Chicago is a beautiful city with amazing architecture and a fascinating collection of neighborhoods. The people are generous, fun-loving, and diverse. The city center is close-knit and easy to walk around. It is full of fascinating museums, shops, and restaurants. In fact, it might just be one of the most perfect cities in the US except for one glaring problem: the weather sucks. Winter is too cold and windy and summer is too hot and muggy. Chicago hits its weather sweet spot around May and September.
We were fortunate enough to get away to Chicago this last weekend and were blessed with one of the most beautiful, sun drenched, bright and wonderful couple of days I have seen in that city. I was entertained during the 3.5 hour drive there by the Hawkeye game versus Pittsburgh (ending with an unfortunate fumble rather than a triumphant field goal). Upon arrival, we walked around Millennium Park with its famous "bean"sculpture and Frank Geahry's incredible amphitheatre. The park was full of people from all countries, languages, and cultures, all mixing with the art and soaking in the sun. What a great place to hold the Olympics (2016 - maybe)
Our multicultural indulgence continued with dinner; we got take-out from a Lebanese eatery near the University of Chicago. It is a campus favorite, always packed full of students and faculty alike, enjoying the savory, delicious food. Everyone's mood was light and cheerful; it may have been the perfect weather, it may have been the great food, but more than anything it was probably due to the Cubs' clinching the NL Central that afternoon. On the 100th anniversary of their last championship (the longest drought in all of professional sports), the Cubs get to be one of the final 8. It remains to be seen how they will blow it this time around!
The rest of the evening was spent soaked in mojitos (yeah- I drink mojitos, got a problem with that?) in a sports bar watching the three great college games broadcast simultaneously: Georgia-ASU, Florida St-Wake Forest, and, the best of them all, LSU-Auburn. I am glad I kept watching the LSU-Auburn game; just when I thought it was over, Les Miles pulled out yet another miracle. I guess we can't count them out of the national title race quite yet. I would love for USC to finally get their shot at the Tigers on Jan 9th. But we've got a long road before that date.
Sunday brought more sunshine, more cool breezes, and the first day of Autumn. More importantly, it brought a Bears home game at Soldier Field. Sophie (my 16 mo daughter) and I cuddled on the bed in the hotel room and shared a bowl of mac and cheese, watching the game. Afterwords, Sophie, Kristi and I took a long walk along the lake shore, and got a chance to witness Bears nation in person and the extensive tailgating that follows. Despite their shocking collapse in the last 5 minutes and loss in OT to the Buccaneers, the Bears fans remained in a jovial mood. Again- it was probably the rare chance at perfect weather.
I have often been asked why I left Southern California for a region with such crappy weather. Honestly, I really don't mind the weather here. When weekends like this happen, they are more memorable and more special. I just appreciate the good days more and learn to live with the bad days. Besides, the cold weather isn't so bad: there is something wonderful about huddling under a fleece blanket, sipping hot chocolate laced with peppermint schnapps.
But I'll take another perfect weekend before we break out the fleece and schnapps!
Fight On,
Hans
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