Whenever we leave Minnesota we are bound for a coast. We never leave MN saying, “Let’s head to Kentucky for a spell.” It’s generally the West Coast, and once was the Gulf Coast, but this time it’s the East Coast.
We’ve got a timetable for hitting New York, so for about ten days we’re just sort of wandering in that general direction—1,200 miles east.
This here is the Kitchen Table restaurant in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Marshfield is apparently home to the World’s Largest Round Barn, but we didn’t see it. We wanted to have an excuse to visit again.
We stopped off to have a picnic one day in King, Wisconsin. We could see a little lake, but couldn’t find a park alongside of it until we stumbled onto the Wisconsin Veterans Home. There we found a few picnic tables along the lake, and after navigating our way through the electric carts to a parking spot we were able to eat.
This looks like a movie prop to me. I can think of half a dozen movies in which a speech was given at a podium right there in the center of the stage.
Everybody has their own way of eating a Klondike bar.
Cliffside County Park, where there is neither a cliff, nor access to Lake Michigan where said cliff would likely be located. This was our first night sleeping in the tent. Went off without a hitch. The key to our successful night of sleep was limiting how much water we gave the kids after about five o’clock. Also, two kids have never been so excited to go to bed. Lowe was just laying down when he asked, “What’s that loud noise?” That’s crickets, frogs, and hundreds of other little nighttime critters.
Chicago, the last legitimate address we ever had—at the corner of Clinton and Van Buren. On our way to the city there was a toll booth. The guy working at it loved the truck and told us a quick story about Tadpole Tommy, his fishing buddy who had one just like it. The way he said, Tadpole Tommy, anyone would have known immediately that they were back in Chicago.
Lou Malnatti’s on North Wells will always hold a special place in our hearts. It was here, over one of these pizzas, and many pitchers of beer, that a plan to disappear on a sailing adventure came about. Still the greatest pizza ever, and still the greatest plan ever.
Any time I have a saw and a piece of wood, the kids ask me to make them something. Usually they ask for things like a car with six wheels, retractable wings, and a motor made entirely out of tin cans. This is what I create instead.
As far as big cities go, Chicago is one of the best. This is debatable, I know (please do not quote crime statistics), but it feels so clean and safe, and midwestern harmless. Good food is everywhere. Taxi drivers are friendly. Architecture is amazing. Transportation is easy. Weather is beautiful (for three months out of the year). And it’s walkable. You can literally stroll leisurely from one end to the other in an hour, even with kids.
This was Ali’s view at work for much of our time living here.
Showing the kids that you could literally spit on our old home from up here. They might not really care right now, but it’s still fun to show them all the places that we come from—the places that helped make us what we are today. I’ve loved this city since day one.
20 Comments on “For the Love of Pizza”
Yikes! That last picture gave me vertigo 🙁
Safe passage Bums.
My God, the picture of your kids standing on that glass platform (an elevator?) makes me almost faint.
Dave
I believe that is the skydeck on the 103 floor of the Willis tower (formerly Sears Tower). http://theskydeck.com/
Chicago is one of the great cities of the world …… in the summertime 🙂
Mark and Cindy
ps Your kids are fearless!
I did my undergrad north of Chicago – I would amend this statement to say “…in the spring and fall.” The heat and humidity in the summer was no joke! 🙂 I remember one year tons of (old) people were dying in a heat wave. My roommates and I had to sleep with water sprayed on us and fans oscillating across us. Ugh. That’s one of the best things about living in the west – no/low humidity!
I’ve been following you guys since you’re Lou Malnatti’s decision long ago since you learned to sail and travel the globe. You’ve been our inspiration to sail and travel and explore. We took Catamaran classes and sailed our first trip alone in the BVI this spring. Went to the Galapagos last Christmas to visit and have been to New Zealand to visit my mom and think of you and your families adventures in the many parts of the world. We also lived in Chi town and Lou’s butter crust special been our favorite pizza in the world. We live in Michigan now but are close to Chicago and think of you every time we stop at the Wells Lou’s to bring home a stack of frozen deliciousness and where you are in your adventure. Cheer to you and Ali and the kids and safe journey.
i’ve been following you since we were RVers wiht our 4 kids but the last 2 kids have decided they want american high school and no more Mexican prepa/secundaria so we moved to Minneapolis!!! from the jungle and caribbean. my youngest is more mexican than american after 12 of her 14 years living there but she’s adjusting. love watching you guys visit (on all your travels) all the places we had gone. but we never went east either. so this is a new adventure for me!
Terrible parents. Your kids should be wearing parachutes.
Thanks for sharing the pics are awesome wish I had a mom and dad like you when I was a kid
Looking forward to more pics.
We’ve never been to Chicago, but if you love it there you should enjoy NYC!
Isn’t it great to show your kids a slice of your past?! =)
Lou’s is the best by far!! I am born & raised in Chicago and live & work in the burbs near O’Hare. Been following you & Ali since very beginning – I was living on MY boat at the time in Hammond Marina.
Save travels to the Bum family – stories and pics are always wonderful
Tom
Sometimes I feel I’m right there with you, your photography skills just keep getting better and better.
Glad you got to experience Chicago through the kids eyes,
What an awesome city!!!!
thanks, my stomach dropped out of my stomach.
took this picture a couple weeks ago. i needed a few beers in me to get down the side and over to the ledge. the japanese lady whom i asked to take the photo nearly pooped her pants.
http://creativenoiseinc.com/horseshoebend.jpg
good to see you guys back at it.
My favorite city! Go Bears! But, I will always be team Unos.
Lou’s will send it to Seattle….I’ve never tried..maybe I will now…
Safe-Fun-Travels too..
Upriverdavid
We live in Wilton, Connecticut an hour from NYC. We’d be glad to host and have you for a meal:)
The glass elevator shot is awesome, Pat. And the tiny motion in Ouest’s right hand actually enhances the “fear factor” because it can lead a viewer to think she’s trying to regain her balance. It may have been an unintentional movement, I know, but it may just be you’ve become a sneakily creative Director of Photography, using Ouest’s body to hide the corner seam and cropping just above her head. 🙂
Nice work!
TJ
We stayed in Chicago for a few days several years ago. What a beautiful and safe feeling downtown. Stayed at the Palmer House (amazing historical hotel – bar area in the lobby is outstanding. Got a good deal on the room but couldn’t afford to eat there ). Had a few dinners at the Berghoff – German food – Yum. Ate at Malnatti’s on State Street- Yum. Doesn’t have the crazy go go feeling like New York does. Would love to go back some day!
Neat pictures as always. I’m from Milwaukee, so I’ve been to Chicago a few times. As I get older, big cities stress me out and I’m increasingly becoming a farm boy even though we live in a 50s working class type neighborhood right now.
My niece got married there earlier this year and had her reception on the Chicago Classic Lady. The skyline is super cool from the water at night. I enjoyed that view immensely even if getting into downtown on a super busy weekend was stressful.