Chicago, November 5-7, 2010

We hadn't been to Chicago yet this year and almost did not make it this time because of work. Fortuantely we were able to catch the 5:45PM train and were at our hotel before 8:00.

We Pricelined the Doubletree off of Michigan avenue and got it for $65/night. That's our favorite place to stay because of its location and the rooms are pretty nice.

Because we got in late we just went bar hopping for a while then ended up at our favorite piano bar on Oregon St. As usual the credit card machine wasn't working ("it was working last week!") nd we knew to stick with beer since the drinks are so watered down.

The usual pianist retired and the got a new guy who was excellent. We requested "All The Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople as we always do and did an excellent version.

Saturday we sneaked into the Surgery Museum. It was closed because they were installing a new exhibit, but the door was open and we got to spend about twenty minutes there before getting kicked out.

We stumbled upon a Badger bar and watched the Badger game over lunch (some guy wanted to fight me because I insulted horse racing) and we mostly just walked around and enjoyed that great city.

We tried to go to The Dirty Martini on Hubbard later that night, but the are closed. Too bad.

We caught the 10:20AM train home on Sunday and were at our house shortly after noon.

Great city, almost too easy of a vacation.

San Francisco, September 2-6, 2010

This was our first trip to San Francisco, but probably won't be our last. We were there for three and a half days.

Here are some highlights:

Thursday, 9/2:

• SF Public Library and Dashiell Hammet's type writer
• City Hall
• Asian Art Museum of San Francisco
• Nightcap at the Redwood Room in the Clift Hotel on Geary

Friday, 9/3

• Fisherman's Wharf
• Coit Tower
• Lunch at Tony's in North Beach
• The Castro
• Dinner at The Great Eastern on Jackson in Chinatown

Saturday, 9/4

• CityGuides walking tour of Chinatown
• Dim sum for lunch
• The Ferry Building
• Murals in the Rincon building
• Yerba Buena Gardens

Sunday, 9/5

• Alcatraz
• Oysters in Pacific Heights
• Sushi in Japantown
• Dinner at John's Grill on Ellis
  

Nashville April 8-11, 2010

I've been in Nashville a number of times for work and always enjoyed that city. We decided to got there with our friends Amy & Sara.

Thursday, 8 April
• Visited the Parthenon at Centennial Park
• Lunch at Jack’s Barbeque
• The Frist Museum of Visual Arts
• Martinis at the Union Station Hotel bar
• Music at Legend’s Corner

Friday
• Vanderbilt University campus stroll
• Loveless Café for brunch
• Hermitage Hotel bar for a beer
• Tour of the Tennessee State Capital
• The Civil Rights exhibit at the Nashville Public Library
• Farmers’ market and Bicentennial Park
• World War II Memorial
• Tootsie’s and Wildhorse Saloon for music
• Kareoke at Lonnie’s!!!

Saturday
• Breakfast at Rotier’s
• The Hermitage
• BB King’s for lunch
• More music at Legend’s
• Dinner at the Mad Platter

Barcelona 2010

Thursday 2/11/2010
We left Milwaukee on the 10:20 bus to O’hare. They were able to reassign our seats and we took off for Madrid on time.

Friday, 2/12
We changed planes in Madrid and left on time for Barcelona where we got separated at the airport (I’ll take the shame on that). Laurie’s bag did not arrive. They knew it was in Madrid and said that they would bring it to us later that day.



Saturday, 2/13
Ramblas, Mercat de la Boqueria, Columbus Monument, Eixample area, Block of Discord, Casa Mila, Catalan Concert Hall, Sardana dancing at the Cathedral

Sunday 2/14
National Museum of Catalonian Art (MNAC) on Montjuic, lunch at Meson David, Drum bands on the Ramblas

Monday 2/15
Barcelona Cathedral, Parc Guell, La Sagrada Famila, lunch at la Candela, concert in the cathedral

Tuesday 2/16
City Museum, Picasso Museum, lunch in the Barconleta area (black rice made with octopus ink), the Mercat de la Boqueria for cheese and ham.

Wednesday 2/17
Catch the 5:30AM bus to the airport, arrive early in Chicago. Back in Milwaukee and home by 4:15PM