Kiwis and Fairy Bread

16 June 2025

Having done many of the standard tourist sites, it was time to explore another side of Chicago. Getting together with my cousin Janice was the perfect opportunity to do that.

Now understand that I have a LOT of cousins. And I enjoy spending time with every one of them. Coming to Chicago was a great excuse to spend time with Janice herself, without the energy numbers of a big Daley Family Gathering (yes, I understand that Daley is a big name in this city. But other than Janice, I don’t think there is any other connection)

When she called to ask us where we would like to meet up, we answered “the hipster neighborhood”. Wicker Park, she said, fit the bill. It was a quick ride on The L for us, and a 90 minute drive from the suburban town where Janice now lives with her husband and teen/adult children.

Immediately we loved the vibe. No shiny skyscrapers, just an old fashioned business district filled with young people, vintage clothes, sustainable gift shops, cafes and plentiful coffee. We met up with Janice at Myopic Books, a classic used book store with floor to ceiling reclaimed wood book shelves and a rickety stair case. Sections were labeled on cards written with black sharpie. Mike and I courted in shops such as this. He perused the large photography section as Janice and I wandered and caught up on the family news. I bought a book to read on the train.

Chatting as we wandered up and down the streets, in and out of shops, tasted some bean to bar chocolate and ate a nice breakfast for lunch at a cafe.

Janice came out here from New Jersey for college and quickly fell in love with Chicago, and then her husband, so she stayed. Raised three kids in the suburbs and has hope of moving back into the city proper. We three get along great. Cousins do make the best of friends.

On the way home we swung by Union Station to take a look at the Amtrak Lounge. A big to do was being set up “Some kind fancy award is being given” said a guard. We later found it was The James Beard Awards! I cannot tell you how many times I have read about James Beard Awards winners in cookbooks and cooking blogs. But alas, I was not to have my brush with culinary greatness. Because I needed a nap.

After walking about 25 miles around this city in 3 days I was tired: wished I was already on the train where I could sleep for three solid days. But after a quick reboot dinner called.

The plan was to seek out some Chicago Deep Dish Pizza at a famous spot down the road. Now at home, I make a great Chicago Deep Dish: A laminated yeasted dough enhance with cornmeal, a nice thick sauce with turkey sausage, just a bit of mozzarella on top. What I saw didn’t look deep or appealing, so we went instead we grabbed shake and burger inside The Willis (pronounced “Sears”) Tower (once the tallest building in the world, it no longer stands out amongst the many shiny sky scrapers along the river).

We ordered to-go and ate at a, in my opinion, hidden gem of the city: The Green at Canal Street. This oval courtyard has little tables and chairs on an impeccable manicured lawn. It was quiet. There was a cart filled with board games. Fearing the breeze would blow away the cards from The Dating Game, we took out Connect Four and played a few rounds. Another cart was filled with books. We’d just missed an open poetry reading (sigh!) so instead, read a few pieces aloud each other. A lovely end to a lovely day.

Tomorrow we leave this city to board The California Zephyr. What a treat that will be!