Chicago is.
This weekend I had a whirlwind adventure in the windy city, Chicago, IL. My dear friend and bridesmaid Ioana moved there over five years ago after marrying her husband John, and this visit has been promised since then. I owed them a visit, and decided to drag my one brother Mike along for the ride.
We started off our 7.5 hour drive from London and after an unnecessary border delay (and actually meeting my first pleasant US customs official) we were en route to Chi-town. Now, I had a lot of firsts this weekend and one was walking through the doors of a Big Boy restaurant. We stopped in Michigan just before the Indiana border to dull our hunger pains. My brother and I always have to laugh that the minute you cross into the states from any angle, all vowel pronunciation changes. Yes, I know, we Canadians have our "aboots" and "sowrees" but can a gateway really be the cause of such a drastic change? "Hiya hahn, welcome tah Big Boy. You wanna buuth?" We sure did. Anyway, we had to laugh.
With the help of Randy, our GPS guide, an empty Skyway and a few toll booths, we found Ioana & John's place on the edge of the city. The skyline greeted us with a wink, and there we were. It was great. In short, I got to see many historic sites like Wrigley Field, (Cubs came from behind to win 4-3) Buckingham Fountain, (as featured in the opening credits of Married With Children) great shops, and many gorgeous buildings (the view from the top of the Hancock building rivals the Empire State Building). But one memory truly sticks out. Enjoy.
So, our Saturday night started with an amazing dinner at ... (a mexican place that I cannot remember the name of...this will be updated with the name once I speak with Ioana) and then off we went to The Second City! The first great thing was a talented comedienne that I worked with on the NCL Gem was in the cast, and the second thing was Ioana running over with a defaced ticket explaining that Kevin James of King of Queens "fame" was there! She met him, professed her undying fandome and got his autograph. Whilst she is explaining this chance encounter, who brushes past me to take his seat but the one and only Vince Vaughn. I did the old act natural and then freak out when he is past me so not to cause a scene. Chicagoans are courteous, and let Mr. Vaughn enjoy his night, sending the occasional drink that remained untouched and requesting photos which he politely declined. Now here's the kicker. My lovely friend Ioana is a school teacher, and during the 11 o'clock show had a hard time keeping her peepers open, so when the free improv session after the show came up, she was beat, and requested we skip the final skit. So, we left, went home, and I wrote my friend Allison a congratulations email closing with a PS. Did you know Vince Vaughn was in the audience? This was her response back to me...
Hi! Oh my god, I wish you would've stuck around. Vince, Kevin James, Faizon Love, and Greg Olsen, this football player came backstage to meet us, and we convinced them all to play the set with us. It was a super fun set & the audience went insane. Thanks for your message!
Needless to say, the "I can't believe we got to see Vince Vaughn and others do improv...oh, I guess not" jokes lasted the rest of the trip. Who knows, maybe I'll bump into one of them again and we'll be able to do our own one act in the grocery aisle. Then it won't seem like such a loss.
My point is...I had a great time in an amazing city, Vince or no Vince. It was my first, but certainly not my last visit to Chicago, and it truly is a toddelin' town. Whatever that means.
Thanks Ioana & John. Good times.
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