A weekend in Chicago
Or, to be more specific, St Patrick’s Day Weekend in Chicago. I should mention that when I organised our travel dates I had absolutely NO idea that I had booked us in to visit Illinois during one of the busiest times of the year. How's that for luck?! With a high proportion of Chicago inhabitants claiming Irish-Catholic ancestry, St Patrick’s Day Weekend is kind of a big deal. It attracts tourists from all over the world and the locals go all out for the weekend's festivities. Emerging from their homes clad in bright green top hats, shamrock T-shirts, accessories and face paint, they proceed to the Chicago River which each year runs the deepest shade of Emerald. The dyeing of the river is a decades-old ritual performed every March as the city honours Ireland’s patron saint. It’s tradition! Hundreds of thousands of revelers take to the streets for the Loop parade, filling Irish pubs and taverns. Speaking of liquor, well ... from the break of dawn, it flows!
Day 1: Making our way to the Windy City
On Friday night, my partner and I left home in Downtown Cleveland and caught the Rapid (red Line) train to Cleveland Hopkin’s Airport –only 20 minutes away. We boarded a United Airlines flight bound for Chicago O’Hare International airport. As we flew over Illinois, we could see the enchantingly icy waters of Lake Michigan beneath us. Upon landing in Chicago, we caught the CTA blue line to the city to meet a group of friend’s staying in the Loop district. Immediately, we ditched our bags and headed out along the Chicago River Walk, all the while marvelling at the city's skyline. The above-ground railway woven throughout the Downtown streets reminded me of something out of a comic book (Gotham City). With a multitude of hip and happening restaurants to choose from, our group decided on Sullivan’s Steakhouse for a late dinner, and we weren’t disappointed. Before long we had made it down to the Theatre District to snap some shots of the city's famous landmark – the Chicago Theatre.
Day 2: Spotting leprechaun’s and riverside brunchin’
We walked out of our friend’s River North apartment to see dozens of Chicago locals dressed in green costumes. Already merry-faced no doubt due to a 6am pub-crawl. We even saw a Leprechaun (we had been told to watch out for them)! Heading straight for the river, we looked over and gasped in confusion – surely this isn’t what was meant when they said the river would run green?! (It wasn’t completely dyed yet). We stumbled upon a little riverside eatery called The Kitchen, where we parked ourselves for a long brunch over a seemingly never-ending bottle of Pinot Grigio (when in Rome!). Located in the historic Reid Murdoch Building, this gorgeous restaurant marked one of the highlights of my time in Chicago. The food was delicious and the modern interior was delightfully crafty and cosy. If ever you should find yourself in America's Windy City, I highly recommend it. By the time we had finished, we took a look back at the Chicago River, which had indeed changed colour. Then it was onto the bustling Magnificent Mile shopping strip before we made our way down to a casual bar called Bub Hub which was packed out for St.Patrick's Day Weekend celebrations.
Day 3: Swanky like a scene from Sex & the City
Woke up late. Took a walk around River North and made our way across the city to reach the Oak Street luxury retail precinct where top-end designer boutiques such as Hermès, Vera Wang, Kate Spade and Emporio Armani are clustered together. All the walking built up our appetites and so we went in search of a place to stop in for a bite. We discovered a relatively new, exclusive venue known as Fig & Olive which reminded me of a restaurant scene from Sex & the City. Walking back along Mag Mile we stopped past Bloomingdale’s and other retailers nestled among historic buildings before checking out Millennium Park and The Bean. For dinner, we called into the Randolph Tavern in the Theatre District before packing up and making our way back to Chicago’s O’Hare airport via the CTA. What a weekend!
Flying over the icy waters of Lake Michigan
Riding the CTA from Chicago O'Hare airport to the city's Loop district
Chicago skies at nightfall
You can't visit this city without stopping by this world-famous landmark – Chicago Theatre
A bird's eye view of the Loop, Chicago
Chicago's above ground level rail line #GothamCity
Before and after shots of Chicago River – Dyed green each year for St Patrick's Day Weekend
The Chicago River runs green as St.Patrick's Day weekend kicks off!
On the streets of Chicago, St Patrick's Day Weekend
An excellent brunch at The Kitchen Chicago, River North
Pretty much every pub and tavern is full on St.Patrick's Day Weekend as tourists flock to Chicago for the festivities
Lunch at the Fig and Olive eatery on Oak Street
Even the city fountains run green for St.Patrick's Day in Chicago
We took a stroll in Millenium Park and saw Cloud Gate "the Bean"
What a fabulous weekend! Peace out :-)
Keen to read more about my adventures in North America? Check out these posts on New York City and Cleveland!
