Day 4: Ft. Wayne to Chicago (Into the Wind)

TOP OF THE LIST: Yesterday a very, very good man died. Tim Russert was one of the few TV journalists that was worth listening to. Unlike the Glenn Becks or Sean Hannitys of the world, Russert was not self-serving or inane and didn't bow down to his guests. He asked the rough questions, told the truth, and was willing to question authority. I will miss the dude.

In a travesty that is the exact opposite of the one above, R. Kelly was acquitted.... Really? Really?

We said that we would leave Alex's house at 10 a.m. which in actuality meant noon, given the fact that left to our own devices we wouldn't have escaped until 3 or 4. Such is the nature of our wanderage.

On the road to Chicago we ran into a wall of rain. I may be exaggerating a little bit, but it could have been mistaken for accidentally driving into an aquarium filled with ugly houses, Wal-Marts, and fast food joints.

We park at the Field Museum of Natural History and immediately head for a Chicago Hot Dog. Pickle Spear, Mustard, Celery Salt, Tomato on a seeded bun. It is good, feels healthy, but it is no Toronto dog. After deciding that 19 dollars was too much to pay for a history museum, we headed into the city by foot.

We walked through Grant and Millennium Park, spying some awesome fountains, turn of the 19th century architecture, and public art. One sculpture which could only be described as a giant metal jelly bean, capture our attention for a good 20 minutes... oh shiny objects.

A trip to the Chicago Public Library proved interesting as we gazed upon ornate ceiling inlays, a stained glass rotunda, and, randomly, a really cool small orthopedic art exhibit. After deciding to head toward a real Chicago pizza place we walk down the Magnificent Mile. The building are historic, but are still beautiful. Although it is a major city, Chicago doesn't have the claustrophobic feeling of New York, but lacks the random cool shops and endearingly aggressive street vendors.

We decide to walk around a bit before dinner and, on a whim, grab a drink in the historic Drake Hotel. After the bartender examined our IDs for 10 minutes (I wish I was being hyperbolic) I try Chicago's own Half Acre Beer, which is hoppy and a really rich, full-body lager, but not too heavy or bitter with a slightly almondy after taste.

A long dinner at the famous Gino's East bring many discussions, but primarily The Boys, after much postulating, have figured out how to solve the Health Care crisis in America. To McCain or Obama: We will explain it to you for a simple consultant fee of 10 million dollars... a small price to pay for a Presidency.

Taking the long walk back to the car as the pizza settled was surprisingly different though the sights we the same. Rabbits appear in the grass of the park and we (read: only Varun) chase them around in glee. The city and fountains and parks light up in a completely different and beautiful way at night.

Much like the Saturday college kid, it may be grimey and rough during the day with a slight hangover and dirty sweats, but a night that kid cleans up and looks good for all to see.