It's OK to be Cliche : Chicago

Welcome to the Windy City: 

In my 23 (almost 24) years of life - 18 of those living in Grand Rapids - I never really got to be a tourist in Chicago. And since I moved back to Michigan for my job I have been able to visit the city a couple times for work. This has only given me a small taste of the windy city, and made me want to come back for more. Talking to my good friend, Rebecca, about this our conversation went a little like this:

Me: Hey, we should plan a weekend to Chicago sometime

R: You want to go [x] weekend?

Me: Yeah, I'm free! (Note.. I was thinking this was a hypothetical trip, and would require a little more work to make happen)
R: Ok! I just booked a hotel for us!

Me: What?

...

Me: YAYAYA!

Thus began planning a cliche chicago weekend, where I got to see, eat and shop all the popular Chicago stops.

What's the most touristy thing to do in Chicago you ask?

Visit the Bean of course.

Double tourist points if you take a selfie in the Bean. Score.

Chicago gangsters... because you know, Al Capone was a gangster... and Chi-town was his stomping grounds.

Typical Chicago Eats: See Gino East notes below

[iphone pics - thanks in part to a friend with a far superior phone than mine]

 From top to bottom:

• Sitting in the graffiti-ed up Gino's East Pizza. This place was the dabomb.com. We got a lot of suggestions to go to Giordano's... which would have been a great option if it didn't include waiting in line for an hour outside... at 3 in the afternoon! Means it's good right? Well, let me tell you, if Gino East's was exceptional, Giordano's must be out of this world. We'll compare in our next visit.
• That is my imitation of a Dolce & Gabanna model - bushy black flowers on your head are totally in. [If you're seriously interested.. these blackened flowers were found at H&M]
• Ok... that IS a bathroom selfie with my good friend Rebecca. Yes. I know, I know. But bathroom selfies aren't as bad if you take them with someone else right?? Anyways, this was before meeting up with some friends in Wicker Park - a great place to go out for a younger crowd.
• Bottom pictures - we got one good one, but it took awhile. Apparently in the first one we took I had a Tyra Bank's forehead. It was quite hilarious.

For my next visit (which will hopefully be in the near future) I'll need some local favorites away from the tourist destinations. Care to share?

Cheers!

Naomi Joy