Chicago

I must begin with an apology for neglecting the blog this past month. I don't really have any good reasons or excuses for doing so -- I just haven't been motivated to post. With fall approaching and all sorts of fun activities that Abby is about to begin, I'd like to find my way back.

But first, I took a trip! I love to travel and one of the things I miss the most since having a little one is the ability to jump on a plane and get away whenever the desire strikes. Robert has been great about helping me sneak in little trips here and there: a trip to Columbus, OH for my friend Halle's wedding when Abby was 14 months old and then a trip to Logan, UT to visit my friend Marci when Abby was almost 2. I cry when I kiss Abby goodbye and the car pulls away at the airport, but then excitement hits and I'm ready to reconnect with my far away friends. In this case, three of my friends from the University of Cincinnati decided to get together for a girls weekend in Chicago. It's been 11 years (unbelievable!) since we graduated with our masters degrees but we still remain close friends. I think rigorous music conservatory programs build bonds of steel when it comes to friendships. I loved these girls then and I love these girls today.

Here's a very pregnant Kim (she lives in Texas), our Canadian friend Jen, and Pam who recently won a job with the Navy Band in Washington DC.

We spent most of our time talking and catching up or walking around the city. We walked to the Navy Pier and considered going up in the ferris wheel but in the end decided to enjoy sky high views from the Willis Tower, instead. 

We ended up buying a pass that included the Willis Tower and the Art Institute. I had been to the Art Institute years ago during an undergrad trip to Chicago with the Wichita State Symphony Orchestra but I'd forgotten all about the charming Thorne Miniature Rooms. Each of the 68 rooms was truly beautifully detailed but I joked that Mrs. James Ward Thorne must have had waaaaay  too much time on her hands.

Frank Lloyd Wright -- I love it.

The Art Institute's collection is incredible. So many famous paintings! I've always found this self-portrait of Vincent van Gogh to be rather haunting.

 I love impressionist art. This room was almost completely filled with Monet.

I had never seen this train station painting by Monet.

Degas' famous Little Dancer Aged Fourteen.

I was drawn to this painting by Renoir: Circus Girls.

When I visited Paris (with Jen, actually!) I became a huge fan of Marc Chagall after stumbling across the beautiful stained glass windows he created in Sainte-Chapelle. So I was excited to see Chagall's American Windows in Chicago. They're dreamlike, no?

Picasso's Old Guitarist makes me want to weep.

Only Dali would doing something so ridiculous to the Venus de Milo. This sculpture is titled Venus de Milo with Drawers.

The Art Institute sits on the edge of Millennium Park. I love how this concert stage is nestled right in the middle of the city. We were able to catch a few minutes of the Grant Park Orchestra performing some Haydn, but we were all disappointed we missed hearing Strauss the following weekend!

No trip to Chicago is complete without Giordano's.

Spinach deep dish pizza. Yes, please.

Pizza PIE.

The next day we went high into the sky of the Sears Willis Tower.

Here's the view from the ground.

And here's the view from the 103rd floor!

Here's the part I had trouble doing -- making that step out onto the glass.

We ended our visit with a fast and furious trip through Mario Batali's Eataly. Oh how I wish I had found this place on day one. I really wanted to return to the Nutella bar!

Eataly is three floors of Italian food and drink heaven.

It's organized by sections: produce...

cheese,

 cheese,

more cheese. (You see where my heart lies.)

Meat.

Then there are little nooks with restaurants, like this pizza area.

Robert would have loved the unique beer selection.

Here's my lunch: a caprese salad with the most amazing made-in-house mozzerella, a cheese sampler plate with complementary honeys and jams, and chicken cacciatore arancini balls. No dessert, can you believe it? I was too full.

I'll see you next time, desserts and Nutella bar.

After lunch we each jumped on the L to head to our respective airports. Jen and I flew out of Midway and spent quite a few extra hours together due to rain delays but luckily we both made it out later that evening. 

My heart and stomach were full!! Thanks, girls. Let's do it again soon!