Two days in Chicago with old friends…

College friends, rather. Banishing the word old. Especially after we managed to stay up past midnight on a Tuesday night (!). I was pretty proud of us for that.

My holiday trip kicked off in Chicago, where I met up with two friends from Wake, one of whom lives in the city and was our fabulous host. I hadn’t been to Chicago in about ten years, and I had forgotten how much I love it. The city is such a great combination of gorgeous architecture, great restaurants, and a vibrant arts scene. And so delightfully walkable, even if it was cold as holy hell.

There’s something so comforting for me about being with women that I’ve known a really long time…there’s a shorthand to all your interactions because you know each other so well. You remove a whole layer of explanations and “is this ok with you” conversations because you already mostly know what is and isn’t ok, and you don’t feel the need to explain yourself. It’s a different and lovely and precious kind of relaxation.

We started off on Tuesday walking Michigan Avenue and meeting for dinner at the Siena Tavern on Kinzie Street, which I would wholeheartedly recommend if you’re ever in the area. Walking home, we veered into the very charming Bavette – their downstairs bar might be the coziest place I’ve ever been on a winter night, and we ended up chatting with a group of people and having so much fun that we were honestly shocked when the bartender said it was last call. What?? I haven’t been at a bar for last call on a Tuesday since, well….let’s just say a really long time.

Wednesday morning, my friend and I walked along the river out to the lake, braving the cold and wind, but it was worth it – a gorgeous walk, and it turns out bracing cold wind does a damn good job of zapping the lingering effects of a late night out.

Later in the day we met up for a late lunch at 3 Arts Cafe, inside the Restoration Hardware store in the Gold Coast neighborhood….really great (of course) decor, and they’ve managed to make a huge atrium space feel warm and festive, due in no small part to this stunningly huge chandelier:

And then the main event.

Hamilton.

It ABSOLUTELY lives up to the hype. It is creative, smart, and wildly entertaining. The music, of course, is outstanding, but what surprised me more was the super creative and very detailed choreography. One of my friends that I was with and I are both former dancers, and we were so impressed….the choreography helps tell the story in a way I’ve never quite seen before in a musical. Trust me. Go see it.

My friend and I had an interesting conversation at intermission about shared experiences. Brené Brown, in her new book Braving the Wilderness, talks about the societal importance of shared experiences. Sporting events, theater, dance, art – they bring us together in way nothing else does. It’s so important and so inspiring, and I totally forget how a masterful performance makes me feel until I have the pleasure of seeing one again and then…..ah……yes, I should do this more often. A bunch of us used to have season tickets to the theater and the ballet in Denver… why don’t we do that anymore? Maybe that will be my New Year’s resolution.

I reluctantly left Chicago this morning and I’m sitting now at the bar at my hotel in New York, a small Relais & Chateaux property called The Surrey on the upper east side. Lovely so far. Gotta love a hotel bar with 1er cru white burgundy by the glass. Hi honey, I’m home!

I’m one block from Central Park, so I’m looking forward to a run there tomorrow morning. Meeting a friend who used to live in Denver out for dinner tonight at Polo Bar, Ralph Lauren’s new restaurant. Supposed to be quite the scene. I’ll let you know…..

Cheers!

Traveling Girl