Chicago - Nov 2023

Shawna needed to return to Chicago to attend the annual board retreat for Women Employed so we decided to make a weekend of it and catch up with folks.  Since Keith was still in a boot from his surgery, we had to get wheelchair assistance at the airport which he was not a fan of but it did allow us to board first!!  We arrived in Chicago Friday afternoon and stayed for two nights at David's (colleague of Keith's from LivCor) apartment downtown.  The apartment is really nice with great views of the river below.

Kicking back in a wheelchair!

After getting settled in, we had drinks with David in his apartment and then went to dinner with him and another LivCor colleague, Ashley, at Roka Akor where we shared a ton of yummy food for the table.  After dinner, we had a few more drinks at another restaurant nearby and then headed back to David's place to crash.

Dinner with David and Ashley at Roka Akor

On Saturday, Shawna attended her meeting all day while Keith relaxed and had lunch with David.  That evening, we went to dinner with Kara and Ansley at La Josie where we had guacamole for the table and shared the flank steak entree which was very tasty.  We arrived a little early so the two of us had a drink at the bar.

Shawna on the way to the board meeting

The next morning, we headed to the airport after a cup of coffee and showering, arriving back in Dallas around 1:30 - Dick picked us up in our car so that we didn't have to deal with walking to the parking lot!

It was a quick trip but a great one, especially nice to catch up with friends and that the weather was quite nice!!

Bday Weekend in Chicago and Lake Geneva - June 2023

Dinner at Oriole

We had just left Chicago on Monday and were back already on Wednesday, this time no longer residents! When we had booked our bday activities for the weekend, we thought we would still be living in the area so rather than cancel everything, we just flew back!  We stayed two nights downtown for free at a Marriott - mainly b/c we had dinner reservations at Shawna's favorite restaurant, Oriole on Thursday night.  It was just as good as we had remembered it - with drinks starting in the bar area, followed by a course and a drink watching the open kitchen and then the rest of the meal and wine pairings seated at our table.  Some of the dishes were repeats but some were new as well. Everything was spectacular!

Dinner at Oriole

Shawna worked from the hotel on Thursday while Keith went to the dentist and to check our mail at our house before turning in the final set of keys to the realtor - the closing was the next day.  On Friday, we went for an early morning walk along the lake and then Shawna did a few calls in the morning before we walked to the rental car place to pick up the car.  We drove the 1.5 hours to Lake Geneva where we spent the weekend at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.  We unfortunately were disappointed with the hotel - we had booked a villa which turned out to be a townhouse and the hotel itself was what you would expect from a conference hotel built in the 80s.  It also was not directly on the lake but rather a few miles from the lake and town.  That said, we still had a nice time!  

Front entrance of Grand Geneva

After checking in, we settled into our room and had some wine and cheese that Keith had ordered for our birthday.  Of course, it was not waiting in our room when we arrived so we went for a walk while Keith sorted it out via email with the concierge as he wanted to surprise Shawna.  We then went to the spa where we each got an 80 min massage - both were very good.  That evening, we had dinner at Ristorante Brissago which is the Italian restaurant in the hotel.  The food was just OK.

Drinks at the hotel

On Saturday, we went for an hour walk around the property and then relaxed at the pool - having lunch there - until mid-afternoon.  We then drove into town to the lake to do a one hour boat tour of the lake which turned out to be quite fun - we got to see many of the mega mansions built along the lake, some dating back to the 1880s!  That evening, we had dinner at Geneva Chophouse, the steak restaurant in the hotel.  This time the food was quite tasty.  The restaurant comped us a couple of desserts in celebration of our birthdays!

Boat tour around Lake Geneva

Sunday was quite cold and rainy so we had to adjust our plans.  We relaxed in the hotel in the morning, then went into town to have lunch at Oakfire where we shared a pizza which was yummy.  We then did a 1.5 hour tour of the Yerkes Observatory which is a beautifully restored building where many astronomers studied and has the largest refracting telescope in the world - the tour was very interesting.  We drove back to Chicago where Keith dropped off Shawna at O'Hare to head to CT for her final week of work and retirement festivities while Keith went to Midway to fly back to TX.

Yertes Observatory

Final Chicago Weekend - June 2023

Stadium Chef Dinner at Wrigley

We spent our final weekend as residents of Chicago prepping the house for closing and enjoying some of the local food and activities.  The movers had packed up everything on Friday so we also spent our final weekend in the house sleeping on a blow up mattress.  We joked how funny that seemed living in a 4K square foot house with nothing but a blow up mattress!

Last few nights in our empty home

Friday evening, we did a bar/food crawl in our neighborhood.  We first had drinks at Violet Hour, a hip cocktail bar near the metro.  We shared an appetizer and each got a cocktail.  We then went to Big Star to share tacos and a few appetizers - the food was very tasty.  And of course, we ended the evening with a beer at Lottie's!

Dinner at Big Star

Drinks at Lottie's

On Saturday, we did some cleaning up in the house and then rented bikes to ride to the lake.  We rode all the way south to the end of the lake trail and then rode north.  We stopped for lunch and drinks at The Shore Club where we sat outside - the food was not the best but the people watching was fun.  This place gets very busy in the summer with all the beach goers!  Since we had a few drinks, we opted not to ride the bikes back so we Ubered home instead.  Back at the house, we took a nap and then drank some wine on the front porch out of red solo cups before meeting with Kara and Ansley at Amaru for dinner - our favorite restaurant in the neighborhood.  Dinner was yummy as always and it was great to see them one last time!

Biking along the lake

Lunch at Shore Club

Dinner at Amaru with Kare and Ansley

On Sunday, we finished up what was left to clean the house and walked the 606 - our local trail.  We then got pedicures and napped before heading to Wrigley Field for the Stadium Chef Series that is similar to Outstanding in the Field.  Before dinner, we had cocktails and passed appetizers in one of the club rooms.  Then we were allowed on the field to walk around and take pictures before we sat down for dinner.  It was a multi-course dinner served family style on a very long table on the field - each dish was prepared by a different local celebrity chef.  Very cool experience and what a great way to spend our final evening in Chicago.

Walking the 606

Chef Dinner at Wrigley

On Monday, we got up early, packed up the car, kissed the walls (a tradition we have each time we leave one of our homes), and then drove the 14 hours to our new home in TX!!

Bye Chicago - it was great!

Mothers Day Weekend - May 2023

 We invited Keith's family to Chicago for Mother's Day.  We had done a Mother's Day weekend in 2016 before we had moved to Chicago.  Margaret could make it, but sadly Graham had to hold down the fort at Nosa so we were one short!

Botanic Garden

The family arrived on the Thursday night.  It was a pretty tight turnaround: Keith arrived back from Spain the previous night, and Shawna was in Louisiana until Wednesday night as well.  The house had been on the market the weekend before, but were were lucky to already be under contract so there were no people traipsing through the house while the family was there!  Jena, Dick, and Margaret Ubered to the house, where we had champagne waiting.  We celebrated the house sale on the patio before having a wine and cheese dinner in the dining room.

We decided to get some culture on Friday - motivated by the point that it was going to rain most of the day.  So after breakfast, we went to the Art Institute.  Margaret navigated the museum.  Fortunately, the whole Dodds family has roughly the same attention span to art, so we could speed through each of the exhibits without anyone getting crabby.  The next stop was the Starbucks Roastery on Michigan Avenue.  Shawna met us here to help us empty our wallet for the most expensive coffee we could find.  We then walked the next 10 minutes to the Hancock Tower to have a drink - though once we arrived, Keith came to the realization that they did not open until 5pm.  Ugh!  So we Ubered home to relax.  Keith served everyone gin drinks before we went to dinner at North Pond - a Michelin restaurant.  Dinner was excellent.

Art Institute

North Pond

Saturday morning Keith, Shawna, and Margaret walked/ran the 606 to burn off a few of the calories gained the day before. We had some cheese for lunch before going downtown for the "Open Your Eyes: Chicago's Underground Pedway & Other Secrets of the Loop with Inside Chicago Walking Tours."  The dude was excellent and we saw some places we had not been before.  After getting ready for dinner at the house, Keith served round two of gin cocktails before we went to dinner at Indienne - an Indian/French fusion restaurant.  It was excellent.

Walking Tour

Sunday we duplicated the 606 walk/run from the day before before driving north to the Botanic Gardens where we had been with Jean and Dick previously.  While it was a tad cool, many flowers were in bloom and it was gorgeous.  Keith then had to take Margaret to the airport for her flight home before we went to dinner at Pompette - the restaurant just up Damen from our house.  

Botanic Gardens

On Monday, Keith took his parents to the airport for their 7:30am flight - then came home to get the house fully cleaned up for the inspection!  It was a great weekend.

St Pat's Weekend in Chicago with John and JoAnna - March 2023

 

It had been 14 years since we last celebrated St Pat's in Chicago so we decided to make another go at it!  John and JoAnna arrived Thursday morning - we both had to work that day while they relaxed.  John and JoAnna went over to Lottie's around 1pm to watch the Duke game and Shawna joined them for a bit of it.  That evening, we had dinner at The Gage with John's friend Jeff, and then went to see the show Wait Wait Don't Tell Me which was a live taping on the NPR radio show.  The show was quite entertaining!  

Lottie's

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me

On Friday, Shawna worked a half day and then the three of us went for a walk along the 606 and then up to Lonesome Rose for lunch.  The food was quite tasty.  On our walk back, we stopped and had a beer at Pilot Project Brewery - which has a large, modern tasting room.  By this time, we texted Keith who was done with his work and so he met us for a beer or two at the Map Room and then we stopped at Lottie's for one beer. We then ordered pizza from Pequod's and proceeded to watch the Duke game (they won) and tried to stay up to watch the UVA game (they also won) but we were too tired!

Map Room

Lonesome Rose

Lottie's

Saturday was the big day - we headed downtown around 8:30 to see the 10am dying of the river.  We finally found a decent spot but had to stand in the cold for an hour before they started.  We didn't stay to watch very long once they started the process as we then walked over to Fado Irish Pub to celebrate!  We had to wait in line for about 30 minutes before we were able to get in.  Once in, we found a spot at the bar and hung out there for a few hours, drinking beer and nibbling on bar food.  It was entertaining talking to some of the other people who were there.  We then went back home, stopping at Lottie's for one more beer - and to do a little dancing - and then took a nap!  That evening, Shawna made leftover gumbo and we watched the Duke / UVA final ACC game - Duke won!!  

Fado's

On Sunday, Shawna made pancakes for breakfast and then we relaxed until we had to drive John and JoAnna to the airport.  Another fun weekend in the books!

Chris and Steve Visit to Chicago - April 2022

 

At Lottie's

Chris and Steve and the kids came to Chicago to see her babysitter, who is in college at Northwestern, play lacrosse.  They arrived Thursday night - Shawna picked them up at ORD and then once home, we had cheese, crackers and lots of wine while the kids had Chipotle that Keith had picked up for them.  After Keith went to bed, the neon lights of Lottie's was calling our name so the three of us went there for one beer.  We didn't get to bed to sometime well past midnight - such a fun night!

Lacrosse game at Northwestern

On Friday, Keith left for Boston to see Steve Bullock who was there for the marathon.  Chris and Steve took our car and they went to a museum and then headed up to Evanston where they stayed for the rest of the weekend.  On Saturday, Shawna met up with them at their hotel and then went to the lacrosse game which was quite fun to watch - Northwestern won against Johns Hopkins.  Afterwards, we went to a restaurant that the team had reserved for a private party and had a few beers and snacks.  We then went back to their hotel and had a few drinks in the lobby bar. We were invited to the lacrosse house parts so we stopped by for a few minutes but quickly realized that we were too old for that scene.  So, we had dinner at one of the restaurants in Evanston and then went back to the hotel for a few more drinks. Shawna stopped drinking early as she had to drive the car back to the house so shortly after midnight, she said her goodbyes.  It was so great to hang out with them!

Dodds Family Visit to Chicago - Dick's 80th Bday - April 2022

We celebrated Dick's 80th birthday in Chicago with Jean, Margaret and Graham.  It was a long weekend filled with fun, laughter and great food!

Keith's parents and sister arrived on Thursday early afternoon and his brother arrived early evening, shortly before dinner.  We had a late lunch at the house of cheese and smoked fishes and then Jean, Dick and Margaret went for a walk around the neighborhood.  That evening, we had a gin and tonic at the house and then had a lovely dinner at Dear Margaret, a relatively new restaurant in Lincoln Park that had been getting really good reviews.  The restaurant is small and quaint and the food was very tasty.  We shared a wild mushroom appetizer and Shawna had the warm duck confit salad for an entree while Keith had the steak.  

Lunch at the house

On Friday, we spent the day exploring downtown.  We first went to the top of Willis Tower to see the views of the city and stand on the clear glass ledge where you can see the street below.  It was a beautiful clear day so the views were amazing.  We had a bit of time to kill before lunch so we walked over to Millennium Park to see the Bean.  Lunch was at Ema, a large, well decorated Mediterranean restaurant.  Since dinner was going to be early, we only got a few appetizers to share - hummus and roasted veggies.  After lunch, we walked along the river front and then did an architecture river boat tour - it was chilly outside so we sat inside.  It was hard to hear the tour guide as the speakers inside were not the best so Shawna went out a few times to take some photos and listen to the tour guide.  After the tour, we quickly went back to the house and got ready for dinner.

Willis Tower

The best meal of the trip and likely top five favorite meals of all time was at Oriole, a Michelin two star restaurant in West Loop.  The restaurant is located in a warehouse so it was a bit tricky to find but once inside, it was magical.  The host greeted us with a taste of tea while she hung our coats.  We stood in a large cargo elevator, thinking we would go up but then she pulled open the door on the other side so that we could enter into the restaurant.  Our first course was sitting at the bar where we had three small appetizers and a cocktail.  Our second course was standing at a table overlooking the kitchen where we had another appetizer and a glass of sparkling wine.  We were then seated at our table where we had at least eight more tastings along with the wine pairing.  Every dish was so tasty and creatively presented. It was a great evening!!

Oriole

On Saturday, we had planned on doing a walking tour but it rained so we changed plans.  We relaxed at the house in the morning and went for a walk on the 606.  For lunch, we had cheese and smoked fishes again, this time Patrick (Graham's friend who lives in Chicago) joined us.  We then went to the Garfield Conservatory to see the spring flower show - the flowers were beautiful and colorful.  

Garfield Conservatory

Back at the house, we rested a bit and then had gin and tonics before heading out to dinner at Elske, our third time at this restaurant (the prior two times with Graham).  We were however a bit disappointed this time - the food was still good but the service was lacking. We had called in advance to let them know that it was Dick's 80th birthday so they said they would print a message on his menu.  When we arrived, they had forgotten so quickly printed it - only to have his name misspelled to Vick!  Well, we called him Vick all evening!!  We got a few appetizers to share for the table, including the famous duck tart which they normally only serve for the multi-course menu but we convinced them to serve it to us.  We then shared the black bass for an entree.  We topped off the evening with one of each dessert!

Elske

On Sunday, Graham left in the morning to fly back to New Mexico.   We booked a last minute walking tour downtown - the Gangster and Ghost tour.  The tour was surprisingly good - the guide was quite funny and had some interesting stories to share.  We returned to the house to have more cheese for lunch and then Keith and Margaret went for a walk along the lake while Shawna cooked for dinner.  That evening, upon Dick's request, we had Indian - lamb, fish curry, chickpeas with spinach, basmati rice and raita.  Shawna made quite a lot so we had this for lunch for a few days during the week.

Indian dinner at our house

Dick, Jean and Market left early Monday morning to fly back to TX.  It was a great weekend to celebrate this momentous birthday!