Winded from the Windy City

We came, we saw, we conquered.  Thanks to our gracious hosts, Cara and Andy, and the moral support of Diana, we were able to set out to accomplish all of our goals:  blues, baseball, hot dogs, and baseball.  It was a great Memorial Day Weekend... here is what transpired:

Music

After a great dinner at Tocco in Wicker Park, we headed to a great old-school blues club, Kingston Mines.  We got to listen to the sweet serenade of the Backstreet Candy Lickers (this was actually the band's name).  Cheap beer and solid music = good times.

Food

Sunday was officially the self-proclaimed food tour of Chicago.  However due to time constraints, this tour extended well into Sunday.  Regardless, some of the best food Chicago had to offer was consumed.  The tour began with breakfast at Eleven City Diner, a NYC-style deli that is unlike any place I've been to NYC.  Now I admit to being a NYC food snob, especially when it comes to pizza, bagels, and deli, but this was excellent.  I had the pastrami egg scramble, and this was top notch pastrami.  I was impressed.

Later in the day, we hit up Gino's East, a famous deep dish pizza place.  This was a failed mission of mine from 3 years earlier when I was in Chicago for training for work.  Lets just say our group was denied access due to the excessive fun we had at an open bar earlier in the evening.  Anyways, it was worth the wait.  I thought it was better than the original Uno's, which I went to last time I was in town.  I still prefer a thin crust slice, but this was authentic and delicious.

Sunday brought a much craved visit to the Wiener Circle, home of Chicago style hot dogs.

Without hesitation, I went for the one with everything on it.  I think I blacked out at one point, but I have a slight recollection of a pickle spear, tomatoes, onions, hot peppers, relish, cheese, and some other stuff.  It was truly excellent- Chicago knows hot dogs. Unfortunately, I did not find out about ordering a chocolate milkshake until after the fact.  Cara then brought us to her favorite Chicago food destination- Molly's Cupcakes.  These were better than Crumbs even though they were smaller.  Interesting flavors- I had ones stuffed with cookie dough, peanut butter, and caramel apple.

Sports

So I finally got to visit Wrigley Field, one of my lifelong dreams.  This is one stadium that I have always wanted to go to.  You cannot be a baseball fan and not visit this park.  Is it the nicest stadium?  No.  Is it the most enjoyable way to watch a game?  No.  But it is part of history, and brings you back to a simpler era of baseball.  There is no Jumbo-tron, and no fancy food- just straight up baseball.  The ivy walls are beautiful, and its incredible how small the park is- takes up one small city block.  It truly is a baseball cathedral though- one of the last of its kind.  I think that I prefer Fenway as it is an old-school park with somewhat modernized amenities, but I'm still glad I got to go.  I even got to see Mr. T throw out the first pitch and sing "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", a Wrigley tradition.

Great city and great friends.  It was a great Memorial Day weekend!