Childress' Take On Chicago (along with two Crofts!)

My (Cara) family has a tradition of going to Chicago after Thanksgiving. Although we eat well on Thanksgiving Day, we just feel the need to make a weekend of it. We left Friday about noon (without kids) and arrived in Chicago for dinner. That wouldn't have been a problem except that we couldn't agree on where to eat! I have pictures of all of the restaurants we did not eat at, but for all of your sake, I won't publish them. We spend our days shopping/eating and our nights playing cards! It is a great time of bonding with my family. (sorry you weren't here this year Mike and Keena, we missed you!!) We are so excited about going every year that we talk all the way up there. (It even caused mom to miss a toll that she was suppose to pay!) We exhaust ourselves so much that we don't talk at all on the way home!! (Brian finally accepted it this year and brought a book to read on the way home!) Sorry honey, that's just the way my family functions!

Although we have to pay for most things in Chicago we did find one thing free this year---HUGS!!!! Yes, these people were passing out free hugs, and if you know my family you know we couldn't pass up this opportunity!!

We were thrilled to find out that Gino's (our top pizza choice for chicago) has reopened it's original location. We have many fond memories from that restaurant and is about the only place we can agree on to eat at in the city!

Here is just a sampling of the yummy pizza that we get to eat every year. We have talked about trying other places, but you just can't beat a big slice of chicago style deep dish pizza. (a childress family tradition from before I can remember.)

The other reason we love coming here is that the lights, the people, the atmosphere just gets you ready for Christmas.