Chicago :: February 2015

Oh, what a real adventure. I flew from Tampa to O'Hare (with a layover in Atlanta), and was scheduled to arrive in Chicago at three. I added a mini trip onto my Florida trip so that I could go to IKEA, eat cupcakes, and visit a couple friends.

Do you know what happened on February first (aside from the Super Bowl, apparently)? A blizzard in Chicago.

As soon as we touched ground in Atlanta and I turned the cellular service back on on my phone, there was a text from Delta letting me know that my flight to Chicago was delayed by an hour. Not a big deal to me, since the Atlanta airport is gigantic and that would give me time to get to my next gate and grab something to eat. {I treated myself to my first pinkberry.}

I sat down at the gate to eat my froyo, and I was texting my parents to let them know what was going on with the flight. I received a facebook message from the friend that I was supposed to meet up with the next night to see his wife's band, and he was giving me updates about the weather in Chicago. He was convinced that I wasn't going to get into Chicago until midday Monday.

We boarded the plane for our scheduled (delayed) departure, but then they had to add extra fuel, which took a few minutes longer than it should have, as we had to wait for the fuel truck, and then there was traffic on the tarmac (?) once we left the gate, so we got off the ground about half an hour late, I would guess.

Everything was going just fine on the flight. I finished reading my book and I listened to music, and the person I was sitting next to was quiet.

Around four o'clock, the pilot told us that we were orbiting just southeast of Lake Michigan, waiting for a vehicle to get off the runway so we could land.

Half an hour later, the pilot is talking to us again, telling us that we have to reroute to St. Louis, which is about a forty-five minute flight. Once we land there, it takes a few extra minutes before we are all allowed off the plane to stretch our legs, but we are asked to stay near the gate so that they can let us know what's going on, as they don't yet have a plan.

At the gate, everyone was trying to plug in their phones, which I thought was really funny. See, this is why I like to charge my phone every day so that it's at 100% for a while. I kind of freak out if it gets below half, and I have never let it die. As soon as we touched ground, I was looking to see about flights from St. Louis back to Green Bay, but the last one for the night was just about to leave.

After maybe half an hour of being at the gate (next to a restaurant called Grounded in St. Louis...), we were told that we were refueling and would be boarding the plane again to head back to Chicago. We couldn't board by scanning our boarding passes like last time, so we had to just show them our boarding pass and we were marked off on a list.

It took us a little while to get off the ground in St. Louis, but before long we were on the ground in Chicago, just after eight o'clock. Then the pilot told us it was going to be about half an hour before there was a gate open for us...

It was a whole hour after we landed by the time I was standing in the airport. I hadn't really had much for lunch, as I was planning on grabbing something in Chicago before going to the hotel (around three, when I was supposed to land), so I was starving. There was like nothing open in the airport though, but I managed to get a red velvet drink from Argo Tea, even though they had technically closed.

I got down to baggage claim, and we had to wait a few minutes for the bags to start coming out, as it was so cold on the rolly thing outside that it had barely been moving. Bags start coming out, and finally I grab my suitcase. It was around ten when I went outside and got in line for a taxi.

There were about half a dozen people in front of me. The woman in front of me said that she was probably going to go inside soon and just call a cab, since there were no cabs coming up to the stand, they were all going to prearranged, otherwise there were just hotel shuttles (but not for where I was standing) and limo services. The woman in front of her was a local, and she said that if she got a cab, the three of us could share. The woman who was just in front of me went inside a few minutes later, and then a few minutes after that, the local woman went to see about one of the black cars. I waited a few more minutes and then went inside myself to call a cab.

I was looking through the search results on Google, and I didn't know who to call because they either all had bad ratings or were closed at this time of day. I spotted the local woman again, and I asked her who to call. She had said that she usually uses Uber (which I don't have because we don't have that where I live), and then she said that she was just going to take the train and I could come with her if I wanted.

That's what I ended up doing, and this stranger was just so wonderful. I didn't even get her name, but she helped me figure out how to pay for my ticket and get on the train and made sure I knew where I was going. She got off at the Chicago stop, and we went over again that I would get off at Jackson and then grab a cab from there.

I got off at Jackson, and I went upstairs and had some problems getting through the turnstile with my large suitcase. I ended up talking to one of the workers, and I asked him about getting a cab. He checked and said that there weren't any, so I should take the red line (I was on blue before) to Chicago, and then my hotel was only a few blocks from there.

It was around 11:30 when I got on the red line, as the blue line train took a long time to get where I was going. I actually had to ask someone which train to get on to get back to the Chicago stop. That ride was only about ten minutes, so it was twenty to midnight when I got there. I went upstairs and outside and followed a map on my phone to get to the hotel.

Now, the streets and sidewalks had a bit of snow on them, and my suitcase weighed about twenty-seven pounds. It was almost midnight, but it was pretty light downtown there. I was near the Magnificent Mile and there were hardly any cars or people around.

I followed the map for a few blocks, and then I looked at it again and thought it was looking like I went past my destination, so I turned around and walked a block back. There was a guy outside with his snowblower, so I asked him. He didn't know, so he directed me inside the building (which was an apartment/condo complex or a hotel, not sure), and the guy at the desk in there helped me, telling me that this was 0 Chestnut, so 100 Chestnut was one or maybe two blocks up.

I went back outside, and continued on my walk. It turns out that I had been right there, only yards away, when I turned around.

I finally got checked into the Tremont at midnight. The desk clerk was wonderful and went up to my room with me to make sure that the key was working because their internet was down when I checked in. It was good that he went with me, because the key confused me, as it was just a white card on both sides, which you just hold in front of the sensor.

I got settled in and took a few pictures before crashing and going to bed.

This was the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. I imagine this is what a cloud feels like.

I just really liked their carpet.

The view from my window on the 14th floor was this Presbyterian church. So gorgeous, but I couldn't quite capture it in a photograph.

On Monday, I took a couple hours to walk around the Magnificent Mile, and I did some window shopping. I actually went to Anthropolgie for the first time, and if I had a lot of money to spend, I would spend it there. Most of the reason that I was coming to Chicago in the first place was for cupcakes and IKEA, so I went to Sprinkles and picked up a red velvet for myself and some mini cupcakes for my cousin. (:

The next day, I took a taxi to O'Hare to pick up my rental car (which ended up being a Fiat, because if you make fun of people driving a certain car, that will be the next car you drive...), and then I drove to IKEA. I didn't end up getting the desk I was planning on buying, but I did buy myself a new tablecloth, a bowl to replace the one I broke, and an LED nightlight, because I dropped the one that I had gotten from the utility company. I also picked up a new pillow for the motel, and then I drove to Green Bay, where my mom picked me up and brought me home.

xoxo.

St. Petersburg :: Where I Ate & Drank

Here's a little glimpse at some of the places where I ate and drank while I was in St. Petersburg, Florida!

Lunch at Central Perks, which is apparently Friends-themed, but seeing as I haven't really watched that show, I have no idea if it is or not. There's a cool mural on the wall in there though. The sandwich was delicious, and I loved having it on a croissant (one of four for my vacation...). I also had a strawberry and peach smoothie because you got to pick your fruits! (:

The first time I ever had lobster, at Sloppy Joe's. I don't really like seafood, but I figured I would try it anyway. Plus, it was in macaroni and cheese... I didn't like the lobster, but the mac and cheese was good!

Of course I had to see a Geri X show while I was down in St. Pete, and I was able to see her play on Friday night at Reno Downtown Joint. This was the first time I've seen her since before my birthday, and she knew that I was now of age and made me drink whiskey with her. This picture is one of the many hilarious pictures commemorating my "whiskey cherry popping," as she called it. The Jameson was not my favorite, but the Fireball that I had before that wasn't bad.

Our first stop the next day was Cafe Del Mar for shots of Fireball. It was pretty early in the afternoon at this point and I still hadn't had lunch... Geri enjoys making fun of me for not being able to down the whole shot at once.

We walked and walked and went through the garden at the Dali, and then we finally ended up at the Hangar for lunch. It was so cool getting to watch the little planes land and takeoff while we were eating! The special that day included a chicken quesadilla, chicken and rice soup, and a little salad, and it was really good.

We set off on our walk again and ended up at the Canopy, where we had champagne and hung out with some more friends. The rooftop bar and little bit I saw of the restaurant are gorgeous, and I checked out their hotel rooms online and they are stunning! The view from the rooftop bar was incredible.

I also had to eat at Chick-fil-A while I was down south, since they're aren't any near me, and I ate at the Tap Room at the Hollander Hotel (where I stayed) a few times. I had breakfast there once, along with a salad for dinner, and both were good. I grabbed a latte and a muffin at their coffeeshop a couple times too.

Additionally, when I was with my friends, they grabbed dinner and a drink at Locale Market (so cute) and then a drink at Cassis (also gorgeous). I stopped into the Fresh Market a couple times for some fruit and snacks.

xoxo.

St. Petersburg :: What I Did

I didn't really do a lot of interesting things on my vacation, but here are some pictures anyway!

Basically, I just drove around a lot and looked at stuff. This picture above is from Mirror Lake. I walked a lap around the lake and pissed off some ducks.

I went to the Holocaust Museum (no photos allowed), and then after lunch I headed over to the Salvador Dali Museum. The parking there was $10, but just a couple blocks down you could park for $4, so I did that and walked and saw this nice view. (:

They also had Picasso at the Dali, which was awesome!! My favorite thing to see was the hand-drawn sketches, and their handwritten correspondence.

Of course I had to at least set foot into the Gulf of Mexico while I was there. This is on Treasure Island.

I tend to look at Google Maps to figure out where to go while I'm on vacation, and I found Fort de Soto Fort Park, which is where I ended up on Friday morning. It was so beautiful! The pictures don't even do it justice.

I went back to Treasure Island on Friday night to take some pictures at sunset. (:

Of course I also went to see one of my friends perform at a local bar, but that'll be in the where I ate and drank post. I also went to see the manatees at TECO, but I didn't get any great pictures there.

xoxo.

St. Petersburg :: Where I Stayed

My plan is to break up my trip to Florida over just a few posts: where I stayed, what I did, and where I ate/drank. My days weren't too full of things, so it would be too boring to do by day! (:

I stayed at the Hollander Hotel, which is located downtown. The downstairs of the hotel contains not only the lobby and guest rooms, but also a restaurant and bar called the Tap Room and a coffeeshop, and they are attached to a spa, I believe. They were doing some construction while I was there, and I think I heard that it is a pool and/or fitness center.

The Hollander was built in the early 1930s and changed hands a few times before it was vacant for a few years, and has been open again for about three years, I think.

This is part of the lobby. I just loved the way that everything was decorated. There was also ample outside seating on the porch, and I had breakfast out there twice.

It's a three-story building (I stayed on the third floor), and both stairwells have a window with a chair. This is the one between the first and second floors. There is also a little sitting/lounge area on the second and third floors.

Since the building is older, of course the rooms are on the smaller side. I don't need a lot of space, so it was perfect for me. This is the view right when you walk in the door.

The in-room amenities included a microwave, mini fridge, coffeemaker, and a cd player/radio. I unplugged that alarm clock the second night because it had gone off at midnight the night before... I found it a little strange that not only was there no phone in the room, but there was also no guest services book.

The bathroom was really tiny, but I fell in love with the floors as soon as I saw them. I am a sucker for honeycomb tile, and those shiny wood floors were gorgeous. Unfortunately having hard floors in the hallway (and thinner walls) means that noise does carry, but it wasn't terrible.

Here's a view of the hallway! I think that if the rugs were thicker, that might help absorb some of the noise.

And this is the car I rented, Marshmallow, a 2015 Nissan Versa Note. I really liked it! It was obviously a bit bigger than the Beetle that I usually drive, but it wasn't too large!

xoxo.

Travel Tuesday: Whistler/Vancouver, British Columbia

Helene used to do a linkup on Tuesdays for travel posts, and this was written in April 2013, with the intention of posting it to linkup! It's been sitting in my drafts for over a year, and I really want to publish it, so here it is.

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Linking up once again with Helene! I love this linkup because it's so fun to read about other people's vacations and see their pictures of their travels!

My short list of travels is quickly ending, but I have a few ideas up my sleeve for some upcoming weeks! (:

This post is heavier on words than pictures, since I wasn't the greatest at documenting things when I was fifteen.

Anyway. So in August of 2008, literally the day after I turned fifteen, my parents and I went to Whistler and Vancouver, British Columbia for about a week. We spent a majority of our stay in Whistler, and one day + one night in Vancouver. We flew into Vancouver and then took a shuttle bus (2-3 hours, I think) up into the mountains.

We stayed in the village of Whistler, where there are no cars; it is relatively easy to walk everywhere. There were lots of stores, restaurants (including three Starbucks), and hotels nearby.

My dad participated in a three day downhill biking camp while we were there. While we were there, Crankworx was happening. Crankworx is an annual ten-day biking festival. Because of the festival, there were a lot of booths, tents, and other activities going on in the streets during our stay.

This picture was taken from somewhere in the village, with a hotel on either side, the mountain in the middle, and then you can see some of the tents from the festival in the center.

On our second full day in Whistler, Mom and I went on a zipline tour. "Our guides were Sue and Richard, a really hot guy from New Zealand. He had a nice accent." {taken directly from my journal hahaha}

Here I am on one of the ziplines! The longest line that we did was as long as the Eiffel Tower is tall!

The view from the mountains.

My mom and I would go for walks through the village during the day. We found the beautiful library, and a grocery store that wasn't in the village area that we were in {it was just outside the car-less part}, and I was so fascinated that everything was labeled in French & English. I may or may not have taken pictures of canned SpongeBob pasta and Lucky Charms boxes. {okay, fine, I took pictures of like everything.}

After three full days in Whistler, we took the shuttle back to Vancouver, where we spent a full day. I really wanted to go to the Louis Vuitton store {even though I still can't afford anything from there!}, so we took public transit, aka buses that I did not like, into the main part of the city, and we walked around trying to find the street where all of the high end stores are located. It turns out we walked right past it, but we continued walking until we got to Stanley Park.

I guess I thought this tree was cool?

There was a garden with lots of pretty flowers!

After supper, we must have asked someone how to get to Louis Vuitton, and we found out that we had passed the street that it was located on! We actually went in the bebe store {where my mom got asked to not take pictures of the mannequins haha} that was on the cross-street of where I wanted to be.

I was surprised that there were three Starbucks locations so close to one another in Whistler, but there were so many more in Vancouver! There was one on practically every corner, and there were even two locations that were kitty-corner from one another. Obviously, I am from a small town, where the closest Starbucks is nearly an hour away! (:

Check out some more travels over at Helene's:

Minneapolis Days Four & Five

{this post contains fifty-two photos. I'll try to use less words (:}

5 March 2014

Today started out earlier than my other days, and I went out to get a doughnut for breakfast!

I went to Glam Doll Donuts, which has a vintage pin-up theme, and it seriously the cutest place! It reminded me of home.

They have a ton of vintage furniture and knick-knacks, (the straws are in a vintage Swiss Miss can!) and some pin-up artwork.

I had their Calendar Girl doughnut, which is chocolate salted caramel. It wasn't messy until I got to the salted caramel center! My hot chocolate mug had a star at the bottom, and I thought that was pretty cute. My camera wouldn't focus on the star though.

Before I left, I took a walk around and looked at the rest of their vintage furniture and decorations. I just noticed the tiny white table and chairs in this picture!

The other place I considered going for breakfast was right across the street: The Bad Waitress. They have some cool neon.

I took a walk around the block and saw this interesting church.

I went over to the Basilica of St. Mary, but I didn't have a five dollar bill for parking, so I had to leave. I ended up driving to St. Paul to go to the cathedral there.

I found this street sign on the way there and had to laugh.

The Cathedral of St. Paul is such a huge and beautiful church. Those center doors are only used on special occasions, according to the sign on the door.

I walked around inside the church for a little while, and then I walked around the outside of the church. Both the inside and the outside are so beautiful.

After I left the cathedral, I went to Electric Fetus, which I thought was a pretty funny transition. Electric Fetus has a ton of cool gifts and things in addition to lots of music. I bought some postcards for my dad and the motel.

I ended up back over at the Bad Waitress for lunch. Not only did they have red plastic cups and formica tables, but they also had the same sugar shaker that we have at the motel, so I knew that I was in the right place. They have notepads and pencils at the tables because you write down what you want to eat and drink, and then you bring it up to the counter and pay, and then they bring your food out for you. I had the grilled three cheese, which came with tortilla chips.

I took a walk around the block and went to a thrift shop, but I didn't find anything that I liked. (I did a lot of walking while I was in Minneapolis, but I forgot to use Nike+ to track my walks.)

I drove over to the sculpture garden next, and parked at the Walker Gallery.

One of the first sculptures I saw was this blue snowman thing. I managed to grab the last brochure about the garden, so I'll have to read it and figure out what I saw while I was there!

Of course I had to see spoonbridge and cherry as well. My manager called this Claus, and I have no idea why. Like I said, I'll have to take a look at that brochure. I was expecting this to be much bigger than it was. Also, can someone maybe explain to me why this is a symbol of Minneapolis?

I loved seeing all of the paths through the snow.

There was a walkway over I-94 to Hennepin Avenue, so I took that and went to visit the basilica and a few cathedrals.

There were some pretty sights on the way to the Basilica of St. Mary.

What a huge, beautiful church.

The inside was gorgeous as well. They were preparing for the Ash Wednesday evening service.

 I love the sunflares in this picture of the Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church.

I walked around the building trying to find a way in, but all of the doors were locked. Pretty funny because that sign states that this is a fallout shelter.

I also walked around outside Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, but I didn't try to go inside this one.

I walked back over to the sculpture garden and I made another loop there before I went back to the parking garage. I was going to go to the Galleria in Edina, but I must have had the wrong address, so I ended up going back to the hotel because I was tired.

I relaxed in the room for a little bit, and then I went downstairs to Manny's Steakhouse for dinner. I had the tomato and mozzarella salad (I didn't really like the red wine vinaigrette) and the salmon.

I went back to the room and relaxed and watched the sunset!

6 March 2014

I had started packing the night before, so I finished that up and took some last photos of the skyline. I hung out at the hotel until about ten, when I went over to IKEA.

I had breakfast there (cinnamon roll and milk!), and then I walked around the showroom to look at desks, which I totally forgot to do on Monday.

When I got downstairs, I picked up the dishes and silverware that I wanted, and I also got a pillow. After I got checked out, I went outside and buckled the dishes in. I did not want those to slide around while I was driving.

I started my drive east, and I stopped to get gas before I left Minnesota. It was such a boring drive. I stopped in Green Bay for Sam's Club and gas, and I got home around five.

xoxo.