Getting Ready for the Wind

The wind of the Windy City that is. Though so as not to be accused of spreading a myth, Chicago was nicknamed the Windy City not because of the wind whipping off Lake Michigan (which, trust me, it does with a gusto in February!) but because the politicians were considered long-winded. There's your random fact for the day!

History lesson aside, I am getting ready to head to Chicago for the season's last tradeshow. This is my third time going to this show but, sadly, for the first time I actually had to rent a hotel room. For the past two years I've stayed with friends of mine but it appears they've now all left the midwest. It's really too bad because nothing makes a tradeshow more manageable then knowing that at the end of every day you're going to get to catch up with friends on a comfy couch with a glass of wine before retiring to a soft bed. This year I will be enjoying the comforts of the Crowne Plaza.

The other bummer is that my hotel, like the convention itself, is out by the airport. Rosemont, for those who know Chicago, is lightyears away from Chicago in terms of being able to take advantage of what the city has to offer. And one of my favorite things in years past has been to go back to my favorite city haunts (I did my two years of business school in Chicago so I know the city decently well and absolutely love it...expect when it's cold enough to freeze my car doors shut...then I wasn't so thrilled with living there). While I know that I could jump on the el and get downtown, trying to do that from Rosemont after the show closes at 6pm everyday and with a broken leg just isn't going to happen. Which means that I'm stuck in Rosemont and the glory of O'Hare.

While I know the area is used to holding conventions and hosting business travelers, I'm fairly confident that I'll be able to find some decent food for dinner at the end of the show everyday. It's during the show I'm a little more worried about. In year's past I used to stop at a Panera Bread as I drove to the show and picked up a huge fresh salad which I would munch on during the show. Yummy and healthy. Since I won't have a car and there doesn't appear to be a Panera within crutching distance, it means I'm left to fend for myself for lunch from the selection offered at the Convention Center. For all the strides that Chicago has made in the culinary world, the convention center is very much stuck in the "cafeteria" type food mindwarp that just doesn't sit well with my stomach. The solution? I'm bringing snack foods with me that are healthier and will hopefully keep me from starving during the day. In fact, on today's to do list is "Make Chex Mix." Ok, maybe not so healthy but it is good and will keep me happy.