| Libraries are the best place to go for everything | | | | book and it is was most helpful, but having access |
| including sight-seeing. You get off in the wrong | | | | to the Internet was quite wonderful, because |
| spot in your new city, so rather than keep on | | | | presumably the Internet is more up to date, |
| keeping on or pulling out all your maps in the | | | | especially with restaurants and whether or not |
| middle of the street and thereby telegraphing | | | | they are still open for business. The guidebook |
| your newness in town, find a quiet spot to | | | | can only help one up until the publication date, but |
| re-group. Go to the nearest library. Sit down for a | | | | the Internet, one hopes is up to the minute |
| spell or even go to the computer librarian and get | | | | correct. At least that is what I hope with things |
| a temporary ID to use both the Internet and | | | | like museums. |
| word processing. The Internet nowadays is the | | | | A couple of things I found out while I was at the |
| great unifier. By checking out the Internet, you're | | | | library that first day were the three must-have |
| both exploring your surroundings and getting | | | | meals in Chicago: Deep-Dish Pizza, Gannett's |
| acclimated to at least one place for the day. On | | | | Chicago Mix Pop-Corn and a Chicago-style Hot |
| my most recent trip to Chicago, when I decided | | | | Dog, no ketchup. I also found out that Thursdays |
| to get off the "L" without any idea as to whether | | | | is a free to the public at the Art Institute. I was in |
| or not I was in the right place or not, I decided on | | | | luck. I'd arrived on Thursday AND Matisse had |
| the library having been a dear friend in the past | | | | just opened there. Matisse is one of my favorite |
| could be a dear friend in a city in which I know or | | | | artists. My initial hour was up and I was hungry, so |
| am even unknown to anyone or new place I was | | | | I went in search of the Chicago's Hot Dog. (In |
| visiting. I kid a friend of mine, about always being | | | | Chicago library system, you get two free hours |
| in the library, and here I was on my first real visit | | | | per day free, with a renewal after the first hour |
| to Chicago and my first stop, albeit a very good | | | | for the second which is quite cool.) I realized I |
| stop was at the library. | | | | was downtown, but still was of course unfamiliar |
| I was able to sit down for a bit of time to decide | | | | with how the streets were arranged, so basically |
| my next move. It is most helpful if you cannot | | | | I just walked and asked people about hot dogs. |
| check into your lodgings until 3 p.m. and you don't | | | | Actually during my 5-day visit I never ran into the |
| want to drag your bags around with you all day | | | | Chicago-style Hot Dog, which was fine, since as a |
| until you can. Now of course, if I'd been thinking I | | | | rule I try to stay away from hot dogs, but the |
| would have realized I could have dropped off my | | | | library helped me fulfill my other three quests and |
| baggage at my lodgings and gone on my merry | | | | that in itself was phenomenal. Yup! The library can |
| way. I do believe that I still would have stopped | | | | be your friend even away from home. It was for |
| at the library to figure out where I could go now | | | | me. |
| that I was in Chicago. Yes, I did have a guide | | | | |