One Night in Chicagoland

Six years ago I lived in Chicago for all of seven months. I hated it. It was just after college and it was one of those impulse moves where I just needed to get away and try something new. I should have tried something else.

I lived in the wrong place with the wrong person and I was miserable. As an intern who got paid $7/hour, my rent was $750/month..you do the math. I chose the late shift at my internship and worked overtime every day because it meant a free dinner. I worked weekends at a wine store in the suburbs so I could make rent. I vividly remember spending my last $1.50 on a can of ravioli for dinner and hoping I could make it to the next paycheck. When you don’t have money, Chicago fucking blows.

Cut to today. I have money and Chicago, as it turns out, is quite a lovely place to visit. Even for just one night.

On the way to visit my parents, the husband and I stayed one night in a lakeside room at the Congress Plaza Hotel, which would have been more spectacular if hadn’t been gray and rainy the entire time.

A downpour of rain forced us to stay close to the hotel, which is okay because it resulted in the best goddamn steak I’ve had in years. Seriously, Midwesterners, you know how to cook a steak. Bless you.

I wanted to make it out to my favorite movie theater in the world, the Music Box, but it just wasn’t in the cards for this trip. All good though, I ended up with a fantastic dinner, a swank hotel room, and a lovely evening out with the husband. Until next time, Chicago..