my first date in...wow, a long time, if you don't count that whole long relationship thing. i met a really nice boy who lives out in los angeles, where he is in school. we only hung out here for about a week, and then he left. but he has been calling me all the time and whispering the proverbial sweet nothings into my ears. it has been a good distraction, as a lot of other things here have been rather unpleasant. last night he surprises me with wanting to fly out to chicago for a long weekend in october so we can see each other.
he is constantly making lists, which i thought would be annoying, but isn't. last night's list was "the top 5 things i love about kaycee." ...and he really thoguht about it. i mean, it was a really damn good list! ...and maybe he's just trying to get into my pants but if he is, he is fucking adept at it.
so anyway, i have never been to chicago. i am tres excited about going! what should we do while we are there and, more importantly, can some reccomend a decent and so-so inexpensive hotel in a festive part of town?
any advice would be good, because i need to make some reservations and plans soon, if only because i am OCD about schedules, and am going to have enough on my plate getting my pick-up truck ready for the drive up there.
thanks everybody! i really, really appreciate it!
also, i want to come up to chicago again and meet the killoggs crop of you sometime, if thats ok...? i need to start taking advantage of this part of the world, instead of wanting to move so soon.
kaycee [email] said at 4:13 PM 09-10-2006: i cant! boo hoo! i have to work... esp now becaus ei just bought a vehicle and have to save for next month now, too... sorry !!!
bradley said at 12:01 AM 09-12-2006: 1. You make lists on a regular basis
2. You hold grudges (Seth)
3. Your people condone grown men sucking blood from baby's genitals
4. Your people killed sweet little cute baby jesus
All of this gleaned from Killoggs - including all biblical stuff.
kaycee [email] said at 1:25 AM 09-12-2006: wow... i forgot that jake was the list-maker. ill have to tell the new boy that he shall have to offer tribute.
jake [email] said at 3:59 AM 09-12-2006: That's pretty good but it's awfully short. One accurate statement, one gross exaggeration, one blatant misrepresentation, and the good old blood libel... No wait you actually left that out...
evan@home said at 9:17 PM 09-10-2006: congrats! i don't know anything about chicago, but if you tell me the dudes name i can get my people in LA to do a little background screening :)
kaycee [email] said at 3:36 AM 09-11-2006: hah hah ... i gaurntee you coukd check your sources forever... this boy would be off your charts... but he is so neat by himself!
meredith [email] said at 10:24 PM 09-10-2006: There's so much to do in Chicago. What kind of stuff do you want to do? Julie and I stayed at this Days Inn in Lincoln Park. It was fairly reasonable.
kaycee [email] said at 3:38 AM 09-11-2006: that might work.. i dont know chicago, so i have no idea where stuff is.. i would like to find something a little fun, but also where i can park after getting the boy from the airport and then not have to drive so much?
meredith [email] said at 9:52 AM 09-11-2006: Anything else you get is basically going to be downtown. I have no idea about parking as I don't drive. I would check travelocity or the like for prices and then feel free to email me with the addresses of the hotels and I'll let you know what kind of area it's in.
jake [email] said at 10:34 AM 09-11-2006: Do you get to take a picture?
That's my favorite part.
You scrunch your face up real tight--that always looks best...
kaycee [email] said at 1:05 PM 09-11-2006: so is it better to stay downtown near the magnificent mile or whatever you call it, or stay outside and take the train in? where do people go to hang out on chicago? i really have no idea, and i want this to be fun.
myriam [email] said at 1:20 PM 09-11-2006: Depends on how much money you have for a hotel, and what you are interested in.
For out of towners, I like Jess' neighborhood--"Wicker Park". Has a few vegan restaurants, lots of boutiques, a good used bookstore, etc. It's the main hipster hood, probably. Also lots of bars there so at night certain places can attract an ex-frat boy type--but you will be in the other, more fun bars/lounges anyway so don't worry too much about that.
Meredith lives in a really cute neighborhood called "Lincoln Square" that has a lot of great restaurants--particularly some good date-type restauarnts--but otherwise it's probably better for people who live in the area rather than for tourists. Downtown is absolutely worth visiting and in particular you should go up to the bar at the top of the Hancock Tower and have a drink, and also check out the new Millenium park and stuff. There's a really cool fountain installation there that i LOVE. great urban space and always animated w/ people and kids laughing and splashing... makes me grin whenever i go through there. Michigan Ave. is mostly swank shopping joints but it is also very Chicago-y so it's worth a jaunt. Tons of buildings.
Based on your interests expressed on this site, I'd say to stay near Wicker Park, and make a trip into the city during the day and hang in Wicker Park at night. Oh also there is a big ferris wheel on a pier out in the lake that I've been really wanting to go to, and if you like Art, the Art Institute (in Millenium Park, on Michigan Ave) has a fabulous collection and is on voluntary donation.
Umm there is also an artist's district down south of the city that I haven't been to yet.
Also you should take a trip around the loop on the Brownline--that's the elevated line that makes the actual Loop itself. Views are spectacular as you weave inbetween the skyscrapers, above the street. very romantic and fun.
meredith [email] said at 1:13 AM 09-12-2006: Printers Row. There's a really good wineshop there that does free tastings on Thursdays and Fridays. I get the emails.
amelia airhorse said at 1:28 PM 09-12-2006: the airport is obnoxiously inconvienient from downtown city meanderings. have you tried looking up motels or hostels in the area? you might be able to find something a bit cheaper that way and if you stick to things like motel 6 or super 8s or a hostel with a private room you won't have to worry as much about the sketchiness level either.
one amazing restaurant- if you like cajun food- i would recommend is seven on heaven. its downtown, can't remember exactly where but on your table when you sit down there are literally like 40 different kinds of hot sauce. OH YES.
also, the science museum is one of the coolest i've ever been to. chicago is an awesome city, i wish i was going back for a visit soon myself.
amanda [email] said at 2:04 PM 09-12-2006: Isn't it Heaven on Seven?
Anyway, they do have the only shrimp I've ever enjoyed and it's not incredibly expensive. I'd also recommend getting some tapas downtown one night, Hot Doug's (I'm not sure what they have for vegetarians, though...duck fat fries on Saturdays are awesome, even though I swore I wouldn't try them because I love ducks), Sal & Carvão Brazilian steakhouse (they have an awesome awesome and enormous salad bar, so you could always skip the meat consumption aspect and just get that), Chinatown is always fun, and there is a Japanese/Korean mall out past O'hare that you would probably enjoy.
Also, you must go to the Shedd Aquarium and the Botanical Gardens, although I'm not sure how the Botanical Gardens will be in October as it is weather dependent.
amanda [email] said at 2:09 PM 09-12-2006: Oh! You can also rent bicycles on the lakeshore trails and spend a couple hours biking together.
My favourite bars thus far have been The Hungry Brain and Club Foot, but I really haven't spent massive amounts of time going to bars in Chicago. Hungry Brain seems very relaxed and is usually not annoyingly crowded, though they have some of the most atrocious artwork ever.
