Chicago

Brad and I spent the weekend in Chicago. The weather was picture perfect. On Saturday morning we got to see the somewhat unusual sight of the bridges raised on the Chicago River.

While we were there I saw something I had never seen before ….. a food truck for dogs ….. parked outside a dark park. (Where else?!)

Also on Saturday we visited with our friend Ruth and her boyfriend Erik. The four of us wandered through the Chicago Tribune's Literary Festival before having lunch. The festival was a huge outdoor book fair and we all managed to find a book (or two).

Saturday evening was the Energizer 5k Night Run, which was the reason we were there. Hundreds of runners wearing bunny ears and Energizer headlamps ran along the lakefront shortly after dusk for a fundraiser that provides portable solar lamps to people in places without access to night light. It was a beautiful and successful event.

At the race there were food trucks, a live band, a great DJ, a few incarnations of the Energizer Bunny, and Brad giving a short talk before the race began.

We drove home on Sunday, but before heading south we met our friends Mary and Jack Iberle for brunch.

It was great to see them (on their 29th wedding anniversary too), and the four of us had a really nice morning.

Jack's a car guy so he wanted to look under the hood of our hybrid. He and Brad hammed it up a bit.

It's a little over 300 miles from there to here so after brunch we headed back and we were home by dinner. It was a fast but lovely weekend in a city that's near and dear to our hearts. We hope to be back soon!