The (not so) Windy City

I LOVE CHICAGO … well, at least when the weather is good!  I went on the first of a couple recruiting trips for Chapman Law just over a week ago.  I flew into Chicago on a Wednesday evening and was in the city for about 48 hours. The weather was absolutely beautiful while I was there - unusually warm at between 75 and 80 during the day, and crystal clear skies.

48 hours really does not seem like a lot of time but if you plan carefully you can pack in a lot of sightseeing into a small amount of time.  When I arrived in the city, I checked in at my hotel in the medical district, and then took the hotel shuttle as close to down town as possible (the shuttle only went in a 1 mile radius).  I then walked the 4-5 blocks to the Sears Tower (btw, it is now formerly called the Willis Tower). 

It was just before sunset and I went to the top of the Sears Tower (the 93^rd floor).  I was fortunate to make it to the top in time to see Chicago both in the daylight and at night because of the timing.  The tower now has this really cool “feature” called the sky ledge.  It consists of 4 glass boxes that protrude from one side of the tower.  The boxes are entirely made of glass, including the floor.  So you step out onto the glass and you can look all the way to the ground (over 1,000 feet below!).  It was a little bit scary, but the view was incredible.  After spending more than an hour at the top, taking pictures and just enjoying the view, it was time for me to leave.

On the Ledge at the Willis Tower

The Willis Tower from the ground.

I walked down Jackson street and tried to find a place to grab some dinner.  Much to my surprise practically the entire city was closed down for the night … and it was only 7:30pm!  Fortunately I came across Giordano’s, a pizza place that was fairly crowded for a Wednesday night.  I decided to give it a shot, and I am soooo glad that I did.  I ordered the small “stuffed pizza” which was basically a deep dish – cheese and black olives.  The pizza that came out was huge!  I only ate about a piece and a half and had to call it quits, but it was absolutely delicious and I took the rest back to the hotel with me.  I ended up eating pizza the next 2 days for lunch!

 Best.Pizza.Ever.

The next morning I got up early to go sightseeing before the recruiting event which I needed to be back for around 2pm.  I took the shuttle again, as far down town as possible, and then walked to Millennium park (it was quite a walk and I had the blisters to prove it).  I saw the beautiful crown fountain, and of course the Bean!  I took reflection pictures in the bean, but really wanted one of me in front of it, so I randomly asked a woman standing nearby me to take it.  Turns out that the woman I asked was in Chicago for the grad fair as well and she was recruiting for Whittier (another law school near Chapman).  We ended up spending the morning sightseeing together.

My reflection in The Bean!

 The Bean

My new friend and I decided to take an “on/off tour” of Chicago.  We got on the double-decker bus and rode around the city while a tour guide pointed out the sights.  We got to see downtown, museum campus, navy pier, and more.  It was a great way to spend the morning and to see as much of the city as possible. 

We then returned to my hotel and caught the shuttle to the recruiting event.  The event last about 4 hours.  It was not a very busy fair, but I managed to talk to a few people, and in my efforts to get students interested in Chapman I ended up recruiting for the film school as well!

After the event, my new friend and I took a cab back downtown and had dinner as a tapas place called the Purple Pig.  We order 4 dishes to share:  Braised Baby Artichokes, Fingerling Potatoes,
Asiago & Salami Toscana; Salami Toscana, Goat Cheese & Black Olive Tapenade Panini; Milk Braised Pork Shoulder with Mashed Potatoes; and a Meatball in Marinara sauce.  The first 2 were ok, and the second two were really good.  After dinner we walked around a bit and then eventually both made our way to our hotels.

The next morning I got up early again, to make sure I got some more sightseeing in before leaving for the airport.  I met my friend for breakfast at this place called Lou Mitchell’s (which apparently had been there for 88 years).  When you walked in they gave you a donut hole which was really good (unfortunately I thought that was the best part of the meal).  I had scrambled eggs and hashbrowns that were more like limp potato chips, but the company was good.

After breakfast I headed over to Navy Pier.  Navy Pier was recommended to my by pretty much everyone I asked, so my hopes were high for a fun time.  I got to the pier and decided to take an architectural tour of the city … by boat!  The tour took us down the river and a tour guide explained when and in what style in which all of the skyscrapers and other buildings were built.  It was an absolutely beautiful day on the water, and I think it was my favorite part of Chicago.  

Upon returning from my tour, I walked down Navy Pier all the way to the end.  It was just your typical boardwalk with tourist attractions like speedboats and rides, including a Ferris wheel.  I ate at Harry Caray's Tavern  which was pretty good.  Then I headed off to the airport.

Navy Pier

I wish that I had had time to explore some of the museums, the aquarium and the planetarium which I have heard are fantastic, but I crammed all that I could into 48 hours and I feel as though I accomplished quite a bit … plus I was trying to focus on all the outdoor activities, because if I do make it back to Chicago, odds are the weather will not be as nice as it was. 

Sightseeing in 48 hours takes gumption!