Our Family Band Album Cover

Rachel and I visited my brother & his fiance in Chicago last weekend.  We spent the weekend exploring Bucktown; the area of Chicago they call home.  A few thoughts:

On Chicago:

  • It’s a real city.  It has it’s own unique food, a recognizable skyline, classic sports franchises, and corrupt politicians.
  • After reading Devil In the White City, I was pumped to visit the location of the Chicago World’s Fair and to see what remained of the beautiful lagoon described in the book.  The lagoon was a waterway and park designed by Frederick Law Olmstead (Landscape Architect/Central Park).  And I hate to judge the Chicago Parks after one visit to their historic site, but it was a mess.  There was  garbage everywhere and they’re going through a controlled burn of the park, but it just looks destroyed.  Fred Olmstead would be pretty pissed if he came back and saw what they’ve done  to his lagoon.
  • It’s not worth going to the top of the Hancock Building.  Save a half hour and spend it drinking Chicago beer

On Bucktown:

  • Love it.  It has an odd mix of historic and post-modern architecture.  But it has a small-community feel on the outskirts of a big city.   It reminded us of the tree-lined streets & brownstone neighborhoods in our favorite parts of Brooklyn.
  • A few good restaurants:  Big Star for Mexican,  Piece for Pizza and Brewery, and Revolution Brewery for beer

On Brian & Natasha:

  • Two thumbs up.  A very nice couple.  I would visit them again.
  • Congrats, and welcome to the family, Natasha.  See you both in August for the big event.
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