Just to update, this is the second installment over the great time I had last weekend. What was so great about the weekend, you might ask?
- We found a crazy (in a good way) burger joint in downtown Des Moines (as we were just passing through) called Zombie Burger. (See my last post for more details.)
- We got to visit family in Iowa.
- Then, my sister, nephew and I traveled to Chicago to see Bruce Springsteen at Wrigley Field. (My sister is a crazed Bruce Springsteen fan. And, I mean crazy crazed!)
We arrived in northern Iowa on Friday afternoon, surprised my two nephews by picking them up at school, and had a great meal where the eldest nephew showed some culinary chops (more about that later).
The next morning, Sis, eldest nephew and I set out for Chi Town and “The Bruce Adventure.”
It takes five hours to drive from my sister’s house in Iowa to Chicago. Guess what we listened to the entire way?
That would be correct—her entire archive of Bruce Springsteen CDs.
Prior to our trip to the Bruce Springsteen concert at Wrigley Field last weekend, I told her I knew no songs past 1989. I knew the lyrics to “Dancin’ in the Dark, “Born in the USA,” and “Born to Run.”
By the time we hit Chicago traffic I knew a lot more.
It is so funny that my sister is this Springsteen zealot. To know her, she is the typical academic—a college professor of political science with a serious streak for her students. But, her love for The Boss started somewhere in junior high and I wish I could pinpoint when the craze started.
Her five-year-old son can sing all the words to “Outlaw Pete,” but it was the eleven-year-old who had the pleasure of accompanying his crazed mother and this “along for the ride” aunt. When I asked my nephew why he agreed to attend the concert with his mom and me, he said, “Mom said I should go see him before he died.” 🙂
We were able to fit a quick visit to the Field Museum.
Like I said, we squeezed in this visit. We barely had enough time to see Sue, the Egyptian exhibit and the gems. I was more fascinated with the wedding reception that the staff was sitting up.
What in the world do you think this cost?
We stayed at The Palmer House and my nephew was fascinated with valet parking. Then as we walked in to this four-star hotel, he stated, “You can’t tell me there isn’t a casino hooked to this!” I made a mental note to ask my sister where they had been taking him. 🙂
We were able to grab a quick meal at Miller’s Pub, a quaint steak house. The nephew surprised me by ordering a house specialty, The Greek Burger. I snagged a bite and it was delicious with peppers, parsley and onions mixed in the beef and toasty feta cheese on top.
After dinner, we walked to the subway and boarded for Wrigley Field.
Tomorrow:
A concert review and trying to answer the nephew’s question as to why he seemed the youngest one in attendance.
P.S. I just ordered “Wrecking Ball” at Amazon. 🙂