July 28 - Lincoln park playground and zoo & dinner at the Bristol

This morning was cool and breezy so we scrapped our original plan of hitting the splash park and did the zoo instead. Once our sitter showed up for the last date night of the trip, we set off on foot for Bucktown for a visit to the restaurant that makes one of the best Dark & Stormies in the city -- The Bristol. We came to the Bristol many times when we lived in Chicago so it seemed a fitting ending to a fantastic trip. After dinner, we were going to see some experimental theater at the Steppenwolf incubator but missed the tickets so we went to the movies. I'm ashamed to admit that we saw a movie on vacation - we do that all the time in Marin - but it was our last night and we'd done it all. We just wanted to chillax! We saw the movie 'Boyhood'. I urge you all to stop reading my ramblings RIGHT NOW and go out and see this film. It's about nothing and everything! It seemed a very fitting final chapter to a vacation where we purposefully and thoughtfully tried to engage the girls -- to remove all of the day-to-day distractions and connect with them. That's all well and good and we did a bunch of that and they loved it but they are growing up every moment of everyday. It seems glacial right now, g-l-a-c-i-a-l, but experiencing the passage of 12 years in 3 hours gave me a very small but visceral taste of what it must feel like when your kids have flown the nest and you, as a parent, are looking back on it all. Our littlest is 9. Almost a decade has passed since we started this crazy phase of our lives. What?!?

Please, grab a handful of tissues and a box of milk duds and give this movie 3 hours of your life - I promise, you won't regret it.

July 27 - 2 play dates and Poetry Slam at the Green Mill

Last lunch with cousin Bill and family, early dinner with friends from our British school days and up to the Green Mill for a poetry slam! That was a banner day! Gotta find a poetry slam in SF! Awesome. Then a burrito at one of Jack's old late night haunts - Taco Burrito MF'n Palace #2! That stop was ill advised! There
Is a reason it's only busy after the bars let out ...

July 26 - Jet Skiing at North Avenue Beach & Cocello

We decided the girls needed a little thrill so I took the 2 older ones out on Lake Michigan on a Jet Ski. Charlotte on the front, me in the middle and Jacqui hanging on for dear life on the back. We all had a ball! There was some trepidation at first but we eased into it and by the end of our ride, the girls were begging to jump just one more wave! It was somewhat challenging to steer with Charlotte holding onto the handlebars but, we managed!



In the evening, we reconnected with our old British School friends Matt and Kate. We had lots to catch up on since our last dinner together! Cocello served up refined Italian classics and very respectable cocktails. We walked home past the strip of bars on Hubbard Street and then through the party area at Clark and Division. I'm happy to walk through all the craziness and then get safely tucked in at home! That's enough for this Saturday night!

July 24 - Art Institute x 2 & Yusho

July 23 - Southport and Wrigley Field -- Go Cubs

We stayed on the north side today, taking the kids up to the neighborhood we lived in briefly when we first moved to Chicago in 2003. We lived on Jansen street just north of Addison in the Southport neighborhood. It's come a long way baby (although it has been over 10 years ...)!

To make up for how boring this little trip down memory lane would be for the kids, we took them to get ice cream at Jenni's Blended Ice Cream.  this is new since we left and they make some beautiful ice cream.  Instead of eggs, they use cream cheese as a thickening agenda.  OMG - delish!  Our tour included the local playground (of course) and a fun sculpture to climb on.

In the evening, we decided that we'd better visit Wrigley Field and cheer on the home team.  I'm embarrassed to admit it but we didn't go to one game when we lived here so we figured it was time to remedy that tragic situation.  We got some scalper tickets, grabbed a Chicago dog, a cold beer and a bag of peanuts.  We stuck with the cubbies through the 4th inning, then we decided to split when the Brewer's lead was unsurmountable and the promised 'hot summer night' had turned decidedly cold.  We walked home past all the fun bars on Clark Street, reminiscing about being drunk and 20.  We passed a bar called, simply, 'Beer'  -- they had ongoing beer pong tournaments and a low-fi Karaoke machine.  Doesn't get any better than that!

July 22 - John Hancock Observatory and Big Cheese Poutinerie (and a thunder storm)

We shuttled the kids downtown to the John Hancock building to view the city from the 94th floor.  The older 2 got into it but Natalie was suffering from exhaustion/hunger/random grumpiness so we quickly got our 360 degree view and headed out for a bite to eat.  Jack ran home with her so she could sleep in the stroller while I took the older 2 to the downtown Nike store to buy some new kicks for school.   The whole ordeal took over an hour partly because our salesperson was on day 2 of his 3-day fast and admitted that he was lacking a little spring in his step today. If this is day 2, I don't want to see how he is on day 3!   When asked if I would like to take a 'short survey' on my experience in the store today, I declined.  My mama always says: 'If you don't have anything nice to say, shut your cake hole.'

After feeding the kids dinner at home, we strolled over to one of our favorite playgrounds that they have considerably upgraded since we lived here.  Then, to The Big Cheese Poutinerie to get dinner for mama.  Are you kidding me?!?   A whole restaurant dedicated to poutine?!?  Fries, cheese curds and gravy ... a french canadian classic and a wonderful thing no doubt but a whole restaurant?  Well, it is on Clark Street a few blocks from Wrigley field so I'm thinking that their clientele is more drunken Cubs fans, drowning their sorrows in sodium and cholesterol than homesick Canadians looking for a fix.  Well, we got the classic (of course) and the gravy was a little disappointing but, overall, a fine choice.  We also got the Buffalo Chicken - which had the same ingredients as the Classic plus chicken, hot sauce, green peas and I think bacon.  It's all a bit of a blur now but it was salty, fatty goodness.  I think I'd better go for a run tomorrow.

Once we got tucked in, the thunder storm started.  The timing couldn't have been better!

July 21 - Sick Kid and Chicago Cultural Center

This morning, Jacqui came down with the bug that Charlotte had.  Fingers crossed that Natalie dodges the bullet!  I took the younger girls out for bagels, coffee and playground while Jack stayed home with Jacqui.  Being sick on vacation is for the birds ...

Jack and I happily handed our charges over to the sitter and walked downtown to the Chicago Cultural Center.  Chicago has long been regarded as a center for design and they were showcasing local graphic and object designers in a fantastic exhibition!  Afterwards, we wandered around looking for dinner but, finding everything busy with tourists (darned tourists), we took a cab to Old Town and grabbed mediocre sushi at Kamehachi.

July 20 - Swimming in Lincolnwood & Whole Foods

In the morning, we went swimming with Bill, Dana and family at their pool in Lincolnwood.  In the evening, I took the kids to Whole Foods for dinner while Jack went out again with the boys (hmmm, trend?).  We took the 'L' to North and Clybourn  - the same stop where we used to get off to take Jacqui to the British School.  The area has changed so much though that when I got out of the 'L' station - I lost my bearings.  It is really gentrified in the 4 years we've been gone!  The Whole Foods there had just opened before we left and it is not like your average Whole Foods!  It huge and has a number of themed, made-to-order take-out restaurants in the store.  There are lots of choices but the girls chose pasta - surprise!

After dinner we stopped at a playground on Maud that we used to go to when Jacqui was at British School.  It has not been kept up. I think it may not be long for this world because they are really letting it moulder!  It was fun none the less and since we were already on Sheffield, we decided to walk home.  As luck would have it, we passed a section of Sheffield that was closed for a street festival.  The girls did not enjoy the cover of KISS's I Wanna Rock and Roll All Night that was blasting from the band stand.  Oh well, there's no accounting for taste!  I loved it!

July 19 - North Avenue Beach and dinner with Melissa, Kris and Gautam

We have been promising the girls a day at the beach all week and we could not put them off any longer.  We love the Chicago city beaches for a number of reasons:  1) lots of attractive, 20-somethings enjoying the sunshine and an impromptu frisbee game with scantily clad strangers.  So fun to watch!  2) good waves - big enough for a thrill but not dangerous.  3) the beautiful city skyline in the background!  Can't beat it!

After that we drove out to Elmhurst to Melissa and Kris' house to reunite some of the Tanzania gang. Gautam is in town and so we all rolled out there for dinner and reminiscing.  Such a lovely evening!

July 18 - Pool time at 'the club' and dinner at Chop Shop with Elaine and Mike

We rolled back up to Winnetka to take Drew and Cindy up on their generous offer to have a swim day at their club.  Chicago weather has returned to it's hot, humid normal so it was a perfect day to splash in the water.  With 3 pools, it had something for everyone!  Jacqui even concurred her fear and dove off the dibing board!  Good job Jacqui!  My definition of bravery is being afraid of something and doing it anyway - that's my girl!  In the evening, we rolled over to Bucktown to meet our old friends Elaine and Mike at Chop Shop.  The food was mediocre at best but the conversation was fabulous!  It is so nice to reconnect with old friends.  Until next time, guys!

July 17 - Sick Kid / Children's Museum & Found Kitchen and Social House

When you wake up on vacation with a sick kid ... what do you do?  Well, we decided to split up so Jack took the 2 healthy ones (Natalie and Jacqui) to the Children's Museum while I stayed home and nursed the sick one back to health.  Apparently the Children's Museum was a hit again!  Our time at home was somewhat less exciting.  Charlotte sipped chicken soup broth and watched the Lego Movie while I did several loads of laundry.

Charlotte was on the mend by the time the sitter came so Jack and I headed up Clark Street, on foot, to meet our friends Drew and Cindy for dinner in Evanston.  Yes, from Lakeview to Evanston ... walking ...  This is Jack for you.  Not only does he have 'Caged Tiger Syndrome' (my name for his not-able-to-sit-stillness) but also, he has an extraordinarily optimistic sense of time.  He never, ever, over estimates how long it will take us to do something ... always under shoots it by at least 50%!  So, as we set off on our 8+ mile walk up Clark street, I was keeping an eye on my watch so we could order that Uber once he figured out we weren't going to make it!  We hoofed it somewhere north of Andersonville (about 3 miles from home) and then called the ball and caught a cab.  Dinner (and drinks) were fabulous!  As was the company!

July 16 - Playground, MOCA & Eataly (Part 2)

We got a late start this morning because Jack was taking care of a little admin ... he got our plane tickets for Rome for next summer!  We were so inspired by our visit to Eataly that we decided to bite the bullet and take the kids to Italy next summer!  There may be 17 reasons between now and then for us not to go but we've got the tickets now, so we're committed!

Once we got that little bit of business taken care of, we rolled over to a large, beautiful playground near the lakeshore and let the kids bang around and get good and tired before lunch.  This helps to guarantee a quite stroll down the lakeshore while everyone eats and (hopefully) Natalie naps.  Well, all went according to plan and we strolled all the way downtown in peace.  We stopped in at the MOCA with the kids and they checked out a few exhibits and took a good long time with the kid's art project.  Love it!  

Since it was family night, we took them to Eataly so they could get excited about our trip!  We ordered a plain pizza and plain spaghetti with butter for the kids and it was exquisite.  It's hard to make simple food taste that good but they got it down!  We shared a gelato for dessert (how can you not?!?) and Jack had an affogato for dessert.  He has a night out with the boys tonight and needs a little sugar and a lot of caffeine to get the party started.  Is it an 'I OK' night?  Only time will tell!  

Stinky elevator going down into the 'L'.  This is city life, girls!

July 15 - Polar Vortex?!? Pardon me?!?

Wow - I did not prepare for the weather we are getting this week.  As always, the weather men are blaming Canada for the cooling air that has dropped the usually sweltering Chicago summer weather to sub-70's this week.  They are calling it a Polar Vortex but I don't think we should ignore the subtle anti-Canadianism that pervades this and all weather network stories like it!  Don't stand for it people!!

We hit Navy Pier with the kids in the morning - it's a crazy tourist trap but it's got to be done!

Once the sitter arrived, Jack and I headed out to enjoy an evening at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art.  There were a few stand out pieces - like the video of an artist who took a wood-powered boat out for it's final voyage ... using pieces of it's own hull to feed the engine until it sunk into the lake.  For me, contemporary art pieces are not often beautiful in the traditional sense, but the good ones make me go' hmmmm!'

We were wandering around looking for dinner when Jack spotted Eataly.  This 2-story grocery store / restaurant is a shrine to all things Italian ... well, all foods Italian, anyway!  We happily browsed until our table was ready and ordered the pappardelle with mushrooms and their signature pizza.  Perfection!  We looked at each other and said ... maybe we should go to Italy next summer ... !

July 14 - Kohl Children's Museum & Girl and the Goat (Part 3)

Weather watch for today said rain, rain, rain and the sky outside our condo concurred.  Time to get in the car and roll out to Glenview to visit their superlative children's museum.  I made the trek out here a couple of times with Jacqui when we lived here and I remember it being fantastic.  My memory served -- except Jacqui is really too old to enjoy it now!  Natalie was in heaven and Charlotte was certainly engaged but Jacqui really had to shine it on for her sisters.  This is the problem with a 6-year age gap in your children - it will be a lot of years before everyone is happy doing the same thing!  The beach is a notable exception - everyone loves the beach.

After we handed over the kids to the sitter, we set off for the evening on foot.  We walked down Clark Street, through Old Town and down Michigan Ave - just like old times!  So many great memories.  Then we hung a right at the river and walked back to Girl and the Goat for the 3rd time in 10 days!  Jack is determined to try everything on the menu and darn it, he's going to do it!  We did not have a reservation so squeezed into a couple of stools in the bar area.  We were hoping that the 2 gals on the couch across from us were going to move so we could slip into those cushy seats but they decided to stay put and we proceeded to chat with them and share dishes and stories for the next 3 hours!  They were delightful, impromptu dinner companions and we all enjoyed the serendipity of meeting fun, new people.  After the glasses were cleared and the checks were paid, we finally introduced ourselves and exchanged contact info - you never know - maybe we'll see them again!

July 13 - Lazy, Sunday morning and dinner with Dana & Bill

Since we had a somewhat late night last night and Natalie lovingly gave us a somewhat early morning (5:15 am thank you very much), we were moving quite slowly this morning.  Jack rallied enough to take the girls to the play lot down the street at least.  We rolled over to Bill and Dana's for take-out Reza's and great conversation!  Very nice, low-key Sunday.

July 12 - CHARLOTTE LOST HER FIRST TOOTH!

The headline for today was going to be Field Museum, Senza and B.L.U.E.S. on Halsted but was scooped by the big news of the day!  At 6:03 pm, the wiggly tooth that Charlotte has been chewing around and fussing over and obsessing about finally fell out!  She punched herself in the mouth by accident (!) and, voila, one dislodged tooth in her hand!  She put her tooth under her pillow to ensure a visit from the tooth fairy!   The second of the bottom, front teeth is literally hanging by a thread so we will have another visit from the tooth fairy very soon!

July 11 - Bean (Cloud Gate), Spitting Faces (Crown Fountain) and Girl & the Goat Part Deux

Post wipe-out cuddle.  

Girl and the Goat Menu - not for the faint of heart ... Raw lamb, duck tongues, pig face, beef tongues ... you need to bring your courage as well as your appetite.  Of course, Jack loves it!