We stopped in some Podunk town on the way into Chicago, and got our hair cut. A basic crew cut, and we were on our way. We stumbled across a dollar store, and had the good fortune to find some cute little breast-armor plate costumes that said “SWAT” on the front. Complemented by a little plastic police baton, our Halloween costumes were complete! We were hoping to do a little team swatting on Halloween night!
We got to experience the Illinois toll roads. Really they aren’t much different from the toll bridges in the Bay Area, but it’s just a little unsettling. Since we aren’t familiar with the locations, it seems like they pop up just about anywhere. Really, if you have enough pocket change laying about, and can navigate to the far right “cash” lanes, they are no big deal.
We rolled into Chicago just before rush hour, but still got caught in some heavy traffic near Uptown. We were privileged to be able to stay with ChiBeef, who had come out to visit SF about two years ago. He has a three story building on the north side of Chicago, and even had a garage parking space for us! He is a fellow house remodeler of crazy proportions, and the first story is just amazingly redone! He has an excellent design eye, and the paint, furnishings, and décor reflects it. We stayed in what he calls his unfinished attic, but really it is fully functional and quite comfortable, even with its own bathroom and thermostat. The second floor still needs a lot of work, but he has some time before anything needs to get done, which must be nice!
After some introductory conversation, we headed down to a Halloween parade that was going on. We were all shocked by the number of people at the parade- it was like the Castro Street Halloween in SF, barely enough room to turn around! Lots of great costumes, men dressed as a team of poodle dogs, complete with female circus-like trainer, a drag queen who’s costume was entirely made up of grocery store paraphernalia, from to the Carmen Miranda fruit basket hat (but instead of fruit, it had grocery store boxes) down to the lovely frilly dress made of plastic produce bags. The big winner of the night was a cute guy, who took a child’s toy truck (the large kind they pedal around in) and cut it up into sections, which he strapped to his body. Then by crouching down, he could reassemble the truck, and thus was a transformer. You should have heard the cheers for him. All in all it was a very family-oriented parade and event, which was very nice.
After some milling about and costume watching, we went for sushi at a new restaurant. That’s right, sushi, and more than an hour’s drive from the ocean. It ended up being delicious. I think I detected a different texture about some of the fish pieces, so maybe they were previously frozen, but it was still delicious. We ended up all going in for a big boat deal, which was very filling!
After that we went to a country western bar for a drink and to see another Halloween costume contest. Lots of people watching, and Chicago has a pretty high percentage of cute ones!
Then we went out to a bar (on the northeast side of things I think?!?) Big Chicks, which had some fun dancing. There Adam swooned over the guy in a cowboy getup with big vampire fangs. Now I know what to get him for Xmas (and I do mean X!). Now if he can get me that Saturday, we got up unreasonably late. I’m not sure if it was the overcast skies, being out semi late the night before (maybe 1am at latest?), but we just didn’t get going till late. We went to a archietural reuse place called Architechtural Artifacts. It is like Urban Ore from Berkeley, but on steroids. They have a HUGE warehouse, and AMAZING inventory. Almost all of it was very high end stuff, and most was priced accordingly. Still, I think the prices were mostly fair, and some deals to be had on fireplace mantels, built in cabinets, and unique items. I’m definitely coming here if I find myself rich someday! ChiBeef found his ideal bar, art deco style with lots of stainless steel and mirrors. Which only leaves the 10 grand to come up with…
We stopped by the store on the way home and picked up the ingredients for taco soup. This is a very simple meal that can be thrown together quickly. – just cook up some ground beef or turkey (this time we used pork) with some onions, throw in a couple of canned goods like diced tomatoes, kidney beans, corn, diced chiles, and serve over frito corn chips with sour cream, diced green onions, shreaded cheese, and salsa. Very hearty! We also picked up some vodka at the store for a present for our Canadian hosts. They said they like Smirnoff, and the store was having a sale, so we picked up 4 1.75 Liter bottles! Unfortunately they didn’t give us the sales price, so it took at least a half hour to get a proper refund.
After dinner at ChiBeef’s, we retired to his fabulous back patio, where he had a fire going in the fire pit. The backyard is another phenomenal area- that I had suspected was professionally designed, but no, ChiBeef is just an amazingly talented guy! We were joined for dirnks in the backyard by another CL’er, Doug, and had a nice visit around the fire.
Sunday we decided to help ChiBeef with some household projects, fixing a garage door, repairing some faulty landscape lighting, cleaning up the yard, and moving an enormous and beautiful roll down adjustable shelf unit. 8’2” tall, and about a ton to move! Tony’s back has been hurting him, possibly from the stupid mysteriously leaky air mattress, but he was able to manage ok. And it looks just great in the spot ChiBeef had picked out for it.
In late afternoon we took the puppy, Rocco, to the doggie beach on Lake Michigan. It was very cute to watch him run around with all the other dogs, never minding if they were big or small. He loved to get chased by them. It was sprinkling lightly, and getting cold.
After dropping Rocco off at home, we went out to a ginormus, and I mean really, really big bar called SideTracks, which must be world renound for its entertainment. They are kind of a video bar, and specialize in all sorts of show tunes. The regulars like to sing along, and make up their own material and retorts to the screen. It is hilariously funny to watch. We also had some of their “Slushy” drinks, which are a dangerous fruity concotion not unlike what you get at 7-Eleven. We were joined by some of ChiBeef’s friends, and another CL’er, ChiStudster. ChiStud was very personable, funny, and fun to hang around with. Adam and he hit it off quite well, and were chumming around the whole night. It all went by far too quickly, and we had to call it a night around midnight, as it was a school night for these young gentleman. We are a terrible influence, I tell you!
After making our goodbyes with ChiBeef in the morning, we were able to miss Chicago’s rush hour traffic. We took the lake shore Dr through downtown and on the Lake (duh!) on the way out, which was captivating- so much more to see and do in this town, next time! Before you know it, we were out of Chicago, watching the gas prices dip precipitously (wow, are they paying a ransom- about $3 a gallon In town, compared to $2.20 in the surrounding countryside.) We then went through Indiana and Michigan on the way to crossing the border into Canada.
