Showing posts with label Summertime. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summertime. Show all posts

Monday, June 4, 2012

Adventures in the Windy City

A few months ago, Steve found out one of his favorite bands, Thrice, was playing a farewell show in Chicago. He bought tickets for the show and we planned to make a weekend out of it. I had only been to Chicago once before on a short road trip (and, confession: mostly to see NKOTB/Jesse McCartney in concert), and another time for work, so I was eager to do all of the touristy stuff this past weekend. 

Things I learned about Chicago:
  • Walking around for hours in flip flops leads to mysterious foot pain and an embarrassing limp for multiple days in a row.
  • Navy Pier = boring tourist trap with long bathroom lines.
  • Davanni's deep dish is just as good as authentic Chicago-style deep dish.
  • Driving to Milwaukee at midnight and getting a hotel room > pulling an all-nighter and driving all the way home. 
  • Wisconsin is just as bad to drive across as Iowa.
  • They (whoever 'they' is) weren't joking when they nicknamed it the Windy City.
I also learned a lot about the Red Line; mainly:
  • People will ignore the 'no soliciting' recorded announcement. I'm sure you're raising money for the YMCA, sir.
  • Construction work on the track = constant stop-and-go = motion sickness.
  • When it is late and people want to be home, they have no problem announcing it to the rest of the train. Repeatedly.
  • Don't get on the green line to the south side when you mean to get on the orange to Midway. (I actually learned this when I was in Chi. on the business trip, but felt it needed to be included.)
Other things worth mentioning:
 Driving somewhere in Wisconsin, probably near a Culver's.
Walking along the river Friday night.
Touring Wrigley on Saturday morning.
The view from the top of the ballpark, in all its glory.
Cubs dugout.
Buckingham Fountain - shortly after a gentleman tried
to sell us a free newspaper.
Being extra touristy at The Bean.
Until the next adventure,
-Emily

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Top Ten

The weeks start to fly by when the weather is nice and the sun is out longer. Winter in Minnesota is long and depressing; the worst part is when the sun sets at 4:30 p.m. While I want to get married sooner, I also want to stretch out summertime. I feel as though it was Monday and I blinked and it was Friday. Here are ten of my favorite things from this past week.

1. Bonfires and wine. Few things are better than good conversation shared with your best friend over a glass of Malbec. (Wine not pictured.)

2. Fresh flowers from the Nicollet Mall Farmer's Market. I'm lucky enough to work Downtown where everything is a short walk away, including the Thursday Farmer's Market. The Farmer's Market means food trucks, fresh fruit, and a bouquet of flowers for my desk.

3. The Five Love Languages. I'm reading this book right now, and thoroughly enjoying it. It offers so much insight on how each person feels loved, and shows love, in a different way. My love languages? Quality Time and Acts of Service.

4. Ray LaMontagne. Specifically him covering Gnarls Barkley.

5. This marriage proposal:

6. All the Rapture/Apocalypse talk. Read this post from the Center for Disease Control, and this article on a 5/21/11 Doomsday crazy. Both will provide you with some entertainment. 

7. Pinterest. I am addicted. Check out my boards here and let me know if you want an invite.

8. Recipe blogs. I am blessed with a job that sometimes requires me to research blogs. This week, I came across Annie's Eats, For the Love of Cooking, and Smitten Kitchen. I'm dying to try the recipes below:
Creme Brulee French Toast from Smitten Kitchen
Banana, Strawberry and Chocolate Chip Muffins
from For the Love of Cooking
Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cake from Annie's Eats
9. This blog post about my mischievous niece, Lillian, trying to make herself a cup of joe.

10. Seeing old friends. Last night I had dinner with my college roommates from freshman year. Here we are in Seattle two years ago:

Have a great weekend!
Emily