For the second year in a row Paul and I decided to make and take a day trip to Chicago. And at the last minute we were able to add our chief financial officer-Lance.
Spirit took us there nickel and diming us all the way. It wasn't all that bad but if we stayed more than a day the costs would add up for packing a bag to carry on, to check, to print your boarding pass, to buy your ticket online. It was a great price but then again, Paul said, if we booked the tickets at the counter at MSP we could have saved even more! Well, maybe next time I scoot from work to buy tickets.
So we went with no plans. Plans were to be found. I have had plans to shop Chicago for months so that's what I wanted to do. But since I recruited Paul as the logistics coordinator and booking expert I had to broaden my horizon.
After a few days of thinking plans found us. We decided a train trip from O'Hare to Clark and Lake (I think but I'd have to check with our logistics coordinator) and from there jump on the red line to Addison. We found our way up the red line to Wrigley and enjoyed a two hour tour of the old ballpark.
I must say that Wrigley Field is in need of some updates. The halls are narrow, old, stark and cold. The press box looks and feels ancient. In fact, you can see the wear on the tables where the typewriters were just lifted out and stored for the winter. The locker room thinks baseball players are no bigger than 6'2" and 205 pounds. And there's not much room to expand. So, we know CC Sabathia will never sign with them for the clubhouse alone. He doesn't fit.
However, the tour as a whole was very enjoyable, interesting and informational. It was fun to see the grassless field as they were leveling the field and doing maintenance before winter.
After the tour we took the red line back to the loop where we eventually found Chick-fil-A for lunch. It was the first time I'd been to one and it was good. Soon they'll be open in Coon Rapids.
Then I took over as the pseudo-entertainment coordinator.
We hit the Louis Vuitton store just off of Michigan Avenue, took a look at the Kusama windows and went in. Katie told a manager there, Preston, that I was coming so I stopped in and introduced myself to him. It was nice to see the store, meet Preston, and understand a little bit more about Louis Vuitton.
We also went to SuitSupply. It's a great looking, newly opened, well merchandised store from the Netherlands. It was apparently in the space that was formerly occupied by Barney's corporate offices. So the "penthouse" really attracted to Paul's and Lance's lifestyle.
I also dragged Paul and Lance silently kicking and screaming to Zara, Gap to see the GQxBest New Menswear Designers in America, AllSaints, Haberdash, CityTarget, Ralph Lauren, Bottega Veneta, J.Crew, Topshop/Topman and probably more I'm not remembering.
After the afternoon of shopping we hit the green line to Oak Park where we called on Emily and Eric to pick us up. Luckily, Eric was available and he took us on a quick tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright neighborhood before we ate Giordano's deep dish and apple crisp that Eric made.
As always it was fun to see Eric and Emily and it was especially fun to play with Edie and have her excited to see me. Ella played it cool and had to finish an episode on the iPad before saying hi to me.
I must say, it is something that I should do every other month or at least 3-4 times a year with how fun and easy it is. It felt like we were gone for a couple days, packing more of the punch into a short time.
I think Lance and Paul had a good time and that we'll have to anti up to do it more often, make it more of a routine and see E4 more! And get my hands on some great fashion. :)
