I invest a lot of time and energy missing a life more wild, woodsy or rural-mainly Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota area. I read the Duluth News Tribune on-line, check out Duluth centered blogs, have Minnesconsin internet friends that I kind of know more about than my local ones. I stock up on Alakef Coffee (roasted in Duluth by one of those above mentioned Minnesota friends), english muffin toasting bread, locally brewed beers and various other Northland food items that I can’t get in Chicago. I decorate my home with northern artists, driftwood and Lake Superior rocks. I basically spend a lot of time wishing I was there, rather than the city of Chicago.
Then there are days when I embrace my big cityness and take advantage of some of the wonderful things Chicago has to offer. This morning John had to be down at the Hancock Building for a market research study so Canyon I tagged along for the ride downtown. It’s free day at the Museum of Contemporary Art. I have not been for ages and was excited to go explore. The first thing I noticed as we rolled up to the museum is that the steps were swarming with hipsters and faux New Yorkers. Infested. They must have been drawn like hornets to the free admission and farmers market out front. It was a little intimidating. I kind of wanted to take a picture but it felt rude to photograph them-as if my photo for mocking purposes would steal what little soul they had left.
We enter through the bottom and try to make our way through the crowds of school children there for the free field trip. These groups were everywhere, sitting on the floors of the museum listening to art talk from the college student staff. We start off on the 2nd floor. It’s interesting to watch the rude looks a baby in a stroller gets. Now Canyon is clean, quiet and totally adorable so he was not asking for attitude. Through our entire museum journey the only sound he made was the crickle crackle of his toys that he was playing with to keep himself entertained. I wish I had brought toys for me because the museum was really, really confusing and dull. I felt so lame because I just didn’t get it. And what I did get, I just didn’t care about. I did not feel challenged, moved or enthralled. It was like that song from A Chorus Line, because I dug right down to the bottom of my soul to see what I had inside. And I felt nothing except the feeling that that bullshit was absurd. Canyon was not impressed.
We did both like the mobile exhibit and I am thinking about getting one for the house. Our last stop was the museum store kids section. Some nice stuff but damn was it expensive. I did get a kick out the fact that I had just bought this $15 item for .25 at a rummage sale last weekend. And this for $2 and a $25 wooden alligator for $3 earlier in the summer.
So out we went to the farmers market for fresh goodies to take home and puree for baby. I also picked up parsnips because they made them on Hell’s Kitchen and it sounded like something I could make. I may not be ready for 2 lamb, 1 beef and 1 wellington, but I can puree a parsnip.
John joined us and we decided to check out the playground in front of the museum. You know how Canyon loves swings!
As we were leaving John said, “So have you had enough of your New Yorker moments?” And he was right! It did feel a lot like New York downtown-the museum, the market, the people-even the kids in the playground! We then had the sad task of dropping John off at work. I love that he has an income but I hate that he can’t play with us all day! On the way home I got sucked into the vortex of Whole Foods. I have managed to stay out of one for months now, knowing that it is impossible to escape without spending a ridiculous amount of money on delicious foods. But as Derek posted on my Facebook page-
“expansive in its pretentiousness”. I guess pretentiousness was the real theme of my urban adventure because I ended up spending $50 on the salad bar and 1 small bag of groceries. But damn I love that Hot Bar and Salad Bar. I had some delectable butternut squash peruvian stew, a little piece of fish, some noodles and then a separate container of delicious cold salad items. Yes, I got a little carried away but I have a lot left for lunch tomorrow. I also should have thought through the bringing home chicken and bacon for Lilo off the bar-at $7.99 a lb those ounces added up!
And last stop on my urban adventure was meeting Patti for dinner at Yoshi’s Cafe. I love Yoshi’s but I haven’t been there since I left BMG. I stopped by once over the summer to introduce them all to Canyon, but we didn’t stay for dinner. Tonight was like coming home to family. Someday I will write a post about our long history with this place, but that time is not now. Let’s just say that we walked with in and it was like Norm walking into Cheers. The staff dropped everything to come over and give me a hug and to meet our little Man (who was a saint in his nice restaurant debut). My martini’s were dirty and blue cheese stuffed, amazing sushi and wagyu beef burgers with rosemary fries. Yoshi even came out of the kitchen to say hello. We tried to turn down desert but Nobuko (Yoshi’s wife) had them make up little mini versions of my favorite because they know how much I love it. All of that and we got to spend time with Patti who lives in Boston. She’s the kind of friend who not only didn’t mind when Canyon spit up on her, she also didn’t judge us for asking that her left over beef be wrapped up for Lilo (that doggie was pretty spoiled today Whole Foods salad bar and wagyu beef!)
All in all, it was a pretty good Chicago day. But I still wish we lived in the woods. Or on a lake. Or in the country…
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