A Tale of Two Chicagos - July/November 2018

Chicago River

It has been a long time since I updated my travel blog. I have been traveling, but between a stressful year at work and saving for a new house, my trips have been rather mild. Nevertheless, I am working to update my blog with a few gems from the past year. Chicago was a destination twice this year. The first trip was in July for my friend's surprise 40th birthday party; the second was a last minute escape from the horrendous wildfire in Northern California. Both were very different, but still an interesting journey.

Chicago River at Sunset

July is a rather tough time to visit Chicago. The weather is often hot and humid with lots of unpredictable thunderstorms and the occasional gorgeous day. My trip included all of the above. My flight was delayed leaving Sacramento which meant I was unable to arrive at the restaurant in which my friend was being surprised for his birthday. I was in constant communication with his girlfriend with competing Lyft rides attempting to arrive early. He was very shocked to see the party and even more shocked to see me sneak up behind him after missing the big reveal. My bags were still in the corner since I didn't even have time to hit the hotel. I even had to change in the airport bathroom!

Downtown Chicago and Elevated Train

Most of the weekend was spent with my friend and his family enjoying the time and World Cup action. On my final day, I was able to sneak him away for a nice time in downtown Chicago eating Italian Beef sandwiches and riding in his boat down the Chicago river. I also managed to get in some museum time and a little alone time at my hotel.

My second visit to Chicago in 2018 was a bit different. The terrible Camp Fire created a smoke plume that choked the entire Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Area for 12 days with unhealthy and hazardous air causing many health problems and closing work and schools across Northern California. After our work closed, I hopped on a plane to escape the smoke to again visit my friend in a much colder and snowier climate. I was able to breathe again and slowly recover while watching the snow fall and teleworking.

Wrigley Field with Snow

I was able to finally pull myself out of the apartment and do a little sightseeing while in Chicago. The freezing temperatures and snow were a challenge, but after being on house arrest with the smoke, a little frozen water could not stop me. Chicago in the winter is as brutal as their summers with wind and snow making everything difficult. Fortunately with no plans and lots of time, I was able to take it easy and do some exploring.

Chicago Classic Deep Dish Pizza

Of course I had to eat while in town. Having access to a refrigerator allows the consumption of fresh deep dish pizza for dinner and breakfast! Delivery is a great option when it is cold outside too. I had my usual Italian Beef and even was able to go out to a swank and hip restaurant with a couple I met at the birthday party earlier in the year! It was very difficult to enjoy this trip after seeing the horror of the Camp Fire and knowing the miserable conditions back home, but I attempted trips to the Art Institute, Macy's Flagship Store, and Wrigley Field to remember what normal looks like.

Frozen Pumpkins and Snow

I am lucky to have a friend in Chicago which allows me to explore America's Second City. Unfortunately, I chose two of the worst times to visit the city even though the reasons were good. The rain has moved into Sacramento and the smoke and fire are gone for now, but the region has changed and still needs help. Please donate if possible to the recovery efforts and enjoy the rest of my Chicago photos below.

Downtown Chicago from Southwest Plane

Birthday Party with Classic Backdrop

Elevated Train Entrance

Money Museum

Where Money Comes From

Self Explanatory

Italian Beef Sandwich with Sausage

John Hancock Tower

Downtown Chicago

Deep Dish Pizza from Gino's East

American Gothic

That Dot Painting from Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Alley in Downtown Chicago

Designated Performance Area in Subway

Old Marshall Field's Flagship Store (Macy's)

Wrigley Field Under Construction

Chicago Fire House across from Wrigley Field

Bleacher Entrance to Wrigley Field

Author in front of "Molly's" from Chicago Fire TV Show

New York City - January 2018

Cold and Snowy in New York City

When you get a chance for a free bedroom and free airplane ticket to visit New York City, you do not usually pass up the opportunity. Even when it is below freezing with cold winds and snow, a free trip to one of the world's best cities is too good to pass up. Especially when you get to stay with a great friend from college. I visited New York City last in 2016 during a summer heat wave, so it was only fitting to visit at the other end of the weather spectrum.

9/11 Memorial at New York Fire Museum

After a long day of air travel with multiple delays and a long layover in Denver due to the weather, I finally arrived to my swank SoHo apartment around 2:00 AM. The city's second oldest bar was downstairs still serving happy patrons on an early Saturday morning, but I was ready to crash into the mattress instead of a bar stool. The next morning came late due to jet lag, but just around the corner was the New York Fire Museum. Since the weather changed from 55 to 25 degrees overnight, I piled on my winter clothes and headed down to the museum. It was somewhat small and jumbled, but the museum showcased the history of fighting fire in New York. Now I know that the term "company" referred to private companies that would fight fires, and the term "engine" referred to the original engine towed to a site to pump water. The memorial to the victims of 9/11 was emotional as always.

Central Park in Winter

After bundling up, we headed to Harlem for a Caribbean seafood lunch and a tour of the Hamilton Grange National Memorial - the summer home of Alexander Hamilton. There is now a cottage industry in Hamilton tours based on the popularity of the musical. After a long night at a local comedy club watching open mic and joking with comedians until the early morning hours, we turned in for the night and awoke on Sunday to a super cold day with wind chills in the single digits. Just another day in New York!

Interior of the Frick Collection

Sunday was very, very cold. Everyone in New York headed inside, specifically to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We attempted to enter, but were quickly overwhelmed by the crowd. I grabbed a hot dog from a street vendor and suggested we head down the street to the Frick Collection. That was a great idea! The Frick houses a large collection of art amassed by Frick himself. He turned coal into diamonds with a spectacular mansion housing exquisite art in an intimate setting. It is really like being in someone's house. Around the corner was a fancy French bakery which made a perfect snack before heading to Long Island for dinner with friends. Again, just another day in New York!

Lower East Side of Manhattan

Tuesday, I was back in New York to play tourist. It was still very cold, so I started the day exploring all the areas I missed the last time. First up was the Lower East Side which was originally home to many immigrants, but has evolved into a hip and upscale area with lots of great food including several authentic delis. New York delis are a true culinary treasure, and Russ and Daughters is a great Kosher dairy deli with smoked fish, cream cheese, and amazing bagels. I snagged loin lox with scallion cream cheese on a toasted everything bagel. It was a delight to eat it on a park bench in the middle of the busy street!

Tenement Museum Backyard

The Tenement Museum is a unique opportunity to visit some historic partially restored tenements on the Lower East Side. Tenements were the original apartments with a bedroom, kitchen, and living room in one unit with toilets and laundry in the backyard. These small units were actually decent living, although having a family with several kids in such a small area meant close quarters for all! The museum has tour guides providing a rich living history into the plight of immigrants in New York which mirrors the current debates around immigration and the American experience. It is said that history does not repeat itself, but it often rhymes!

New Jersey Devils at New York Islanders

Tuesday night ended with delicious pizza and a hockey game. Local rivals from New Jersey and Long Island were playing at the new Barclay's Center. Tickets were almost as cheap as the expensive beer making for a relatively affordable night. We experienced a close first period, but the Devils were too hot for the Islanders. Fights were common on and off the ice that night with several in the stands near our seats. Fortunately, we escaped into the nearby subway to head back to Manhattan for a good night sleep.

NYPD Smart Car with Brooklyn Bridge

Wednesday was my last day in the city, and it was the day it started snowing. I awoke to falling snow outside the window, although nothing was really sticking. It was fortunate that I brought my boots as the sidewalks were full of ice and slush making walking very slippery. The combination of cold and wet made being outside increasingly difficult, but made me feel for those who live on the streets full time. Wall Street was heavily guarded and echoed the cold and gray day, but I was still impressed by the architecture and history of the area. This part of Manhattan also has the City Hall with a popular walkway across the Brooklyn Bridge. Only the bravest cross during the snow!

Winter in Times Square

After a wonderful lunch at my favorite Jewish deli, I headed to Times Square for a musical. Come From Away is a popular show about a small Canadian town that hosted thousands of stranded travelers when planes were diverted from the United States on 9/11. The combination of a global panic and a local crisis made for an interesting time and an enjoyable musical. I laughed and cried with the material and really enjoyed the experience. My cheap ticket had a slightly obstructed view, but saved me hundreds! Even during a cold winter day, Times Square was buzzing with tourists and locals enjoying the excitement.

Lower Manhattan on the Hudson River

My final day was spent waking up too early and flying cross country with more delays and cold weather. The Newark Airport is just through the Holland Tunnel beneath our apartment, so the first leg was the easiest! That is the price you pay, but I should feel great that I can travel over 3,000 miles during the winter in just a few hours. My trip was busy and short as always, but I had a great time on my 3rd trip to our largest city. Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

Subway Entrance

New York Fire Museum Interior

Hamilton Grange National Memorial Interior

Laudree Bakery Display Case

Fancy Raspberry Pastry with Rose Petal

Long Island Rail Road Interior

Apartment Interior

Holland Tunnel Entrance near Apartment

Old Town New York along Greenwich Street

Smoked Salmon Bagel Sandwich

Front of Tenement Museum with Eight Units

New Second Avenue Subway

Spicy Pepperoni Pizza Slices

Graveyard at Trinity Church in Wall Street

Pastrami Sandwich with Potato Pancakes

Grand Central Station Interior

Come From Away Show Interior

Famous Vertical Parking in Manhattan

Philadelphia - January 2018

Independence Hall in Downtown Philadelphia

Let me being by saying that January is a tough time to visit Philadelphia. Growing up in California and Arizona, we had "winter" when there was more rain and slightly cooler days. It has been a long time since I spent cold winters outside in Flagstaff during my college years, but an opportunity for a nearly free trip to New York City allowed me the opportunity for a day trip to Philadelphia. The weather was cold, but fortunately dry with much less wind.

Crossing the Frozen Delaware River like George Washington

Philadelphia is often overlooked on most East Coast trips. Situated halfway between Washington and New York City, this city is one of the largest in the United States with a rich history. Fortunately, most of the attractions are in downtown near the train station. My relatively fast train whisked me through the frozen countryside over 100 MPH and delivered me to downtown Philadelphia in about 90 minutes. The train was comfortable and spacious with a nice view of the landscape. I even got to cross a frozen Delaware River near Trenton like Washington - except warm in a comfortable seat!

Museum Entrance

My first stop on the whirlwind tour was the Museum of the American Revolution. This new museum details the events of the American Revolution in a multimedia environment with lots of information and artifacts in a beautiful building reminiscent of fine houses in the period. The museum includes a lot of different backgrounds including the Native and Slave experiences for a more balanced view of history, but the theme is still strong and a great lesson for all Americans. The museum is near all the historic buildings and the old town.

Liberty Bell Memorial

I previously visited Philadelphia in 2008 as part of another East Coast trip, so I had already seen most of the major sights including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. This allowed me to skip the rather long lines while still being able to see the major sights. Philadelphia has a weird transit system with limited subways, but they are decent at moving people through the major areas.

Roast Pork Sandwich

Philadelphia is also a great food town. World renown for their cheesesteak, many people equally enjoy their roast pork sandwiches loaded with aged cheese and broccoli sautéed in garlic and spice. The Reading Terminal Market is one of the best food destinations in the area with many different vendors selling food, drink, and many special treats from the Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Thousands visit daily to escape the cold and fill their stomachs and shopping bags with lots of great treats.

Eastern State Penitentiary Museum

It was time to go to prison. The Eastern State Penitentiary was the first of its kind in the world, created to attempt to reform and help criminals repent for their crimes and become better people. Before this, most experienced brutal punishments or death rather than being separated from society. Over the years, the facility degraded from star to near destruction. It is now a rather unique museum showcasing the weird beauty of the building, its storied history, and the overall state of prisons and crime in todays society. Unfortunately, it was not well heated so I did get rather cold here with temperatures below freezing. It was definitely worth visiting though.

Ben Franklin is Everywhere

Another jewel is the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This large and impressive museum is prominently featured in the area surrounded by a large park and sitting on a bluff overlooking the city and river. It was also famous for the scene in Rocky where Rocky is running up and down the stairs for training. Yes, there is a statue. Inside the museum, the atmosphere is much different. I arrived late in the day almost frostbitten, but I was still able to complete a fast run through most exhibits. They have a massive collection spanning nearly every art form and period with an impressive Impressionist exhibit and a sturdy classic furniture section. It is worth far more time than I had, but it was impossible to miss!

Cheesesteak from Cleaver's

It really is about the cheesesteak. Philadelphia really knows how to do it. The history has its favorites with Pat's, Geno's, and others packing in the tourists, but I was able to find a great place downtown in an upscale diner with quality ingredients. I grew up near a neighborhood restaurant in Arizona from Philadelphia that introduced me to the concept. It is deceptively simple - grilled sliced rib eye steak with chopped onions and cheese on a roll - but the overall effect is much more. Cheese Whiz is one of the classic toppings which is also my favorite. The Whiz melts into the sandwich creating a mild cheese flavor that works well with the perfectly grilled steak. The steak was massive, and sadly I had to through some of it out. However, it was the perfect way to conclude my day in Philadelphia.

Old Town Philadelphia

It was a cold day in January, but I was fortunate to spare a day to take the train to Philadelphia for a quick refresher course on one of America's historic cities. There are more than enough things to do in and around Philadelphia to justify many more days here, especially since there are more than enough places for a great cheesesteak! Please enjoy the rest of my pictures below.

Train Interior

Philadelphia Train Platform

Philadelphia Subway

Old Town Philadelphia with Narrow Street

Ship Exhibit in Museum of the American Revolution

Restored Cell in Eastern State Penitentiary

Snow and Penitentiary Wall

Interior of Eastern State Penitentiary

Icicles in Eastern State Penitentiary

Exterior of Philadelphia Museum of Art

Interior of Philadelphia Museum of Art