I possibly had the best steak I have eaten, from David Burke Primehouse - a 40 day, dry aged bone in, rib-eye that put me into a food coma after the long flight. An incredibly tender and deep beef flavour that was a little confronting at first. It was the highlight of my eating and it was on day 1 before a rapid downhill spiral into the deep fried prairie of suburban Chicago. But they know how to do a mean sports bar to their credit.
The Institute of Art had one of the most amazing collections I can remember going to. Miro, Van Gough, Picasso, Monet, Manet, Grant Wood (American Gothic), FLW, a Renzo Piano building, Seurat and the list could go on forever. Top museum of the day.
There was a huge amount to see in the very pedestrian-friendly downtown. Michigan Avenue, to "The Bean," next to a Gehry pavilion, next to an outdoor ice skating ring, down the road from Al's Italian Beef, across from a Christmas Market, near Buddy Guy's blues bar, under the "L". A great walking city despite the unbelievable cold.
Apart from the quality of the coffee actually making Starbucks taste good in comparison, the thing that struck me most was the Latin work force. The (meant to be?) invisible population that held the non-customer facing jobs wherever I went. Setting tables, cleaning rooms, washing bathrooms, making the city function. How would the US function without them?