Other Things To Do In Chicago Before You Die

1) The Museum of Science and Industry

You could easily spend an entire day at this museum and not see everything. However, if you could only do one thing there, you must see the U-505 German submarine.

The captured WWII sub has been on permanent exhibition at the museum for over 50 years. The sub used to sit outside the museum and you would take a brief tour through the interior by going out a covered walkway straight into the sub. You really didn't get a grasp of how large the ship was because you really only saw the exterior when you were driving up to the museum.

In the late 90's, museum curators noticed that brutal Chicago winters were destroying the hull of the sub, and in 2004 a major renovation and relocation project were undertaken to move the sub to the other side of the building and place it in a covered, bunker style exhibit space.

The new space is amazing. The story of how the sub was captured, what became of the prisoners, and how the sub was brought to Chicago are all fascinating. But I guess the engineer in me was most riveted by this:

How they got the sub into it's new permanent home:

2) Shedd Aquarium

This place is like an aquarium on steroids. Even without the sea life, the building itself is gorgeous and blends classic and contemporary architectural styles into a structure nestled right up against Lake Michigan. The exhibits are world class and feature sharks, dolphins, sea lions, and my favorite the beluga whales. To really make it a day, when you finish at Shedd's, go over to the Field Museum next door to see Sue, the world's largest and most complete T. Rex skeleton.

3) The Navy Pier

You can enjoy the Navy Pier without spending a dime (although if you want to spend it's pretty easy as this venue features tons of restaurants, bars, shopping, and boat tours). Walking casually along the pier will give you great views of the city, Lake Michigan, and of course, people watching. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Navy Pier also hosts free fireworks every Wednesday and Saturday night.

4) The Hancock Observatory

I've been to the top of the Sears Tower and it's no great shakes. You pay $15, they whisk you up to the Skydeck and on most days the view is obscured by cloud cover. That's it folks.

For the same price you can do the Hancock Observatory (the Hancock Building is the other black skyscraper with two distinctive white antennas on Chicago's skyline - you can see it in the photo above behind the Ferris Wheel). The Hancock Building's observation deck also features a nice little museum of Chicago history, and since the building is not as tall as the Sears Tower, the view is not obstructed by clouds.

Life List Item #53 Completed: Eat at the Superdawg in Chicago, IL

The Superdawg in Chicago is one of the few original carhop restaurants still operating in the United States. It was opened in 1948 by Maurie and Flaurie Berman, who still run it today with the help of their children. For just being a little hot dog stand, the Superdawg boasts enough distinctive features to make it a favorite with locals and tourists alike.

It all starts when you drive up and feast your eyes upon the anthropomorphic hot dogs standing on top of the restaurant. I've said it here before, and I'll say it again; I am a sucker for giant, fiberglass statues of anything. If you have 8 foot tall fiberglass people-weenies gracing your building, I'm like a moth to a flame. I have to eat there.

The restaurant itself does not appear to have changed much since the 1950's, and still retains the metal ordering boxes to order from your car.

We actually ate at the Superdawg twice while in Chicago, and both times it was packed with locals and tourists alike. The food is tasty, inexpensive, and distinctively packaged. Your hamburger or hot dog comes snuggled in a little box with crinkle-cut french fries, a pickle, hot peppers, and a unique-to-Superdawg pickled green tomato (pictured here is the "Whoopercheesie" double cheeseburger on dark rye bread).

I highly recommend the milkshakes! One Superdawg nestled in french fries will run you $4.95, and in Chicago, you're not going to get a slice of Americana any cheaper than that. The Superdawg is a fun, nostalgic, and economic must do in Chicago!
For more Superdawg: http://www.superdawg.com/default.cfm
For a laugh, click on "FAQs", then go to the video of Maurie discussing why ketchup is not included on a Superdawg with everything.

Life List Item #52 Completed: Eat at Charlie Trotter's in Chicago, IL

Charlie Trotter's is regarded as one of the best restaurants in the world. As a restaurant, they set the standard for fine dining and service, and they have an award-winning record to back it up (http://www.charlietrotters.com/restaurant/).

Charlie Trotter the chef has appeared on many PBS cooking shows, authored over a dozen cookbooks, and is well known around Chicago for his involvement in community outreach and philanthropic activities. His culinary philosophy revolves around using fresh, healthful, and organic ingredients to create balanced and visually striking food. His sauces are made by and large out of fruits and vegetables. You don't see a lot of cheese or cream-based items on his menu. I would say the emphasis is definitely on healthful fine dining.

All that being said, eating at his restaurant was high on my life to-do-list.

Before I get to the food, let me just say that the service by the waitstaff was bar none. You want to feel like royalty the moment you walk in the door? Go here. We got the best table in the house (it's upstairs and overlooks the entrance to the foyer), just because I asked the maitre'd for it. The waitstaff at this restaurant are all salaried and it shows. They know the menu and the wine list (which is ridiculously extensive) inside and out.

But you probably want to know about the food. Trotter's doesn't do the ho-hum pick an entree and maybe an appetizer style of service. You pick one of two 8 course tasting menus for a three hour dining "experience". If one of the courses doesn't sound appealing to you, you can pick a different protein and the kitchen will invent something completely different for you (for example, I did not wish to have the eel course, so I asked the waiter to have them make me something with quail instead, and presto, it was so).

Rory and I both got the Grand tasting menu:

Effingham Oyster with Wasabi & Nori
Steamed Freshwater Japanese Eel with Cilantro, Roasted Banana & Soy

Scottish Salmon Confit with Rose & Black Tea

Roasted Duck Breast with Kumquats, Wild Licorice, Szechuan Peppercorns & Duck Gizzards

Salt-Crusted Veal Loin with Oregon Morel Mushrooms, Fermented Black Garlic & Thyme

Red Shiso Sorbet with Mango & Grains of Paradise

Poached Quince with Sesame Ice Cream & Rosemary Shortbread

Oloroso Sherry-Raisin Ice Cream with Chocolate Cotton Cake, Dried Plums & Ennis Hazelnuts

The food was AMAZING. I didn't have the cake for the last course, so instead they made me something that involved ice cream, cherries, dark chocolate, and olive oil that was completely incredible.

Before we left, we got to tour the kitchen (which was immaculate), and meet the chef himself:

That's Charlie Trotter, me looking bombed (I only had two glasses of super expensive wine with dinner!), the kitchen manager, and Rory (looking full and happy).

Chef Trotter naturally enquired about what brought us to Chicago. I got to share my own food-based educational pursuits and the fact that I was rushing back to Louisville to blog about eating in his restaurant. So, being a great marketer as well as being a great chef, he then gave me 3 hardcover cookbooks he has written about healthful cooking!!! Freakin' awesome! Charlie Trotter is officially at the top of my celebrity chef pantheon.

I highly recommend doing this before you die!