Chi Town! The Windy City!

Hello from Chicago! My 3rd visit to Chicago! I was here for a training course for work at our global training centre in St Charles (met loads of great people!), and then I spent an extra week in downtown Chicago.

Chicago is a great city, with different neighbourhoods that cater to different people, very beautiful magnificent skyscrapers, the beach along Lakeshore drive, the restaurants and the shopping.

Highlights of my trip:

Shopping: Loads of shopping, fantastic outlet mall near St Charles, and Water Tower Place on the magnificent mile (N Michigan Avenue), Lord and Taylor (great sale!) - all thanks to the current exchange rate.......

Restaurants: Morton's, The Steakhouse on N State St. (scrumptious food! not only steak, great fish & Lobster too!). There are millions of great places on Rust Street in Gold coast for food! The Signature Room at the Hancock Tower on N Michigan Ave - great view of Chicago. Blu Coral on N Milwaukee Ave in Wicker Park- fab Japanese restaurant (did you ever see the movie 'Wicker Park'?? teary romantic, hmmm....... :)

Tours/Tourist Attractions: Millennium Park and Navy Pier - fun place! went on the Ferris wheel! - nice view of Chicago from the top!

Bars/Clubs: Saw the 3 DJS in concert at The Metro on N Clark St; Rednofive on Grant Avenue is a good bar/dance joint; for authentic blues we went to Kingston Mines on N Halsted St. instead of the House of Blues on N Dearborn st; Another great place is The Apartment (visited it 2 years ago, it's a bar in an apartment - really cool!) - All fab places in Lincoln Ave/Park (many bars and restaurants there & also Wrigley field (Cubby bear on Addison St)) - very lively neighbourhood with loads of young people! (or it could have been because of the chicago cubs game - who knows....)

Hotel: Hard Rock Hotel on N Michigan Ave (not bad! chic bar off the lobby)

Church: Willow Creek Church, downtown Chicago