What did we do in Chicago for two days?

• We braved the cold
• We visited the Museum of Science & Industry (and bought a model of the U-505 u-boat because that’s the newest obsession)
• We ate at Lou Malnati’s, where mom had a very nice gluten-free pizza
• We got up at 5:15 on Wednesday morning because, well, because
• We took the subway, of course
• We got off at Clark & Division and walked up Clark, counting the many, many, many taxis that passed by; mom lost the contest
• We stopped at Starbucks because it wasn’t yet 9:30 so we had some time to kill
• We went to the Chicago History Museum (which opens at 9:30, you see) and checked out tons of cool exhibits – including the Vivian Maier exhibit, which I had no idea was there…so cool!
• We walked through Lincoln Park along the nature boardwalk
• We (well, he) threw ice at the pond to see if it would break the ice on the surface
• We went to the Farm in the Zoo and said hi to the cows
• We grabbed a quick lunch at the Lincoln Park Zoo and then saw tamarins, chimpanzees, gorillas, lynx, tortoises, sand cats, giraffes and, always a hit, meerkats
• We walked many, many, many blocks just so we could ride the el
• We got Garrett’s popcorn and a salad from Au Bon Pain
• We spent three hours hanging out at the hotel because we were tired and cold and the bed was comfy
• We visited P.O.S.H. on the way to the Lego Store, where we managed to leave without getting a single item (miracle!) – although he’s still pouting about that
• We got on the train again and rode all the way to Howard and then double-backed to the Berwyn exit
• We met up with Archie and Diana for dinner at Lady Gregory’s (big thumb’s up!)
• We got a ride back to our hotel and promptly went to bed
• We checked out of the hotel the next morning
• We met up with my cousin Pat and his daughter
• We went to the Sears Tower (I will not call it that new thing) and the kiddo and my cousins went out on the glass walkway thingy while I firmly refused
• We walked around trying to find Union Station
• We found Union Station after getting hot cocoa
• We went to Chinatown and had to find a bathroom post haste
• We ate at Joy Yee, which was pretty tasty
• We drove home (phew!)