Negative ghostrider, the pattern is full.
We picked the flight neither by schedule nor price, but by size. You see, when it comes to flying, size matters, and I wanted it big. Huge. Enormous enough that I wouldn't be able to feel it at all.
It was a Boeing 767-300/ER, which would not have been my first choice, but it was the next best thing after...your one flight to O'hare on a 777 is sold out? What do you mean it's sold out?! Dammit. I winced when we made the reservation, but the B767 was definitely better than the Airbus 320. That little toyplane? Please. It seats 179 people. Ain't no way I'm flying to Chicago by kite.
I had a whole bottle of Xanax in my pocket - enough to calm down Neiman's entire shoe department full of princesses when they find out that they stopped carrying Manolos. But I didn't take a single tablet. Not a one. I didn't even pay $7 for a watered-down cocktail that would fit into a thimble without the ice. I did the whole flight with no drugs, no alcohol, no s--...uh, never mind. Now what was that in-flight movie? Oh yeah, Must Love Dogs.
Just under four hours in the air at a final crusing altitude of what?!? I did not have to know how abnormally, unnaturally high up in the sky-is-made-for-birds we are. Our B767-300/ER swooped out over the Lake, I snapped that photo just before we did a final stomach-turning roll on my side of the plane so that I was hovering face-down at a 45 degree angle over a very blue Lake Michigan (now, Captain, was that completely necessary?!?)... then I'll step on the brakes and he'll fly right by. Oops. Sorry, had another Maverick moment.
We landed at Chicago's O'hare. I made it. Thank God.
All the delicious details of my rockstar vacation upon my return.
Now, somebody get me a hotdog, okay? :)
tags :: food : and drink : restaurants : reviews : chicago
Xericx says
I'm flying LAX to ORD tomorrow! Quick...recos!!!!
:)
sarah says
look through the comments here:
off to chicago!
some chicago-ans give recommendations...tru, north pond, spring...
:)
Xericx says
Thanks....I doubt I'll remember them though...this is more of a "drinking/partying" weekend than "eating" weekend.... :)
I'll grab a dog somewhere...don't know what else..Italian Beef..did the deep dish last year.....I might go to Fogo de CHao or the other big Chuscurarria over there...
djjewelz says
congrats on skipping the xanax and all that other good stuff :) Enjoy Chicago...and why go all the way to chi-town for fogo de chao when you can check it out on la cienaga?
Time to party like a rock star...Red Bull gives you wings!
sarah says
xericx - i had a dog at portillo's (i actually had NO IDEA that there was one in southern California but it was alos the closest one to my hotel), italian beef at mr. beef, pizza at gino's east, and FRONTERA GRILL, which was awesome.
going out...we went to y bar, the redhead, spy bar, k lounge, and some crazy dark place under some ghetto scary building that looked oh, murderous, but ended up being the most fun of the night ;)
Xericx says
I can't believe the crap they eat in Chicago...not saying its crap, but man....its some HEAVY food. Its good grubbin' but UNHEALTHY (compared to SoCal, at least).
I think I saw a "Superdawg" at the MIDWAY airport when I went there last time....maybe they have one at O'Hare...I saw the chain profiled on the Food Network on "The Secret Life of....Hot Dogs".
:)
sarah says
i actually wanted to go to superdawg or hot doug's (those were the recommendations from some inside chicago sources)...next time. because oh yes, there WILL be a next time. i need to visit chicago in the winter to see if i can handle it before *gulp* possibly moving out there :)
Urmea says
Oh, was the dark scary bar - Green Mill by any chance? If so its the coolest! I mean it used to be Al Capone's favorite speakeasy goshdangit...
sarah says
hmmm...you know, urmea, i have no idea! lol!
but when i go back, i'll have to hit that one up!
Xericx says
Back..had a good time.
Giordianos, Sao Carvo (great Brazillian BBQ), Heaven on 7 (Wabash), and a few other places....just kind of random in a big group so I didn't really choose the places to eat.
Bar scene was fun...usually in Wrigley ville (O'Malleys, Blue) and some other bars downtownish (Don't remember them all...heh).
sarah says
ooh! giordano's....we did gino's east instead, since it was the closest one to the airport on the day we were leaving.
the bar scene in chicago IS fun - very kick back and all about hanging out and drinking. totally different from l.a. though, somehow, i did end up at some very scene-ster-y places. LOL!