A Glorious Bonus Day in Chicago

Every once in a while, you get a bonus day, a true unexpected gift filled with memories. Yesterday was such a day. Two very inconveniently scheduled doctor appointments at opposite ends of the day forced me to clear our schedule and spend the day in Chicago with my 4 year old in tow. Vicious thunderstorms were predicted, but the sun held out, and we cruised through the city, Ferris Bueller style.

After a requisite stop at the American Girl Doll Store to pick up a little outfit, we hit some more Mommy-pleasing stops: the Art Institute and a walk through Millenium Park. The Cloud Gate is always a great spot to get a few fun shots.

Lunch at the Art Institute was like being transported to Paris. The museum serves small plates in its fountain garden, but seems to publicize it poorly, because we were the only ones enjoying the beautiful space.

Having the place to ourselves just made it easier to pretend we were crust-less grilled cheese eating princesses.

After an hour lunch, I felt more relaxed than after a week in the Carribean, soothed by the gurgling fountains and a stroll through the Impressionist floor of the Art Institute before walking out past the dazzling blue Chagall windows.

Happy Wordful, Five Minutes Wordless, and Way-back wednesday.

Tacos and the World Around the Corner

We live in a typical suburban neighborhood where kids bike to school past lush green lawns and the crossing guards know them all by name. But just a dozen blocks down the street, our suburban island of colonial houses with wide front porches gives way to gas stations and fast food chains.

I love the reality of our location and the fact that you can't tune out the rest of the world. It gives us quick access to Chicago and all of its museums and restaurants, and it also provides some pretty amazing experiences within a brisk walking distance.

My favorite taco joint, Don Alfredo's, is tucked away out of sight behind some Citgo gas pumps. I pumped many tanks of gas there before even noticing it. I never would have guessed that the tiny restaurant served up homemade tortillas filled with freshly grilled skirt steak, delicately marinated chicken, barbecued and fried pork. Everything is served with vibrant tomatoes, cilantro, onions, and avocado. The green and red sauces available on each table pack a gentle yet complex heat that thrill my mouth.

Juliette and I go there at least once a week to get our fill of tacos, rice and beans. She loves to hear me stumble through my order in Spanish and shouts, "Gracias!" Seeing the Dora vocabulary in action never loses its entertainment value. It's a whole different world of tastes, sounds and smells, just minutes from our house.

Happy Wordful, Five Minutes Wordless, and Way-back wednesday.

Dolly Parton Brings Chicago to their Feet

She toddled onto the stage, the long pink fringes of her skin-tight hot pink skirt framing her perfect legs, a living Barbie doll. The crowd was still roiling with resentment at the presence of Governor Quinn, hissing and booing the man who just double Illinois taxes. She dealt with the mood with one girlyish, "Well, hello there!" and brought the crowd to their feet, rushing to the stage.

When Governor Quinn informed the crowd that it was Dolly Parton's birthday and that he was declaring January 19th to be Dolly Parton day in Chicago, the crowd went wild and broke into a spontaneous and strangely moving and respectful version of the Happy Birthday song. Even at 65, Dolly Parton is still an unquestioned sex symbol. She stood swaying and smiling to the tribute, laughing occasionally into the mike like a blushing schoolgirl unused to all the attention.

Parton was in town for the premiere of the stage version of 9 to 5, the 1980 movie she starred in with Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin about three secretaries who kidnap their sexist boss and revolutionize their office environment. Parton wrote the shows score and lyrics.

The play had a brief run on Broadway with mixed reviews before shutting down to be retooled for a national tour. One of the revisions included a greater Dolly Parton presence through a video voice over during the opening 9 to 5 song number. The signature song about the hopeless drudgery of the weekday routine is the main theme of the show. Prior to the Chicago premiere, the show stopped in Tennessee, Atlanta and Indianapolis where it was well received.

Before stepping off the stage, Dolly charmed the crowd of critics one last time with a wink and a request, "And if you don't like the show, ya'll just keep your mouth shut!" But the tongue in cheek plea was unnecessary.

9 to 5 is a wonderful way to spend two hours. The music is fun and moving. The three female leads are strong singers who easily get the crowd laughing, including American Idol runner up Diana DeGarmo in the role of Doralee Rhodes, the big-breasted and big-hearted Southern girl who Parton played in the movie. I wouldn't have thought that a stage show about the workplace would resonate during these high unemployment times, but the message actually helps us to appreciate how far we've come to ban sexism and discrimination in the workplace. Think of it as a cheery Mad Men musical.

9 to 5 will be playing in Chicago at the new Bank of America Theater until January 30th. The birthday girl will most likely not appear at future performances, but the show will no doubt send you back out into the Chicago cold with a smile on your face.

Wordful Wednesday: Second City Crush

"I think Chicago may be the perfect city," I told a table of pretty people a few months ago.

Clean, accessible, with a pulse that rivals New York's, I've fallen head over heels in love with Chicago.

 I love how I can see its skyline glitter, every night when I take out the trash.

I love the mysteries of its endless lake with its waves, beaches, and lighthouses.

I love the pervasiveness of its architecture from the Frank Lloyd Wright houses I pass on my way to school pick-up to the hundreds of reflections in the shiny Bean.

And I love that I've only just begun to explore its dining scene, with its foams, its deconstructed Caesar salads, and its fully loaded Italian Beef sandwiches.

"How long did you say you've been here? You haven't experienced the Chicago winter yet. Just wait. You'll be singing a different tune soon," said the New Yorker.

But my Second City Crush didn't vanish with the first arctic gust of wind, like college crushes in the harsh morning light. Even as the Lake Effect Snow paints my new home an even coat of white, I'm reveling in my crush, singing it from the mountain tops.

I love Chicago.

Happy Wordful, Five Minutes Wordless, and Way-back wednesday.

Chicago Gourmet 2010

Millenium Park was one of the first sights I visited when we moved here. I couldn't wait to see the iconic cloud statue that locals refer to as "the bean." We've only been here a month, but we've been back twice to see this amazing structure that reflects the sky and the Chicago skyline so uniquely.

Yesterday I was back at the Bean for a third time, but this time, instead of being surrounded by camera-wielding tourists, the crowd was laden down with wine glasses and appetizer plates, attendees of the 2010 Bon Appetit Chicago Gourmet event. My husband and I joyfully left the children with a babysitter and joined the throngs in a tasting frenzy.

I was surprised to find that the event was dominated by wine and spirits exhibitors. Tent after tent filled with friendly individuals ready to pour libations like this blue-eyed Irishman and his sweet Coole Swan dairy liqueur. I love wine and fun drinks as much as the next person, but there's only so much you can taste on a Sunday afternoon before returning home to deal with the kids' dinner and bathtime.

We tore ourselves away from the free-flowing liquor and went on a hunt for food. And there was plenty of food to be found, as long as we armed ourselves with a little patience for the long lines. Chefs from Chicago's top restaurants were sampling tastes of signature dishes and even rotating them throughout the day. There was so much I wanted to try, so many restaurants I'd heard about, but hadn't had a chance to visit yet, but the crowds were so dense that anything other than going with the flow would have been an exercise in frustration. The line for Rick Bayless' Frontera must have been over 100 people deep.

Pumpkin S'Mores Cakes

I had some delicious bites drifting along and tasting what came my way. The dessert pavilion featured exciting novelties like this pumpkin s'mores cake. The seafood pavilion offered fresh little bites like smoked black cod salad and tuna sashimi with granny smith slivers. Fulton's on the River served up some red wine braised short ribs on top of a corn puree that I will be dreaming about until I sit down to dinner there. I was glad to find them at the back of the St Michelle tent, along with a smooth Cabernet Merlot blend to go with it.

Cooking demonstrations and talks took place both days at the Bon Appetit Main Stage, a stunning setting under the futuristic trestle of the Jay Pritzker pavilion. I heard Chefs Takashi Yagihashi and Jackie Shen speak about Asian indulgence and demonstrate the enriching of a 5-spice braised pork with some other simple tastes (pickled veggies, Hellmann's mayonaise, and lime juice) to give the dish an umami dimension.

More Dark Chocolate Cupcakes

My favorite part of the day was definitely my chance encounter with the More Cupcakes team and their gleaming trays of mini cupcakes. The dark chocolate and salty caramel cupcakes were a delight. They left me wanting... more. But I'll have to wait til next year to experience Chicago Gourmet again. Until then, I have my work cut out for me, trying even a small fraction of the Chicago dining scene.