out and about in Chicago

I have a couple more dinner posts from Chicago plus a final post to pull in other friends and dining, but I did want to post a shorter, easier entry before I dig into those longer ones.  A breather for me.

As I used to when I was on the Board and in Chicago for meetings or at conferences, I pulled together people for morning walks.  And because the conversation was so often so enjoyable, I didn't take a lot of photos.  I should have.  The Prairie Avenue neighbourhood between McCormick Place and Roosevelt Road is lovely.  There are some handsome older homes and structures in that area

complemented by newer builds that generally fit the scale along the streets shaded with leafy green canopy.  Industrial buildings have renewed or new lives. 

There is public art. 

Little things here and there catch the eye. 

The walks stuck mostly to that area, venturing to the lakefront nearby as well.

So I walked, and sweated,

and chatted, and admired.  What little I did capture, I'm happy to share.  Conrad and I had originally booked a hotel up along Wacker Drive, close to ALA headquarters and the bustle of the city there, but I'm actually quite glad we changed our minds and stayed near the convention center.  The Chicago resident I was years ago would be a little shocked to read that from me! 

a Friday off

Friday was a day off.  A holiday, Juneteenth, it meant not needing to go into work and not needing to pay attention to work stuff.  So what did I do most of the day?  Work with Conrad on a professional development related trip to come in October.  He'll be tagging along, and then we'll build a vacation on to the end of it.  We spent much of the day doing some registration things and finally settling on some airline tickets.  That ate much of the day for us, and that was fine.

But before that, a walk.  I actually got out the door into the June Gloom and had a little stroll in the neighbourhood without Conrad, then came back for him.  We drove down into the Arroyo and parked by the Rose Bowl Aquatic Center, then more or less did the loop around the stadium and through the golf course. 

Nice walk on a cool, overcast day.

Van was feeling better, he said, and he asked if he and Olive could come over.  Of course, I told him.  Conrad and I dashed out to pick up a few things, and that resulted in a large, rich dinner of braised lamb shanks with a parsnip puree. 

Very tasty, but I couldn't finish it all.  Leftovers for Conrad, perhaps, or lunches.  Nice meal, though, and good to see them.  Before dinner, as we sat and got caught up, I made myself a blood orange negroni, a nice pre-dinner sipper.

Friday felt like Saturday, I tell you.  I was confused all day about what day it actually was.  But it was a good day.  The trip planning is exciting!  Wait until October to read about that one.

Onward with the rest of the weekend.... 

spring break vacation, Day 6

A full day in New Hampshire, the only one of the trip - that was day 6 of spring break.

But I lie, a little.  We actually did dip into Vermont again.  More on that to come!

Our hotel was kind of in this odd area between Hanover and Lebanon, near the Dartmouth College hospital complex, in among offices and a shopping plaza and even some apartments.  It was a cold morning (patches of snow still here and there in New Hampshire),

so Conrad and I bundled up

and made a bit of a walk around the area,

making sure to stop in at Starbucks on the way back.  We had some hotel breakfast, then Amy picked us all up to head into Hanover.

Day 6 was the last day that we were visiting any libraries and the last day of meeting up with librarians we hadn't already met up with.  Amy parked in town and then led us onto the Dartmouth College campus.  Past what looked like an art museum. 

Into the central quad.  And there was the Baker-Berry Library. 

Wow.  Classic looking, beautiful.  Our destination for the tour.  We arrived in side right when John was coming from his office and arriving at the welcome desk.  Nice timing!

John took us around various parts of the library, showing off such cool things as a room dedicated to Theodor Geisel,

a marvelous Orozco mural,

spaces for printing and related arts,

and all the other beautiful spaces. 

It was such a treat to see.  John has worked there for a number of years, so it felt like we were getting some cool insights into the library that a regular tour might not enjoy.  Such a nice time.

The tour done, we all - John included - headed across the quad to PINE Restaurant in the Hanover Inn. 

There we had a leisurely lunch (fried chicken bao buns for me and a mocktail)

and gossiped.  Eventually we set John free to head back to work and the rest of us strolled in the little town, buying a few souvenirs.  Amy finally bundled us back up into the car, and we were off to Vermont!

Yes, Vermont again.  Just across the Connecticut River from Hanover, so it wasn't some massive trek, assuredly.  Conrad and I have a friend and former neighbour in Chicago who is a Dartmouth alum, and he was sending us all kinds of recommendations (and expressing his pride and delight that we were visiting that area).  One thing he suggested was that we go visit King Arthur Baking Company,

and so we did.  That was fun, browsing the large shop, picking up a few items.  We capped that with a coffee and snack (maple sandwich cookie for me),

and then headed back to the hotel for a while.

Ed drove us the opposite direction that evening, away from Hanover and down to Plainfield where Amy and her husband Thom live in a condo in a schoolhouse that they had converted. 

We had a round of Last Words there,

then walked nearby to Poor Thom's Tavern,

the tavern that Amy and Thom own.  Finally, we met Thom! 

Great guy.  And he runs a terrific tavern.  Cocktails,

then a fried chicken poutine to share,

and then a burger for me that met all my hopes and expectations. 

Oh, and peanut butter pie - yum! 

What a terrific meal we had, what a fun time.  Thom was able to join us for much of our meal, and that was great.

Dinner done, it was time to head back to the hotel.  On to Boston the next day.  Sadly, that was the last we got to enjoy time with Amy.  I'm hoping I can get her and some others to meet up in northern California with me this summer!