Trip Report: Chicago-Town, 2009-07-02 to 2009-07-05

Just some random thoughts and notes about the Boys Trip to Chicago:

- I think I've said it many times, but it bears repeating: I love you guys, and this trip was one of the best weekends of my life. I was way too sad when it ended, and I can't wait to do it again. With all of us spread out across the country, with jobs and other responsibilities, it's way too hard for all of us to hang out as frequently as we'd like. These kinds of weekends are precious and fleeting; let's try and do them as often as possible.

- With regards to the previous sentiment, I do not want to hear anything about 'cutting back' or 'in moderation'. These kinds of trips are about cutting loose with The Boys, we know each other and we look out for each other. No one is going to do anything too stupid. You have the rest of your life to be responsible and take in moderation, leave these weekends as they are.

- Some select quotes [please edit and add as you see fit]:
* "My shirt still smells like 'Stripper'." --kp
* "Touching was definitely allowed." --kp
* "We could make a jail cell fun...as long as we had alcohol." --Anonymous

- I'm sorry guys, but I think Alinea ruined everything else for me. The progression of my fine dining experience has a pretty high peak right there. If we follow the progression of our meals, where do we go to top that experience? Fench Laundry? El Bulli?

- We fucking saw Grant Achatz! At his craft! From literally across our table! How many people can say they saw Beethoven as he was composing the 5th, or Michaelangelo painting the Sistine Chapel?

- Museums are fun, but not really conducive for just the group of us doing something together. Also separating for large periods of time isn't so great.

- Did anyone else notice we went through an entire weekend without getting into a huge fight? And this was with both Ajay and I present. How the fuck did that happen?

- If we had to, having 2 hotel rooms was actually a nice change of pace. Certainly, for future trips, free places to crash are great, but being at the Fairmont was not only comfortable, it enabled all sorts of possibilities with it's central location.

- For future planning purposes, let's try to keep each scheduled day as one major activity and at most one other minor/night-time activity. Having too many suggestions and possibilities at once paralyzed us at points.

- Not to say anything negative in regards to Azim's planning. Props for planning Chicago. Props to the Jew for bringing those wines and also chipping in with some suggestions. Props to Kanna for suggesting Second City, and also the great quotes. Props to Jack for booking Alinea.

- I'm really sorry about Hot Doug's. Trust me, no one felt worse for having dragged us all across town, let alone being personally disappointed and not getting some duck-fat fries and a foie gras hot dog.

- Check out the picture of Fu in a suit. Man cleans up nice!

- I like the progressive sophistication we're showing, Fellas. Let's keep it up, but still know how to get down.

That's all I got for now. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, but I really need to catch up on some sleep before my brain is fully functional again.

- Some ideas for future trips:
* Canada (one of Montreal, Vancouver, Toronto)
* Europe (Spain & El Bulli anyone?)
* Miami
* Cabin
* Camping

Awesome Trip

Just want to say, thanks for the good times, especially being able to share the meal at Alinea with you guys. You know it was memorable when all you can think about the next day at work is goodness exploding in your mouth (maple, truffle, watermelon). yum.

Till next year... Cabin perhaps?

UPDATE(zhi): I second Jack's notion. This was an absolutely amazing trip. I would not have rather spent the last few days with any other group in the world.

Building Hype

Second City

So far I have Kanna, Jack, Me, Zhi (ajay, azim, fu) do you want to go to second city. I need to know ASAP so I can track down tickets.

Book your tickets diptards

Heres my ticketing info:

DEN Denver	Jul 02, 2009 05:45 PM	ORD Chicago	Jul 02, 2009 09:05 PM	Economy S
AMERICAN AIRLINES	591	ORD Chicago	Jul 06, 2009 03:25 PM	DEN Denver	Jul 06, 2009 05:00 PM

super easy to read eh?
hahaahh.

psyched.

Chicago...

I tried to spread things out a bit, so the days weren't so busy. If this doesn't work, let me know. Otherwise I'll start buying tickets this weekend. I removed going to Lake Michigan, but we should probably add that back in somewhere.

Friday:
Lunch at Pizza Rustica (11:30?)
Walk down to Wrigley and try for cheap tickets
Architectural Boat Tour (4:30pm?)
Early dinner?
Second City (8pm)
Kingston Mines (11pm)

Saturday:
Millennium Park, Grant Park, Taste of Chicago (10am)
Second try for Cubs tickets?
Hancock Building for drinks and view (6pm)
Dinner (Alinea or otherwise, 9:15pm)

For those of us eating at Alinea

This is a proposed memoir of the chef with a couple of pages from different chapters.
http://eater.com/uploads/v4_01spreads.pdf

It doesn't divulge much of what we'll be eating but does give us the general creative and thought processes involved in this restaurant.


Enjoy

improv

as an additional idea for something to do, there is second city, which puts on improv shows that cost anywhere from $5 to $25 (second city). For those that dont know about this group, it is responsible for training a lot of the the SNL talent as well as many other actors (Tina fey, Steve carell, jeremy piven...there is a whole wiki page).

i have never been to an improv show and since this group is probably one of the best, i figured i would throw it out there.

Cat in the Car and the Car can't go

Thats what my guitar teacher used to call chicago.

I am down to go stand outside wrigley - i can't believe we can't find fucking bleacher seats for under 25 bones. In Denver the "rockpile" tickets are lke 6 bucks each. Stupid.

There is no better restaurant in the greater chicago area azim.

On blues night i think we should go to both kingston mines and chicago blues - both on clark. And close to my cousins house if he is around.

Azim you can be in charge of other fun night time shenanigans. I still have not heard from any of the relatives I sent that email out to like a month ago, good folks eh (my mom replied!! at least I know someone loves me.)

yeah I forgot what else Azim mentioned. sounds like some pretty busy days. I'm psyched to just hang out and fucking shoot the shit. maybe play a few board games. haha

later

Chicago

Friday:
Early lunch (Chicago deep-dish / hot dogs) near Wrigley
Try to get cheap tickets to the Cubs game (sounds like people aren't interested in buying them ahead of time)
If we can't get tickets, then beach volleyball on Lake Michigan (maybe rent jet skis, but they are like $75 / hour)
Blues Club at night

Saturday:
Millenium Park in the morning
Taste of Chicago
Hancock Building Signature Room
Architectural Boat Tour
Dinner at Alinea (minus Azim & Ajay)
Dinner at a better restaurant (Azim/Ajay & Chicago friends)

Sunday:
(I'm leaving at 7am)
Golf or driving range?
Something low-key (halo if someone wants to bring their Box?)


I have a few bars in mind for night time excursions, but I'm still working that out. I'll send out some possibilities tomorrow. If this sounds like a reasonable plan, let me know and I'll start booking things. Make other suggestions if you have them.