Pittsburgh Penguins and the North Market

This past weekend, my girlfriends and I took a trip to Columbus, OH. for the Penguins V. Blue Jackets game at Nationwide Arena.  First off, our hotel was FILLED with Pittsburgh people.  Second, on our walk to the arena from our hotel, chants were heard all over the streets "LETS GO PENS!"  There was a sea of black and gold, along with the blue winter classic jerseys.  It was incredible to see the fan base that traveled.  Hoards of people were in line to get inside screaming "LETS GO PENS."  When we were inside, 4 girls in Pens gear (us) sat in the middle of what looked like to us the only Blue Jackets fans.  "Oh great" was mumbled when we sat down by a couple of men behind us.  Needless to say, we annoyed them because we had much to cheer for :)  The Pens were up 4-0 at the beginning of the second period, "LETS GO PEN-GUINS" clap clap clap clap clap, overlapped any faint "LETS GO JACK-ETS" attempts.  Then Pens fan started the wave.  It was an incredible experience.  The Pens won 7-2.

The next day, we went to this place called the North Market.  It's similar to how the Strip District looks on the weekends, but it's everyday there (and all inside.)  It's the only public market in Columbus for unique, independent merchants and farmers to sell their goods.  There was fresh seafood, meats, and cheeses.  Fresh baked goods, spices, candies, flowers, coffees and teas.  Everything you could think of!  We got fresh made sushi for lunch, and other things to snack on.  On the top floor, they had tables set up for individuals selling things like, clothing, jewelry, and candles.  We found this woman who made winter hats out of old sweaters!  These one of a kind hats were so cute we couldn't pass them up.  Our trip to Columbus was a great little weekend get away. 

5 things I loved about the Windy City...

And believe me, it was windy! And chilly this time of November.  This past weekend I went to Chicago with my Dads travel hockey team.  We left Friday and drove through the night.  Taylor Swift's new album "Speak Now" and Hedley's "The Show Must Go" (along with loads of leftover halloween candy) were the fuel to get through 7.5 hours of driving.  We hit a few rainy spots, and at the torrential down pour moment we passed a car with a mattress strapped to the top, I felt so bad.  That's gonna take awhile to dry...  

It was a wonderful trip besides the fact that no one in Illinois uses turn signals while driving on 4 lane highways.  Oh, and I spontaneously bought a Canon 1D Mark II (an oldie but a goodie) while I was suppppppposed to be "window shopping" at Calumet!  There goes some of my trip to Italy/Greece fund.  But I guess you gotta TCB first and foremost.  I also met a bridal party the night before the wedding at the hotel bar, great people from all over the country.  They wanted me to come to the reception, but the only shoes I packed were a pair of grey Chucks and black Croc boots. Needless to say I left the wedding crashing to Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson who did it much more stylishly.  Here are 5 things that I loved about Chicago besides meeting new people and shopping.

1. The architecture and Fall colors of the city were incredible.

2. The market Fox & Obel. (It reminded me of the Strip District.)

 (This red velvet cupcake tasted like heaven.)

3. Awesome attractions like the big "bean" in Millennium Park and the random "eyeball." (Pittsburgh needs more attractions like these to draw people in!)

4. Chicago at night.

5. The food! An amazing hot dog shop Max's, frozen yogurt mixed with fruit at Yogen Fruz (which I thought they only had in Canada!) And Noodles & Company where they had tons of noodle dishes to choose from. Chicago is definitely a good city for food. 

“Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.”