Hello!
We are in LOVE with Chicago!
What a wonderful, beautiful, historic, lively, and fun city.There is so much to do here! We are going to have a lot of fun, I can tell already.
First things first, we almost missed our flight out of Buffalo because there was a long wait at the border crossing.
We were still IN our car driving at 11:25am and our flight left at 12:05!
We crunched on green pepper slices to beat the stress. ;)
It should also be noted that the border officer was highly amused when I told him that I was going to a food blogger conference. He was just tickled pink, he was.
Luckily, we sped through check-in and security check and got there with 5 minutes to spare. Normally we are 2 hours early for flights out of Toronto, so this was a pleasant surprise to get through so quickly.
I packed us a lunch for the flight.
Mine is below (and we shared the veggies):
My lunch contained: A hummus + tomato paste sandwich on Ezekiel bread, chopped veggies, peanut butter, and peanuts.
Mmmm.
CUPCAKE FAIL.
Eric shed a single tear. No, he bawled.
We arrived at our hotel around 1:30pm. It is situated in downtown Chicago right near lakeshore. You couldn’t have a better location. The hotel is very beautiful and historic.
We ate Glo Bars for fuel upon arrival!
Then we met up with Eric’s Irish uncle Charlie! He is the BEST. So nice, so funny, and gosh I can’t get enough of Irish accents. I wish I had one myself.
He has a very exciting career- he does catering for tons of huge events like the OLYMPICS! He is flown all over the world for the events that he caters. I tried to convince him that he needed a vegan planner on his team after he told me what a pain in his butt it is for him to find good vegan recipes. I told him about my blog and he is really excited to check out some recipes.
Eric and I spent the day walking around the city! We always say the best way to get to know a city is to just travel by foot.
Best. carrot. juice. ever.
I surprised Eric by taking him to Epic Burger!
They are an all organic burger shop.
I got the Portobello mushroom burger (without sauce or cheese) and it was delicious.
Eric had the Epic burger and he loved it.
The restaurant has a big flatscreen with Tweetdeck on it, and I saw ‘ohsheglows’ mentioned twice on the screen (middle secton if you look closely) when we walked in. It was so random and funny.
Of course I had to Tweet something.
At the end of the night a bunch of us went to a restaurant bar called the Artist’s Cafe. Eric and I got a beer.
We had a great time getting to know one another.
It was a great day! I’ve got a 7am run planned tomorrow morning so I best get myself to bed. :)
Chicago can be a fun city, but be glad you are not there in the winter! The last winter I lived there it neared 30 below (F) with the wind chill. Too cold! I love seeing al these pictures though they bring back memories! My husband proposed to me in front of the Buckingham fountain you photographed! Has anyone suggested that you visit the Chicago Diner yet? Its kind of a veggie classic around there.
Have you ever been to Portland, OR? Thats where I live now and I looooove it here! Super vegetarian/vegan friendly and just a really hip city. Bonus: mild weather!
what a fun time! i would love that burger right about now…and yes, it’s only 8:30am. so what? :)
hope you have a fabulous day!
This is probably my first time commenting but when I saw the photos I had to!
I stayed in the very same hotel when I went with my family to Chicago a couple of years ago. Perfect location, I might add!
It’s also kind of fun when I look at the other blogs I follow and see how they got to Chicago and where they are.
Sounds like fun!
I would have freaked out about almost not making the flight if I were you. haha. Glad you made it on time. :)
So glad you liked Epic Burger. I’ve never been disappointed by a burger from the place.
So funny that you were able to see my tweet on the screen. I think it is a cool concept to have live tweets showing in the place!
Gorgeous pictures! I’m originally from Chicago but I haven’t visited there since I was six or seven… so it’s definitely been a while! That Epic Burger looks amazing. If I ever go back, that’s definitely something I will have to hit up. I loved their Tweetdeck… that’s so cool!
Also, very cool about Eric’s uncle. Maybe they’ll serve GloBars at the next Olympics!
Have a good run and enjoy Chicago!
Haha! How cute! A tweet board!
(Is it bad I kind of want one in my house?)
That tweet board’s so cool!!! hahaha and I would have never guess “epic burger” would be an all organic burger shop- it seems like it’d be a huge burger chain or something serving regular, inhumane burgers lol
So, I nearly freaked out when I saw you went to Epic Burger!! I’m from Chicago and one of my best friends lives right across the street from there! I’ve never tried it but hearing about that mushroom burger makes me think that I have to go there very soon :D
Have fun this weekend!
I lived in Chicago for 4 years and I still adore this city. It is so fabulous in so many ways. Make sure to soak it all in.
Never saw Epic burger though and I’d love to try it!
Chicago looks beautiful! I have been wanting to check that place out forever. Not a bad day ;) Two thumbs up for carrot juice and portobello burger. I now have a hankering for one!
Hi Angela! I don’t know if I’ve ever commented on your blog, but I figure now’s a good time since I live in Chicago and it’s so cool to see you in front of the Fountain and touring my city! Anyway, where is that carrot juice from!??! I need that NOW!
Also I went to Epic Burger last week! Got the same thing! YUM!
I wish I signed up for the Summit earlier—maybe I’ll see ya around!!!!
Aww it’s so fun to see you all in Chicago! (I lived there for 9 years myself!) I hope you have fuuuun!!! :D
Canada is a gorgeous country. I’ve done some traveling through BC and Alberta and loved it! So scenic!
I am so jealous by some of these blogs I’m reading where you can bring food from home on the airplane! If we could bring food and drink into the airport here, it would have made eating healthy while traveling SOOO much easier!
That’s so cool that Epic Burger had Tweetdeck! So 2010 :-) Glad you guys are having fun!
Wow you are lucky to be in CHicago- such a lovely city . Went there fo the first time at the end of last summer and LOVED it! So much to see.
I love the fact the guy found it so funny your reason for travelling!
:)
Wow, Chicago seems great! I was wondering if you have any ideas for school lunches? Something that is easy and quick to make but still healthy…it’s hard to find something like that to bring to school. Your blog has helped me so much. You have so many amazing recipes! Thanks!
Eep that sounds like such a time crunch! I’m glad you made your flight. :D It looks like you guys are having a blast!
I just recently found your blog. Since I have been stalking…um reading your blog I have thought your recipes looked yummy. I tried the Vegan Squash, Zucchini and Black Beean Enchiladas on my family this week. I CANNOT stop thinking about how fantastic they turned out! I will tell you my 3 1/2 year old little girl LOVED them! We do not eat soley vegan, although I tend to stay on the vegetarian side of life. :) My kids never miss meat unless Dad is around. Thank you, thank you, thank you for putting out such a great information highway of healthy living tips, recipes and just plain postive attitude!