CHICAGO — Getting out of the office is a good thing. You know, see what’s going on in the Couv.
But it’s even better — once in a while — to get the heck out of Dodge. Leave it all behind.
But, truth is, there’s a little local everywhere. There’s always some connection, no matter where you’re at. Let me explain:
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I found myself in Chitown a few days ago. It’s a great city with lots to offer. Hot dogs, dirty politics, the theater. I enjoy it all.
But my first stop in Chicago was the Oriental Theatre on Randolph. And there were two VSAA Grads standing right in front of me!
We had just seen the musical Billy Elliot. And — OK, OK — one of the grads was our daughter, Danni.
After graduating from Northwestern, Danni, 23, landed a job in Chicago with Objective Paradigm, a premier technical recruiting and executive search firm.
The other VSAA grad was Tony Clarno, 28. Tony was the real deal in high school theater. And — as you might have guessed by now — he is in Billy Elliot. It was the first time the two VSAA grads had seen each other since both landed in Chicago.
Tony is doing well, loves the city and is making a living doing what he loves to do.
I’ve visited Chicago dozens of times — I grew up there — but this was the first time we decided to use only mass transit. If we had rented a car, it would probably have cost us $200 and another $200 to park it. If we took cabs, just the cost to and from the airport would have been $100. Tooling around the city … another $300 to $400.
Instead, my wife and I each bought a seven-day CTA pass. The cost? $23 apiece. That gave us unlimited use of the bus and the El (Elevated mass transit).
It was fun taking the El in from the airport. It dropped us off four blocks from our hotel. And through our entire stay, we were on and off it constantly.
Vancouver, as you know, is just in the infant stages of getting into this game. But I have to tell you, the ease and cost to use Chicago Mass Transit was sweet!
I love a good Chicago Dog, and you can actually find one in Vancouver at Pop Culture on Main Street.
But if you’re looking for the best Chicago Dog in Chicago, you have to head over to Hot Doug’s.
The place has been featured on the Travel Channel’s No Reservations, starring Anthony Bourdain. And so Doug is sort of famous now.
While getting my photo taken with him, I ordered a couple of Chicago Dogs. But I also glanced at his crazy menu. In the mood for a bacon and jalapeño duck sausage with blood orange mustard and velours blue cheese?
He’s got that … and more.
Former Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill once said all politics are local.
Not true this election.
The incessant TV political ads in Chicago look exactly like the incessant TV political ads in Vancouver. If you’re a Democrat, you are part of the runaway spending in bailouts, health care and employee pensions. If you’re a Republican, you’re part of protecting the wealthy and Wall Street and you don’t give a hoot about the struggling middle class.
Just a few more days, my friends. Just a few more days.
Lou Brancaccio is The Columbian’s editor. Reach him at lou.brancaccio@columbian.com.
