Family Trip to Chicago
February 22-24, 2008
We planned a family trip to Chicago to visit Melissa, see her apartment downtown, and check out the city for a weekend. My dad, Kathy, Kyle, KC, Ryne, Jon, and I all made the trip to the big city. Jane had a tennis tourney in Madison, so unfortunately, couldn't join us. Jon and I took Friday off and hopped on the Megabus headed to Chicago. I loved the idea of the Megabus, it was cheap and neither of us would have to drive or worry about parking once we got there. I was a little hesitant, though, about the comfort of the bus. Since I was seven months pregnant for the trip, I was worried I would not have enough leg room or that my back would get really sore sitting for so long. Luckily, everything was great! My pillow kept my back comfortable and we had a 3 hour movie, The Temptations, to keep us occupied for the entire trip there. Before we knew it, we were in downtown Chicago! We hopped in a cab and headed to the Hard Rock Hotel, where we all stayed for the weekend. Talk about easy traveling!
Friday night we all went to dinner at an Irish pub downtown and then went to see Jersey Boys, the musical about Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. It was a great show, Jon and Melissa walked around singing the songs from the show the whole weekend. Between 'The Temptation' on the bus and Jersey Boys at night, Jon and I had our fill of American music history that day! Saturday, we walked around downtown, shopped a little, and then got to visit with Jon's friend, Birch. Saturday evening, we all went to Melissa's apartment for wine and cheese and then went to an amazing Italian restaurant, Volare, for dinner. This was my second trip to Volare, and I have to say, it may be the best Italian restaurant I've been to. The food is outstanding, with incredible homemade gnocchi and different types of sauces. I think everyone loved what they ate that night, that's not easy to say when you take 8 people out to dinner, let alone 8 people in my family out to dinner. My family may be some of the hardest to please restaurant goers I know!
Here are some pictures from the weekend...
The famous "bean, " a huge mirrored sculpture in Grant Park, downtown Chicago. |
The reflections of the city were amazing, especially on such a clear day. |
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Reflections of me and Jon in the bean. |
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Me taking a picture of Jon's reflection in the bean from behind him. |
Jon doing the same to me.
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A picture form underneath the bean, looking up inside of it. |
The large brick walls with faces reflected onto them, usually there is water flowing over the faces into a fountain.
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Fun art displayed in Grant Park.
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Me having an in depth conversation with Roosevelt.
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The river was frozen, but starting to break up with the warmer weather. It made a really cool, mosaic pattern. |
The river, close-up.
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A window from the stained glass museum at Navy Pier.
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Dad and Kathy, outside at Navy Pier. There's not much going on there in the middle of winter! |
Me and Jon, same spot.
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Gazing out into the beautiful winter day...
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32 week preggo belly...
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Me and Miss on a "stone couch." I don't think we were actually supposed to be sitting on it! |
Me, dad, and Miss |
Kyle and Ryne, out to lunch.
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Kathy and Kyle, at Melissa's apartment.
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Me and Jon, hanging out at Miss' place.
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KC, Kyle, and Ryne
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Jon, Kathy, and Kyle
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Ryne, taking pictures of everyone at Melissa's place.
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Aunt Miss and Ryne
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Ryne posing in his new H & M sweater
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