Schedule-less

In case anyone was wondering, I did more in Chicago than eat more than I needed to and crash graduations. 

I did, I swear! Here's the proof: 

Panorama-ing like a pro.

This is one of my favorite pictures ever.  I love the mix of urban and nature.  

Finally saw the Bean! It was just as shiny and tourist-y as I had hoped. 

Bean selfie? Why not?

The sky was so blue!

We took the train from South Loop to Hyde Park and only almost got lost for like three minutes! #Win

We toured the Robie House! I've been wanting to see it for years and it was so exciting! Except there was a lot of renovation going on, so that was kind of a bummer. 

I had originally thought that this was a used bookstore, so I was a little disappointed when I found out that it wasn't. But it was still awesome for being independently owned. 

On Father's Day we walked down by the water to get to brunch just a few hours after my dad and I had just run here.  If I had a view like this at home, you would never get me to stop running!

Well, there's my proof.  I loved our long weekend in Chicago because it was so relaxed.  After finishing off a school-year where I was constantly on edge and busier than I have ever been, this was exactly what I would have I prescribed for myself if I was a doctor.

We didn't have any schedule which meant getting out of bed at 10, wandering out somewhere for food and staying out all day until we wanted to go back to the hotel.  You better believe it was awesome.

Everyone needs a weekend like that once in a while to get away from the craziness and chaos of life and forget the schedule for a while.

Have you recently taken a schedule-less trip? Looking forward to one coming soon?  Where did/are you go(ing)?
                                           

Chicago + Food

Chicago + Food = so many things.  An empty wallet, a full waistband, and extremely happy tastebuds just to name a few.  So thanks to nearly three days spent in the Windy City, I have plenty of waist expanding, wallet emptying, tastebud watering Chicago food stories for you.

Friday, 6/13: Lunch @ Cafecito - Getting into the city later in the afternoon meant we had lunch at 3:30.  I found a Cuban restaurant within walking distance from our hotel that had great reviews.  The reviews didn't lie; the food was fantastic! 

At Cafecito I ordered the "Exotica Salad" one of their specials for the day.  The salad had shrimp, avocado, corn, red onions, heart of palm and probably something else that I'm missing.  Topped off with a lemon vinaigrette, the flavor was totally unique and so delicious. 

Friday, 6/13: Dinner @ Giordano's - Since we had eaten lunch so late, we figured that the lines at Giordano's might be a tad shorter if we went a bit later.  We were so wrong.  After waiting about 50 minutes to be seated, we waited another hour for our pizza to come. To say that I devoured my food would be an understatement. 

We had the Chicago Style pizza which had green peppers, onions, and once again, some other stuff that I don't remember.  However, although it was good, I must say that "Chicago's best pizza" wasn't really my favorite.  Lou Malnati's takes top honors from me!

Saturday, 6/14: Brunch @ The Bongo Room - This was a late breakfast as we slept in a little bit so when we arrived at here, we found ourselves waiting nearly 45 minutes again.  Once again though, the reviews nailed it (Thanks, Yelp!). The food was so unique and delicious.  

My mom and I both ordered a dish to split with the other.  Her choice was the vegetarian croissant sandwich.  It was pretty darn great, however, the star of the show here are the potatoes.  Do you see those things? Just average breakfast potatoes, right? Wrong!  I can't even explain them but they were beyond amazing.  If you ever find yourself in Chicago around breakfast time, you know what I'm recommending!  

My choice to split was the Citrus Gingersnap Pancakes. They sounded so unique, I couldn't not order them.  OH. MY. GOSH. You guys, just look at them!  So, so, so, so good! You don't know how hard it was to take a picture before digging in.  Just . . .wow. 

Saturday, 6/14: Dinner @ Medici's - I don't have pictures of anything from this Hyde Park restaurant, but I'll leave my comments.  I ordered a summer salad and split that with my mom's California wrap.  The food was good, not great.  The smoothie that I had ordered with the rest of the drinks came after we had gotten our food by about 15 minutes and after everyone else's shakes by about 25 minutes.  They are really known for their pizza, however.  We didn't try any of that, but it looked pretty good! 

Sunday, 6/15: Brunch @ Yolk - I didn't get any pictures of the food, but I'll recommend the salmon scramble to you! Super delicious - especially if you top it with the capers that come on the side.  

After eating here, I was so full.  We walked it off by strolling down Navy Pier which was right down the street.  

And that's the end of my Chicago food stories! Just looking at all of the pictures (especially those pancakes!) make me want to hop in the car and head back.

Have you ever eaten at any of these places? What did you think? 

What are some of your favorite Chi-town restaurants? 

P.S. Check out my new signature! Yay or nay? 

Graduation Crasher

This weekend I gained a new title.  Get ready for this, it's a good one:  Graduation Crasher.  Allow me to explain.

Yesterday I got home from a great family weekend in Chicago where we did a ton of eating, walking, more eating, more walking and even more eating.  On Saturday, we figured out the Metra train system just in time to catch the next departure to Hyde Park.

For those of you who don't know, Hyde Park is home to the prestigious University of Chicago-my dream college-and I was beyond anxious to check out the gorgeous campus. However, campus was a little occupied. . .

Occupied by hundreds of graduates and their hundreds and hundreds of closest family, friends and whoever else attends graduations, that is.  But if you thought that that would stop me from taking a self guided tour, then you're wrong.

Between the collared shirts and summery dresses, my family and I, in our jeans and tank tops, stuck out like random tourists at a graduation ceremony . . . oh wait, we were.  We didn't let it bother us though, greeting the weird glances with smiles and even making use of the water station set up for the graduation attendees like we belonged.  We tried to avoid being in the way of people who obviously had better reason to be on campus than we did, but I'm sure a few lucky people will find a random family dressed in street clothes hanging out in the background of their pictures.

Even though I didn't get to see campus as I had hoped, I did get a great story out of it.  And further confirmation that Hogwarts the University of Chicago is the place I want to be.

Any party crashing stories?

Love,
Allison