Monday 26 May

Up very early for a 7.00 am departure on indifferent United Airlines to Chicago. Our hotel is the St Clare, 162E Ontario St and uncannily close to Flashy’s stay in Chicago in 2007. Trying to recreate that trip has stretched his memory a bit. Vague images of bars and restaurants float in and out. Then, in a flash of genius, he finds his old diary and can confirm dinner at Volare, lunch at Joe’s Seafood and good drinks at the Intercontinental; visit to Navy Pier and a cruise on the river. So, a bit of a plan is emerging.

After Flashy puts his foot down, we take an Uber from the airport to the hotel. Amazing really. Two steps out of the terminal into a comfortable car; two steps out at the hotel into a warm reception; no one coughing on you and a nice man - Esteban, to lift and tote the many bags.

Our driver is from Colombia, South America. Using his extensive English and Flashy’s Spanish, we revert instantly to Google translate. Apparently, he is an illegal alien. Been caught and interviewed and is due for a final assessment in two months but is expecting to be deported. Good driver though.

After a little nap, we head out for a walk, looking for bars and the famous deep dish Chicago pizza. The first of these is right next door at the Rui Hotel, which is a bit flash. There is happy hour on at their roof top bar 29th story. That’s us for a couple of Negronis and a small plate of Buffalo wings. The former were excellent. The latter just OK. Onwards and uptown to Lou Malnantis Pizza Restaurant. Family owned and famous since 1971 and hyped up big time online. You wait 40 minutes for the pizza. Chicago Deep Dish, of course. OK but not great by any means. The crust was special. A bit like short pastry and pizza dough combined. It did not flop when picked up. The passata was excellent. The toppings of sausage (I don’t get that. It’s a Chicago thing) and pepperoni, were under spiced. On a scale? Better than Naples. Massively superior to Torino. Had better in Melbourne, though.

Tuesday 27 May

After a decent sleep, we head off on another of Flashy’s past adventures. An architectural cruise along the Chicago River, viewing the city from the water, with a guide from the Chicago Architecture Centre. It was an excellent 2 hours, with informative commentary from a retired maths teacher. Chicagoans will remind you that they, not New Yorkers, built the first skyscrapers. Flashy calls it ferro skeletal engineering that led to this modern phenomenon. What an amazing tour. Lady P the designer, was impressed. Italian Renaissance, Art Deco, a touch of Gothic Revival, The Chicago School, Mid Century Modernism, Post Modernism, Beaux Arts and Neo Classical, shoulder to shoulder with Contemporary styles, make this city an amazing place for architecture buffs. Flashy mumbled (a bit softly) that it can’t be done without engineers!

A walk back tour hotel’s restaurant – Nora Italian, for a half decent and pleasantly surprised, small sized beef burger for lunch before an afternoon of admin.

Roof top 29th floor of the Rui Hotel.
Average Buffalo wings.
Deep dish pizza and Chicago architecture.
Contemporary.
Glass and Steel.
Once the world's tallest. (Sears Tower at rear). Modernist bundled tube architecture.



Comments

  1. Graeme6 June 2025 at 21:17

    Good to see Flashy standing up for the engineers, given he completed 2 weeks of a 5year engineering degree....

    ReplyDelete

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