Weekend Adventure in Chicago
- Fernanda Fisher
- 8 minutes ago
- 6 min read
For Christmas, my daughter purchased tickets for the two of us to see Amadeus at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago. Sofie and I both enjoy Mozart’s music so it was a great selection on her part.
Who could guess that winter storm Fern would be roaring across the South and Mid-Atlantic the same weekend?
When she booked the tickets we had no idea what the forecast would be. As Fern intensified and the reports were revising the snow totals higher, I considered canceling my trip.
I weighed the idea of backing out and staying with the dogs in Alexandria over subzero temperatures in Chicago. Disappointing Sofie really bothered me. She had created an itinerary for my visit, made dinner reservations, and even requested to work from home on Friday so she would be there when I arrived.
So, I secured a return flight for Tuesday, hoping D.C. and Alexandria would be plowed out by then. Packing all my warmest clothing and the scarf my friend Katherine made me, I headed to Chicago for a winter weekend adventure.
I spent a very, very cold five days in Chicago seeing Sofie while the East Coast and South were pummeled by a major snow and ice storm. If you lived along the path of Fern, you know the havoc it wreaked on airports, roads, and life in general.
Chicago in Winter
Growing up in Chicago prepared me for the -5 temperature when we landed. ‘Bring it on!’ I thought, as I stepped outside and stood in the taxi line. The cold dry air hit my lungs and reminded me I was up against the formidable Chicago winds for the next five days.
Friday night we had so much fun that I forgot about the weather outside. We ate dinner at a Turkish restaurant called Anatolia on North Clark Street and then walked down the street to see Amadeus.
Turkish food is very similar to Mediterranean food. Think kebabs and rice pilaf, baklava and Saganaki. The restaurant had remnants of old Turkish rugs hanging on the wall and soft, warm lighting. The staff was both friendly and knowledgeable.
We dined on shrimp, lentil soup and a Turkish dish called Beyti. Beyti is meat wrapped in a thin dough and then covered with tomato sauce and tzatziki sauce. Beyti is both light and filling. Of course, we polished off an entire square of fried kefalotyri cheese in a dish called Saganaki to start, so that might have something to do with feeling full!
Founded by Gary Sinise, Jeff Perry, and Terry Kinney in 1974, the Steppenwolf Theatre has been producing quality theatre in Chicago for decades. The staging of Amadeus in the round was exciting.
With only a few chairs, a harpsichord, and a bed as props, I forgot I was in a theatre full of people until it was time for intermission.
Chicago Botanic Gardens
While Saturday dawned even colder than Friday, we were undeterred from our mission to visit the Chicago Botanic Gardens. The Gardens really are a part of my life. Opened to the public in 1972, my parents took me for lunch and strolls around their growing collections when I was a child. After I left for school, my parents would pack picnic lunches and go there at least once a week.
Our family used to visit the Garden in all types of weather when I was young, so going for a bracing stroll in subzero weather was quite familiar. It also brought back so many fond memories of plant identifying with my dad as well as posing for photos with my mother. I miss those days.
Sofie had no concept of just how cold it would be outside until we got to the Garden in Glencoe, about 20 miles from downtown. A sharp wind stung our cheeks as we exited the car and walked towards the entrance. Tears came to our eyes as they adjusted to the frigid temperature.
The landscapes I knew so well when green and lush with foliage were even more enchanting covered in snow. There are ways to choose plants and hardscape to look appealing in all seasons. The Chicago Botanic Garden, in my opinion does this better than many other public gardens.
Blankets of snow and ice covered ponds taking on a new beauty. The Japanese gardens with their temple lights and irregular pathways conjured up memories of time spent in Asia in January as a college student.
We also received a behind-the-scenes peak at the “Feelin’ Groovy" orchid show which opens in early February. Wandering through the temporarily closed green house displays, we saw orchids hanging in macrame baskets, orchids tucked in an old VW Beetle and in pallets stacked on the floors.
In the cactus garden, we learned the staff had to remove and re-work part of the glass ceiling because a plant had grown too tall for the enclosure.
A French Meal
Getting back into the Chicago in the early evening, we dashed into the apartment to change our clothes for dinner.
Sofie chose La Grande Boucherie, a relatively new restaurant for Saturday night. It was Restaurant Week in Chicago and the scene was both lively and beautiful. Trees and plants were set around the room, mirrors and stained glass gave off a warm and inviting feel, and French cafe chairs transported me to Paris. It truly looked like an indoor Art Nouveau Parisienne cafe in Chicago’s River North area.
Encompassing two stories the place was packed with couples on dates, friends laughing, and groups of families chatting and having a good time. This is a place to have fun, drink good cocktails and eat well made French food.
We settled in for a delicious meal of foie gras, winter salad, mussels and an eggplant dish that resembled lasagna made entirely of layers of lightly breaded eggplant and chopped tomatoes. Just writing about it here makes my mouth water and wish I was still in Chicago having another serving of it!
To finish this wonderful meal off, we had a chocolate caramel tart that was sweet, salty, and actually rather heavenly.
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I gushed about food this much when dining out.
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Sunday we had a lazy start and then took the bus to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. The last time we visited here Sofie was a little kid and even though she is now an adult it did not disappoint either of us.
Unlocking our inner child, we tried every machine and pressed every button we could find.
Sofie wanted to see the special exhibit on Spiderman since she and her Dad are both big fans of the Marvel movie series.
While the exhibit was over my head (I am not a Marvel Comics girl) I still appreciated seeing the evolution of the character from early comic book to major motion picture.
Stopping at a photo booth towards the end of the day, we took silly photos. These were the best souvenirs I could ask for. Sofie, I am keeping my word and not sharing them with the readers.
On My Own
Sending Sofie off to work on Monday, I sat and looked out on Lake Michigan from her window and read a book.
Kate, my good friend from summers in Michigan met me for lunch at the Art Institute of Chicago. Having friends all over the US makes travel more personal.
Greeting each other in heavy coats, rather than shorts and t-shirts, we hugged and caught up on the latest news as we walked to lunch.
I love the Art Institute and enjoyed going through several of my favorite exhibit with Kate. We spent the most time in the Thorne Miniature Rooms gallery. With each doll house sized room representing a different period in interior design, the Thorne Miniature Rooms is an excellent way to learn the history of home design.
The End of the Weekend
Monday night, as the wind howled outside, Sofie and I dined at home on tuna noodle casserole and played the card game Uno. We had settled into an easy routine while I was there and it was quickly coming to an end.
During my visit, I saw what an amazing young woman Sofie is becoming. In less than a year she has mastered public transportation, moved to a new apartment, made some friends and secured a full-time job.
She came here knowing no one and nothing about this city. This weekend, she motored around Chicago via bus and car like a seasoned pro.
The terrific thing about having adult children who live in interesting places is that we get to visit them. I am already planning my next visit, preferably when the weather is warmer and I don’t cry every time I step outside.
Links to places mentioned:
Anatolia Restaurant
La Grande Boucherie
Steppenwolf Theatre
Chicago Botanic Garden
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry