Chicago was my home for five years. In the Windy City, I graduated from college, I rented my first apartment, and I met my husband.
I still remember the first time I saw the city, when I was considering transferring there for freshman year. I spent a weekend in the Windy City and I went to see the musical Big Fish at the Cadillac Palace. I tried deep-dish pizza and hot dogs. I fell in love on the spot. 🙂
I moved to Chicago in August 2013 and now, three years after leaving it, and I am still nostalgic. Here are five things I’ll always miss about Chicago…and four I’d rather forget.
I Miss: The Choclaccino of Medici on 57th
Espresso blended with chocolate and steamed milk, topped with fresh whipped cream. What is not to love? Medici on 57th was my mandatory stop on the weekend mornings. Sometimes I only grabbed a creamy and sweet Choclaccino, sometimes I ordered a croissant to go – my favorite was the feta cheese and spinach. Then, I walked to the campus of the University of Chicago, with its green lawns and I sat, enjoying breakfast. In Hyde Park, I found my oasis in the busy city, and in the Choclaccino I found my favorite guilty pleasure.
I Miss: Chicago Summer Festivals
Chicagoans hibernate from November until mid-April. In May, they get out of lethargy. Finally, there is no weather alert and no danger of a last minute, spring snowfall. In May, the city flourishes. Every neighborhood and sometimes even every block has a summer fair, market, or festival. Every weekend it’s a party. There are food festivals, music festivals, and sports festivals. And the art fairs are my favorite! Chicago is a summer city, although winter characterizes it for most of the year. Even though this summer has been different I’m sure, I know every Chicagoan has fond memories of their city in summer…and you’ll only make more in future years (I promise!)
I Miss: Lake Michigan in Winter
In Hyde Park, I lived a few blocks from the lake, which was my favorite place to go for a walk and to relax. While it was perfect during summer, I actually always preferred it in winter. Sure, in summer there are a lot of people hanging out, the beaches are open, and its ice cream season…but winter truly brings out the city’s frozen charm. The water is covered in a thick blanket of ice and the stones of the lakefront turn into sparkling sculptures, the trees heavy with snow. It’s a true winter wonderland!
I Miss: The Hot Pots in Chinatown
Chicago is a city for foodies, where the cuisine options are endless. One of my favorite food neighborhoods though, was always Chinatown. It was my go to during the weekend when I didn’t want to cook. In Chinatown, there is an entire plaza full of restaurants and it doesn’t get more authentic than what they have on their menus. The cooks, the waiters, and the owners are all Chinese. Some places had Chinese-only menus and others had Chinese-only staff. Sometimes, I tried ordering an item from the English menu and the young waiter would give me a puzzled look. If only I could understand Mandarin! Still, everything I ever tried there was outstanding, and I loved finding new favorite meals over and over again.
I Miss: The Horchata in Pilsen
Pilsen is the Mexican neighborhood of Chicago and another amazing food center. Horchata is one of their go-to refreshing and sweet drinks. It is made of white rice soaked in water, flavored with cinnamon and granulated sugar. It pairs perfectly with any Mexican food; the black beans, the rice, the tacos, and the melted cheese on top of it all.
After lunch, a nice walk through the neighborhood was mandatory. The walls and alleys of Pilsen are covered in colorful murals and graffiti, an open-air art installation or tow, and with statues of the Our Lady of Guadalupe. Before heading home, a stop at one of the many pastelerias of Pilsen (the mom and pops bakeries) would offer the perfect dessert. It was always a glorious day in Pilsen!
I’d Rather Forget: The Green Beer at Saint Patrick’s Day
March 17th is a big deal in Chicago! When people leave their house and confront the cold to join the parade, the whole city turns green – even the river gets in on the act. The city is filled with clovers, funny leprechauns, and people with green hats that look like the Mad Hatter – only more drunk. 😉 People wear green capes, green plastic glasses, and fake orange mustaches. They drink green beer, a Saint Patrick’s Day specialty – to some. The bartenders put food coloring in the beer and turn it into a sour, weird-looking beverage. I’d rather skip out on that part thanks!
I’d Rather Forget: The #6 Bus During Game Day
To get from downtown to my studio in Hyde Park, I had to take the #6 bus. The route passes right by Soldier Field and then it goes onto Lake Shore Drive, so it became a nightmare when the Chicago Bears played. On routine days, the bus tends to be late and crowded, but on game days, it was impossible to get a ride. The ride usually would take half an hour, but on those days, the bus just would be stuck on Lake Shore Drive. It is easier to get off at Soldier Field and walk downtown. All for the love of the game!
I’d Rather Forget: The Crown Fountain at Millennium Park
Unpopular opinion alert: I never like the Crown Fountain. Millennium Park is one of my favorite places in downtown Chicago, filled with contemporary art installations like Cloud Gate (aka The Bean). In summer, it is the place to hang out for free concerts while having a picnic in the lawns.
Crown Fountain is a video sculpture in Millennium Park, with slides of portraits flashing by. The fountain is composed of a black granite reflecting pool placed between a pair of glass brick towers. The fountain spouts actual water on the pavement and the waterfall comes right out of the mouth of the portraits. I can see the fun in it, but it was always a bit creepy to me.
I’d Rather Forget: Lower Wacker
Wacker is a multilevel, double-decked street, with the lower part built for through-traffic and trucks, and the upper street for local traffic. It was inaugurated in 1926 and it cost $8 million. The roadway is also a film set for the car chase scene in The Dark Knight. It’s a great scene! But driving on the actual Lower Wacker isn’t quit that exciting.
Dark, dusty, and empty, Lower Wacker Drive is the perfect location for a car chase between the Joker and Batman. In real life it’s much more crowded, claustrophobic, and hard to navigate unless you’r an expert. I never liked it, and when Uber drivers took it, I closed my eyes until we were out of there. There might be less traffic, but I’d rather take the busy Lake Shore Drive.
Chicago isn’t perfect, but no place is. But the more I thought back on my days in the city, the more I found things to miss. From the food to the culture, and the diverse neighborhoods, Chicago really was a wonderful place to call home. Not to mention the friends I left behind and I still miss. Every day. Chicago will always have a place in my heart 🙂
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Guest contributor Gaia Zol is an Italian writer who loves pasta, coffee and blogging. She thrives on good writing and to put a colorful spin on any topic. What she doesn’t know yet, she learns.
The post What I Miss About Chicago…And What I’d Rather Forget appeared first on Lux & Concord - A Chicago Lifestyle Blog - A women's lifestyle blog offering inspiration for your closet, career, and more..
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