...so good.
Wednesday we went to a Blackhawks hockey game thanks to Lisa's co-worker and friend who bought us standing room tickets. Blackhawks vs. Calgary Flames.
First stop was Billy Goat Tavern (yes like the one from classic SNL) for cheezborger, cheezborger, fries and a Coke (No Pepsi). Well, we actually had a double cheeze! Then we treated ourselves to their own draft. Quite good in fact.
Then a few blocks stroll to the United Center. Windy and cold but beautiful view of the city. We already love it here!
My Sweetie and I share a beer. And some mega nachos with everything sans onions before the game. Actually not too bad for stadium nachos. :-)
Kinda pricey for lackluster tap beer, but meh...
Our view. The standing area was behind the third level seats, but there was a bar behind us. We got better beer for our second round (Heineken and Corona).
The Hawks warming up. Sorry for the rather dark pictures but the camera wouldn't use the flash due to the heavily lighted rink.
After each goal, bikini clad girls and others clear the powdery ice from the rink.
Another bikini girl. Rather amusing. :-)
It was quite fun, especially when the Hawks won 6-4. Yet we felt they could have played better. Even knowing very little about hockey, it seemed the Hawks weren't taking the game seriously most of the time. But oh well. Then came the anxious bus and train home. We took the Metra as our "L" line didn't run to Evanston so late. A taxi was at the Evanston station and we took that home. Arrived at midnight. Tired (we were still exhausted from the move) but lots of fun.
We are still amazed that total strangers are so friendly. On the way to the game, we got turned around at the "L", then a complete stranger came up and asked if we needed help! D.C. and Maryland this ain't!
Oh yes, the day before the game, we went to a nearby salon for haircuts. A bit pricey but what a difference!
Yesterday we got IL driver's licenses. Lisa also bought some new clothes, and make-up from Clinique at the Old Orchard Mall, which is about a fifteen minute drive, followed by a car wash to cleanse the car of the dirt and salt from The Move. Did it need it!
Big difference!
Not too shabby either.
These pictures were taken Friday just before we went to Pete Miller's to use the gift cards that Carnegie gave Lisa as a going away gift.
As it was windy and raining, we took the "L" one stop to downtown Evanston. It's a cool area with lots of shops. We came down here a couple of days earlier to buy a new bed and wood frame and an actual dining set which will be delivered next week. The eventual love seat, chair and bookcases will wait for when we get jobs.
But back to the dinner...
Our reservation was for 8pm so we wandered in the rain (thank you Land's End for your Squall Parkas) but eventually we went in at 7:30pm and they went ahead and seated us.
Very nice and expensive place and we had more than enough to enjoy ourselves. For appetizers, Lisa had a "Maryland" crabcake (way too good to be from Maryland. Sorry Mike, :P ) and I had seared tuna. We both had drinks for starters.
Then our huge steaks came. I don't think I have had a better medium-rare steak, aged ribeye! And garlic mashed potatoes on the side. And dessert, creme brulee' for Lisa and I had a four layer chocolate cake, with coffee of course. We took both of our left over steaks, mashed potatoes and the cake home...
...and made a cold steak salad along with fried potato croquettes.
Lisa tossed some baby greens with our salt dressing and freshly grated parmesan. To reheat these amazing steaks would be sacrilege. They were nearly steak carpaccio.
Yes, we're settling in nicely.
Pics of the apartment next!
Until later :-)
