Experiencing the Wind in the Windy City...

After the trip to Louisville it was time to visit the familiar confines of Chicago. The trip started with a visit to Piece a pizza joint in downtown Chicago. The pizza was good, and it was a home to many local brews that had won prizes in the area. From there it was off to Hi-Tops sports bar to watch the Eagles v. Texans. Great atmosphere and they had a flip-cup tournament every Thursday. Unfortunately we passed on the flip-cup and headed out to a few other bars in the area; before finishing the night at Justin's (our usual hangout) and we shut the place down with the bartenders. And then had a late night party back at an apartment where we drank and watched "It's a Wonderful Life".

The following evening was spent at the United Center, home of the Blackhawks, and it was a jammed house. The National Anthem was out of this world...the entire building clapped along with the song and it was unlike anything I have ever seen. Our seats standing room only at the very top of the the stadium and watched the game from up above for a little bit. We then walked around the concourses of the stadium, and had Italian beef sandwiches and some beer. We were able to find some abandoned seats and watched the end of the game from them. While sitting there a Blackhawks employee came up to talk with a friend, and on his right hand was the Stanley Cup Championship Ring...covered in about 1,000 diamonds - it was pretty terrific. The Blackhawks lost 3-0 and it disappointing we didn't get to hear the goal horn. After the game we caught a train to Evanston and visited Bluestone bar for some drinks and food. From there it was back to Chicago for some late night drinking, before heading back to the hotel.

Saturday was our final night in Chicago and we spent it watching the Virginia Tech Hokies win another ACC Championship at Justin's. It also happened to be the night of a tacky Christmas sweater pub crawl, where a group of out-of-college wannabe frat-stars showed up and cause some mayhem. From pouring beers on each others' heads, filling up their own beers, and getting thrown out for belligerence - all of this was quite annoying and entertaining (to some extent). After the evening it was back to the hotel to rest up and prepare for the next week.

Form Chicago we headed to Macomb, IL which is home to Western Illinois University. Here we worked on the campus, and were referred to a place called Chick's on the Square. We visited the restaurant after work, and tried their world famous chicken lips. Basically a giant chicken tender smothered in barbecue and hot sauce....they were delicious!