Back home & knackered

Just got home from Chicago and am absolutely knackered. We had a awesome time, watched some fantastic mucicians, drank a lot of beer, ate great food, met some real characters, just had loads of fun. As you all know I've visited the City a few times but it was a first for my mates Andy (Lofty) & Mark (Skid) but they both loved the place.


Arrived Thursday and got to the hotel at about 4pm after a power sleep, shower and change of clothes it was out for something to eat (and drink). We went to Fado's Irish Pub which is a Pub I've visited many times when in Chicago in fact two of the bar staff Phil & the lovely Teresa recognised me and came over for a chat. We had a few beers of course and went for typical Pub Grub (Bacon Cheeseburger & Chips), its the sort of meal that settles your stomach for a good nights drinking.

About 9.30 pm we moved on to Blue Chicago where one of my favorite local Blues singers "Shirley Johnson" was performing. Her group is really good, two lead guitarists, Sax player, Bass & Drummer acan all play solo's. Despite the 6 hout time difference we stayed right to the end of the performance and left at 1.30am (7.30am in our body clocks).

Friday the intention was to go up the Hancock Tower in the morning but the visibility wasn't great so we basically walked down Michegan avenue to Millenium Park getting a few photo's on route including the Trump Tower which is going to be an awesome structure when complete.Millenium Park was as always a nice place to chill out (but I think Chill has a different meaning in February). Heres a photo of Cloud gate (you can see us three in the reflection.In the afternoon Lofty wanted to find a Pub so he could watch the Rugby, Leeds Rhinos were playing Melbourne Storm in the World Club Challenge and it was on Sky Sports One. Alas despite forcing down a beer in numerous pubs the all seemed to have Setanta and not Sky Sports so we missed the match. When we left the last pub the visibility had cleared so we took the trip up the hancock before going to our hotel.

After a keep rest and change of clothes it was out for an evening meal, we went to "The Dubliner" Pub on Rush street where I had a Steak. The place was really busy so we had a few pints before the food came.
After that we went on the Underground Wonder Bar , which is a small music venue one of the people on my friends list on MySpace (Jen Porter) advised it was worth a visit(actually she sometimes sings there). She wasn't in town cos we would have loved to see her perform but decided we should go along anyway. It was a smallish venue and we arrived about 9pm, a lady Jazz singer was performing with a Piano player. The place was quiet but it was early and the main act was due at 11pm. When the time came the singer had sent message she wasn't well so we were thinking of moving on. Pleased we didn't cos the group played with the Bass player taking lead vocals and provided a real entertaining evening that we enjoyed a lot. We did leave early at about 2am cos we were really tired.

Saturday in the morning we took a trip to one of Chicago's best known sports stadium "Wrigley Field" home of the Cubs. Of course we went in Leeds shirts, me in my soccer one & Lofty in his Rugby one.

After lunch onto the Museum of Science & Industry, now this is a good day out and well worth the bus trip. In fact we spent all afternoon there but they eventually were kicked out cos the wanted to close.
Saturday night we decided to eat posh and go to a quality restaurant, I've forgot what the one we picked was called but it was packed and we had to wait for a table. While waiting and having a beer we got talking to another Englishman who was the spitting image of 60's singer Adam Faith. In fact we were convinced it was him despite him been dead & buried, the bloke though was a real laugh absolutely hilarious. Eventually we got our meal and I went for the Lamb Chops whiche were cooked to perfection.
After the meal we moved on to Howl at the Moon a duelling Piano Bar which is an great place to party. The players will play anything you request (if you pay) and it was so much fun, everyone here ends up drunk, singing, dancing, etc. Drinks are served by the bucket, coctails are forced down peoples throats just a great laugh. We met another Englishman from Portsmouth and nicknamed him Oddball (well he was from the south). We had a fun time with some locals, everyone was so friendly, one bloke even bought us a bucket of beer. The Club photographer was taking photos of everyone there to create a slideshow, check it out (especially photos 160 & 161) :-
Slide show
Eventually we left to find out hotel at 4am.

Sunday morning we walked to the Lake then onto the Pier, just a bit of site seeing. In the afternoon it was to the United Centre to watch the Ice Hockey Chicago Blackhawks versus Vancouver. I was impressed with the venue we had a great view of the action for $15 and they even gave us a free umbrella as we went in. Chicago played well and won the match 4-1 in front of a crowd of about 20,000. Sunday night we ate in the hotel bar then it was up to Blues Alley in Lincoln Park area. First we went to Kingston Mines where we first watched Charlie Love followed by Linsey Alexander, both were good and we enjoyed the show. However rather than watch each artists 2nd act we moved on to another Club "BLUES" over the road as our cover charge covers both clubs. This was a grotty little place but hell the music was fantastic, can't remember what the group were called but they were fantastic.

Monday we intended to go on the "Untouchables Tour" which takes you on a tour that tells the history of the prohibition era. However it was cancelled cos of a lack of customers (suppose its not the tourist season). So instead we took a ride on the subway to the White Sox stadium.
After that it was on to the Field museum but to be honest I thought it a let down, wasn't really for us but it filled the afternoon in.

With this been our last night we decided to go on a Pub Tour (pint in everyone British style). First Pub we went we were shocked to find a Table Tennis Table and as both Lofty and Me play the challenge was on. Well the rest is history 5-0 to me and Lofty wont want to talk about it. The 2nd Pub was called "Celtic Crossing" and we got talking to the owner and a few locals and they told us if we had been there the previous we would have met another Yorkshireman actor Sean Bean, apparently he's been making a film in Chicago and called in most nights for a couple of pints.

A few more Pubs we ended up in Mother Hubbards Sports Bar, got talking to a bloke at the bar who was the spitting image of Robert DeNero. He was Amercan/Italian from New York and was in town for his sons wedding. Apparently his son wanted a Soda and he had volunteered to go out and get one cos there wasn't a bar in their hotel. Nothing unusual there except that was 3 hours earlier and he had come out in his Pyjamas (ok with a coat on top). His family kept trying to phone him but he ignored the calls and kept ordering another drink. He did eventually move on and we got talking to another New Yorker called Eddie and I'm afraid Skid wont live this down. When we all introduced ourselvelves Eddie asked if his name was Mark with a "K" or "C", Skid looked at him as though he was daft and said its Mark with a "M", we just fell off the stool laughing.

Tuesday - Shopping Day then flight home - enough said.