Sweet (Future?) Home Chicago.
I grew up in suburbia. Not in the city. And, for me, this distinction is key. I don’t have any memory of actually 
going into the city until I was 14 and I went with my mom, sister, and aunts for a day of shopping at Water Tower Place and checking out the Hancock building. After that we went with a bit more regularity to see the Art Institute, the Christmas windows, eat at Berghoff. Overall, though? Most of it remained a mystery. We had memberships to the Milwaukee Public Museum, Zoo, and Conservatory growing up (my mom’s hometown), but Chicago was a semi-mystical place, reachable only by train and a whole lot of subsequent walking.
It’s certainly become a bit more real since college started. I visited Amy at her Loyola dorm during my freshman year, went to concerts, had Verona reunions at bars, met friends from different suburbs downtown and had to navigate things a bit on my own. I’ve gone with Adam a few times, just to wander and enjoy the sights.
But this weekend was probably the first time I could really see living there. It struck me how similar it was to my experiences in Europe: walking varying distances to meet up with friends in the city center for yet-to-be-decided dinner/drinks/museums/who-knows plans—-all of which were set to stunning backgrounds of castles and monuments. Or, in this case, skyscrapers, city parks, and appealing restaurants galore. To have groups of people to meet up with to enjoy delicious food/drink with, but also to know that you could just wander the city alone on a nice day and feel 
content. I miss that so much. And I don’t know if it will ever be the same stateside, but I think, realistically, I’m not going to come close without living in a city. Verona wasn’t particularly urban or large in the grand scheme of things, but it still had that epic, busy, city feel. Barcelona was probably more similar with its metra and Ramblas and crowd-packed streets.
I think it particularly hit home because of the settings we chose: Cafe Iberico for tapas and sangria (um, HOLA BARCELONA) and Irish Pub Fado’ for drinks (CIAO CAMELOT, un bar a Verona). Wandering Chicago the next day with Adam was definitely fun, too. Really just an all-around win of a weekend.
I’m not picturing moving into the city in August, as of now anyway. But someday, before I have kids but after I’ve saved a bit of money? It’s definitely something I’m comfortable having on the table. And am pretty excited about.
I want to explore it again soon. Soon: Second City? Amy’s new condo? A large Lou Malnati’s pie? 
Yes, please.
I can never see myself living in the city or “city limits” like Bucktown or Lincoln Park until I go downtown for the weekend or for the entire day. Then I’m like…I can definitely do this! Depending on where my CF/job is next year, maybe one of those cool neighborhoods will be my home for a couple of years
It definitely sounds tempting
Especially as more and more friends wind up there…could be very fun.
I lived in Lakeview over the summer. It was amazing. Everything is within walking distance and there eleventy billion restaurants to chose from. I recommend it, and I grew up in a teeny tiny town.
Oooh. That’s very good to hear
The eleventy billion restaurants definitely reel me in.
[...] shout-out to Radio Maria and its tapas (and to Ashley for suggesting we go there!). Ever since Adam’s birthday celebration at Cafe Iberico I have been craving another tapas experience, and this hit the spot (especially after a long day of [...]
Tapas Love. « Caffeinerd said this on November 23, 2009 at 11:50 pm |
[...] ended the night with a beer at Fado’ (an Irish pub I’ve always liked) and I got to share a smidgen of my Metra ride home with Andrea. Here’s to a little [...]
Gaudi: December 21st, 2011 « Caffeinerd said this on December 22, 2011 at 10:04 am |
[...] feels like a mess of a life right now. I need to be living in a city, dudes. I used to wonder if I was a city girl. At 25-years-old, anyway? Yes, yes I [...]
Summer to Winter: February 23rd, 2012 « Caffeinerd said this on February 23, 2012 at 3:16 pm |