Thanksgiving In Chicago

There's not much of which Iowa City can boast as far as great tourist attractions go, but it does hold bragging rights for being near some pretty cool places: St. Louis, Nashville, Nauvoo, Minneapolis, and Chicago.

We've traveled to Chicago several times, but only to the airport and a nearby suburb where Dave's uncle lives. For Thanksgiving this year we decided to amend that sin and see the city. After a wonderful day of food and frolic (Natalie, I think you'll enjoy the detail of this Thanksgiving dinner table), we risked the drive into downtown Chicago on the best - or worst? shopping day of the year. Luckily, we were only looking, so the vomitously long lines didn't faze us.

First we were given a personal tour of the city, safe within the confines of a warm car. That, I'll admit, was very cool: the aquarium, Museum of Natural History, the football stadium, architecture, Navy Pier, Zoo, Children's museum, and of course, the "Bean."

We tasted famous Gerret's popcorn (the wait was outside the door,) and ate at a beautiful place called the Grand Lux Cafe. We tried their famous New Orleans Beignets (a puffed pastry served with three sauces: chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla cream) - it is pronounces "Ben-yeah."

Then we walked down main street admiring the crowds, sounds, smells, and animal rights activists standing outside a fur shop where a beautiful woman clad from head to toe in fur stood with two armed guards on either side of her. But the finale is what really blew me away: the American Girl Doll store. Wow. I mean, wow. It was a mini town, complete with hair solon, hospital, pet store, bakery, photo booths, library, and even a restaurant complete with high chairs just for your American girl doll. You can even pick out a doll to look like you! Can I just say, insanity? Obsession? As a child I preferred model horses and stuffed animals to dolls; they scared me. But this place... even I may have fallen for the wonderful world of The American Girl Doll. ( Just watch the video to see what I mean.)