Richard and Amanda and Jessica came down to Chicago last weekend. Jessica had a lot of homework to do so she stayed home with Dallas and Makai. Richard, Amanda and I visited a few Chicago breweries that none of us had been to before.
LAGUNITAS BREWING COMPANY
First up: Lagunitas. I’d been to the original Lagunitas brewery in California, but somehow never got to the Chicago one when it opened. In my mind, it’s still new, but our waitress told us they’ve been in Chicago for almost two years!
When you come into the brewery, you get carded and then you basically have to walk the entire length of the plant.
To make this interesting they have a long hallway lit with blacklight and painted with trippy drawings and with disco lights and playing crazy songs like Pure Imagination from Willy Wonka. As you walk down the hall, there are windows where you can look in and see the brewery operations.
Lagunitas pitbull logo on the trippy hallway wall.
At the end of the hall you make a right. This big mural is at the end of the hall and is made of beer bottle caps.
After that there’s an elevator, but most people just walk up the stairs for several flights. There’s a loungy area where you can sit and drink and look out into the brewery.
They also have a house magician in this area.
The main beer hall consists of a big bar and many long communal tables. There was a stage area where bands play. This room was loud and had a lot of energy. It was also packed. We walked through to an area just past this room. Kind of like “outside” but we were still inside, obviously. There was more seating out there and it was situated on a balcony overlooking the brewery. I liked it out there. We sat at a 4-seat hightop table. It was much quieter and chill than the other room.
We shared and sampled 12 different beers!
Amanda had The Hogunitas, slow roasted carnitas, applewood smoked bacon, sliced ham, housemade pickles, dijonnaise, caramelized onions, and swiss cheese on an onion roll. Richard and I split the beer mussels, which were made from Lil Sumpin’ beer, alligator, bacon, and leeks in a herbaceous cream sauce.
The mussels were pretty amazing. The sauce was so good!
Funny sign at Lagunitas. They had highchairs, a “kidwich” on the menu, and there were definitely kids around. Just a reminder to not be a jerk to other patrons.
Mural on the wall.
Lagunitas Brewery shot #1
Lagunitas Brewery shot #2
REVOLUTION BREWERY AND TAPROOM
I have been to the Revolution Brewing Brew Pub approximately 1,024 times, but I have never been to the tap room, which opened a few years ago. Why go over there when I can walk to the brewpub, a minute away from where I live? So, we finally went to see what the fuss was about.
The brew pub has a gorgeous interior, delicious food, great table service, house taps, and a full bar. At the tap room, it’s all about the beer. There’s still a very cool vibe, but it’s not cozy like the pub.
On tap were only Revolution Brewing beers, which makes sense for a tap room. The list did not seem that different from what I’ve seen at the brew pub. I was expecting to see things not available at the restaurant.
I ordered a full beer and Richard and Amanda shared samplers of some other beers they’d never had from Revolution.
We could not sit down anywhere, but we did get a spot at these stand up bars.
The decor has a lot of bourbon barrels.
Revolution Brewing brewery.
FORBIDDEN ROOT RESTAURANT AND BREWERY
Forbidden Root just opened in February, I think. It claims to be Chicago’s first botanic brewery. We picked up Jess and headed over for dinner.
We were told that the wait would be 1 – 1.5 hours. I wasn’t sure what to do and contemplated seeing how busy Roots was, since it’s nearby. We decided to get a couple beers, since were were there, and before we could even finish them, our table was ready. It was probably about a half hour.
We tried five samples and two full-sized beers.
For dinner I had a milk brined pork schnitzel sandwich with pickled beet mayo and slaw on a sesame seed bun. It was delicious. Richard had a burger that I liked even more!
This looked so cute. Amanda ordered it – wild mushroom pot pie, chicory greens, and mushroom caramel.
Love the interior with all the exposed brick and wood. Overall we thought that the food was great, but we were a little “meh” on the beers.
Forbidden Root brewery.
A while back Richard and Amanda were in town and went to a few of our nicer coffee shops. At 
The family reunion was held at 
It was my Aunt Ali who was celebrated her 57th birthday three days early. She has had a tough battle with breast cancer for many years. Her positive outlook on life in the face of death should be in an inspiration to all of us. I’m sure she has her dark times, but the positive energy that flows from her being is uplifting to everyone around her. Amazing lady. Makai decorated birthday card for her with markers and stickers and included two photos of himself. Aunt Ali has always had soft spot in her heart for Makai. It’s so sweet!
My cousin Dawn has been visiting from Florida for several weeks. It was so great to see her again!
My dad and his brother Doug.
My mom with her sisters Connie, Wanda, Sue and Alice
The sisters: Connie, Wanda, Mary, Sue, Alice and their brother Maurice. (And Charlotte!)
My mom and her brother, Morey.
Kiara is my cousin’s grandaughter.
I’m not sure what the officially makes her to me!
Kiara and Makai blowing bubbles. Both are just about 3 years old (She in September, he in October).
On a family tree, Makai would be on the same level as Kiara’s Mom, Miranda (I think.)
Art by Aunt Sue.
Cousins: Tiffani, Melissa, Marla, Kelly, Rachelle, Dawn, Skyonna, Katrina, Ciara, Kelly, Richard, Molly, Pat. (And Charlotte!) Me: “Is Pat the only guy?” Everyone: “Uh, no. Your brother… ?”
Family photos: Amanda, Jessica, Richard, Stephanie, Rick, Mary, Rachelle, Dallas, Makai
Family photos: Kelly, Margo, Jeff, Sue, Charlotte, Tessa
The kids (even the big kids) played so hard on the playground! I hardly even went in because Makai had lots of babysitters: Stephanie, Jessica, Tessa, Charlotte, Margo. Ok, maybe not Margo. And Larry.
Lucky for Richard, Dallas, Matt and Dominic, Larry had a basketball in the trunk of his car. Dallas was feeling pretty great about his “old man game” when he beat some of his competitors who were 20 years younger than him!
Makai and his friends Oscar and Ezra
Birthday boy!
Makai with cousins Johnny + Rory
Makai, Oscar, Joy
Cubs Win sign! Quinn, Makai, Halle
Stephanie + Mom
Stephanie, Halle + Jill
Larry, Amanda, Dad, Stephanie, Rachelle, Richard, Makai, Dallas, Jessica, Mom
Makai + Trent
Dallas + Davin
Amanda, Richard, Makai
Makai being silly in the Photo Booth.
Loden + Rachelle
Quinn + Halle
Ellyza + Lena
Ellyza + Lena
Makai + Oscar
Derek Duck
Dylan Goofy
Halle + Quinn
Lena, Ellyza, Konrad
Makai, Ellyza
Oscar, Makai, Ellyza
Brendan, xx, Ellyza, Derek, Oscar, Makai, Ezra, Lena
XX, Ellyza, Derek, Dylan, Makai
Ellyza, Dylan, Oscar, Makai, Lena
Trent + Brian
Quinn + Jen
Makai (+ Halle)
Stephanie + Makai
The Boogers
Dylan, Makai, Derek
Makai
Quinn + Halle
Everyone sang Happy Birthday to Ellyza + Makai. 
Stephanie + Makai
For Thanksgiving this year we went to Oak Creek to Richard and Amanda’s house. This is the 3rd year in a row that we’ve had Thanksgiving dinner there. The food was great and it was so much fun to hang out with everyone!
I found this old book and gave it to mom and dad. I didn’t realize that I had 2 recipes in it and my mom had a TON.
Makai loved playing with Jess in her room.
Cousins: Stephanie, Jessica, Makai
For some reason this photo keeps getting reinacted. I can’t wait to see it when Makai is bigger than Steph and Jess!
This year we celebrated Christmas with my family in Oak Creek on Christmas Eve. Amanda was scheduled to work, so we planned to get everything ready and when she came home from work we would eat dinner. But then the on Christmas Eve morning she got called off work and got to hang out all day!
Makai loved playing with everyone. He and Jessica played in her room too. He likes to draw on her whiteboard. Dallas and Larry watched football and took naps. The Packers won! I tried to see how many different things I could mix with rum:
Cold eggnog.
Hot apple cider.
Warm eggnog.
Cheers! Makai loves the warm apple cider. He drank a ton at the cookie party too.
For dinner, Richard and Amanda roasted two ducks. They also made mushroom risotto. My dad made roasted root vegetables. I made a 
After dinner we opened gifts. Jess and Makai got gifts from everyone. For the third year in a row, Steph was in the adult gift exchange. This year Larry was also in the gift exchange.
Jess got two sweatshirts (from us and from my parents) that were the same but different colors. Who wore it better?
A package showed up at Richard and Amanda’s house and it wasn’t for them. They called the shipper several times to come and get it and they never did. So they wrapped it up and opened it! I can’t remember everything that was in the box. I think some kitchen things and a string of lights. Maybe?
My dad had my name in the gift exchange, as you can see. He got me a bunch of things I wanted like a fluted bundt pan, some pyrex bowls, and some aluminum straws. I had Amanda’s name this year.
