Its only customary that I'm two weeks behind....
As I'm sure you all remember, Matt and I planned an exciting, fun trip to Chicago on December 20th to jump start our Christmas celebration. We made reservations at the Drake hotel, made plans with Courtney and Lubo and Heather and Shawn, and had a full day of plans scheduled that included ice skating, seeing the Willis Tower sky deck, drinks on the 95th floor of the John Hancock, and a horse carriage ride. Being the OCD type A person that I am, I had a schedule for all our plans: take the red line here, go here first, go here second, get lunch between the hours of 11-2:30pm because that's when the 95th floor is open for lunch, blah blah blah blah blah........
We arrived on Friday night and grabbed a quick bite at SUPERDAWG -- the best hotdog place ever!! We had never been before but had seen it multiple times on Food Network and couldn't wait to check it out. And all I have to say it next time you're in Chicago, go eat there. Its amazeballs.
We met Courtney and Lubo before checking in at the hotel. Matt opened his belated birthday gifts from the Boris' -- LOVED the moose mugs from Christmas vacation (BEST GIFT EVER) -- then we cabbed it downtown to the hotel. We checked in, saw our room, got ready, and went to Untitled.
The Drake was beautiful. Very vintage and grand. Everything that I would expect from a fancy-schmancy hotel. We loved the Christmas tree in the lobby and posed for pictures along with everyone else (and their mom) in Chicago.
The room was better than expected. After all, I booked a room with two twin beds (HA!). Look ya'll! I waited until the last second to make reservations. While booking over the phone, the gentleman told me that the twins were "European" twins and big enough to sleep an adult and small child. Matt's response was, "Who does he think I am? Michael Jackson??"
Very funny, dear.
Matt and Lubo so excited to party.
We cabbed it to Untitled and were seated immediately (thanks to our reservation). Matt thought it was absolutely ridiculous that they had a dress code, but I think after he realized how awesome the bar was -- he had no issue wearing his black dress shoes (even with how much he hates them). Within twenty minutes, Matt suggested that we should open a restautant like it in Madison and I knew we made the right choice to go here. All of us had never been before and we liked the "speak easy like" atmosphere of the entire restaurant and bar. There was a blues band playing on stage and we were sat right up front so we could see the entire show. When the band went on break, a bourlesque dancer came out and stripped down to nothing but boobie tassels and a thong while dancing to jazz music.
The whole restaurant screamed "Matt and Jaclyn" -- whiskey, jazz music, speak easy era, and sure --- bourlesque dancers -- we loved it! Matt was even handed a candy cane from the dancer during her little routine. Oh la la! We will definitely be back. The place was awesome.
Following Untitled, we stumbled to the nearest grocery store, bought some Rumchata and Baileys, had Matt's name called over the intercom -- "MR. FENNEL -- Please meet Mrs. Fennel at the check out lane" and bought a sandwhich, donuts, and wine for a questionably homeless guy that hung out around the corner. Courtney accused him of smelling like "mari-ju-wana" and he nervously laughed and walked away. Hmmmmm....
We went back to The Drake -- watched TV -- and passed out on our twin size beds around midnight.
We're -- so -- cool.
The next day, I think God was laughing at me for being so type A and OCD. On the ONE day that I decided to go stand in one of the tallest buildings in the world (after living in Chicago for three years), we we woke up to FOG and RAIN. Needless to say, there was no point to stand in a sky scraper because we wouldn't be able to see 100 feet in front of us. Some view, right?. I swear if this wasn't a lesson from God, himself, to stop being so paranoid, OCD, and type A then I don't know what it was.
What are the chances?!
Fog and Rain...... ON DECEMBER 20TH IN CHICAGO?!?!
Where is the snow?
Where are the freezing temperatures??
The good news was that Heather wasn't called into work which meant her and Shawn could come out with us. Heather and Shawn met the four of us for breakfast and Courtney and Lubo dropped us off after at Millennium Park after. Poor Shawn. It was raining. And cold.
Soooooo very cold.
And the poor guy didn't have a hat, gloves, or barely a coat on. We stood in line (in the rain!) for about 30-45 minutes before we were able to go inside to rent our skates. After putting our shoes and purses in a locker, we went back outside and skated around the rink. By this point, Shawn was freezing. Oh, I felt so bad for him. We skated around the over populated ice rink a couple of times before they announced that it was time to clean the ice and for everyone to exit the rink. Of course! Shawn was probably more than thrilled -- I seriously don't know how he did it.
We went back inside -- were treated incredibly horrible by the people working there --- (BOYCOTT MILLENNIUM PARK!) --- thanked them for their "wonderful holiday spirit" then walked across Michigan Ave to the Starbucks nearby so we could warm up. After yummy coffee and great conversation -- we decided to part ways. Heather and Shawn decided to go home and Matt and I (as determined as we were) attempted to go complete at least half -- heck, one -- of the things we had planned.
We got about two blocks down Michigan before we decided that this was absolutely ridiculous. Cabbed it back to Heather and Shawn's, talked for hours over wine and caught up with our amazing friends.
Even after all the broken plans, the rain, the fog, the freezing temps, and the un-used schedule, we still had a fabulous time. I was able to see my two best friends, the city I love so much, and jump start our blessed holiday with Christmas in Chicago.
Oh, and I got a promise from Matt that we can go back for dinner on the 95th, a horse carriage ride, and Willis Tower sky deck for date night. I'm holding him to it.
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