My Kind of Town, Chicago is my kind of razzamatazz and all that jazz!!!

Chicago...........growing up in the shadow of this big city had no impact on me whatsoever. Yea right. In fact, I was supposed to go to school right downtown Chicago at the Harris Institute but that plan was waylaid by a scholarship to a Illinois state supported school. So now, years later, my only experiences have been an occasional visit to the museums, football games or the airport. But now that I am close again, although it is still a good day's drive to get there, I plan on checking it out more. I do remember when I was growing up, I belonged to an organization called Job's Daughters. And every year, we had a convention in Chicago and it was held at the Conrad Hilton Hotel, which is now called the Hilton Chicago. This is a very nice hotel and rooms are exquisitely appointed. It is expensive but worth it.

It is also conveniently located on Michigan Avenue overlooking Grant Park, Lake Michigan, Millennium Park and the Museum Campus. Guests at the Hilton can use the hotel's free shuttle service to the Magnificent Mile and great shopping. I always liked staying there, waking up early in the morning and walking over to Lake Michigan. It was peaceful and gorgeous.

Chicago offers a multitude of lodging options. You will pay dearly to be downtown. Priceline prices run from $129 - $359 for a downtown hotel. There are a few other options. Again I will mention http://www.vrbo.com/, which lists several condos in the area. They run about the same price but you would have a kitchen and this helps with meals. Although the restaurant selection in Chicago is to die for, so you would want to give the restaurants some of your business. What about a Bed & Breakfast, check out http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/ for offers.

I have found a couple of hotels that appeal to my tastes. Hotel 71, located at 71 E. Wacker Drive, is a modern boutique hotel experience. Some friends and I will traveling to Chicago in November to catch Phantom of the Opera, we have opted to stay at this hotel based on location, price and the size of the rooms. For two rooms, two queen size beds with a sitting area facing the river, $643 for the night. Splitting this between 5 people and our costs are running around $130.

The second hotel, The Cass Hotel, which is located on the Magnificent Mile, has been renovated this year and is now designated as a Holiday Inn Express hotel. Located at 643 North Wabash, this hotel is decorated very nicely and has great amenities.

Entertainment abounds in this wonderful city. Not only in the downtown area but in the suburbs as well. I am concentrating on downtown because that is where my interests lie. I will be covering Navy Pier, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium, to name a few.

So let us begin..............our 6th grade field trip was to the Museum of Science and Industry. This is a huge museum and has all kinds of hands on exhibits. I remember walking through the human heart. Going into a World War II Japanese submarine. Talking on telephones where you could see each other. A wonderful electric train layout, a coal mine, so many many things. But that was many years ago, we won't say how many, just take my word for it. Today some of the best attractions are as follows:

THE U-505 SUBMARINE

On June 4, 1944, the German submarine known as the U-505 was off the coast of West Africa looking for American and Allied ships. Depth charges from the USS Chatelain blasted the u boat out of hiding. It was the end of the terror campaign the u boats ran in the Atlantic that almost altered the result of World War II. The U-505 Submarine exhibit is a part of your entry ticket but if you want to do a tour of the submarine, it is $5 per person. These tours are limited so it is best to buy your ticket and time in advance.

Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle

"Colleen Moore was always fascinated by dolls and doll houses. She owned several elaborate doll houses as a child, but later in life her father, Charles Morrison, suggested that she should pursue her passion for miniatures and doll houses by creating the "doll house" of her dreams. Her position as one of the
most popular actresses in Hollywood gave her the resources to produce a "Fairy
Castle" of fantastic proportions."

This castle today is worth $500,000, it measures 8'7" x 8'2" x 7'7" and contains over 2000 miniatures.

THE COAL MINE

Descend 600 ft underground and explore a working coalmine from it's humble beginnings to the technology used today. You explore Old Ben #17 which opened in the museum in 1933. This tour takes you through the stages of coal mining up to modern day with all of the safety precautions they now take.

FLIGHT 727

Explore the inner and outer workings of an actual Boeing 727. You will learn about the force of flight, cockpit, black box through hand-on and interactive displays

THE GREAT TRAIN STORY

The Great Train Story replaces the 60 year old model railroad exhibit (oh darn) but takes you through a journey across America, from Chicago to Seattle. The exhibit starts in Seattle harbor and moves you east across the nation to downtown Chicago.

HENRY CROWN SPACE CENTER

Here you will get a first hand look at the space crafts and artifacts that have been used through out our space program history. Two such spacecraft are on loan to the museum, Apollo 8 Command Module and Aurora 7 Mercury Space Capsule.

SHIPS THROUGH THE AGES

This is a collection of authentic ship models with reproductions of the first seacraft that sailed the ocean 5000 years ago to the luxury liners of the mid 1900's. They have a nearly life-sized mock up of a tall ship quarterdeck where you can experience handling a real ship at sea. They have an ancient Egyptian ship, copies of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria and the Mayflower.

WALK THROUGH THE HEART

The heart exhibit opened in 1952 and features a 16 foot tall model of the human heart. It has interactive exhibit units and has been updated with units on heart attacks and strokes. The human heart will outlast the normal activity of 7 automobiles each driven 10 years for more than 100,000 miles.

YESTERDAY'S MAINSTREET

A recreated 1910 street of yesteryear complete with cobblestones and brick takes you back to a time of silent movies and old fashion soda fountains. Included in the exhibit:

Dentist's office, Dr. John B. Murphy's office, Berghoff's restaurant, Jewel Tea Company grocery, Law office. Lytton's Clothing Store, Commonwealth Edison, Gossard Corset Shop, Chas. A. Stevens & Co., Chicago Post Office and Walgreen's Drug Company, Marshall Field & Co., The Nickelodian Cinema, Finnigan's Ice Cream Parlor and Photo Studio.

These are just a few of the permanent exhibits at the museum, which also features an Omnimax Theater, Foodcourt, and a parking garage. Admission is $11 for adults, $7 for children, and $9.50 for Seniors (65+)

Meet me in Montana..........Glacier National Park

The train that runs from Chicago to Portland and back is aptly called the Empire Builder. It travels along major portions of the trail blazed by Lewis & Clark. You will leave Portland at 5.:00 p.m and head toward Spokane, cross Idaho and arrive in East Glacier Park, MT at 8:16 a.m. the next day. I have chosen the Glacier Park Lodge and Resort as our home for the next few days. The park offers several types of lodging, go tohttp://www.glacier.national-park.com/ and click on Lodging and you will see all the choices. From Grand lodges and hotels & motor inns to cabins.


The Glacier Lodge is located on the eastern gateway of the park and is a rustic western themed lodge. Plenty of rooms for families on the 2nd and 3rd floors, nice pool, restaurant on site. You can enjoy golf, bus tours, boat cruises, horseback riding, hiking, shopping, and water rafting.

The lobby has Douglas Fir pillars that are 40 ft high and 40 inches in diameter. A great social gathering place with the large stone fire place and comfortable seating. Rooms run $129 - $179 for a suite.

You can make reservations for several types of activities through the lodge. We are going to be here 3 days, counting the day we arrive, so on that afternoon we are going to saddle up and ride a horse, cowboy. They have a 3 hour ride starting at 2:00 p.m.

All the beauty of the mountain front at your fingertips. The greatest view of
"Looking Glass" without the vehicles and traffic.

The 2 hour ride begins at 3:00 p.m., a guided horseback trip along the eastern border of Glacier National Park.

The maintained trail takes you to lofty sites and into the mountainous terrain
that has to be seen to be believed.

There is also a full day ride starting at 9:00 but I don't think my body can hold up to an all day ride on horseback.

The next day we are going to ride on the red buses up to the Prince of Wales hotel for afternoon tea. The bus leaves the Glacier Park Lodge at 9:30 a.m. and is 8.5 hours long.

"If breathtaking scenery is your thing, this is your tour! Begin your morning on
the “Old North Trail”, one of the oldest ‘highways’ in the world. See vistas and
views unparalleled anywhere as you wind along Montana plains and peaks. Visit the incredible Many
Glacier Valley along the way. Continue north to Waterton and the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, overlooking the Waterton Valley back to Montana. To enhance your trip even more, experience old world charm as you are served Afternoon Tea
(optional) in the lobby of this grand hotel. Return along the base of Chief Mountain, the spiritual landmark of the Blackfeet Indians.

You do cross over into Canada, so with the new regulations, you must have your passport available. Although their brochure lists two forms of identification and a birth certificate, get a passport and make it easy. Cost is $75.00 per adult, $37.50 per child.

Relaxing and eating a good steak, taking a swim in the outdoor heated pool will finish up this day. Picture taking all along the way. But resting up for tomorrow, cause rafting the river is next on the agenda. I cannot decide if I want to do a white water or a scenic float. Both use the middle fork of the Flathead River. Cost is $45 - $65 for a half day trip and $75 - $85 for a full day. I know my son would love the white water and they offer a dinner trip that includes both, so we will probably go for that one. Hopefully we will see some wild animals like Eagles, Black Bear, Whitetail Deer and Beavers. The dinner trip isn't until afternoon but the others start around 9:30 a.m.

Now there is also hiking, boat cruises, gold, fishing, and kayaking and the good thing about this website http://www.glacierparkinc.com/Activities.htm is that you can find out all the information on tours and trips that start at the Glacier Park Lodge.



A little history on the park should make for some interesting reading. Recent archaeological surveys have determined human occupation dating back 10,000 years. These would have been the ancestors of the tribes that live in the valley today, Blackfeet, Salish and Kootenai. In the early 1800's, trappers came to capture beaver and Lewis and Clark came within 50 miles of where the park is today.

As the westward movement continued, the Indians were forced into reservations. The Blackfoot reservation adjoins the east side of the park. The Salish and Kootenai are southwest of Glacier. This entire area is of great spiritual importance to the Indians.

The railway through Marias Pass was completed in 1891, allowing more people to move into the area. Homesteaders settled in and many small towns sprung up.

In 1895, the mountains east of the Continental Divide were bought from the Blackfoot in hopes of finding copper and gold. No great deposits were ever found and the rush only lasted a couple of years.

"Glacier National Park is a land of high-mountain adventure, a land that sets the
senses soaring and the spirits winging. Here you'll find lofty mountain ranges
with sculptured glacial valleys, ice cold lakes that mirror mountains and sky,
wildflowers and wildlife flourishing in alpine meadows and prairie grasslands.
These exquisite elements make up Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada and the adjoining Glacier National Park in the United States. But there is more. To
commemorate the long history of peace and friendship between our two nations,
Waterton and Glacier have been designated the Waterton/Glacier International
Peace Park."

Although these two parks are divided by an international boundary and administered to by different countries, they are united by nature.

The park has wildlife consist of big horn sheep, mountain goats, wapitit(elk), black bear, whitetail and mule deer.

The wildflowers are distinguished by area. In the Alpine area you have heather, gentian, beargrass, and glacier lily, and in the east, where the plains meet the mountains, you have pasque flower, lupine, Indian paintbrush, gaillardia, asters, and shooting stars paint the prairie.

This website http://www.glacier.national-park.com/info.htm#his, has an abundance of information for you. Check it out.


The train leaves East Glacier Park at 9:54 a.m. and heads to Chicago. You will cross the plains of North Dakota, pass by Minneapolis/St Paul, and travel during the day through Wisconsin. It should be a scenic ride. We arrive in Chicago at 3:55 p.m., just in time to check into our hotel for the night. I think we will spend a little time in Chi Town, believe me there is plenty to see and do.

Vaya con dios

Day Tripping - Wineries and Coastal Views

On one of my days in September, I am going to drag my friend, Kerrie, to the coast. She will probably have a good idea of where to go but I think that Cannon Beach is the place to get some great pictures. Plus, on our way back, we can detour south on 47 and do a little wine tasting. And once we get to Cannon Beach, it looks like Hemlock Street is the place to shop. But to be honest, I simply want to see the Pacific Coast from the Northwest point of view. Lincoln City was suggested by another friend, Kim, who hails from Denver. And in looking at their website, it looks very promising. I love to shop for antiques and collectibles and Lincoln City has a large selection of stores. Plus, you can make your own paperweight at the Jennifer L. Sears Glass Art Studio. Or blow your own glass float. That would be a great souvenir. $65 each.

At the Pacific Coast Center for Culinary Arts, you can take a cooking class that specializes in the foods and culinary heritage of the Pacific Northwest.

There are several festivals in the area. In October, you can enjoy the Lincoln City Plein Air Art Fest. Plein Air is a French term for "open air" and features painting done outdoors on location. The Annual Fall Kite Festival includes demonstrations, competitions and other great fun. The Glass Float Gala is held at the Chinook Winds Casino Resort and includes dinner, prizes, a private showing of the Glass Galore Artists and your very own glass float. In November, there is a Chowder Cook Off and in February they hold an Antique Week.

You can also do a little whale watching. The best place, according to the Lincoln City website, is located at Roads End, the NW 21st Street beach access and SW 40th Street. You can also beach comb, check out the tidal pools or just enjoy the soothing sound of the waves washing ashore.

Just a few ideas for a day trip out of Portland.

Heading back to Portland, I would like to turn south on 47 and visit a few wineries. A couple I have found to have daily tasting hours are listed below, along with their specialities.

Elk Cove in Gaston was founded in 1974 by Pat and Joe Campbell. Winemaker Adam Godlee Campbell joined his parents in 1995 to produce Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. To get there, turn left off of Highway 47 on Olson Road. Tasting room hours are 10 am - 5 pm daily. Website: http://www.elkcove.com/

"2003 Pinot Noir Deano's Roasted dark
fruits make up the aromatics. Its chocolate and blackberry-dominated flavor
profile is medium to full-bodied, suave, and silky-textured. Drink over the next
5 years. Barrel selection from five premium vineyards of the North Willamette
Valley. Barrels chosen reflect the terroir, the cooperage as well as the
superior fruit. Deep dark red color, big, dark cherry fruit"

The previous description was copied from the pages of the Adea Winery website, http://www.adeawine.com/index.html. What a wonderful description and it certainly makes me want to taste this wine. This winery is located on Hwy 47. Tasting room hours to be reported later.

The next wineries I am going to mention use the Carlton Winemakers Studio, the nation's first "green" cooperative winemaking facility.

"Each winery operates independently with separate
cellars and staff, but all benefit economically from sharing state-of-the-art
equipment in the gravity-driven building designed to use natural light, passive
solar heat and recycled materials."

Tasting room for all of these wineries in open 11-5 daily, seven days a week and is located in the Carleton Winemakers Studio.

Andrew Rich uses grapes from the finest vineyards in the Pacific Northwest. Website: http://www.andrewrichwines.com/index.htm

Boedecker produces Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Website:http://www.boedeckercellars.com/

Bryce Vineyard produces 1 wine from its' 4 acre vineyard in the Ribbon Ridge AVA.

"Using high density vine spacing, sustainable vineyard
practices, limited yields, and traditional winemaking techniques, our aim is to
produce a wine of great honesty that truly reflects and celebrates the character
of our unique site."

The vineyard is not open to the public, but they use the tasting room hours of 11 - 7 daily 7 days a week at the Winemaker's Studio. Website:http://www.brycevineyard.com/Index.html

Sparkling wine uses three essential ingredients: Pinot Noit, Chardonnay and maybe Pinot Meunier. Domaine Meriwether was 20 years in the making and produces sparkling wine in Oregon. Their website has a very descriptive page on the process for making sparkling wines. http://www.meriwetherwines.com/methode_champenoise.cfm

"Our intent is to create an estate winery known largely for its red varietals. Foremost among
our reds is the Spanish grape Tempranillo. A natural bridge between the Pinot
Noir and the Cabernet Sauvignon, this grape is legendary in Europe and vastly
under-planted in the New World. We are positioning ourselves to be among the
first estate wineries showcasing Tempranillo"

This statement from the About Us page of Dominio IV says it

all. Introducing a new grape variety. Their first production from the vineyard was in 2004. Website: http://www.dominiowines.com/index.em?pid=166195

Next on the list is Hamacher Wines. Started in 1990, when Eric Hamacher arrived in Oregon, the wine uses eight diverse vineyards located in Oregon's Willamette Valley. While many winemakers boast of site and vineyard designates, Eric has found that by leasing from individual vineyards all over the valley, he is able to benefit from their diversity without experiencing any of the problems of maintaining a huge infrastructure. His pursuit of the perfect Pinot Noir has been fueled by his years of work with wineries in California. while attending UC Davis. Website: http://www.hamacherwines.com/hamacher/index.jsp

J.Daan is a boutique winery specializing in local Pinot Noirs and Columbia Valley Syrah. Winemaker Justin Van Zanten's goal is to produce serious Pinot Noirs that reflected the unique qualities of the region and were offered at a good value. Website: http://www.jdaan.com/about.html

The Lazy River Vineyard is 146 acres hidden from the road. It is planted in Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Reisling. The owners of this winery, Ned & Kirsten Lumpkin, Eric Hamacher and his wife, Luisa Ponzi, were the originators of the Carlton Winemakers Studio in 2002. Website: http://www.lazyrivervineyard.com/index.html

Ribbon Ridge was started in 1978 but the dream of producing their first Pinot Noir was not realized until 2003.

"The estate vineyard is the sole source for Ribbon
Ridge Vineyard's flagship Estate Pinot Noir. We make our wines at Carlton
Winemakers Studio in Carlton, and are one of 9 resident boutique wineries
who share the eco-friendly, cooperative wine-making facility."

They also produce some white wines, 2005 Dewey Kelly Early Muscat, 2006 Dewey Kelly Cuvee M, and Muse Early Muscat X. Website: http://www.ribbonridge.com/default.cfm?action=about

Scott Paul Wines is the last on the Carlton Winemakers Studio list, but certainly not the least.

"Every bottle bearing the Scott Paul label contains true, authentic Oregon Pinot Noir. Our wines are made lovingly by hand. The aromas and flavors in the wines come only from the grapes, and the sun and the earth that grew them. Our goal is maximum transparency of flavor. Our quest is to produce Pinot Noir with flavors that are delineated and pure. "

Specializing in the Pinot Noir & Chardonnay much like the Burgundy area of France, this winery also imports from there and offers this note of interest:

"The Burgundy region of France has been producing what are widely
considered to be the world’s finest Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays for nearly a
thousand years. Burgundy is a relatively small area (only about 13,500 acres of
vines in Burgundy’s Côte d’Or, as opposed to Bordeaux’s 235,000 acres or
California’s 515,000.) Oregon is nearly identical in size to Burgundy with about
13,700 vineyard acres planted. As in Oregon, most of the winegrowers and
producers in Burgundy are small, family operations. The average estate size is
about 18 acres – enough to produce about 2,500 cases of wine each year. Those 18 acres are often split into 10 or more tiny parcels of vineyards scattered around
several different vineyards and villages – so production of each wine is often
only a few hundred cases or less."

The portfolio that Scott Paul offers from Burgundy can be found on their website: https://www.scottpaul.com/

So that concludes the Winemaker's studio list. I would like to cover one more winery, EIEIO. I mean, how can I let this by? Owner and vinter, Jay McDonald, yes, you are reading right, McDonald....started in 1995 when several of the wineries associated with the Carlton Winemakers Studio approached him to make a wine of his own. So his wines are made at the studio and sold there. He started with 200 cases and now annually produces approximately 1500 cases. Website: http://www.onhisfarm.com/

So we will be leaving Portland and I am so sure we did not spend enough time in this glorious city, but it is on to Glacier National Park. Are you ready?

Sweet Dreams & Good Food

Since I am fortunate to have friends in the Portland area, I will not need to stay at a hotel. But I want to provide what is available to all of you good people who read my blog. I have an aversion to small boutique hotels with unique decor. In looking around the web, the first one I found in Portland was the The Benson. Located in the heart of Portland, The Benson provides a unique experience among even the most distinctive hotels. Close to shopping, sightseeing and the Pearl District, the hotel was recently awarded the 4-Diamond award by AAA. Some of the amenities are 24 hour room service, complimentary evening Wine tasting(over 6000 bottles), and boutique shopping. This hotel was built in 1912 and has unmatched beauty, elegance and service. Rates are around $250 a night.

So let's see if we can find something within my price range, although I will splurge for a historic unique hotel like The Benson on occasion.

The Jupiter Hotel, located in the city and close to dining and entertainment, is designed for the creative class of people. It's affordable, $59 - $94, it's fun, roast marshmallows on the outdoor fire pit, and they have live bands in the courtyard. The Doug Fir Lounge is located on property and offers a variety of food, drinks and entertainment. Check out the menu, http://www.dougfirlounge.com/menus.html#bar, open 7 days a week.

The Silver Cloud Inn has rates around $150 a night. Located adjacent to the Nob Hill shopping district which offers a variety of boutiques, night clubs, shops and restaurants. Daily complimentary Continental breakfast is served, 100% Smoke Free and they have a hosted wine and cheese reception on Tuesday evenings. Website: http://www.silvercloud.com/index.htm

Another hotel in the downtown area is The Mark Spencer. This hotel was opened as The Nortonia Hotel in the theatre district of Portland and was considered "home away from home" for the stars who performed locally. In 1966, The Nortonia was remodeled and became The Mark Spencer. Still a favorite with performers, it also is a favorite among travelers for its affordable lodging and Old World charm. Rates run from $89 for a studio to $169 for a Jr. Suite. Guests enjoy a continental breakfast and afternoon tea and cookies. One block from the hotel is Powell's Books, the world's largest new and used bookstore.

On to the Good Food part. I have found a few, ok, several restaurants to talk about. Let's start with Genoa. As the name suggests, this is an Italian Restaurant with a menu that changes with the availability of resources. Some items are on the menu for just a few days, others for weeks or months. The options available are The a la Carte Menu, 4 course, The Chef's Tasting Menu, 7 courses, and The Grand Tasting Menu, which features small portions of everything on that evening's menu. Excellent wine cellar. Website: http://www.genoarestaurant.com/

Next we have Salty's, one of the best Northwest seafood cuisine's in the area. The restaurant is located on the Columbia River , anchored on the river with views of the river and Mt. Hood. Their Sunday Brunch was voted the Nation's Best Brunch by MSN-Citysearch.com. The menu includes Peel & Eat Prawn, Dungeness Crab, Salmon Lox, Seafood Ceviche, Clams, Mussels, Fresh Oysters shucked to order, Omelets, Crepes, Belgian Waffles, Fresh Fruit, Vegetables, Cheese Trays, Salads, Bacon and Sausage, Country Potatoes, Biscuit & Gravy, Blackened Salmon, Prime Rib, Baked Ham and Seafood Chowder. Wow, that sure made me hungry. Sounds great. In the Bar-Cafe, you can enjoy cocktails, live music on select evenings, and an Happy Hour Menu. They also serve steaks, seafood, pasta chicken and sandwiches.

Prices are average, $12 - $20 for Lunch, $20 - $30 for Dinner. Website: http://www.saltys.com/portland/

The Carlyle is a little more expensive, offering French and American Cuisine. They use locally grown produce, specialty meats and seafood to enhance their ever changing menu. Located in the Pearl District, website: http://www.carlylerestaurant.com/

Oba!, Restaurante Y Refresqueria de Lujo, serves the cuisine of the Caribbean and Cuba, goes through South and Central America, up through Mexico to the Southwest United States. The Chef creates his dishes so that they may be enjoyed by the Northwest clientele. Entrees are between $20 - $35. Open 7 days a week, sidewalk dining available when weather permits. Website: http://www.obarestaurant.com/new/home.html

For some Cajun or New Orleans fare, try ROUX. Located in the Overlook neighborhood, the chef uses the best seasonal ingredients from Louisiana and the Northwest to create New Orleans inspired dishes. Median prices in the $15 - $20 range. Full bar featuring jazz and blues music. http://www.rouxrestaurant.us/

El Gaucho is sophisticated and swank steakhouse with a Latin flavor. Pricing is at the top of the dining scale, but the personal service and excellent food would make it a night to remember. Live Latin guitar music is presented every night from 7:30 to 11:30. http://www.elgaucho.com/elgaucho/_portland/index.htm

These are just a few of the top class restaurants in Portland. But I am sure there are many moderate priced, moderate sized restaurants that deserve a little headline here. And since I will be visiting Portland in September, I will be sure and add those to the blog.

Oregon Wine Tour..............coming up.