Chicago isn't actually that windy

Yes, it's true: Chicago can be windy. But, it is actually only the 16th windiest city in the country. The nickname "windy" came a long time ago when Chicago was vying to host the World Fair, and some jerk from New York called the city "windy," which I guess a hundred years ago was some kind of insult about how city had no substance and the people were fake. Well, I guess Chicago didn't know it was an insult and they liked the ring to it. Hence, the Windy City. At least that's what our tour guide said.

I think I speak for George and Anthony when I say that we had a great time in Chicago. We had perfect weather (not snowing) and it made the sightseeing very enjoyable. For those of you who haven't been to Chicago, you should go. We came up with a few descriptions of what Chicago was like to give you an idea of the kind of place it is:

A flatter, bigger, cleaner Pittsburgh.

A smaller, cleaner New York.

Big city feel of New York with the laid back-ness of the west coast. And cleaner.

Basically, we just thought it was really clean. So if you like clean things, then Chicago is your place.

Once we learned that there was more to do than admire the city's hygiene, we were even more excited. We took the red-line train and got off at the stop called Chicago, so at this point everything was pretty much making sense. We passed one of the biggest McDonald's I've ever seen, complete with a gated pay-for-parking lot for customers, a separate small building in the parking lot containing some type of quick walk-through music museum, and two gigantic, iconic Golden Arches, which have come to represent the American dream in the form of mass consumerism and obesity. And the US Olympic athletes.

But instead of falling for McDonald's trap, we decided on a much healthier alternative: a large, Chicago-style deep dish pizza from Gino's that could easily feed a small army. It takes them almost an hour to cook it, which I assume is because they know you need that extra time to clear some room in your stomach so you can eat more than one slice.

We ate almost all of it. And that was after we had spinach and artichoke dip for an appetizer.

After stuffing our faces, we rolled ourselves to the Chicago river and took a river and lake tour of Chicago. Coincidentally, Chicago was hosting a water and air show over Lake Michigan this weekend, and the F-18 fighter jets were flying over us for about 45 minutes. Everyone on the boat was much more interested in the jets than the Chicago skyline, but how can you blame them when this was happening?

Or this:

The lady in the center does not seem impressed.

In all seriousness though, this is why Chicago is so nice:

Look at how nice the backs of those people's heads are.

We finished the tour by boating along the river, right between some of the largest and tallest buildings in the world. We then quickly visited one of Chicago's Apple stores (just so Anthony would stop talking about it) and the Navy Pier. We met back up with Alex and got some Chicago-style hotdogs for dinner:

Relish, peppers, tomatoes, pickles, mustard on a poppy seed bun. Oh and I think there was a hotdog somewhere in there.

Then, to cap off the night, we crashed a medical student party on the top floor of a high rise building and watched fireworks that were being shot over the lake:

Actually, 28 floors up doesn't seem that high when you're surrounded by the Sears tower, Trump tower and Hancock building.

Okay, so we didn't crash the party. We were with Alex and he was at his friends' party. The lesson is: it's good to be know people in high up places so you can get a view like that.

Disclaimer: To all Brodsky lab mates, I now know the difference between the Sears Tower and all the imposter buildings that may have slightly confused me last time. And I passed the bar where I almost was able to have a drink a few years ago. I didn't go in but I think this time I would've been able to do it.

That pretty much sums up our time in Chicago. It was great exploring the city and it was also great to see Alex. He's well on his way to being a great doctor, just ask the 9-year old patient who told him that on his third day of med school. Also, I'll try and do a "best of" list for each city, so here it is for "windy city":

Best food item: The spinach and artichoke dip was good, but nothing beats a true Chicago deep dish pizza in Chicago.

Coolest building: The entire skyline is beautiful, and the tall buildings are a spectacle. But my nod goes to this building along the river. With art deco style architecture, it takes up more than two city blocks, and up until a few years ago it had its own zip code. In terms of square feet, it is the second largest building in the U.S., behind only the Pentagon.

Best moment: Watching the fireworks from the top of the high-rise.

Most interesting experience: Figuring out how and where to buy a one-day pass to ride the red line (in a convenience store) and then trying to figure out how out it in the machine and walk through the turnstile. Anthony thought it was magnetic and he was lightly pressing it against all parts of the turnstile, and a worker aggressively showed us how to do it. Stupid tourists.

Worst moment: When all of our iPhones were about to die.