Saturday, February 22, 2014

four cities, two weeks --- chicago, day 3

where were we? oh yeah, chicago!


after high fiving the weird thing over the bed


it was time to brave the cold and head to kramer's for breakfast. i don't know about you but i have been living in an area where it is almost impossible 1) to find a veggie cuban sandwich 2) to find a veggie cuban sandwich this good for $6.50.


kramer's, you guys. it's right next to that awesome camera shop on wabash.

there was a frank lloyd wright exhibit at the cultural center. i kinda' wish we'd given it a look the day before crystal arrived as it was just a bunch of placards and not early blueprints as i had thought. informative but it's always a let down when i've misunderstand the description of a show while researching. ah, well. at least we got to see a swank ass wedding party. nice flowers, huh?


these next two pictures have nothing to do with the wedding but everything to do with the cultural center. the view facing the lake


and some shadows.


ah, here's another picture related to the wedding. (seriously, guys. it was mega swankass but the best part was seeing the bride arrive dressed in a gown almost completely covered by a full length quilted coat.)


while i could have stayed at the cultural center for the rest of my life, there was just too much more to do. so off to daly center and the picasso for red line action to the ukranian village. did i mention that it had started to snow again?


here, i want you to take a look at the sort of sidewalks we were dealing with this day. please remember, it was not warmer than 13 degrees f the entire time we were in chicago. and it was often windy. *shivers*


ukrainian village is my kind of place. (so is neighboring humboldt park. HAHA WHO AM I KIDDING I LOVE PRETTY MUCH ALL THE NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO) while we were walking through the neighborhood, some poor guy asked us directions to a diocese. (we told him he was on the right street.)

why were we in ukranian village? for handmade market, of course. i prefer my craft shows OLD style.



i bought one of kelly parsell's foxy cards. (give her site a look, she's talented and very sweet.)

BUT THEN a wait for the bus. some ladies were debating whether or not they should get a cab. i'm not sure if they had ever hailed one? idk, i'm not sure what they were doing in public without a driver/attendant is what i am saying, poor pampered dears. (i swear to you if the bus hadn't arrived, i would have hailed a fucking cab for them because i was getting so tired of hearing about it. for fuck's sake DO IT OR DON'T BUT SHUT UP)



anyway, bus to l. bus driver was funny in that she asked us if leff, crystal and i were all siblings. (for the record, we are not. heh.)


where were we headed this time? LOGAN SQUARE WHY ARE YOU EVEN TRYING TO LOOK SURPRISED BY THIS


crystal spotted a salon called I'LL CUT YOU (this will be where i get my hair cut, naturally.)

oh wait HERE IS THE OWL I AM GIVING IT TO YOU


we accidentally did a lot of trudging this day as leff chose the wrong stop. (he is still kinda' upset about this but i wish he wouldn't be. if we'd taken the correct stop, we would not have seen wicker park! or the group of protesters who were all protesting different things so they just looked like a bunch of people having a sign printing display. or the closed comfort station (no comfort FOR YOU!). or that guy who had driven up from indiana and was lost and exhausted who asked us for directions. (we ALWAYS get asked for directions.))

in short, yeah, it was exhausting but somehow fun. and at the end of it all, we got to have lunch at the chicago diner. SO WORTH IT


here you will see my vegan mexican hot chocolate and crystal's vegan chai latte. I WANTED 15 OF THOSE HOT CHOCOLATES SO GOOD


also so good this black bean burger with sweet potato fries. i do not know how they do it but chicago diner makes THE BEST veggie food (leff almost wept over his no meat hot wings). i am speaking from 12 prior years of vegetarian experience here and i am telling you that YOU REALLY NEED TO EAT AT CHICAGO DINER


and maybe you should also freshly squeeze some vegetables.


the snow and cold had taken its toll so we rested at the hotel for a bit catching two episodes of TOO CUTE! and debating whether or not to go back to logan square for "the big lebowski" and pipeworks' tie in hey, careful man, here's a beverage here beer. (we didn't) it was really for the best BECAUSE! crystal found this FANTASTIC bar called the watershed.

ok, look. the watershed is special. it is in the basement of another bar in which i would not be caught dead unless forced there by some freaking wedding reception. ugh. BUT THE WATERSHED oh, honey, it is cozy and candle lit and QUIET and all of the drinks are AMAZING. i had a natty gann (OF COURSE I DID JOHN CUSACK I AM IN CHICAGO) and a walk and talk. I COULD HAVE HAD SO MANY MORE AND THEY WERE ALL SO FUCKING REASONABLY PRICED.

so what i am saying to you is this. yes, DO GO THERE but be careful who you tell about it. the ambiance is perfect. it's possible to have a conversation there. the drinks are stupendous and their handmade chips are delicious. the staff is very attractive as well. (heh) if you have woo girls and boys in your party, please leave them at the bar upstairs. FANTASTIC FIND CRYSTAL

we ended the night back at the hotel after a quick snack and beer run to the jewel osco. oh, come on. there was a dog show on and my beer was fist bumpable.


TOMORROW--- CRYSTAL LEAVES :( :( :(  BUT FIRST DO RITE DONUTS MUSEUM OF CONTEMP ART QUILTED VEGAN EATS do a sick jet lagged lady a favor and CHECK BACK SOON

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