End Dry January in Chicago

I went to Chicago on a whim to get out of Philadelphia.  I was thinking about going to New York, but I realized that Chicago was going to be cheaper. (FYI, there’s a 3-day sale on Amtrak for Philly to New York or to Boston; I'm buying a ticket.)

I've never traveled to Chicago solo before. I was always traveling with others or to visit friends; for rugby or once for work. However, I took advantage of my familiarity with the city and explored some of the great places that Chicago has. 

Tripe, Chorizo and Tongue tacos

I flew into Midway on Southwest and immediately headed to my hotel, Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago. The hotel was only a 3 1/2 block walk from the Loop. While Loop tends to shut down for the weekend, there was a 24-hours Dunkin Donuts two blocks away should you need it. There was a Walgreen open until midnight, five blocks away. 

I hopped on line and researched bars for the evening. I ended up chatting with a local who suggested the SoFo Tap to me. I called for an über and went up to Andersonville for the night. I entered the bar and it seemed familiar, like I may have been there for a rugby drink up years ago. I wasn't sure. It was a fun bar - I liked the music, as soon as I walked in there was Taylor Swift and the next song was Miles Cyrus - but the beer selection was mundane.

It was about 12:30 am and the crowd thinned out and I explored two more Andersonville bars, having only a drink at each, before calling it a night.  However, while waiting for the 22 bus to take me back to the Loop, I noticed the Taqueria El Chorrito at the corner. The minor buzz of customers coming out of the restaurant caught my attention and drew me in. There were several types of offal meat available as taco. At 1 something in the morning after drinking for the first time in 29 days (My Dry January), offal tacos sounded wonderful. In fact, they were superb and that wasn't the beer talking! 

The view, South

103 stories above Wacker Drive.

I returned to my hotel and prepared some Pedialyte before bed. The next thing I know is that it's about 8:30 am. I'm determined to get to the Willis Tower when it opens. All the reviews I've read suggested getting there, first thing, before the rest of the tourists crowds arrive. 

It's the best piece of advice that I got for this trip. I was there at 9:50 am and they were letting people up just before the 10:00 am opening. I pre-purchased my ticket and already had it printed out at the hotel. I bypassed a few curves of the stanchioned line and rose to the 103rd floor.

Others in the Ledge

The view was wonderful. The day was sunny, yet there were clouds in the sky. It didn't hinder the visibility. I quickly headed over to the Ledge, a glass balcony extending four feet outside Willis Tower directly above Wacker Drive and the Chicago River. This addition provides a glimpse below, unobstructed. 

I took an über from where I was staying in the Loop up to the Mag Mile, to The Tremont Chicago Hotel at Magnificent Mile. I recall the Magnificent Mile as the location of the Omni Hotel, where “guests of the Oprah Winfrey Show stay.” It’s so much more than that. I’m sure that Second City may shrug at this comparison, but Michigan Avenue feels like New York’s Fifth Avenue with a lot more breathing room. A wide boulevard with high end shopping – the Burberry store, for example, is clad with an onyx cage interpretation of its hallmark tartan – and tourists and Chicagoan bustling alike. The area was always busy and the Tremont is so close to many Chicago landmarks and points of interest. 

My room and the John Hancock Center through the window

I get settled in my room and there are two windows, one facing north and the other east. I threw the roman shades up to get some light in. The north-facing window over looked a parking out. I drew up the shade of the east-facing window and I felt like I was on “Let’s Make a Deal” picking door number 3 which was the new car, I had a view of the Mag Mile and the John Hancock Center in front of me. Winner, winner! 

I figure out my plans for the rest of my day into evening, in no particular order: lunch, nap, dinner and drinks. I head out and leisurely stroll and window shop along Michigan Avenue and I found an Armenia restaurant, Sayat Nova. I ordered three mezes: jajic, tourshee and lamajoun. The jajic is a fresh cucumber salad with yogurt, dill and mint with a little bit of olive oil. The tourshee is a combination of vegetables: onions, carrots, celery, cabbage, cauliflower and hot peppers pickled with with malt vinegar. The lamajoun is a flat bread with topped minced beef, herbs, onions and parsley which is then baked like a pizza. It was a delicious treat for a day of tourists attractions and shopping.

Jajic and tourshee

Sai oua and larb gai

I returned to the Tremont, took a bath and settled in for a nap, a disco nap. After some more recon, I mapped out my path: Silver Spoon Thai Restaurant for dinner, Second Story Bar and either Sidetrack in Boystown or Big Chicks in Andersonville - or both.

I feasted on sai oua - a grilled pork sausage from northern Thailand containing minced pork meat, herbs, spices and red curry paste - and larb gai - a Lao minced meat salad also popular in Northern Thailand served with fish sauce, lime juice, chili, mint, shaved carrots, shredded cabbage and sprouts. (For those playing at home, larb is what I tried to make the day I went into the hospital for my appendix.) 

A view of the Second Story Bar

I can't explain it - a T. Rex with a diamond choker collar

Between dinner and the bars, I sought out a drink at the Second Story Bar, so named because it is the only business on the second floor of its building, which so happens to be where my Armenia restaurant is.  I ordered a local brew, Anti-Hero IPA by Revolution Brewing Company, and took in the eclectic scene. This is a bar that I would come back to, again and again.

I nursed my two drinks to take in the atmosphere. It was a mash up of styles and eras. Christmas decorations were still up and I would bet that they had been up there for years. An assortment of gay flags and symbols adorn the walls as well as advertisements for national beer chains and local sports teams paraphernalia. It was edgy but warm. Yet it was getting later in the evening and I wanted to get out of Near North Side.

Chicago River

Crown Fountain

I took the bus up to Big Chicks and found an equally but differently eclectic bar for me to stay awhile. I ordered the Goose Island 312, which I remember having at a rugby drink up many years ago. I had drank enough of the them that I started to call the beer a 215. The alcohol impaired my memory - I knew it was named after an area code, but I couldn't remember which one. Again, I took in the crowd. The TV were playing videos until someone turned on the Mighty Boosh, an British comedy television show eponymously named for the British comedy troupe who created it. It was wacky. Needless to say, I finished my night here. 

Cloud Gate

 I took my time on Sunday to enjoy the time that I had remaining in Chicago, relaxing in bed. Eventually, I needed to check out. Thanks to the Starwood Preferred Guest, I didn't have to check out until 4pm.  My flight home wasn’t until 9pm.

I finally strolled down to the Cloud Gate in Millennium Park and spent an hour taking in the city.  In my back pocket was my last visit of the trip - to head up to Clark and Division to go to Chicago q. In everything thing I read – yelp, travelzoo, gaycities –  Chicago q always had 5 star reviews. 

I love barbecue and the day had turned grey and rainy, so some barbecue would take the edge off. I enter the quiet spot and was greeted with a smile and question, “One, today?” I affirmed her inquiry. After striking up a rapport with the bartender, Pat, I order a BBq Flight: brisket, pulled pork and brisket meatballs and a whiskey from Utah. Pat also set me up with the house bread and butter pickles and potato chips with their St. Louis ribs dry rub. The brisket was good, but the brisket meatballs were better. However, the barbecued pork was amazing. I thanked Pat for his suggestions and paid my tab. I slowly walked back to the L to start my trek to O’Hare, full as a tick. 

My Dinner at Chicago q

Finally, I arrive at the airport, pleased to have had such a fun weekend. I had prepared this entire trip on the premise that I was taking Spirit Airlines home. I was pleasantly surprised.