Lollapalooza & an Australian Guest

I’m back.  Took a two week hiatus from blogging while finally having a week off of work during which, well, I didn’t miss working.  My best Australian friend came to visit the United States, and stayed with me for a week.  I’m a very passionate person, and extremely passionate about things I love.  To be able to share all of the American/Chicago customs that I am obsessed with, was a ton of fun.  It was also great repaying him for the great time he showed me in his Country. 

Here are some of the highlights I was able to share…

• Lollapalooza: The amazing music festival in Grant Park for three days.  My first thought was, “this is the most fun you can have with your clothes on”.  However, this analogy didn’t work well since I was wearing a tank top, which I kept taking off.  Performances I enjoyed most were Two Door Cinema, Afrojak (and many others in the Perry’s Stage), Coldplay, Deadmau5, Eminem, Arctic Monkeys, Foster the People, and others.  There’s not a ton of times in life where I’ll be able to spend 72 hours drinking, partying, getting super dirty and listening to music, so I really tried to enjoy the moment. 
• Architectural Tour in Chicago River: This is a must do for anyone visiting Chicago, and anyone who lives in Chicago (so everyone). In the summer, I’d argue there’s not a more beautiful place than downtown Chicago.  On a beautiful day, cruising down the Chicago River and checking out some of the amazing buildings is unbeatable.  There’s so much history in our city, and one of the best places to learn is on this tour.
• White Sox Game: America’s pastime.  It was Kevo’s (Australian Friend) 2nd baseball game ever, so a cool experience for him.  He had taken me to a few Australian sporting events when I was there, so it was awesome to do the same.  Unfortunately the White Sox couldn’t figure out how to hit the baseball or win the game.  Fortunately we had a few Chicago Style Hot Dogs, so I could mark that off the list of must-do’s.
• Portillo’s: I might argue that Portillo’s is the best fast-ish food restaurant in the world.  You walk up and order, and your food is ready relatively fast.  Kevo was staring at the menu so I grabbed him and said, “I’m ordering for You!”.  I ordered Kevo an Italian Beef (which he had never heard of and shook his head when I ordered), and Cheese Fries (which he’d never tried).  He said it was one of the greatest meals of his life, I’d have to agree.  Discount the fact that we’d been drinking at a music fest without food all day.
• A Gyro: I don’t know how, but he’d never had one before.  He loved it.
• Lou Malnatis:  If Chicagoans agree on anything, its that you can’t beat our deep dish pizza.  Our pizza is the best in the world, no doubt about it.  What we don’t agree on however, is where the best pizza comes from.  There’s ‘Pizzeria Uno’ & 'Pizzeria Due’, 'Gino’s East’, and if you want to include it in the list 'Giordano’s’ has some delicious stuffed pizza (notice my italics, I don’t think this is true Chicago style).  Personally, I don’t think it gets better than Lou Malnati’s.  If you are in a Lou’s, and order the deep dish, its one of the best experiences a person can have.  The Australian, and my roommates who had never tried it before, all agreed.
• Oak Street Beach: After the Great Chicago Fire, the developers of Chicago decided that no one could build along the lakefront.  This gives Chicago some beautiful views along our lakefront.  Oak Street Beach is a great place to enjoy the views.  Its nestled right off Michigan Avenue, so your backdrop on one side is the John Hancock center.  When you look left of there you can see Navy Pier.  Left of this angle is beautiful lake Michigan, and as you continue your turn you see down the lake front to North Avenue beach and the northern part of Chicago.  I recommenced to everyone to walk from Oak Street Beach to North Avenue Beach.  The area is so active with people, and the backdrop is beautiful.  Not a better way to spend a day in Chicago.

Overall, I enjoyed sharing the things I love.  The experience allows you to appreciate the best aspects of your life, and it allowed me to pay Kevo back for giving me some of the best experiences in my life in his wonderful country of Australia. 

If you’ve never tried any of the items I’ve listed above, get on it quick.