We all got a little bit of a slow start but not too bad. Linda made a fresh quiche which was incredible, and we headed downtown to Wrigley field with full bellies. Brian, Dad, and I hit a couple bars before the game, getting a feel for the area and some drinks. Tailgating isn't allowed at Wrigley so the surrounding bar scene thrives. Pretty soon we walked over to the stadium, knocked on an unmarked gray door, and were handed our tickets. Inside the stadium I reveled at the old centerfield scoreboard that's still operated by hand, the gradual slope of the first section of seats which we were sitting in, and the general classic feel of the park. The Cubs squeaked out a win so that was a nice bonus to the game, and the three of us had a great time.
Brian then left Dad and I with the car and we drove to downtown Chicago, toured the area a bit, and came back up to the north side. We stopped at Gino's East for some deep dish pizza and enjoyed the classic Chicago dish. The funny thing about some food staples like this is you can get fantastic deep dish pizza anywhere that they're willing to spend the money, time, and effort to make it good. But getting a dish in its land of origin always seems a must and we enjoyed it mightily. Next we walked down to the lakefront to check out the skyline and then to Kingston Mines blues club.
We paid what now seems like a very cheap cover and walked into the funky joint. The place has the feel of being there forever, which we were reminded of when the MC, Frank Pellegrino, notified us that he's been doing this for decades. The opener, Joanna Connor, was one helluva surprise. She looks a little frumpy but damn, once she opened up that guitar we were floored. Her and the band tore through the blues effortlessly but with complete devotion and deep emotion. They had a couple covers that were great but overall just loved to jam. I sat there for the full hour set not being able to straighten out the corners of my mouth and get the goofy grin off my face. The headliner was also good and we had a fantastic time with a couple beers and fantastic blues.
Once we left, around midnight, it was time for a snack. I've been told by just about everyone to check out the Weiner Circle for a hot dog and the chocolate milkshake. Mind you, the milkshake isn't even on the menu, but we approached the counter with confidence and reassured the cashier that yes, we wanted the $20 milkshake. When our Chicago-style Charcheddar dog was ready we came up and were greeted with smashing pans, flashing lights, and one of the cooks doing a dance that has to be seen to be truly appreciated. That was our chocolate milkshake and although I've left out some details, suffice to say it was worth the $20. Well this left us wanting an actual milkshake so we got a couple to go at a diner nearby and headed back to Lake Forest for the night.
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