April 2014 Trip to Grand Haven and Chicago
We arrived on Friday and were treated to a home cooked dinner and wine at Stephanie and Celeste's. It was actually warm enough to have a fire and fortunately we did so as the weather really turned from then on.
In the afternoon, we took a walk down the pier. The lake is no longer frozen solid but there is still quite a lot of ice out there and as the currents changed, so did the ice. It was quite spectacular to see. Saturday evening, we went to our favorite place, Snug Harbor/Jelly's and enjoyed a bottle of Bennet Chardonnay with Stephanie and Celeste. The sushi was amazing as always.
One Sunday, we did quite a lot of hiking including 11,000 steps one day after a walk at Rosy Mound followed by a hike/climb at Kirk Park. There are spectacular views and again the ice was always changing.
On Monday, we took a drive over to Grand Rapids and toured the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. They had a butterfly room much like the Butterfly House here in St. Louis. It was full of beautiful, delicate creatures and very warm so it was a nice experience.
Tuesday morning, we awoke to snow. But by the time we left the streets were clear and we had no problem making our way into Chicago. We checked into the Sofitel, which is a very European hotel with an amazing vibe. Dinner was at 676 Restaurant on the Magnificent Mile. I had lamb and Carol had the duck. We had a really nice red from Oregon, Chateau Smith. For starters, we had potato soup.
The concierge had helped us get tickets to a blues show at the Back Room. We saw a band called the Lucky Dutch and they were amazing. There were 5 very eclectic members, including one woman keyboardist and a guitar player that looked like a computer nerd. There was a guy with a very 60's look, a rock-n-roll drummer and the lead was a tall Black man that could sing, play and made the whole thing work. Before the show, we were introduced to the cocktail bar next door, called the Drawing Room. Carol tried a Chicago Gangster and I had a glass of the Don Nuno Oloros sherry.
Wednesday, we skipped breakfast and had lunch at Giordano's on Rush Street. From there, we walked to the Navy Pier. It was a very cool and windy day. We stopped in at Riva for a glass of wine and to enjoy the view of the Lake. We then walked up Lakeshore to see Adam and Deanna's new apartment. They had just moved in on Thursday. What a spectacular view of Lake Michigan on the rooftop of their building. They can even see the lake from one window in their apartment. Very nice digs! We all walked to Butch McGuire's to have dinner. I think it could become one of Adam's favorites as they had a really nice beer selection. It was a bit of a walk to to get back to our hotel so we treated ourselves to a another visit to the Drawing Room, I had a Summer is Coming and Carol had the sherry.
Thursday, we walked to the Shedd Aquarium along Lakeshore Drive. But we started the day with lunch at the Allium in the Four Seasons Hotel. I had a lentil burger and truffled grits. Carol had the shirt steak and we got bonus Open Table Points. That evening, we went to U.S. Cellular Field (stadium #9) and watched a great pitcher's duel between the White Sox and the Red Sox. Unfortunately, the Red Sox won. The stadium was far from full and half the fans there were in town to see Boston play.
Friday, we had a luxurious day of sleeping in and had a nice breakfast at the hotel. We did some shopping on Michigan Avenue and dinner was at Fleming's Steakhouse. We each had a petite filet. I had creamed spinach while Carol had the garlic mashed potatoes. The wine was called Predator. Since it was our last night in town, we took Adam and Deanna to the Drawing Room. Adam had a lamb burger, a Finch's Stout and a Six Points Righteous Ale. Carol and I both started with an aquavit. I then had a Love After 30. Carol had a Madhattan. Deanna had a Last Day at the Fair, a Metropolitan and a Rhubarb on your Strawberry. Their website describes the composition of each classic cocktail. The Drawing Room
Saturday morning, we had some amazing tea and breakfast turnovers at Argo Tea. And it was time to head home.
In the afternoon, we took a walk down the pier. The lake is no longer frozen solid but there is still quite a lot of ice out there and as the currents changed, so did the ice. It was quite spectacular to see. Saturday evening, we went to our favorite place, Snug Harbor/Jelly's and enjoyed a bottle of Bennet Chardonnay with Stephanie and Celeste. The sushi was amazing as always.
One Sunday, we did quite a lot of hiking including 11,000 steps one day after a walk at Rosy Mound followed by a hike/climb at Kirk Park. There are spectacular views and again the ice was always changing.
On Monday, we took a drive over to Grand Rapids and toured the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park. They had a butterfly room much like the Butterfly House here in St. Louis. It was full of beautiful, delicate creatures and very warm so it was a nice experience.
Tuesday morning, we awoke to snow. But by the time we left the streets were clear and we had no problem making our way into Chicago. We checked into the Sofitel, which is a very European hotel with an amazing vibe. Dinner was at 676 Restaurant on the Magnificent Mile. I had lamb and Carol had the duck. We had a really nice red from Oregon, Chateau Smith. For starters, we had potato soup.
The concierge had helped us get tickets to a blues show at the Back Room. We saw a band called the Lucky Dutch and they were amazing. There were 5 very eclectic members, including one woman keyboardist and a guitar player that looked like a computer nerd. There was a guy with a very 60's look, a rock-n-roll drummer and the lead was a tall Black man that could sing, play and made the whole thing work. Before the show, we were introduced to the cocktail bar next door, called the Drawing Room. Carol tried a Chicago Gangster and I had a glass of the Don Nuno Oloros sherry.
Wednesday, we skipped breakfast and had lunch at Giordano's on Rush Street. From there, we walked to the Navy Pier. It was a very cool and windy day. We stopped in at Riva for a glass of wine and to enjoy the view of the Lake. We then walked up Lakeshore to see Adam and Deanna's new apartment. They had just moved in on Thursday. What a spectacular view of Lake Michigan on the rooftop of their building. They can even see the lake from one window in their apartment. Very nice digs! We all walked to Butch McGuire's to have dinner. I think it could become one of Adam's favorites as they had a really nice beer selection. It was a bit of a walk to to get back to our hotel so we treated ourselves to a another visit to the Drawing Room, I had a Summer is Coming and Carol had the sherry.
Thursday, we walked to the Shedd Aquarium along Lakeshore Drive. But we started the day with lunch at the Allium in the Four Seasons Hotel. I had a lentil burger and truffled grits. Carol had the shirt steak and we got bonus Open Table Points. That evening, we went to U.S. Cellular Field (stadium #9) and watched a great pitcher's duel between the White Sox and the Red Sox. Unfortunately, the Red Sox won. The stadium was far from full and half the fans there were in town to see Boston play.
Friday, we had a luxurious day of sleeping in and had a nice breakfast at the hotel. We did some shopping on Michigan Avenue and dinner was at Fleming's Steakhouse. We each had a petite filet. I had creamed spinach while Carol had the garlic mashed potatoes. The wine was called Predator. Since it was our last night in town, we took Adam and Deanna to the Drawing Room. Adam had a lamb burger, a Finch's Stout and a Six Points Righteous Ale. Carol and I both started with an aquavit. I then had a Love After 30. Carol had a Madhattan. Deanna had a Last Day at the Fair, a Metropolitan and a Rhubarb on your Strawberry. Their website describes the composition of each classic cocktail. The Drawing Room
Saturday morning, we had some amazing tea and breakfast turnovers at Argo Tea. And it was time to head home.
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