Labor Day in Chicago

I left for Chicago Friday after work (we always get out at 2:00 the day before Holiday weekends!). Two of my friends from high school, Maggie & Kate, live in Chicago. They happen to live in walking distance of each other, so that makes it super easy to visit and spend time with the both of them! Our friend, Jessica, also flew in from Austin. I haven't been with Jessica and Maggie since last Thanksgiving and it was the first time I'd seen Kate in almost two years! It really doesn't seem like it has been that long though. It isn't easy for all of us to get together anymore, but we sure do try and if 4 of us are together at once, that's pretty darn good! We had a lot of fun just hanging out, doing some "Chicago" things Jessica and I wanted to do and meeting the new BABIES of the group, Anna and Georgia! Here's the highlights:

**Breakfast at Ann Sathers. A highly regarded breakfast spot in Chicago where every meal comes with two huge, delicious cinnamon rolls (a meal all on their own)!

**Second City. I've always wanted to go to this comedy club where many SNL stars have gotten their start. Jessica and Maggie went with me and we had fun. It was an entertaining show!

**Pizza from Giordano's. I really wanted some Chicago-style pizza while we were there, and this was the best! I had the spinach pizza and it was excellent. I think I will be hunting for some Chicago-style pizza here in NYC...surely someone in Manhattan has started making deep dish pies!

**Architectural cruise. We took a boat from Navy Pier on the river through downtown Chicago. It was really cool. The weather was great and Chicago has some really pretty and interesting buildings. It was a fun way to see the city. The water was soooo blue!!

**Bar-b-que at Kate & Joe's. We had an excellent meal with burgers, chicken and all the fixin's. We ate on the back porch and chatted for a couple of hours. Maggie's brother, Andy, was also in town, so he added a whole new perspective to the gang...the high school gossip talk was in high gear! I was amazed after sitting outside all night that I had not felt one mosquito bite nor had I had a fly come near my food. Is Chicago bug-free??

**Brunch Sunday morning at Kate's house. Jessica & I cooked for the whole crew. I made goat-cheese scrambled eggs for the first time and they were a hit...definitely a recipe to hold on to. Also, my favorite creme brulee french toast. It was also fun for me to be in a nice big, clean kitchen...not quite what I have here in NYC.

**Shopping in Lincoln Park. This is an area with cute shops we just wandered around for a while. I went to Paper Source, a great store I'd been to in DC. I got a couple of things for making my own cards...I need some new hobbies, especially with the cold, dreary winter coming soon!!

Jessica, Kate (with Georgia), Maggie, and I

on Kate's porch the night of the bar-b-que

Taking my Georgia-holding time!

And time with Maggie's girl, Anna

Jessica, Anna, Maggie, and I before brunch

Monday morning

Maggie, Jessica and I on the architectural cruise

Oprah's old condo. Maggie informed

me that she used to occupy several

floors of this building.