Revisiting Chicago

This past weekend, a handful of my friends successfully completed the Chicago Marathon. I was impressed with their motivation to stick with months of arduous training and am happy that they all had a pleasant experience (as pleasant as it can be running 26.2 miles!).

That said, I guess it's finally time to finish posting pictures from my September visit!

After brunch at Toast, we meandered through Lincoln Park's beautiful neighborhood streets. We found our way to Wells Street where a festival was a happening.

What's that you see? An Abba cover band!

And then we made friends with an Indian before heading into an olive oil and vinegar store. In that store, I fell in love with a white peach balsamic vinegar while Christine became enamored with one of the salesmen. Lucky for me, I could take mine home. Except I couldn't since I decided not to check my luggage. My vinegar is still sitting in Christine's apartment waiting for her next trip back East when she checks a few big bags. SIGH.

Next we headed to Navy Pier for a surprise speed boat tour on Lake Michigan. Woot! As we boarded the speedboat, we decided to sit upfront since that was supposedly where the driest seats were. Once everyone had boarded, the tour leader ran down a laundry list of conditions that were not favorable to enduring this boat tour. Back problems? Check. Motion sickness? Check. Inability to ride roller coasters? CHECK. We both gulped in unison as we fastened our seat belts. We probably should've exited immediately.

Here we are, all smiles before loading onto the boat. And luckily, we survived it all without a hiccup. I was shocked. But mostly amazed at how beautiful the city looked from the lake.

After the ride was over, we roamed around the pier for a bit before heading to our dinner back near her apartment. We munched on delicious, heart-attack inducing Garrett's popcorn. Is it just me, or does the cheese butter sauce on that stain your skin? I had yellow/orange hands for far too many hours after eating it.

Such a beautiful day! We swung back through downtown and made a quick stop at Ghirardelli to get free chocolate samples. This time they were giving away chocolate squares filled with a pumpkin caramel type thing. Y-U-M.

We then said hello to the sad horses drawing carriages about Michigan avenue and beyond.

Then we dined at Adesso in Lakeview. We decided on the pork bolognese with homemade pasta and the pesto pasta with green beans and chicken. For dessert? A stop across the street at Phoebe's Cupcakes.

Pictured here is the Peanut Butter Chocolate Fudgie Brownie cupcake and the Raspberry cupcake. Heaven. But we didn't have any room that evening and instead, I wolfed mine down the next morning before heading to the airport. Oh, and another slice of cold deep dish to wash that down.

The trip to the airport via bus and train was eventful. My bus was empty when I boarded, yet of the few people who boarded on my way to the Blue Line the one man who wreaked of cigars sat across from me and the crazy man speaking to me in foreign tongues chose to sit next to me. I don't get it.

My next trip out to Chicago will be the second week or so of December. This time, my friend Lindsey from college will be joining us as we try some new things and revisit some old favorites. It's somewhat bittersweet that Christine is almost finished with her PhD program at Northwestern. After five years, she expects to be done by early Summer 2011, if not earlier. I'm excited for her to finally be done with Immunology research indefinitely and thrilled she will be moving back East since she's one of my closest friends. But she will leave behind a city that treated her so well and created great opportunities and adventures for her. A city that opened my mind to weight gain I never believed I'd tolerate. And a city that I've come to love dearly (except for the winter months).

So now, the countdown begins. Only two more visits to Chicago left! One in December. One in Spring of 2011. Tear.

Terrible Name, Great Wine

Yes, I am still alive. No, I have no excuses for my lack of blogging. I know I still owe more pictures from the second half of my eating extravaganza in Chicago. And, I got this nifty new kitchen gadget from my Aunt and Uncle for my birthday that I need to showcase on here. In time, in time.

What I will say is that a quiet weekend in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains this past weekend was a great retreat from the craziness that is my life. I wish I had taken pictures of the rolling hills, pastures, and turning foliage because it was breath taking in its own way. Even though I don't live in the concrete jungle of the city, my abode in the urban burbs still lacks something only the countryside can provide.

Anyways, after spending a quick weekend in Luray, Va., in honor of friend Emily who is getting married next month, my roommate Laura and I decided to hit up a particular winery in Amissville, Va., on our drive back home. We had seen this winery at the Mount Vernon wine festival, but they weren't selling all they had to offer. And, as luck had it, we noticed signs for this winery on our drive out to the country.

Called Unicorn Winery, for reasons I still don't quite understand, the grounds at this establishment more than made up for the tacky name. A pond. Rolling hills of plush grape vines. The sign at the entrance read "Do you believe in unicorns?"  No. Never will. But many a glass of the winery's Crimson Sunset red might make me think otherwise. Described as their "red wine with training wheels" this particular off-dry red has hints of pomegranate and currant. The secret to its success? It's served chilled. Absolutely exquisite.

I decided to purchase four bottles of Crimson Sunset, while Laura purchased their Chardonnay and their blush called "Slightly Embarrassed." So silly, but so good. The label on that particular bottle has a blushing unicorn logo. Sigh.

I recommend giving unicorns--er this winery a try.