A Weekend in Chicago

Going to Chicago is almost like returning home for me. While I haven’t lived in the city proper it has been the one place that has seemed to stay consistent my whole life. I remember taking the South Shore Line downtown with my grandparents and sisters when I was younger. I would take photos of us with the film camera that I had just got for Christmas and we’d see the windows at Marshall Field’s (which was later bought by Macy’s).

Over the weekend I traveled to Chicago with a group of other students from an international group through school. I soon discovered that I was the only person that had been to the area and because of that felt like I had to step up and put on my travel hat. 

LOU MALNATI’S

We arrived in Chicago with empty stomachs and they want to explore the city. So, naturally, our first stop was to get a Chicago essential, deep-dish pizza. Within a couple of blocks of our hotel, there was a Lou Malnati’s, so while some checked in to the hotel, the others went to the restaurant to get our table. After what seemed like an eternity to our stomachs, our pizzas arrived. As everyone took their first bites there was a sense of happiness in response to the cheesy goodness. It was such a joy to hear rave reviews on one of my favorite foods! On the verge of going into a food coma, we made our way back to the hotel to get settled in.

CHICAGO’S ESSEX INN

When we arrived, I was impressed with the Essex Inn. First of all, it is right on Michigan Avenue across the street from Millennium Park. Second, it didn’t cost us an arm and a leg to stay downtown for two nights. Other than that, it was your typical run of the mill hotel room with double beds. 

So if you’re looking for a good price that’s down in all of the action I highly suggest checking it out.

We spent the rest of our evening sitting back, relaxing, and preparing for the next day.

PITTSFIELD CAFE

The next morning we woke up and started by getting brunch at Pittsfield Cafe. This place probably has one of the prettiest cafes I have ever been to. It’s in this atrium of sorts and has great sunlight. There was also an improv group practicing there which was an experience.

They have a wide selection of breakfast items and it is a fairly cheap option for a sit-down breakfast or brunch. As I usually do breakfast, I ordered the french toast and was not let down.

MILLENNIUM PARK

I don’t feel that any trip to Chicago is complete without hitting one of the biggest tourist locations, Millennium Park. Naturally, the first location that we went to when we got to the park was Cloud Gate, aka the Bean. While this gigantic, reflective bean is likely surrounded by hundreds of other tourists, it is a definite must-see. 

After taking our fair share of pictures, we went on a stroll through the rest of the park. Depending on the time of year you go you may be able to catch a concert or take a spin on the ice skating rink. We explored some sort of sculpture garden before starting our adventure to Navy Pier.

CHICAGO TRIBUNE TOWER

On our way to Navy Pier, we stopped at the Chicago Tribune Tower. What I like about the Tribune Tower is that in the side of the building there are pieces of other significant buildings from around the world. It kind of makes the world seem like a smaller place. Where else can you see pieces of the Taj Mahal and the Berlin Wall within feet of each other?

NAVY PIER

Finally, we arrived at Navy Pier. While there is a ton to do at Navy Pier we tried to keep it down to the highlights. First of all, we just took in the view. Navy Pier has a phenomenal view of Lake Michigan and Chicago, both of which are picture-worthy. Several of us had contemplated going on a boat tour of Chicago’s architecture but then decided that I would take up too much of our time. We also did one of my favorite things to do at Navy Pier, go inside the Crystal Gardens. Even though a large amount of the area was closed off, it was still nice to see the beautiful indoor gardens.

When you visit you may want to take a ride on the high points of Navy Pier, the Ferris wheel, and take in the city from above. It is one of the neatest things to do at Navy Pier and comes with my highest recommendation. Next, we decided to grab a small bite to eat at one of the many restaurants and walk on the beach on the lakeshore.

EATALY

On our way to Willis Tower, we chose to stop at a location that one of my international friends recommended, Eataly. While I was originally skeptical of the place, once we arrived I was awestruck. If you haven’t heard of or been to Eataly, it’s sort of an Italian marketplace. They have tons of different sections of the market such as meats & cheeses, bakery, coffee, and wine. There are probably going to be some samples of meats and cheeses around, so be sure to get yourself some free food. If you’re looking to get a meal, there are tons of restaurants inside serving Italian cuisine. Surprisingly, most of the things you could buy are extremely affordable and I may have bought some Italian imported pesto on my way out.

SKYDECK CHICAGO AT WILLIS TOWER

After walking for what seemed like ages, we arrived at Willis Tower. While I have been to Chicago many times, never have I been to the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower. Going up that high may not seem like a big deal to some, as someone who is absolutely terrified of heights, I didn’t quite know if this was going to be my kind of thing. I recall just a couple of years ago shaking when someone asked me to take a picture with them on the glass at the CN Tower in Toronto. Nevertheless, I proceed to the SkyDeck.

Pro tip: If you want to avoid sharing one of the SkyDecks with people you don’t know, choose the line with the professional photographer. First of all, you don’t have to buy the professional photo. The real deal is the minute to take as many photos as you can with only your group.

As we waited I could tell that something was different. I definitely thought that I would be nervous, but my typical fearful physical characteristics weren’t there and I was eerily calm. I was so tranquil that I forgot to tell the others in the group that I hated heights until we were near the front of the line. When it was our turn to go on the SkyDeck, I reminded myself to look out and not down. I was able to get through some group photos and then I looked down. To my surprise, I was able to look down and enjoy the city from above. Even though it wasn’t my intent to face my fear of heights over the weekend, I am glad that I checked it off my Chicago bucket list.

NIU JAPANESE FUSION LOUNGE

Upon return from the SkyDeck, we went out for a super late-night dinner. Luckily, we found Niu Japanese Fusion Lounge and arrived just in time to get some orders in before the kitchen closed. Since I’m not the biggest fan of sushi, I got the chicken yakisoba. The atmosphere was really cool and something I had never experienced. It was on the pricier side of food options, but it was well worth the cost.

ART INSTITUTE

The next morning after grabbing a quick bite to eat for breakfast, the group split off for our last activities. I chose to go to the Art Institute with a couple of others, while everyone else went on a bike ride around the city. As I’ve mentioned before, I am a huge fan of art, so I was excited to see some of the pieces I love, up close. The impressionist exhibit is absolutely outstanding and you’ll see some artwork that you know. I did feel like Ferris Bueller standing in front of Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, but sadly missed out on the photo op.

Before I knew it, my time in Chicago was up. I was glad that I was able to get to rediscover the city and share the experience with fantastic people.