Windy City Summertime

With just a few days left 

 before my daughter has to go back to classes,

she and I decided to spend

 one more day on the beach

and added some

back-to-school shopping

in Chicago on Friday.

So much fun to lay on a beach with the John Hancock Tower looming over you.

Lucky for us,

Friday was the practice day for

the Chicago Air and Water Show.

So while we were tanning,

we got to watch aerial maneuvers

by the U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds, the United States

Navy Blue Angels,  and various other stunt planes.

So loud but so much fun to watch!

These beaches will be completely

packed on Saturday and Sunday

when the show actually takes place.

But since it was only the day before practice runs,

the beach was not very crowded at all.

Lifeguard in a row boat with hundreds of boats in the background watching the air show.

We decided to go to our hotel

and check into our room.

Oddly enough, our hotel had a beach theme!

Took a photo of the room

since it went with the theme of the day.
(The lobby had giant adirondeck chairs for seating... forgot to take a pic.)

We stayed in the Gold Coast area,

north of the Loop (the city's center).

Our room had a southern view of the city.

The Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower) is off to the right in the distance with the two antennas on top.)




We got showered and headed off for appetizers

on the rooftop garden cafe at Barney's.

Great views and a

 most interesting open roof above us.

My baby girl.

Looking down onto nearby streets.

We finished our appetizers and headed off for some

evening shopping -- Friday night, stores open late.

We were making good time

and got a lot done until we

whizzed past Sprinkles.

Had to go in for a wee tasting.

Oh my HEAVENS!

If you get the chance to get to a Sprinkles,

you must go. Owned and created

by Food Network judge, Candice Nelson,

these cupcakes are KILLER!

The store was packed and the line was long, but people backed up and let me snap this for my blog!

For more information on Sprinkles or to find one of their stores, click here.

With a good suger buzz,

we shopped Michigan Avenue

until long after the sun went down.

Then in an attempt to walk off the cupcakes,

we walked nine or ten blocks to

one of our favorite restaurants.

Check out some of the views along the way.

Chicago's Water Tower.... famous water pumping station that survived the famous fire.

(All photos were taken with my cell phone.... forgot to bring the camera!)

Our final destination..... Quartino's

for a little snack

before calling it a day.

This is "my kind of town".

Great day full of great memories

with my sweet daughter.

Hate to see school start,

but this made it a little easier.

A perfect ending for a great summer.

If you haven't been to Chicago,

you need to visit soon.