As a child, growing up in the Chicago suburbs, we would often sing a song while swinging on our swing set with these lyrics; “Mrs. O’Leary kept the lantern in the shed, and when her cow kicked it over, she winked her eye and said, ‘there’ll be a hot time, in old town tonight.’ ”

The song referred to the great Chicago fire that occurred 100 years earlier from my childhood years.   Even though the cow legend was made-up by a Chicago reporter who thought it would make for a colorful story, it always stuck with me.  Just like the city of Chicago, it sticks to you. 

Frank Sinatra sang it well, “Chicago is; My kind of town”.   Chicago is; a world-class city, a melting pot for all types of people, art, business, recreation and culture. 

Once you have visited Chicago you will understand how the city has a little of everything. 

If you set aside the traffic jams on the Chicago expressways, Chicago will suck you in.  Whether it’s the culture, its down-to-earth people, its great restaurants, its lakefront and its river, it always makes my jaw drop when I step into the city.  And yours will too.   

I am easily awed by the energy of the throngs of people as they shuffle through the heart of steel and glass skyscrapers pulsating on every city block.  I am just as easily awed by Mother Nature as I jog along the shores of the magical, massive Lake Michigan.

I love this town.  I visit the city two or three times a year.  I love it more in the spring and summer months. The winters can get bitterly cold with the biting winds, but winter visitors can still explore the indoor museums, art institutes and great restaurants. 

Experience the city and enjoy the best it has to offer.  A few of my favorite places and Hot Times in Old Town include:  eating a deep dish pizza, but saving room for a bag of Chicago’s famous gourmet popcorn, shopping on Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave), a trip to the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), studying the skyline and the building architect, Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, catching a game at Wrigley Field or depending on the time of year, watch the Stanley Cup Champions, a Blackhawks hockey game, Millennium Park, listening to jazz, Double Decker bus tours, Hancock observatory, Buckingham Fountain, Chicago River,  and  antique shopping on Armitage Avenue.

There is so much to see and do in Chi-town, that I always have plenty left over for my next visit. 

Chicago, until next time! 

Let me know if you have ever visited the Windy City?  Where’s your favorite city to visit?  What are your favorite things to do while visiting a new place? 

To all my Chicago high school friends and FB friends, I love ya and love your city! 

Things I have learned in LIFE and other Random thoughts: 

• I learned that valet parking for the day in Chicago costs more than my daily car rental. 
• I learned that Lake Michigan is like the ocean, without the salt.
• On my next visit to Lake Michigan I’m going to bury metal objects in the sand that say “get a life” on them.
• I learned that Chicago hotel rooms can be on the small side.  Room service? Send up a larger room.
• Why it is my hotel room is always chilled to an icy fifty degrees, when outside it’s a pleasant seventy degrees?
• To really appreciate the multifaceted group of Chicagoans, ride the El. 
• The El (Elevated Train) is more than the Chicago transportation system, it’s an elevated ride in Twilight Zone; especially if you have a transfer pass…you may never get off.   
• I found out the hard way why they call it “The Loop”. 
• Lake Michigan’s beach sand is hot, but the water is frigid even in the middle of the summer.
• The giant faces on the video screens in Grant Park, are called ART, but are a little creepy. 
• Chicago is; an occasional snooty bartender. 
• Millennium Park features a giant mirrored egg-shaped cloud that resembles a women’s compact reflecting the city’s skyline and the distorted people walking around it. 
• I learned that the McDonald’s inside the Chicago loop looks like something out of The Jetsons. 
• I realized as I sank my teeth into my favorite deep dish pizza, I was at the wrong favorite pizzeria.  Pizzeria Due, Pizzeria Uno, both with green awnings, both with basement level seating, identical menus and sidewalk patios and within a mere 100 yards apart, who knew? 
• While driving in downtown Chicago, it’s a good idea to slow it down so you don’t flatten unsuspecting tourists.   Pedestrians in masses, definitely have the right-of-way.   
• I learned whenever I need a full urban experience I visit Chicago. 
• Be careful in some sectors of Chicago.  The most common 911 call in some areas is “Shots fired.”
• I learned the tollway pass in rental cars do NOT always work, and when they don’t you can tie up traffic for miles.
• Gourmet “chocolate” Carmel popcorn makes my chocolate level on my food pyramid.
• Chocolate covered popcorn should not be eaten in bed …as if my hotel carpet wasn’t already sticky enough.  Ew. 
• I learned that the State of Illinois does highway construction during rush hour…which is mostly all day.
• The traffic was moving smoothly a few days later.  I learned that the construction workers were on strike that day. 
• I learned that the it costs 3 dollars to sit for an hour on the Skyway Toll Bridge, but it’s free to get lost in Gary, Indiana’s downtown (Chicago’s East side). 
• Stay away from the hotels that advertise, “a short run to the EL.” 
• If you really want to talk about da Bears or da Cubs, then sit at da bar of any pizza shop.

What is your favorite city to visit?  What are your favorite things to do while visiting a new place? 

Trump Tower from my cab.

Chicago Transit started putting advertisements on the ceilings of buses and el trains. This is an ad in the el Train for US Cellular, although, I’m not sure how the question is connected to phone service, but I’ll take the Chocolate LIPS !    

Chi COW go

Home of the Chicago Cow Parade, some of the bovines are still grazing around town. 

Ice on the beach makes wading slippery

Lake Michigan beaches are magical even in the Winter.  But summer is much more fun!  Enjoy!