Louisville and Chicago

I just got back from Louisville and Chicago. My flight has a long layover in my home city, so I got a chance to stop at the house for a while and update my website.

The first thing I did when I got into Louisville was check in at my hotel. I didn't stay at the recommended cushy hotel because I had an immediate flight and I didn't want to leave getting to the airport to chance. So I rented a car but the extra cost forced me to stay in a flophouse north of the river in Indiana. All was well though because it allowed me to explore the north side of the river.



The river is dammed right at Louisville and the dam was massive. It was quite impressive to see such a massive river contained at one point. If I was crazy I would take my kayak into the turbulence downstream from the dam a bit, but I'm not crazy.



The night before my interview I ate at a BBQ place called Mark's Feed Store. It is a BBQ joint that was made out of an old feed store.

The ambiance was unique to say the least.


I got the pulled pork sandwich platter.

Mark's sauce is a mustard based sauce which was very tasty. I would associate their type of mustard sauce more with Georgia. I highly recommend stopping in if you are in Louisville.

After the interview I flew up to Chicago. I arrived late so I didn't do a whole lot except stop off at Portillo's.




I got an Italian Beef and Sausage Combo.

A beef and sausage combo is just that, roast beef soaked in juice with a grilled Italian sausage and hot Giardinera peppers. Its was amazingly tasty, especially when combined with some cheese fries.

I stayed with a cousin up in Lincoln Park. I got up early the next morning and hopped on the el to my interview.




It is a little more trouble to take public transportation but if you are on a budget like me I would highly recommend looking into it. Don't be afraid of using public transportation.

After my interview I was HUNGRY. I walked around the corner from my cousin's apartment to a place that I used to stop at occasionally.



After stepping inside, I quickly realized why I didn't eat there very often. It was packed with people from the suburbs who were taking their kids to the zoo. I got out of there quickly and walked up the street to the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Restaurant.



This restaurant has the dubious distinction of being located directly across the street from where the St. Valentine's Day Massacre took place. There used to be a garage there but now it is just an empty lot.



The atmosphere inside was close and dark.


As it turns out, the pizza they serve is actually a pizza pot pie!



It was a very unique take on pizza. To make it they place a layer of cheese on the bottom of an oven proof bowl. Then they fill the bowl with sausage, mushrooms, onions, and marinara. Then they cover the bowl with a round piece of thinly rolled out dough and bake it in the oven. TO serve it they turn it over on the plate and use a spoon to shell it out. It was delicious and I am very glad I ate there. It gives me a new project to work on when I finally get back from purgatory.

We ate a late dinner at a famous Chicago joint called Twin Anchors.


It is the place that the movie Return to Me was shot at. Why do they call it Twin Anchor's you ask?


They don't much care for people dancing inside.

They are 'famous' for the 'best ribs.' I looked at the $20 tag and figured it was a little out of my price range. I got a hamburger instead which was unremarkable. Someone at the table did get ribs and gave me one. I must very strongly disagree with their claim to having the 'best ribs.' They might have the best ribs in that building, but even the slop they serve at Applebee's is better. If you want the best ribs in Chicago, just head up to Irving Park Road to a place called the N&N smoke house. Now those are tasty ribs!

After dinner we went to this bar called the River Shannon.


It is famous amongst our group of friends, especially my cousin and a certain ex boyfriend, for another reason. I liked the atmosphere a lot.


And that was my trip. Next weekend is Virginia.