Lollapalooza: A Photo Blog
I have a confession to make: I’m 25 years old and I’ve never been to a music festival. So when the time came around to buy tickets for Lollapalooza this year, I, along with some friends, bought a Saturday one day pass. That was a few months ago, and after yesterday, I can finally say I am no longer a music festival virgin. I had a perfect first time, arriving early and seeing 12 bands including: Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, Beat Connection, Raury, Travi$ Scott, Django Django, Death From Above 1979, The Tallest Man on Earth, Tame Impala, Chet Faker, Brand New, Metallica and Sam Smith. The bands were great, the crowd was jolly (until about 4pm, and then the crowd was drunk), the food was delicious and it was a perfect hot, sunny day. Rather than tell you more myself, I’ll let the photos do the rest:
The first band we saw was Jessica Hernandez and The Deltas, from Detroit. AMAZING.
The next was Beat Connection, who I’ve seen before, and they were just as good this time.
We saw Raury on The Pepsi Stage, tucked into the trees.
We walked by the Perry’s Stage, which features exclusively DJs, and dropped by long enough to feel too old to be there.
Then, we saw Django Django, a fantastic act from Ireland.
Then came Death From Above 1979.
After that, we saw The Tallest Man on Earth for a few songs and a chance to sit in the shade.
Then Tame Impala, who were so, so good. Their crowd was up and dancing and full of good vibes.
We walked through the Green Street Market, The Farmers Market, and Chow Town and past Kidzapalooza.
The bars at the festival featured a whole bottle of wine poured into a sport bottle, which was quick to become my new favorite thing.
We heard there were metallic temporary tattoos at the XRT tent, and that’s just not something I could turn down.
We stopped by Chet Faker for the end of his set, and caught my favorite of his songs “Gold”, before passing by some of Chicago’s Finest on our way to the next act.
We headed to the Sprint Stage for Brand New, making my 16 year old self’s dreams come true.
It was nearing the last few acts, so we ran over to the bar in preparation to see Metallica, a band I never thought I would enjoy as much as I did.
Last but not least, Sam Smith. We couldn’t get very close to the stage, but the music was still beautiful. All around, it was a fantastic day.
If you would have told me before I started this blog that someday I’d be driving solo through the mountains en route to North Carolina, I would have called you a liar for two reasons. 1.) Growing up in Small Town, IL with only rural roads did not turn me into a strong highway driver. 2.) Even now, after completing the drive (there and back again), it still seems like a daunting task. Despite those facts, I still rented a car and made my way to Asheville, North Carolina on my own. It was a beautiful drive, and with no real setbacks (minus the time I took a ramp too fast, almost flipping the car
in the process). I had rented a zippy little Kia Rio for the trip and it performed beautifully. I arrived in Asheville at 6:45pm EST and checked into Sweet Peas Hostel. The hostel suited my needs perfectly as it was located right in center of the downtown area. They set me up for my two-night stay with clean towels and bed linens in my private room, complete with double bed, sink, chair and bedside table. Once I had washed my face and changed from my road trip shirt, I set 
out to explore. From what I saw, Asheville is chock-full of unique restaurants and bars, and cute/quirky shops. Every time I turned a corner, I was sure it would lead to a boring, office-lined street, but was surprised to see yet more shops and restaurants to gawk at. The sidewalks were dotted with buskers, and there was a lingering smell of Nag Champa and cigars. I stopped in The Southern for dinner and tried their “famous” Mac n Cheese, 
with a White Zombie Ale (Catawba Brewing Co.) to wash it down. I made it my personal mission to only drink local beers whilst I was in NC. The food was good enough to satiate my post long drive hunger and the beer was delicious. Soon I was back to wandering; there was a lot to take in. I stopped in to Lexington Avenue Brewery for a 1st Gear Ale (Lexington Avenue Brewery), which was also delicious. I loved the vibe in the brewery, mostly because the music went from The Temptations, to The White Stripes and then Pixies (all my favorites). I called it an early night in order to start early the next day. I woke up sans alarm, and showered in the shared 
bathroom, which was very tidy. I decided to grab breakfast at the highly recommended Early Girl Eatery. I was not disappointed. I had the biscuits and herb gravy with a side of THE BEST BACON I HAVE EVER TASTED. And I’m somewhat of a bacon connoisseur. After I finished every last bite, I drove to the Biltmore Estate (less than 10 minutes away from downtown). The sprawling landscape was accessible after purchasing a $60 day pass, which was a little steep for me, but acceptable due to the beauty of the driveway alone. I drove along the winding road to one of the many parking lots, and took a shuttle to the mansion. I had opted out of the audio tour, and followed the sweaty crowd through the gorgeous house.
The pamphlet that was doled out to me with my day pass went in the same order of the rooms, giving brief descriptions of each one. The tour circled around through 
an indoor garden, multiple dining rooms and salons, the library, the bedrooms and lounges upstairs, and the bowling alley, pool, kitchens and employee rooms in the basement. Once the inside tour was over, I took it upon myself to tour the gardens outside. I walked out onto the patio, which gave spectacular views of the mountains. All of the 
surrounding gardens had names, like “The Italian Garden”, “The Spring Garden”, “The Azalea Garden” and so on. I meandered through a few of them, enchanted most by the walled rose garden that gave way to the Conservatory. I shuttled back to the car and drove towards the Antler Hill Village, where the winery and my free wine tastings called to me. The 
brochures recommend spending two days exploring the property and I can absolutely see why. I passed outdoor activities on all sides as I drove, including kayaking, horseback riding and biking. I enjoyed my complimentary wine tastings (I tried the White Zinfandel and the Sauvignon Blanc), and browsed the stores in Antler Hill Village. Once I returned to the hostel, I grabbed my umbrella to protect me from the sudden downpour and set off again. I found myself at aSHEVille Museum, an interactive Feminist Manifesto. The
museum featured portraits and stories from women around the world and various exhibits revering women in their accomplishments and denouncing sexism in the name of equality. I enjoyed the museum and purchased a bracelet from the wonderfully friendly store keeper. From there, I walked over to the Battery Park Book Exchange, which is in the Grove Arcade. The Book Exchange is my new favorite bar, ever. It’s a two-tiered book store with a coffee and booze bar on the first floor. You can sip your drink and browse the shelves, and even 
add a book to your tab! The shelves are spread out upstairs and down with little hidden alcoves with table and chair sets to sit and read. The staff were nice enough to help me pick a dinner spot and recommend other local eateries for later. The restaurant they spoke the highest of was closed that day, so I wound up at Bouchon, a French Restaurant. I sat at the bar and ordered Moules Frites a la Paris-Born Redneck (cooked with PBR) with a Pisgah Pale 
Ale (Pisgah Brewing Co.). So far the Asheville brewed brews were really hitting the mark. It felt very Parisian, to be sitting at the bar, eating Moules Frites and watching the rain; brooding, because as it turns out, I don’t really enjoy mussels. I did, however, enjoy the bartender there, who was also from Illinois, and advised me where to hike the next day. I walked to 5 Walnut after dinner, drawn in by their live music. The Band, Siamese Jazz Club (with Caromio), was fantastic. I downed a Mother Trucker Pale Ale (Catawba 
Brewing Co.) and enjoyed the happy atmosphere at the bar. Everyone was jamming to the band and dancing alongside their tables. From there, I moved on to The Thirsty Monk for a night cap, where I met a nice couple, who I proceeded to give Asheville Tourism advice to. Drink enough of these local brews and you’ll start to act like one, I guess. Soon, I was taking my slightly tipsy butt to bed. The next morning, I went to the famed Tupelo Honey Café for breakfast al fresco. I had their Tupelo Breakfast Plate, sans eggs and plus a biscuit, and cheese grits and bacon. The food was excellent and the weather was perfect, which lent to a wonderful dining experience. I walked around downtown 
Asheville one last time before heading back to the car and driving to Chimney Rock State Park. It wasn’t a terribly long drive, but the drive up the mountain and to the State Park entrance was a doozy. The switchbacks in the road were something I’d never handled and I took them slowly. It’s usually $15 to enter the park, but that day there was a reduced fair due to the elevator to the top being out of service. That was my first clue that I was in for a lot of stairs. I parked by the gift shop and started the hike up to Chimney Rock, which is almost 100% stairs. There were many lookouts on the way up, but I had my eye on the prize. I made it to the top, panting and wheezing, and marveled at the beautiful view. It was almost a 360 degree view of the gorgeous landscape below. I sat up there for a while, sipping my water and trying to catch my breath. Once I was ready, I overheard talk of a waterfall, and decided to do that hike too. The Hickory Nut Falls trail was back down the stairs, and then down some more stairs for good measure. The trail to the waterfall was nice and shady, and not too long.
NC. Just past the town line is a rather ominous looking roadside market that sells produce, jellies and Bat Cave t-shirts, hats and magnets. I did a U-turn on the mountain road to stop there and buy my Batman-obsessed boyfriend a Bat Cave gift. The proprietor and employees there were happy to give me some fun facts about the area, including how there is an actual Bat Cave, which is now full of snakes. Like Indiana Jones, I hate snakes, so I thanked them for their time and high-tailed it out of there. I was back en route to the Monte Vista Hotel in Black Mountain, down Highway 9, when my cell phone service turned non-existent, effectively shutting down the GPS. The serpentine roads wound through abandoned hills; I hardly passed any cars or buildings. I had a moment of p
anic thinking that I was lost without contact in the wild of North Carolina, before continuing on and eventually regaining the previously taken for granted power of GPS. I made it to the hotel, and checked into a beautiful room in the new wing of the building. To be honest, I was just happy to have my own, private bathroom. I showered and exited the hotel to explore my new surroundings. Most of the stores around Black Mountain were already closed for the evening (at 5:30pm), 
but the ones that were open featured local crafts and kitschy mountain gifts. I went to the Trailhead for dinner and their special for the day: a fried chicken salad with Gouda cheese and local blackberries and heirloom tomatoes. It was unexpectedly yummy. After I settled the bill, I waltzed over to the Black Mountain Ale House for a Black Mountain IPA (Lookout Brewing Co.). The Trivia Night promised on the sign outside never began, so I moved 
on to the White Horse Black Mountain bar down the street. It featured live Irish Music from 6:30-8:30pm and Open Mic night after that. The proprietor, Bob, was such a gentleman and put up with me asking too many questions about local beers. With his help, I chose Noble Hard Cider first and Green Man ESB second, both were so good. He also took the time to explain what ESB stood for (Extra Special Bitter) and where it originated (Great Britain). I nursed my beers and enjoyed the music, 
before leaving the cozy yet cavernous bar and heading back to the hotel. I had a glass of wine on the Monte Vista porch and wrote a bit. The summer night was balmy, but the humidity had left with the sun and the current climate was perfect. I went inside to return my wine glass at the bar, and wound up talking to the General Manager, Tony, of the hotel for a while about hotel life, Chicago, North Carolina and travel in general. It was a great way to 
end the evening. The next morning I roused myself early to catch the continental breakfast of fruit, yogurt, cereal, coffee and juice. The dining room is equal parts rustic and modern with dark wood furniture, local art on the walls and vases of wildflowers on each table. Soon it was time to check out and head home to Chicago. With road construction all along the route home, I had plenty of time to reflect on the trip. It was my first solo road trip, and I am so happy I chose Asheville. It’s friendly inhabitants
and beautiful scenery made the long drive completely worth it. There were things I missed and would happy to make the trip for again. Thanks for the hospitality NC, you were perfect.
We go to Maiden Lake in Wisconsin every year for Independence Day, it’s a family tradition (as per my previous Lakewood, WI post). This year, I drove up with my boyfriend straight from Chicago, which was a first. We left at 6:30am on Friday, stopping for coffee first and then we were on our way. It was an easy five hour jaunt up through Milwaukee, Green Bay and straight on to Lakewood. We arrived just before noon and got ready to go on the boat 
right away. It was a perfect day to go out on the lake, warm enough to make you want to jump in the water but with a perfect breeze. We cruised around for a bit and then stopped for cocktails and snacks, which were stored in the coolers. It was a perfect afternoon of lounging out on the water. After snacks, I was talked into trying to water-ski, which was a painful failure. If I didn’t get a mouthful of lake water getting pulled directly out 
of the skis, I was flying backwards with the skis pulling my legs out to the sides. I did manage to get up halfway on the skis once, but I got so excited that I flung my hands up in the air, effectively letting go of the rope. I called it quits after that and we headed back to the cabin to tie up the boat and get ready for dinner. There are a lot of great restaurants and supper clubs around Lakewood, but because of the holiday weekend and the size of our group, it’s usually easier to make dinner at home. The end result is always delicious, and enjoyed on the porch in good company. After dinner a few of us walked from the cabin to the Maiden Lake Supper Club to enjoy a drink al fresco on their deck by the lake. The Supper Club is a Maiden Lake institution and is really the only the restaurant that’s actually on the lake.
There is always a wait to enjoy their large portioned, comfort foods and seating in the bar and on the deck is always limited. Luckily, we were able to get a table and enjoy the sun setting over the lake. On our walk back, we admired the other cabins along the lake. Some were 
newly built, and some maintained their rustic charm. My favorite had a small red box on a post with the title Maiden Lake Library on it out front. Its front window displayed an array of books, with take one leave one written under the shelves. We came home to a giant bonfire behind the house primed and ready for s’mores making. It was a perfect ending to our first day at the lake. The next day was July 4th, and I woke up early to paddle-board before the bigger boats came out. It is the most peaceful thing to be out in the middle of the perfectly-still lake on the paddle-board. After I got my fill of inner peace, we started our Independence Day celebrations early with a huge breakfast. The best part of 
lake life is that everything revolves around when we can get out on the boat. While half of us cleaned up from breakfast, the rest of our group readied the boats to take them out for the day. We set shortly after, split between two boats. I tried to ski again, and this time I was finally successful! I got up for a while and was satisfied enough to quit while I was ahead. The boats met up to anchor and so we could swim and sip cocktails in the sunshine. When we docked for the day, my boyfriend and I went to the grocery store for burger fixins and then drove down the road to Sweet Memories, an amazing candy store in Lakewood. 
contestants did not disappoint. There were Minions, Pirates, Winnie the Pooh, and even Snow White and her seven buddies showed up for the occasion. The next holiday festivity was our annual trip to the best ice cream stop in the Midwest, Northern D’Lites. They have delicious soft serve in an ever changing cycle of flavors and all the usual suspects as far 
as frozen treats go. It’s a humble pick-up window surrounded by picnic tables, complete with friendly staff and a long line of customers. After our collective sweet tooth was satiated, we drove off to find parking for the fireworks show, which we watched in the back of my uncle’s pick-up truck. The fireworks display is always great, and this year it was the same. However, the 
next day, we were assured by one of the grocery store clerks at True Value that this year was a little lean because next year is the town’s centennial, which they will go all out for. Our last day at the Cabin, my boyfriend and I spent the morning Kayaking to one of the beautiful inlets on the south side of Maiden Lake. Our whole crew had one last spin around the lake in the speed boats and one last swim before we put away all of the boating gear, took the boats out of the water, and closed up the cabin. It’s always sad leaving, but hopefully we’ll be back sooner rather than later. On our way home, my boyfriend and I stopped at two vastly different but equally important Wisconsin landmarks. The first was Bagley Rapids in Mountain, WI and the second was Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha, WI. Bagley Rapids is a beautiful park and campground in the Nicolet National Forest.
We had to drive down a very narrow, dirt road to get to the parking lot, which was very small and perhaps the wrong parking lot. However, we finally made it down to the rapids, which we heard before they came into view. It was a gorgeous scene. We were able to take a walk along the side of the rapids before we had to get back to the car and continue on home. We drove for another three hours before reaching Kenosha, the location of the famous Mars Cheese Castle.
I’ve passed it many times without exiting the highway to visit, but this time we exited route 94 and pulled into the parking lot of the castle. It is a mecca of cheese, sausage and condiments. It is also one of the last stops on the highway to pick up some New Glarus beer, which is only available in Wisconsin and so delicious. I have to say, it was pretty expensive compared to other stops ($3 extra for a 6-pack of Spotted Cow). We purchased some cheese, sausage and beer regardless of the price and stopped in the restaurant for a bite to eat before finishing the drive to Chicago. We both had bratwursts, which were very good, but the service was slow and without a smile. The rest of the drive went smoothly, and soon we were home safe and sound. Before long, I was asleep, dreaming of being back at the lake.
entered the Visitor Center only to grab a map and hit the restrooms before we began our hike. Originally, we wanted to hike up to the Lodge first, to get some lunch and figure out which hikes we wanted to do. What actually happened was we wound up on the Wildcat Canyon overlook trail. The paths were muddy due to days of rain prior to our visit, and my Chuck Taylors proved to be a poor hiking footwear choice. Actually, my whole outfit was ill-suited to nature and now I know better. Please note that jean shorts are not a great choice for four hours of humid hiking through the forest. What can I say? I’m a city girl. Luckily, the scenery was so gorgeous that I soon forgot my wardrobe woes and was able to focus on the views. We reached the outlook and noticed there were people hanging out in the canyon below, basking in the sunlight and playing beneath the waterfall, with no indication of how they appeared there. I made it my personal mission 
for the day to be one of those people. The weather was perfect, and everything was so green and gorgeous. It was nice just to be outside. Eventually, we found a sign pointing us towards the Lodge. The area surrounding the lodge was crowded with hikers and overnighters, staying in either the Lodge Hotel or the cute little cabins in the same general area. The lodge itself was a stately and beautiful large, wooden structure. I instantly wanted to stay the night there. We decided to have lunch in the “Dining Room” instead of the small café in the lobby. The dining room was also very large, with an outdoor deck attached. It had a romantic feel with the dark wood, soft lighting, and large fireplace holding court in the back of the room. The lunch menu included comfort food entrees, salads and sandwiches. We both ordered the Illiniwek Chicken Sandwich. The waitress was not the friendliest person we’d met that day, but the
service was prompt and the food was delicious so we overlooked her surly demeanor. After lunch, I stopped at the front desk to inquire about vacancy and room rates. Unfortunately they were completely booked, but the good news is their prices are completely affordable with their standard rooms starting around $100 and their cabins starting at $125 (depending on the season). We vowed to come back and stay in a cabin in the near future. We hiked up to the park’s namesake, the actual Starved Rock, and the stairs up to the overlook were no joke. The view from the top was breathtaking (minus the huge dam that was visible on one side of the Illinois River). The path at the top of Starved Rock wound in a circle, through trees and wildflowers looking lush from the summer rain. We meandered back down the way we came, past other hikers huffing and puffing up the many, many stairs. From there we hiked up to the Lover’s Leap overlook, which offered an amazing view of Starved Rock and the river 
below. It was finally time to complete my mission of the day and find the way into the canyon that we had seen from the trail above. We found the path and made our way along the river to the canyon. We could hear its current visitor’s voices bouncing off the rock face in what could only be described as shouts of glee. When we finally reached Wildcat Canyon, it took some maneuvering to get over to the waterfall, through the water and mud. Once we were finally in the main clearing, I took my shoes off and stuck my feet in the water. It was cloudy with the sand beneath, but cold and refreshing. The waterfall was gorgeous; it flowed into a small pool teaming with happy little hikers. Though the area was crowded, there was a solidarity among the visitors in the canyon; everyone was admiring the view. It was hard to leave such a beautiful place, but it was about that time to head back to the visitors center. Overall, we hiked about five miles through the forest, up and down stairs, and on gorgeous overlook boardwalks. By the time we made it back to the car, I was exhausted, but already planning our next visit. Even with how much we had already explored, there were still so many other paths, overlooks and canyons to see. I’d imagine that not too much time will pass before I’m back for more.
kitchen making sandwiches for our lunch on the river, with coffee brewing behind her. She immediately put us to work on getting everything ready to go. We were going to drive up to the Milwaukee River in Kewaskum, WI (just north of Milwaukee) to kayak. My mom and dad invited us to join them on this day trip a couple of weeks earlier and we gladly accepted. We left the house at about 8:00am and arrived in Kewaskum close to 10:00am. It rained the whole way up but by the time we got there, the sun was shining. We dropped off bikes at our end point so Mike and my dad could ride and get the car when we were done, and drove up to the start of our kayak journey. We launched the kayaks right after a dam in the river, with our lunch, water and extra clothes packed into the back compartments. A few fisherman saw us off as we started paddling down 
river. We didn’t see many other people for the rest of the 9 mile excursion. The river was still and shallow, and reflected the green, freshly-leafed trees that hung over it. We were all silent as we glided through the water, taking in the scenery. We passed through a golf course, which we were reminded of frequently as we passed random golf balls nestled into the sandy bottom of the river for the rest of the trip (my dad had about two dozen of them rattling around in his kayak by the time we reached the end). It was a perfect day to be out on the river; the weather was warm and the sun was out. The trees 
offered shade when we needed it, and it was too early in the year for there to be many mosquitos buzzing about. We spotted a multitude of wildlife, including turtles, frogs, fish, assorted waterfowl and other feathered friends, deer, and a snapping turtle the size of a car tire (you’ll have to take my word for it because I was too scared to get close enough to take a picture). We stopped a little less than halfway through to have lunch on the muddy, rock-laden shore, propping our kayaks up on the mud to make them stay put. We had our picnic lunch, sitting on the rocks. After lunch, we got back in out kayaks and took off again, only to come upon a “strainer”. This means that the river was blocked by fallen trees, branches and debris, and in this case it was completely blocked. We had to pull our kayaks out of the water and across a patch of tree branches and old, rusty barbed wire to put them back in, past the blockage. Once we hit our stride again, we hit another strainer, though this one allowed us through a small opening between fallen trees. It required some fancy maneuvering but we all got through without too much effort. Soon after we went through the strainer, we passed the most picturesque farm right on the river.
swiftly backwards on the current towards I didn’t know what. It was an exhilarating task to try and right myself before we reached the upcoming bridge, which I did, clumsily. After the bridge, the river became quite shallow, and we all got stuck on the rocks a few times. Towards the end of our journey, we saw an abandoned factory fit for a horror movie set, which contrasted sharply with the peacefulness of the river. We passed it and imagined the plots that could take place there. We took our kayaks out just before another dam, and Mike and my dad rode off on the bikes to get the car. My mom and I unloaded the kayaks and brought everything over towards the parking lot to load into the car. We sat down to wait and had a good talk, taking in the sunshine and
We walked down 5th Avenue and around in a loop past Rockefeller Center and the fancy shops and wound up in a café named Papillion. The ground floor looked like a typical bar on a Friday night. Once we were seated and viewed the menu (and the prices), we decided to have drinks and appetizers. I ordered white wine and my sweet ordered whiskey and we both split the charcuterie plate. The atmosphere and the cured meats were lovely, and we enjoyed our time at Papillion. We left the restaurant and continued our wandering about midtown. The charcuterie didn’t hold us for long and we decided to enjoy another small plate at another café, this one closer to the hotel. It was called Benoit and it was perfect. We sat in the bar, which looked like the set of a Woody Allen movie, and ordered coffee and dessert. We got a slice of chocolate tart and 
hop on a subway train to the World Trade Center Memorial. We got off the train with a sea of people and followed the tide to the site of the memorial. It was a very emotional experience despite the multitude of selfie sticks. The memorial itself was beautiful; the reflecting pools are quite the sight to take in. We walked from the memorial to Battery Park, stopping at St. Paul’s Cathedral and Trinity Church along the way. The churches were so pretty, we couldn’t help but peak inside and gaze at their beautiful structures and stained glass windows. We finally made it to Battery Park and were amazed at how saturated it was with tourists. We deliberately walked past the line for Liberty and Ellis Islands (the lines were out of control) and made our way to the (completely gratis) Staten Island Ferry at Whitehall Terminal. We had to wait for a ferry, but grabbed a giant pretzel at one of the many vendors in the terminal to pass the time. Once the ferry arrived and we were able to board, it was a mad dash to the window that would be the best vantage point to see the Statue of Liberty. We grabbed some seats on that particular side of the boat and got up to join the crowds once it was close enough to the statue. We stayed on Staten Island only long enough to board the next ferry back to Manhattan. 
of tourism. My lovely boyfriend procured a pair of tickets to see Phantom of the Opera that evening, so we dolled up and went to dinner in the Theater District before the show. As it was an hour before show time on a Saturday night, and we did not have reservations, we sat at the bar at Café Angus Bistro to eat. We ordered their Du Pre option, which was a prix fixe, three course menu designed for pre-show diners. I chose the roasted buttermilk chicken as my entrée, and Mike had the salmon. Along with the entrée came a small portion of house salad and a delightful three bite portion of dessert, their apple-cherry crumble. The meal was delicious and the perfect amount of food. We went to the Majestic Theater feeling satisfied and ready to take in a three hour performance. The musical was magnificent. I loved every minute of it, and the cast was so talented I wanted to cry. Each scene was better than the last; the whole production was perfect. After the show we wandered around 
the Theater District and Time Square taking pictures and being uber tourists. It was a very surreal experience, being in the middle of all the lights and people, where so many iconic events have taken place. We stopped by Junior’s Cheesecake and shared a slice of the cherry, which we devoured while we continued to walk around. We found that as we were walking past some of the other theaters, the cast was coming out to crowds of people wanting to get their programs signed. We observed the whole scene, and realized we were staring at Mr. Ferris Bueller himself, Matthew Broderick. Of course we couldn’t have him sign a program from a play he did not star in, so we just stared in awe as he signed others’. Once he got in his SUV to leave, we were able to tear ourselves away from the scene and start wandering again. Being the Stephen King fan that I am, I convinced Mike to walk to 46th and 2nd Avenue to where the vacant lot that houses The Rose from the Dark Tower Series is supposed to be located. It was quite a long walk from Time Square, and it’s probably the most fangirl thing I’ve ever done, but it was totally worth it. There was no 
vacant lot, only a small park with a bodega across the street. Mike very thoughtfully bought me a rose at the bodega and we placed it behind the locked gate of the park (only to take it back after I took a picture). That rose cost us $18 because we didn’t have any cash and there was a minimum for debit card purchases, so we got The Rose and a 6-pack of Brooklyn Lager. It made me very happy though, to make the small pilgrimage to an iconic spot in my favorite author’s books. After I got my fill of Dark Tower fanfare, we walked back to the hotel the long way, enjoying the weather and each other’s company. We turned on the TV in the room and each drank a lager while discussing the day’s events.
rides and attractions to decide which to spend our money on. Each ride was about $4-$9, so we only went on three. First we tried one of the small roller coasters, called The Tickler, and we went on the swings before we walked over to the main event, The Cyclone. The cyclone is an almost century old, wooden roller coaster, that is as rickety as it sounds. We felt we absolutely had to go on it. There was no line, and we climbed the wooden steps up to the boarding platform to get in one of the leather-lined cars right away. A few other people boarded, and we took off through the sea of wooden slats and planks. It only lasted a couple of minutes, but it was very fun, and provided a great view of the coast. We walked around a little longer, and then got back on the train to head back towards the city. We made a pit stop at Washington Square Park and walked to The Strand Bookstore in the East Village. 
finally made it back to the hotel, we readied ourselves to go meet one of my very good friends for dinner in Hell’s Kitchen. We met him on the corner of 50th and 9th, and decided we were all in the mood for margaritas. We waltzed down the street into Arriba Arriba, and were seated right away, surprisingly. We all ordered frozen margaritas; mine was watermelon. The margs were delicious and the food was even better. We had two rounds and were delightfully tipsy when we left the restaurant to walk back towards the hotel. We met more Chicago colleagues at the hotel bar, Salon De Ning, which was on the roof. 
We got a large table in the corner of the outdoor terrace. It was a chilly night, but the terrace was spotted with heat lamps and the cocktails helped as well. The drinks were a little pricey but delectably worth it. We finished the night off back at Cassidy’s Pub and enjoyed the drinks and company just as we did the first night there.
New York Public Library. It was gorgeous, both inside and out. We toured the inside, independently, and walked through the reading rooms. The Rose Main Reading room, which is what I wanted to see, was unfortunately closed for remodeling, but at least it gives me a good reason to revisit. After we left the library, we walked down 5th Avenue towards Central Park. We decided to have lunch first then take a stroll through the inside of the park. We walked along Madison Avenue, 
amongst the designer stores and boutiques, and could not for the life of us find a place to have lunch that wouldn’t cost us the equivalent of our plane tickets. We finally came upon 3 Guys on Madison Avenue, which fit the bill perfectly. We had sandwiches in a booth at the front of the diner. I later read, on the plane ride home, that Joan Didion and her late husband used to stop in there regularly (from “The Year of Magical Thinking”) , which made the experience that much better. We finally made it to Central Park and walked around for a few hours, stopping by Alice in Wonderland and Hans Christian Anderson to take
pictures, and by the Bethesda Fountain to watch the brides and grooms pose and listen to the small choir singing under the bridge. We walked back to the hotel to collect our luggage and took the subway to JFK. The whole while I complained and dragged my feet, because I did not want to leave. Every time I go to New York, I come home and start planning my next trip back, whether it be in a few months or a year, almost as soon as I get off the plane. We have a great long-distance relationship, New York and I, and every time I go back, it’s as if I never left.
The picture windows showcased the mountains that surrounded the building, and showed a cute patio, which was covered in snow but showed promise for the summer. The food was amazing and the coffee was the boost we needed to push us through the hike. In fact, when we told our waitress our after-breakfast plans, she insisted we take some to go. It was a perfect breakfast experience and I would fly back to Utah any day just to do it all over.
we hoofed it up the slick, ice-coated street. When we were almost to the actual trail, we came upon a lady moose, just hanging out in the middle of the road, staring at us. She casually walked over to the side and graciously let us take her photo. It was the only (large) wildlife we saw on the hike, but she was a beaut. Caity had warned me that this was a difficult hike, and that I may not be properly dressed, or shoe-ed is maybe a better term (I was wearing her old Bearpaw boots). So I was surprise that the beginning of the trail was so mild, with only a few small hills. Then we came upon a stream that was completely iced over and situated in a small canyon-like area. The stream came from a frozen waterfall that was down a little ways, and I was thinking, “oh what a beautiful picturesque area” when Caity informed me that we would be climbing up said waterfall to get to Donut Falls. I was very apprehensive at first, seeing 
how I could barely walk on the small ledge of solid ground next to the stream without slipping and clinging to the barren bush branches next to me. Once we got up close to the waterfall, I was even more nervous, as it was made of only ice and the scattered rock.
It was in a cave, shedding an eerie shade of light onto the small frozen pool within, and the half frozen waterfall inside echoed against the walls. It was absolutely stunning. I could have sat in there for a long time, if it weren’t for the plane I had to catch and my being cold and wet from the climb. I was sad to have to leave the cave, but we all felt very accomplished for having made it up there. The climb down was a little easier, because we mostly just slid down on our butts, squealing and laughing the whole way. We cheerfully walked back to the road, passing our moose friend on our way. At the parking lot, we parted ways with Dave, who, by the way, caught the whole magical hike on film and his pictures are amazing. Caity and I 
main trail that I would wander out on in hopes of seeing a huge gator, halfway submerged in the water, looking dangerous. However, these jaunts were fruitless. Finally, halfway through the walk, a group of other hikers pointed out a baby gator floating right off the boardwalk. We marveled at it briefly and then hightailed out of there before the mama gator came after us. The walk back to the entrance of the trail was grueling and hot. We had to pick up the pace so that we could make our afternoon steamboat cruise. We speed walked back to the car, ducking under spider webs and hopping over snake tails. We made it back to the river with just enough time for Michael to park and for me to get us two slices of pizza and a hurricane to share before we boarded the boat.
rebeccawanderlusting 