Springtime in Chicago is a treat. I dug in last weekend when I visited my high school pal, Erica, before going on to my cousin's playful wedding at
Brookfield Zoo.
From gleaming tulips that illuminated from every flower bed in the city to Erica's favorite hipster restaurant in the cool meatpacking district and playing hooky on a school day just like
Ferris Bueller, this trip was a blast.
Herewith, some highlights from the first leg of my Chicago adventure:
Erica and I made like tourists on an architecture boat tour that cruised the Chicago River -- it had been on my to-do list since watching the famous, tender boat scene in "
My Best Friends Wedding." We had our first beer, the local 312, before noon and I knew it would be a lovely day!
Walking north on Michigan Avenue from Erica's awesome apartment across from Lake Michigan, I was in awe of the tulips that bedazzled from every flower bed in the city. It's enough of a reason to visit Chicago in April.
Our inner kids came out to play at Navy Pier, as we hopped on the massive ferris wheel that gave us this stunning skyline view as Frank Sinatra's "My Kind of Town" sweetly played.
Next up was a Chicago must: The
Signature Lounge on the 96th floor, at the top of the John Hancock Center. Those killer city views? 'Nuff said. It's just as spectacular with twinkling lights at night.
Chicago doesn't mess around when it comes to great food and craft beers --Erica and her sweet boyfriend, Blake, treated me to one of their favorite foodie haunts,
The Publican in the meatpacking district. From its retro European-style beer hall decor to the hipster crowd and delicious meat-focused small plates, this spot rivals the best joints in L.A.
This darling limestone church smack dab on North Michigan Avenue was a showstopper with its bare branch and white tulip setting (again with the tulips!). I snapped this photo the next morning, en route to the new
Topshop store where I got a light pink blazer.
