Playing The Trump Card

Continuing my occasional series on my city, Chicago.

Last Saturday (not Mother's Day, the week before that) was a busy day.  Very busy.  Very fun.  Good food.  Better people.

It started out with T-Bone and Mrs. IVy swinging through town.  They live near Houston, but have been over in the SB/M area of Indiana because of a loss in the family, and had a free day, so they drove over.  They had yet to see my place, so I was eager to show it off to them.  They loved it.  (Mrs. IVY said that the detail of the crown molding just doesn't come thru on the videos.)

We then headed up to Bob Chinn's Crab House in Wheeling to meet two more folks from college ("the Blond" and Steve S.), and Chicago radio reporter Bernie Trafoya.  The Blond lives out in the 'burbs, Bernie's a Southsider, and Steve S. lives in San Francisco, but grew up in the area.  We laughed, told stories, ate king crab legs,  and drank Mai Tais.  After about 2 hours at the table, we all needed to head off in different directions.  It's one of those lunches that you wish could last forever. 

WOW, was that a great lunch, and would have been a great day all be itself.  But I had more plans for later in the evening.

Someone from college had scored a FREE suite at Trump's new hotel downtown.  I know, I live and work in "the City" and in fact used to work right across the street from where the hotel was eventually built.  But the gang was going and staying the night, so why not spend the night instead of taking a cab home (which I did the next day anyway.)

I got down to the hotel via the L, because it's just easier that way.  Turned the corner on Grand looking south on Wabash, and must admit, the tower does look pretty freak'n spectacular.  Most of the rest of the group was already us in the suite (we are now officially "consultants" for a major university, thank-you-very-much.)

The suite was very, very nice, as you can see from the pictures below.  We drank some skinny margaritas, watched the Kentucky Derby, snacked and talked.

Johnny B., Jeanine J. and Laura B. – Be careful not to eat any of the Donald's food.  That stuff is EXPENSIVE to replace.This is the view of the living room, dining room, kitchen area of the suite.  The windows on the right wrap all the way around to offer an incredible view of the Chicago River. 

I'm not sure if this is a good thing, or a bad thing, but when I went into the mater bath, I was a fairly nonplused.  Oh, it was beautiful, but I think my bathroom compares pretty well to it.  I like the stone up the side of the tub, and the wand type showerhead, but the TV in the mirror?  I guess it could be seen from the tub or shower, but not from where one would think of sitting and watching the game.  (And speaking of bathroom electronics, why put a phone next to the toilet?  PEOPLE, NEVER CALL ME WHEN NATURE IS CALING YOU!)  Also, the shower stall is a little small, and so is the tub.
Oh, did I say something about the view?  It was breathtaking.  Seriously.

So, my final grade?  Well, it met expectations for lavishness and luxury, the views exceeded expectations, and for the grand price of FREE, you couldn't beat it.  Now, I'm not sure how much the joint runs normally, but I would really see only doing that for a big anniversary or birthday or something like that.  But that's me.  And, honestly, I live a $20 - $25 cab ride away.  Now, if I were coming to your town…  I lie.  The place I stayed when visiting Cora was a perfectly fine chain motel.  I'm not this fancy of a person IRL.

And what did we do for dinner and a night out on the town you ask?

To be continued…