We Are Going to Chicago
Recapping a girls junket trip
You may or may not be aware that Kara recently achieved a significant milestone in the lifetime stages of development. That’s right folks, she turned 40. The big 4-0. To celebrate this feat, the women in our family, and our mother’s lifelong buddy, SHEEZ, gathered in Chicago for a two day junket of entertainment and eats. Why Chicago, you may ask.
Well, for a couple of reasons. Kara began a relationship with the city back in 2013ish when she traveled there for the first time with her husband, a die-hard Cubs fan and Illinois native. She quickly fell in love with the warmth of Midwesterners, the city’s culinary delights, and its stunning architecture. Over the years, Kara and Tyler have frequented the city for Cubs and Blackhawks games, concerts at Wrigley, and even the Lincoln Park zoo (an intro for their daughter).
Bethany too, enjoys and has fond memories of Chicago. She spent the first two days of her honeymoon there in 2010. Having legalized their nuptials at a Hyatt, the corporation threw in a deal: two days at any Hyatt in the United States or Aruba for free. Bethany and her husband Adam had never been to Chicago at the time, so they selected a Hyatt hotel downtown. When they arrived, the staff congratulated them and sent them up the elevator to the Presidential Suite. When they reached the double doors of the room, they immediately realized there must have been a mistake. Hyatt had granted them two nights in a large, three room suite, complete with a conference table and chairs. Before setting out to see the sights, they took a quick nap, paranoid throughout the snooze that the front desk would call to kick them out.
Chicago is ripe for the picking with beautiful architecture lining its river, its location being nestled on the “undertip” of the Great Lake of Michigan, and its intriguing museums, world-class restaurants, and the performing arts. It’s a city unlike any other.
So, it was the perfect place to spend 48 hours celebrating a big birthday.
Given the tight timeline, planning and organization were key. Bethany came in clutch for all of this, ensuring reservations for all at perfectly-planned locations and times. Our mother remarked throughout the trip that she kept “just getting in a car to take [her] places,” a comment on the seemingly effortless galavanting that was taking place. Of course, this ease would not have been possible without Bethany’s skill for pre-planning the ideal itinerary.
When we arrived in Chicago, we made the mistake of getting in an Uber at the peak of rush hour (don’t do this). A 25-minute ride became a hour plus. When we finally made it to the AC Marriott hotel just off Michigan Avenue (a great location with lovely accommodations), the four of us who had endured the rush hour ride were a little salty. That bad taste disappeared quickly when we opened the hotel door to find that our sister-in-law and SHEEZ (who had arrived earlier) had prepared a beautiful charcuterie spread complete with flowers, treats, and drinks. What a way to start the evening!
Our first stop on the itinerary was the J Parker rooftop lounge atop the hotel Lincoln. The place had stunning views of the lake and city. After a few cocktails and and bites to eat, it was time for the main event: jazz at The Green Mill.
At our other sister’s suggestion, we showed up dressed in roaring 20’s-style flapper dresses. We knew we’d be alone in our style choices for the evening, but we didn’t care. We’d celebrate how we wanted to celebrate, damn it! Anyway, the spectacle resulted in a tourist randomly asking to take our picture to document “the things you see in Chicago…”
It was dancing night at The Green Mill and let us tell you, the place was packed. Standing room only; think college bars on a Friday night with $2 drafts. Eventually, a couple of us found seats at the bar, only to be greeted by the one jerk bartender in Chicago. We won’t dwell on him because he’s not worth the time. By mid-evening, the place has cleared out some and we all reunited at a couple of cocktail tables with a lovely server who exemplified that patented Midwestern charm.
We danced, listened to the amazing jazz, and people watched with the best of them. It was a great evening.
The next day, we had early lunch reservations at Monteverde on West Madison. Recently named one of the best restaurants in Chicago by the New York Times, it lived up to the hype. We shall continue dreaming of burrata and bucatini and, of course, pork shank.
Of particular note, was the style of eating we encountered at both of our dinners. Family. Meaning, the group as a whole decided what dishes to order and shared them. We really loved this concept, as some members of the party may be described as “picky” or comfortable with their regular. Not one to step outside the norm. This environment required an openness to explore our palates, discussion amongst the party as to the tastes and options and considerations to be had. It felt communal and warm, and like we were really enjoying a full meal of wonderful, fresh food together.
Following the above, we retired to the hotel room at 12:45 for a short nap before catching our 2 pm architectural waterboat tour, in which we were to check in ten minutes ahead of time. Perfect, the group coordinator announced, “enough time for a 30 minute Power Nap.”
As one of the two adjoining rooms dozed off, the adjacent room chatted away, remarking how they could not understand attempting a nap. No sooner had the snoozers drifted off were they awakened by the towering figure of a disgruntled parent hovering over them.
“GET UP!! We have to be there 30 minutes ahead, not 10!!!” she hooted as she waved the paper print out confirmation in front of them. Blinking slowly with disorientation, the nappers peeled out of bed and slipped into their daytime sweaters. The crew quickly hoofed it to the northeast corner of Michigan Avenue and E. Wacker Drive, jaywalked across traffic in the midst of construction, and clattered down the steps leading to the watercraft. Whew. We made it in plenty of time and were welcomed aboard by the gentle but informative disposition of Russell, our tour guide.
As we began our slow cruise, he told us that Chicago likes to name its buildings after architects. He explained to us the variety of buildings, including post modern to Art Deco, mid century modern and blue glass.
We nodded and sipped our aperol spritzs or whatever that boozy cocktail is called that people who have a slight drinking problem pick as their day sipper. We desperately wanted to crack jokes during the tour but our unfortunate seating placed us directly in this dear old man’s eye line and he also pre-warned us to shut our traps. So, we listened attentively and giggled at his sure-to-please and repetitive closing joke:
“I thank you for coming out and my wife thanks you because this got me out of the house.”
Once we safely debarked the watercraft, we wandered back to our accommodations, but not before stopping by Goddess and the Baker (yet again) for afternoon pastries and caffeinated beverages. Once back at the hotel, we girl-gabbed, strategized, and prepared ourselves for the second and final night of dinner and entertainment.
When we arrived at Girl and the Goat, even those of us who had not been knew we were in for a treat. Kara immediately snapped a photo of the place, a sure sign that the place harbored delicious memories. We were seated and as we began to make ourselves comfortable, a server appeared and presented us with a chilled bottle of Chateau de Rouanne, a lovely surprise from Kara’s husband Tyler to kick off the main night of 40th birthday festivities!
As we lifted our glasses in a toast, Bethany asked the birthday girl (who has still not forgiven her for this, as she hates public displays of emotion) to say a few words. Kara, always one to try to make you laugh by twisting her face into an odd expression or constantly ribbing you on a bored airplane ride, shared beautiful and grateful sentiments about life that left us all with tears in our eyes. Bethany then kicked off a round table speech to the birthday girl that resulted in collective crying. Once we made it through that process, we were ready to kick back and laugh.
We ordered another family style course of incredible food: roasted asparagus with party nuts, sautéed green beans with fish sauce vinaigrette and cashews, ora king salmon poke (that we were thrilled our mother actually tried, but still hated), soft-shelled crab, roasted pig face, grilled chicken skewers, and goat empanadas (and because they were oh, so good, a second order.)
Following a truly remarkable culinary adventure, we headed north to The Second City Comedy Club for their MainStage 112th Revue Show. We laughed our faces off to a variety of skits, dances, and ditties. The affinity we have for solid comedians is that of a young soccer player’s esteem for Lionel Messi or Abby Wambach. We are true fan girls.
As a matter of fact, Bethany was thus so inspired, she concocted an entire improv bit she planned to implement in the restroom after the show. While waiting in line, she noticed a particular woman, blonde, thin, and beautiful (by the standards of men who frequented the extramarital affair website Ashley Madison) who also seemed very well aware of these attributes of herself. Blondie had positioned herself in the center mirror, and was brushing her long locks methodically, in the style of Marcia Brady. “One. Two. Three.” Bethany could almost hear the woman counting the strokes in her head. When Bethany’s turn to use the loo finally surfaced, she made a (buzzed) decision: If Blondie was still brushing her hair when Bethany exited the stall, Bethany was going to calmly step alongside her at the sink, turn to face her directly while lathering the soap, and ask “Are you really still here?” and see where the scene took them.
Thankfully, for Bethany’s party, the woman had satisfied herself and vacated before this occurred.
The women returned to our sleeping accommodations and retired for the evening, awakening to yet another treat from Goddess and the Baker before Kara, Bethany, and their sister-in-law caught the most terrifying Uber ride of one’s life to the airport. It should have been evident as we stepped into the vehicle with the smashed windshield, seatbelt-less driver, and multiple medication bottles scattered about that we should have declined the ride, however, the above details were not fully absorbed until after we were cruising at 25 mph down Chicago Avenue with our luggage secured in the trunk alongside likely a dead body. Following an excruciating journey down Interstate 55, in which Bethany yelped “SH*T!!!” as the driver narrowly missed a collision with the car in front of them, and the driver utilized an exit lane as an opportunity to pass a semi truck, they arrived at Midway, physically intact with only mild to moderate residual tremors.
Following a final quick snack of sustenance, the group parted ways, with travels home to Jacksonville, Tampa, and San Diego.
If you ask us, should you plan a quick trip to the Windy City to celebrate…anything? The answer, unequivocally, is yes. A thousand times yes. And tell them Knock it Off sent you!
Happy birthday, Kara! What a wonderful way to celebrate! xo
Happy birthday Kara! I love Chicago so much. More than NYC. I'm saving all these recs for my next trip. Hopefully it won't be another 10 years.