Tuesday late afternoon a client of ours at PeaceSpaProducts.org asked if we could deliver her order to the Gold Coast and we said absolutely and without question! I looked at my husband and said, "Let's do it now". It was 3pm in the afternoon.
Beyond wanting to provide great service, we looked outside and saw the day getting away from us, so we loaded up the skin care order, made sure we had lawn chairs, the food basket and cranked up the old convertible as we headed out to Montrose Harbor for a favorite north side view of the city.
Drop off made, we went to Jewel up north off Montrose Street to find some pre-made healthy food, but decided to give Chicken Eaters Paradise Since 1959- Family Owned and Operated a try. We have driven by this place a hundred times, intrigued with all of it's snickered windows sporting best broasted chicken, ATM inside and ice cream cones for 49 cents.
We settled on the Jakes Broasted Chicken with a surprise potato wedge, while not bad, doesn't compare with the fresh rotisserie Jewel Grocery Store chicken we usually pick up and for about the same price. I also sprung for a Chili Cheese Tamale which was terrific. This place has breakfast all day long too, so we will go back, as well as Polish, Italian and Greek specialties. I love family owned places like this, but I wonder how they keep so many items fresh and in-stock.
We packed the food in the picnic basket and off we went to park at Montrose Harbor. Free parking no less, at least for now.
We planted our chairs along the concrete walkway near the water, got out our eats and a bottle of California red. It was then I realized that in this city of 2.7 million people, on the banks of Lake Michigan on a beautiful Tuesday early evening, it felt like we were in small town.
Along the lake banks stood a handful of Polish fishermen, casting their rods as their wives fetched coffee. Occasionally pulling in a catch and storing in their white fish pails, napoleon sea gulls swooped around them overhead, noisily squawking while hoping for any droppings of food. While a lot of people consider these gulls a nuisance, they actually are like flying garbage men (sanitation engineers for the politically correct), as they scavenge up tons of dead animals and organic litter which can pose health treats to humans. So say thank you next time you see one.
Children on bikes, dads and moms on roller blades, friends walking together, boaters heading out for an afternoon ride, were all unexpected visual pleasures. From these two downtown city-dwellers who never take an evening off to sit in a park and just enjoy the quietness and community that happens everyday in these enclaves around the city of Chicago, we felt blessed.
Living here for almost 20 years, I am rediscovering my city in ways never imagined. I promise myself for every week I work, to go out one night to explore little known places, people and things to reinvigorate my love of Chicago.
I am learning that you find peace where you are, and it's found mostly where you can easily change your perspective by a quick drive and just a little time to explore.
