While Akron is known as ‘The Rubber City’, we don’t really deal with rubber much these days. I spent the last week in The Windy City and The Brew City, (Chicago and Milwaukee, respectively) and those cities certainly hold up to their nicknames! It was so so so nice to have 7 days off from this house of t-shirts (though I still had a couple of work things to deal with, but that’s expected). I haven’t been on a trip since last July, so this was long overdue. Despite the ‘relaxation’ of not having to work, this trip was certainly a jam-packed busy adventure. Plus I was travelling with my parents and brother. Here are the details of said adventure:
Thursday, July 18th
Had to stop by the store in the morning to pick up a couple of things I had forgotten. Went to my parents, where we of course left late. Breakfast at Cracker Barrel then jumped on the turnpike and headed west. Arrived in Chi-town around 6:30 in the evening, and checked into the very classy and historic Parker House Hotel. Dinner at the nearby Exchequer Pub- deep dish Chicago pizza, which was very very cheesy. Walked around Millennium Park post dinner and saw some really cool modern sculptures.
Friday, July 19th
Slightly late start to the day. We had brunch at this lovely little chain cafe called Corner Bakery. The menu looked so good that we proceded to eat there the next 2 mornings as well. Headed to Soldier Field/Shedd Aquarium area. We had hoped to go to the Shedd Aquarium, but there was a 3 hour wait to get into the building. So instead, we hopped on a ferry that took us over to the Chicago Navy Pier (and provided an excellent view of the city). Walked up and down the pier (kinda touristy, but cool). Had a late lunch at Billy Goat’s Tavern (as in the old John Belushi/SNL skit “Cheezborger, Cheezborger. No Pepsi, Coke. No fries, cheeps”; and of the cursing the Cubs in ‘45 because the Tavern’s owner couldn’t take his pet goat to a World Series game fame). I had been to the original Billy Goat’s back in ‘97 and again in ‘03, and for some reason, I was remembering it was really really good. My memory served me wrong. Back to the hotel to relax a bit, then off for more food (that’s what the Gorrings do best) at the Miller Pub right around the corner from our hotel.
Saturday, June 20th

A Chicago-style dog (but not from Superdawg...at Wrigley)
After another breakfast at Corner Bakery, went to the Lincoln Park Zoo. This is a completely free zoo located in one of Chicago’s most beautiful park areas. Being that it was about 85 degrees out, a lot of the animals were hiding inside. The had a great lion/tiger/jungle cat house; and the gorilla house put you within a few feet of our closest-related species (except they lack opposable thumbs). I was disappointed that there weren’t any elephants (those are my favorite), but it was a nice zoo. After the zoo we drove to the far Northside to find ‘Superdawg‘. Superdawg is one of a dozen or so restaurants featured on a 90’s PBS documentary on hot dogs. My father watched that on a vacation to Hilton Head in ‘99, and since then he’s never been the same. Everything is about hot dogs and/or sausages. We’ve travelled near and far; the delirium even spread to me when I waited 2 1/2 hours by myself to get a Pink’s dog in Hollywood…twice. I didn’t enjoy the full splendor of a Chicago-style dog, as I am not one for condiments, but was nice to knock another famous hot dog joint off the list. Then back to the hotel, and onto another dining adventure….

Divine
I’m sure by now you can see that all my family does is eat. And eat, and eat. Hey, we enjoy life and I’m sure will someday enjoy the pleasures of a triple-bypass. Oh, before I talk about the religious experience that was our late-night dinner, I should talk about the very cool experience of visiting the Sears Tower, the tallest skyscraper in these United States. The 103rd Floor observation deck was closed, but we got up to the 99th Floor and it was quite a view. I love city skylines and always get a little rush when I see them. After heading back down to ground level, we hopped in a cab and headed over to the corner of Wells & Ontario, i.e. the gates of Heaven. A few years ago, I saw a special on the food network about pizza in America. New York thin crust vs. Chicago deep dish vs. California wacky toppings. I’d been to the original Uno’s in Chicago, but Gino’s East caught my eye. Specifically the layer of sweet delicious sausage rolled out on the entire diameter of the pie. Oh, was it delicious! The kinda flaky deep-crust, the gooey layer of cheese (not too much, just right), the glorious sausage, and then the wonderful sauce. I then entered a pizza coma and don’t recall the rest of the night.
Sunday, June 21st
Father’s Day. We took my dad down to Corner Bakery for breakfast and then off to Wrigley Field! The Cleveland Indians were in town, and had lost the first two games of the series to the Cubbies. If you haven’t been to Wrigley, you should. I’ve been to a fair amount of ballparks, and nowhere else does baseball as purely as it’s done at Wrigley. The fans are amazing, ever hopeful and optimistic. My favorite team is the Yankees, and the Tribe are a close second, but I will always root for the Cubbies. C’mon, it’s been 101 years since they’ve won a World Series (I even cried a little when Steve Bartman interfered with Moises Alou catching out #2). Wrigley is a gorgeous stadium (the second oldest used in MLB) made of bricks & ivy. The entire neighborhood around the stadium, Wrigleyville has the energy and devotion of the Vatican City; instead of Roman Catholicism, it’s the Cubs.

A Harry Caray/Cubbie t-shirt
One of my favorite things about the Cubs/Wrigley is Harry Caray, who served as the Cubs announcer for a number of years until his death in 1998. I was lucky to hear him enthusiastically sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ (which he was quite famous for) back in ‘97. Harry’s energy during the 7th inning stretch is still alive today. The Cubs beat the Tribe, sweeping the series. Will this be the year? I think if the Cubs can finally do it, any Cleveland team might have a shot. Walked around Wrigleyville post-game, then back to the hotel. Dinner at Lawry’s (as in the seasoning salt) and then off to bed.
Monday, June 22nd
Left the Windy City, onto the Brew City. Got into Milwaukee, relaxed a bit. Dinner at Noodles & Co. (a wonderful chain kind of like Chipotle or Metroburger with all kinds of noodle/sauce combos. Walked along the shores of Lake Michigan. Nice little day.
Tuesday, June 23rd
This is a day that will live in infamy. Started off with a light breakfast at the Kilowatt restaurant in the hotel, then onto Miller Valley, the headquarters of the Miller Brewing Co. We did a tour of the Brewery and learned the rich history of Miller, ‘The Girl in the Moon’ and brewing in Milwaukee. Stood in a room of 500,000 cases of beer; saw bottles & cans being filled, even went into a 107 degree Brew House. The tour was capped off with a complimetary tasting, of 3 delicious Miller brews, including the High Life.
The events that transpired next I will never forget. We had tickets to see the Brewers play the Twins. Miller Park (yes, same Miller- couldn’t escape them that day) is a gorgeous modern stadium. And the food selection is top notch. Much like Cleveland’s racing hot dogs, Miller Parkactually started the trend with the ‘Sausage Race’. When I went to Miller Park back in ‘03, there were 4- an American Hot Dog, an Italian Sausage, a Polish Sausage, and a German Bratwurst. And there is ‘Sausage Race’ merchandise- t-shirts, figurines, plush toys, etc. At the time, my dad suggested in order to get a t-shirt (that he bought, not a contest by the park), we’d have to eat all 4 sausages. It was a little tough, but it was done. Well, now Miller Park has added numero cinco, a Spanish Chorizo. 5 sausages? I’m not 19 anymore. I can’t just eat whatever I want. But the challenged was proposed, and I accepted. I won’t really explain how it went down (there may have been a drawing out of a hat to determine the order), view for yourself:

Numero uno: El chorizo

Round 2: Invade Poland

#3: The All-American hot dog

Il numero quattro: Italiano

Die letzte wurst: Der Deutscher.

Equal parts victory and shame.

I ate all that sausage and all I got was this t-shirt.
End of day.
Wednesday, June 24th
Left Milwaukee, but not without stopping (like fools) at Usinger’s Sausage Haus and at the Wisconson Cheese Mart. After loading up on several pounds of meat & cheese (to bring back home, not eat then!) we jumped on 80/90 East. We did stop briefly at Tony Packo’s, that wonderful Hungarian restaurant famous for their Packo’s dogs and being mention on M.A.S.H. Yes, I did eat one more sausage, though I was obscenely full still. Then we got home just before midnight. Now here I am.
***Note: if you are feeling a little green with stomach envy, some of the places I mentioned do ship to Ohio- I’ve provided links***