Chicago Love
I was so lucky to return to Chicago in April! Less than a year after my last visit, this one was even more magical than the last one.
First, this trip was much longer and so I had far more time to enjoy and explore. I was there for the ACES Editing Conference and I met a pair of extremely fun copy editors (not unlike myself).
There is just something that I love so much about Chicago. The energy is really fresh and exciting. The downtown area is full of great restaurants and my favorite spot is the Art Institute.
I stayed at the Palmer House again since that is where the conference was held. Even given the options in the area, I think I would have chosen to stay at Palmer again because it is quirky and historic and I am enamored with the art deco style on the inside.
The elevators at the Palmer House. So gorgeous. Photo by Ranger Holly.
The first night, I got to my room around 9 p.m. and I gobbled up dinner in the lobby. I knew from my last visit that the food was solid and it was convenient, that’s all I could ask for. Also, I like hanging out in the lobby of old-timey hotels because it is a very Holden Caulfield vibe.
The conference started bright and early and was intense on the grammar, but I’m honestly not going to focus on the conference at all. It was good. The lecture about the history of Webster’s dictionary was completely amazing and the best session of the conference. That’s all you need to know. Visit the website if you want to go next year in Providence, RI.
That night was the classic first night mixer in a very red (and maybe Gothic-style) ballroom. In the effort to avoid the advances of a man twice my age, I scanned the room for a group to join and I quickly spotted a couple of ladies who looked as though they could provide shelter.
Luckily for me, they were an amazing duo from New York: Kara and Emma. We quickly fell in sync with similar senses of humor and an affinity for social satire. (For a split second I thought I made that term up, but I 100% did not.) I love when I immediately click with people and that is what happened with these lovely people and we were off to the races.
We went out to meet one of Emma’s coworkers for tacos, authentic pizza and a stop into a Wayne’s World pop-up bar at Bucktown Pub.
The next night my fun-loving friends and I went out a concert in an apartment. Which I admit in concept is a tad sketch, but it worked out great. It was just a concert put together by a couple of entrepreneurial young lads. They had a sink full of ice and $2 beers (what a deal!) and the bands had to be done by 11 p.m. because you know - neighbors.
The band I was there to see was The Happy Fits. They are a three-piece band from New Jersey and they are as adorable as they are talented. They just released their debut album "Concentrate." Put them on your radar immediately, they will be on tour this fall. They were amazing and I didn’t mind blowing out my eardrums for 25 minutes because they were that good. Live music makes me so incredibly happy and live music in Chicago is even better.
Saturday was our last day all together and Emma had to head to the airport around 2 p.m. It was a sad parting of the hearts! Kara and I soldiered on and went to a piano bar called the Tack Room that evening. It was a carriage house that had been turned into a hipster watering hole. A bit off the beaten path but it was a recommendation from the Southwest Airlines city guide and it was a quality rec. The music was great and so were the food and drinks and I loved getting to bond more with my sweet new friend.
Sunday morning I was on my own, so I went to Goddess and the Baker and strolled around Millennium Park. I also went to Lush to get a new skincare regimen and because there is just something about Lush that says vacation to me. I don’t know what it is. I always remember going to my first Lush with my friends in Washington, D.C. and since then Lush equals vacation pampering.
That was that for my second Chicago trip. I didn’t think I would come away loving Chicago even more, but I did and big time.