Coasts have all the hotties, I give you Exhibit A. Bikini-clad Trixies (a somewhat derogatory term for Lincoln Park dwellers) absolutely litter the beach
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- Chicago loves Cubs couture. Boys of all ages wear the red and blue
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- The Chicago Art Institute lions were decked out in…hockey helmets. Of course.
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- An iconic stadium for a beloved, yet never-winning team. I sort of get chills when I drive by
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- Neo, where I spent a ton of Saturday nights in the 90s dancing to the likes of Skinny Puppy, My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult, and Nine Inch Nails. A great place to get your angst on. Just don’t go in the bathroom
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- I was strolling down Clark Street when I spied this pretty display. Thinking that Chicago had hopped on the gourmet cupcake bandwagon, I stopped in for a look. Meatloaf cupcakes. Leave it to the Midwest to put a decidedly carnivorous spin on snack food
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- Classic Chicago hot dog stand. They have a reputation for surly girls behind the counter, and drunk Trixies and Chads after hours. My boys thought the name was hilarious. I have no idea why
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- A hot dog the way God intended them to be. The culinary pride of Chicago
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- Randomly painted trees in Lincoln Park
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- More randomly painted trees in Lincoln Park
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- Our friend M does geek/cool very well. Observe the Campers, brown socks, and knobby knees
