CHICAGO was great!

So, I'm getting ready to leave Chicago (Part I trip because I'll be driving back on Sunday) to head to Columbus, OH.  My trip to the Windy City was AWESOME and I got to do a lot of things both literary and otherwise.  Here's the short list and then I'll post pictures and more info: 

1. Wrigleyville

2. PRIDE parade

3. Cristina and Gram's wedding at Garfield Park Conservatory

4. Chicago "Untouchables" Gangster Tour

5. Magnificent Mile/Hancock Building

6. Chicago Architecture tour on the river

7. North Avenue Beach on Lake Michigan

8. Concert at House of Blues/bowling

9.  Saul Bellow's Chicago - site of Humboldt's Gift

10. Art Institute of Chicago

11. Ernest Hemingway's birth home/museum, Oak Park

12. Bucktown/Wicker Park/Greek Town

So overall, I'm really glad I got to see everything I wanted.  I also visited the Stockyards, the area that Upton Sinclair uncovered in his book The Jungle and I also saw where L. Frank Baum wrote The Wizard of Oz.  There is a park with statues of the tin man, lion, etc.  Very cute.  So this is the brief overview of my FIRST Chicago trip.  I'll fill you in with more details now.