#CatTravels: Views from Chicago

By November 28, 2011 #CatTravels, Food

I love Chicago.

I lived in the area about 10 years ago — and have always considered it to be one of my favorite cities in the world.

It’s home to about 3 million people — the most populous city in the Midwest — with a ton to do, from listening to blues in a club in downtown to biking on the long stretches of pathways that run along Lake Michigan. There are great restaurants, great museums, great architecture, great shows. You just can’t see and do it all in just three days — and that’s all we had.

So we made the most of it.

Here’s what we did on the last two days of our Chicago jaunt:

White Palace Grill

Image 1 of 63

You gotta love a diner that claims to be a respite from "carmelized onions" and "infused sauces."

Follow my adventures on Twitter (@thedailydish) and Facebook. Powered by Oceanic Mobile.

You Might Also Like

Cat Chat: Fashionable dogs

By November 25, 2011 Musings, The Daily Dish, Videos

Christmas isn’t just for humans.

If you’re looking for a gift for your pooch — or your dog-owning friend — consider a local-style kimono or yukata from Hawaii-based Inu Inu Hawaii, an Asian-inspired dog apparel and accessories line created by Sasha Dominy.

She will be one of hundreds of vendors at the 25th annual Islandwide Crafts & Food Expo, happening today through Sunday at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall. It’s one of my favorite places to find unique gifts for Christmas — and if I weren’t in Chicago, I would totally be there. Probably all weekend.

So we talked with Sasha’s mom, Mary, about this adorable fashion line for dogs — Sunny and Indy are fans — and where you can get ’em in time for Christmas.

You Might Also Like

#CatTravels: Go Wildcats

By November 24, 2011 #CatTravels, Food

Some of my favorite memories of living in Chicago center around Evanston, Ill.

This quaint suburb 12 miles north of Chicago is home to Northwestern University, a private research university that I attended back in the late ’90s.

The little college town is home to about 74,000 residents — and equally as many coffee shops. It was one of the first places I had wanted to take Derek on our jaunt to Chicago.

So on our second day in the Windy City, we walked along Michigan Avenue for a bit, then drove up Lake Shore Drive to Evanston to see my old haunts.

Here’s what yesterday looked like:

Vasche the Diva

Image 1 of 31

The highlight of my Chicago trip has been hanging out with my friends, Lorna and Vince, and their cats, Vasche and Monji. I mean, look at her face!

Follow my adventures on Twitter (@thedailydish) and Facebook. Powered by Oceanic Mobile.

You Might Also Like

#CatTravels: Arriving in Chicago

By November 23, 2011 #CatTravels, Food

I haven’t been back to Chicago in years, and ask Derek, I talk about this city all the time.

I loved my time here, from the restaurant we’d frequent to the swing dancing classes we’d take on Wednesday nights to the late-night el rides back to the apartment after a long day on campus.

There were so many places I missed: New Japan in Evanston (which closed), used bookstores and coffee shops on every block, professional sports. And the food scene here is vibrant and dynamic, with new restaurants always opening and old familiar eateries hanging on with loyal patrons and great food.

I had been bugging Derek to go with me to Chicago, so he could see all the places I used to eat, the people I used to hang out with, the things I used to do. So, since I was going to be in Madison, which is just a three-hour drive away, I thought, “Why not make it a side trip to Chicago?”

So we hopped in our rental car and drove to Chicago — via a craft brewery and Milwaukee,of course.

Here’s what our first day in Chicago looked like:

The Wongs

Image 1 of 28

We helped celebrate our friend Lorna Wong's birthday last night. She deserved a night out on the town, for sure!

Follow my adventures on Twitter (@thedailydish) and Facebook. Powered by Oceanic Mobile.

You Might Also Like

#CatTravels: Quiet Monday with fries

By November 22, 2011 #CatTravels, Food

We’ve been eating a lot.

Duck strudel, gourmet cupcakes, hand-tossed pizzas, cheese curds.

We needed to burn some calories, STAT.

Luckily, it warmed up this morning — reaching the mid-40s — with bright skies. Perfect running weather. So we laced up our shoes — and wore as many layers as possible for a three-mile jog — and headed out the door and to the runner-friendly Lakeshore Path.

It was the only way we could justify eating at Five Guys later.

Here’s what our quiet Monday in Madison looked like:

Let's go running

Image 1 of 17

We got up and decided we needed to burn some of the calories we've been intaking lately. So we laced up and headed outside.

Follow my adventures on Twitter (@thedailydish) and Facebook. Powered by Oceanic Mobile.

You Might Also Like