Damkier's Travels: Chicago

Chicago Skyline with "El" Train

There are only a few cities that I know intimately. Obviously, I know a lot about Sacramento, Phoenix, and Flagstaff after living most of my life in those cities. San Francisco is a popular destination for those of us living in Northern California, and I know it well. Rounding out that list, somewhat surprisingly, is the city of Chicago, Illinois. Now you may ask, why would a California boy know a lot about Chicago? It IS weird and all due to one of my closest friends deciding to move there after leaving Arizona and is not entirely due to the availability of free lodging in one of the world's most interesting cities!

Buckingham Fountain with Chicago Skyline

I have visited Chicago nearly annually since 2004 and have seen everything. I can give tourists directions and make train connections with the ease of a local. Chicago is a classic big city and proud of it. Many large cities are just big small cities, but Chicago embraces its loud and big status as the capitol of the Midwest and the official Second City. The city is alive with youth and energy. Visiting Chicago in the summer can be relentless with the humidity and temperature each leapfrogging each other to ever unbearable levels. However, there is just so much to do when the city puts away the sweaters and snow shoes and takes a summer vacation!

The Field Museum South Entrance

This trip was primarily to experience the Chicago Air & Water Show, but it was a good excuse to see my friend's new condo and hit the sights. I have seen many things in Chicago including but not limited to the following:

• Art Institute of Chicago
• Chicago Pizza Tour
• Cold Martinis and Hot Music at Jazz Clubs
• Eating Italian Beef Sandwiches and Chicago Popcorn
• Enjoying Caribou Coffee
• Enjoying Grant and Millenium Parks
• Frank Lloyd Wright Houses in Oak Park
• John Hancock Tower
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Navy Pier
• Northwestern University
• Riding the Chicago Elevated Railway (El)
• Seeing the Green River during St. Patrick's Day
• Shedd Aquarium
• Shopping along the Magnificent Mile on Michigan Ave
• Shopping at Marshall Field's
• The Field Museum
• The Second City
• University of Chicago
• Visiting the Free Lincoln Park Zoo
• Watching Cubs Games at Wrigley Field
• Watching White Sox Games at U.S. Cellular Field
• Willis (Sears) Tower

If you are looking for a great trip, pick any of the above and book your trip immediately. Chicago also has many world class restaurants and music and art festivals year round - although visiting Chicago in the winter is very difficult to enjoy.

El Station on the Blue Line at Western

After recovering from my long train trip on the California Zephyr, I boarded the El and headed to the Loop for some museums. Downtown Chicago is rich with culture including several excellent museums. The Field Museum was showing a special exhibit on Vikings. Feeling my heritage, I entered the museum and exhibit to learn about my ancestry. The term "viking" described their journeys of exploration, trade, and general mayhem, not the people. Most went home to their farms spending the long winters telling tales of their adventures.

Big Beef Hot and Wet from Al's Italian Beef

Lunchtime brought me of course to Al's Italian Beef for the iconic Chicago sandwich and namesake. Asking who has the best Italian Beef in Chicago is like asking for the best croissant in Paris, peach cobbler in Atlanta, or best ribs in Kansas City. This beauty was born of convenience due to its location in downtown Chicago, but ordering it wet (extra gravy) and hot (pickled hot peppers) makes it special. The Italian Beef is thinly sliced roast beef soaked in an Italian-seasoned thin gravy and heaped on a roll with peppers and/or cheese. Intense beef flavor and melt-in-your-mouth tenderness.

I also got to see the United States Navy Parachute Team - known as the Leap Frogs - at the restaurant. These Navy Seals were eager to fill up with Italian Beef before their rather unfortunate jump the following day. There was an accident with their joint display with the Army team which ended tragically in the death of an Army parachuter. This is a reminder that these guys do risk their lives daily, except when safe in line waiting for a delicious lunch.

Ancient and Modern at the Art Institute of Chicago

After lunch, I spent the rest of the afternoon lingering at the Art Institute of Chicago with thousands of other art fans - or maybe just tourists looking to escape the heat in the air conditioned museum! This place is truly awesome being one of the best art museums in the world. They were ranked as the best museum in the world and are very humble in placing a giant foam finger near the entrance quietly proclaiming "We're Number One!" Jokes aside, this place is massive and has an amazing selection of art from all over the world across the ages. Their selection of American art may be the best anywhere, and their Impressionist section always hogs my time. They have the famous Seurat painting made iconic by Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Whistler's Mother. This place is an absolute must for any art lover.

Children Enjoying the Air and Water Show at Lincoln Park

After a wonderful night of pizza and the Chicago skyline, it was time to hit the main event - the Chicago Air & Water Show. This massive air show combines aerial acrobatics with the Blue Angels over Lake Michigan along the Chicago shoreline. The free event also includes a lot of water activity, but this requires fighting the massive crowds on the beach, so we made our way to Lincoln Park for a good view. Most of the city braved the heat and humidity to see the spectacular displays. I did not get to see the Leap Frogs make their brave leap, but I am sure it was impressive. If that was not enough, we spend the evening with friends in Little Italy for a local Italian Festival and watching drunk college students play bocce ball. Awesome.

Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza for Breakfast

The combination of humidity and a long train ride ended up taking a lot out of me during this trip, so a quiet last day was spent wandering the local neighborhood playing dog-owner and enjoying the feel of the big city. I was lucky enough to give up my return air ticket in exchange for enough credit for another future adventure. Chicago is a wonderful town, and I highly recommend visiting early and often. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.