Minneapolis and Chicago
We left Winnipeg first thing in the morning and headed straight for the border.
After enjoying several days in our home and native land, we were ready for a little taste of America.
When we reached Fargo, John had his heart set on finding a perfect road side mom and pop’s diner. As fate would have it, we turned down one of the main streets and came across Mom’s Diner, a hopping little place that looked just right.
In true American style, John got a burger and fries, and I got a steeped iced tea (the real deal) and hit up the country kitchen style salad bar.
This fuel took us all the way to Minneapolis, where we settled in our downtown hotel and hit the busy streets.
It was a definite change of energy, it was busy, lively, and had all the highs and lows of any big city. I made a quick dash for Macy’s before we headed out to 112 Eatery for some supreme grub.
The restaurant was small and noisy, but we joined right in. We sat up at the bar and ordered drinks and a few dishes to share. The lemon drop martini, sweet and sour crab salad, cauliflower fritters and country style pork ribs went down easily.
The next day we set out for Chicago. I’d heard the city was beautiful but had no idea what to expect. First we were hit with heavy traffic, but next we were hit by the incredible architecture of the city.
John had found us a beautiful hotel, the Palomar, where we were greeted in a modern lobby and told to come downstairs for a wine reception in a couple of hours. They had me at wine reception, but the rest of the hotel proved to be equally as charming.
The room was great, and I appreciated the small touch of the Occitane toiletries and the big windows looking out to the city. We had fun exploring the hotel then went downstairs for the wine reception.
The wine was nothig special, but it was complimentary, and more importantly we had a lot of fun talking to a spunky couple celebrating their anniversary.
Next we strolled, bought some second hand books, and made our way to the well reputed Benny’s chophouse for the best steak we’ve ever eaten.
Chicago steak houses mean serious business. We shared a filet mignon, mashed potatoes and green beans and decided to forego the wine. The business was swift, the place was jumping, and the steak was cooked and seasoned to perfection. We looked at each other after every bite with deep appreciation.
After dinner we strolled the streets, admired the buildings, and made it back to the hotel in time to catch the tail end of the show I just finished working on. Seeing ‘Gillian Young, Writer’, in the credits was a huge moment for me.
The next day we decided to postpone our driving until the afternoon so we could see more of Chicago.
I have never seen a more beautifully designed city in my life. It was like Paris and New York mixed together with a more polished finish.
Needless to say, we were enamored. From the perfectly plotted flower beds, to the river running through the city to the towering, glistening buildings, it was a feast for the eyes.
We roamed for hours, I hit up Trader Joe’s and a few shops on the Magnificent Mile, and then we went to the top of the John Hancock Center to admire the city from up above.
We were sad to leave, but we had a long drive ahead of us, and one stay at a very unusual hotel in Buffalo before reaching our final destination…
First stop for American grub



Dinner in Minneapolis

Sweet and Sour Crab Salad 
Chicago


Continental breakfast in the hotel’s joining restaurant



Enjoyed with plenty of whipped butter and strawberry jam

Exploring the city (Trader Joe loot in hand)



Checking out Chicago from above

