I got to tag along with Jim this week when he needed to be in Chicago on business. It's so great now that I'm "retired" to just pick up and go when I want to. We visit friends and family often in the suburbs, but that is not the same as actually staying downtown Chicago in a hotel. This time we booked a room in the newly remodeled Hotel Sax (formerly the House of Blues Hotel). It is located right next to House of Blues restaurant and concert hall and the Marina Towers on State Street.
About an hour after our arrival on Wednesday afternoon Jim needed to head out to a dinner meeting with colleagues, so I was left on my own right away. As an aside, I want to add that growing up I was definitely not the adventurous type - I was quiet, shy, and liked to follow the lead of others. Some of the things I've had to do since being married to Jim that I thought I would NEVER do include driving alone in New York City and hanging out by myself in places like Las Vegas and Chicago. I've learned, though, that you see things in a much different perspective when you do things by yourself. It is definitely a confidence builder, but you get to do so much more observation and discovery when you are on your own. It's so very interesting to sit in a coffee shop or restaurant and watch people. You see so much that you wouldn't notice if you were with someone else and engaged in conversation.
Back to this week's Chicago experience. So last night I walked to the Weber Grill restaurant (only four blocks from our hotel) and enjoyed a grilled chicken salad while successfully completing three Sudoku puzzles. It was interesting to observe the party of 12 seated next to me. I'm sure it was a work group celebrating some occasion or other. I always enjoy guessing what the bill will come to as I watch wine, cocktails, appetizers, entrees and desserts being served to so many people. Did someone say recession?? After my dinner I walked back to our room and watched Americal Idol until Jim got back a little after 8.
I was somewhat dismayed that this hotel does NOT provide coffee pots nor coffee in the guest rooms! But the lack of coffee got me up and out earlier than I may have this morning, and I walked a few blocks until I found a Corner Bakery where I was able to get delicious hazelnut coffee and a breakfast panini. Yum! I enjoyed looking around at lots of other solo people doing various things (cell phones, computers, earphones, etc). Soon I was off to my favorite part of the day - shopping at Marshall Fields!! Well, I know it is now called Macy's, but it will always be Marshall Field and Company to me. I love that even though Macy's bought all the Marshall Fields out a few years ago, they kept THE CLOCK and the Marshall Field and Company cornerstone that served as their landmark for so many years. That store provides many great memories of the past. I don't even know how many years we had the tradition of going to Field's at Christmas time to view the windows, but I first went with my mom and dad, and then we began the tradition with our kids when they were just babies. Field's always had this fabulous window display, following a theme and telling a story that seemed so magical. We would start at one corner of the building and follow each window along the block until we had seen and read the entire story. It was a challenge to find a spot in the crowd of people that would provide a good view, but that was part of the fun. Then we would go into the store to warm up and get in line for lunch in the Walnut Room under the giant Christmas tree. Sometimes we would be in line for up to two hours, but again, that was all part of the package. If you were lucky sometime during lunch the Sugar Plum Fairy would stop by your table to allow each child to make a wish as she sprinkled stardust over their heads. Our Christmas visits to Fields also included purchasing a box of Frango mints to enjoy on the train on the ride back to Wheaton.
About an hour after our arrival on Wednesday afternoon Jim needed to head out to a dinner meeting with colleagues, so I was left on my own right away. As an aside, I want to add that growing up I was definitely not the adventurous type - I was quiet, shy, and liked to follow the lead of others. Some of the things I've had to do since being married to Jim that I thought I would NEVER do include driving alone in New York City and hanging out by myself in places like Las Vegas and Chicago. I've learned, though, that you see things in a much different perspective when you do things by yourself. It is definitely a confidence builder, but you get to do so much more observation and discovery when you are on your own. It's so very interesting to sit in a coffee shop or restaurant and watch people. You see so much that you wouldn't notice if you were with someone else and engaged in conversation.
Back to this week's Chicago experience. So last night I walked to the Weber Grill restaurant (only four blocks from our hotel) and enjoyed a grilled chicken salad while successfully completing three Sudoku puzzles. It was interesting to observe the party of 12 seated next to me. I'm sure it was a work group celebrating some occasion or other. I always enjoy guessing what the bill will come to as I watch wine, cocktails, appetizers, entrees and desserts being served to so many people. Did someone say recession?? After my dinner I walked back to our room and watched Americal Idol until Jim got back a little after 8.
I was somewhat dismayed that this hotel does NOT provide coffee pots nor coffee in the guest rooms! But the lack of coffee got me up and out earlier than I may have this morning, and I walked a few blocks until I found a Corner Bakery where I was able to get delicious hazelnut coffee and a breakfast panini. Yum! I enjoyed looking around at lots of other solo people doing various things (cell phones, computers, earphones, etc). Soon I was off to my favorite part of the day - shopping at Marshall Fields!! Well, I know it is now called Macy's, but it will always be Marshall Field and Company to me. I love that even though Macy's bought all the Marshall Fields out a few years ago, they kept THE CLOCK and the Marshall Field and Company cornerstone that served as their landmark for so many years. That store provides many great memories of the past. I don't even know how many years we had the tradition of going to Field's at Christmas time to view the windows, but I first went with my mom and dad, and then we began the tradition with our kids when they were just babies. Field's always had this fabulous window display, following a theme and telling a story that seemed so magical. We would start at one corner of the building and follow each window along the block until we had seen and read the entire story. It was a challenge to find a spot in the crowd of people that would provide a good view, but that was part of the fun. Then we would go into the store to warm up and get in line for lunch in the Walnut Room under the giant Christmas tree. Sometimes we would be in line for up to two hours, but again, that was all part of the package. If you were lucky sometime during lunch the Sugar Plum Fairy would stop by your table to allow each child to make a wish as she sprinkled stardust over their heads. Our Christmas visits to Fields also included purchasing a box of Frango mints to enjoy on the train on the ride back to Wheaton.
Today I bought some Frango mint coffee, a treat we always enjoy. I was disappointed to see that Macy's has taken the liberty to really pare down the Frango department. There was only one tiny display of coffee, and no more need to make a choice between decaf, regular, whole bean, or ground; the only choice I needed to make was whether or not my bag of ground regular Frango mint coffee had a Chicago scene on the front or not. There still was a pretty good assortment of the mints, but I didn't see any Frango cakes, cookies, or gift baskets that used to so popular at Marshall Field's. A happy discovery was to find that I still had the option to enjoy a dish of chocolate Frango mint ice cream (or Frango mint pie) in the little Frango cafe on the 7th floor (which I did!).
I chose the package with the Chicago skyline.Shopping at Macy's for bargains today was NOT a disappointment. I enjoyed finding lots of great deals - also reminiscent of past shopping experiences at Field's. Racks and racks of 80 percent off clothes were on every floor that I visited. Though I tried to limit myself, I did find several things that I know I will enjoy wearing! And did I mind being alone to shop??? Not at all. That's ONE thing I prefer to do alone. Now I'm back in our room at the Sax waiting for Jim to be done for the day. Tonight we will use our coupon for two free drinks in the bar here at the hotel, and then venture out to dinner at some fabulous restaurant. It has been a great day so far!!
