Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010

Photo by Laura Uribe

So I didn't exactly get to see the Sears Tower after all.

My parents and I were told the visibility due to the fog was very minimal and we would still be charged the $16 per person fee to just look, or in this case attempt to look, at the ground below.

But at least I got to do some more sight-seeing after my first audition.

The audition process is never an easy one. Preparing and taking the time to dedicate yourself to finding, memorizing and learning how to immerse yourself in the role that will be played can be fun but grueling at the same time.

Once I step out in front of the judges, it's only me and my craft; there's no backing out or leaving the room. I must do my best to prove myself as a performer by using all that I've learned and worked for while, at the same time, being as natural as can be and never losing sight of being a storyteller.

I did my best and so I can only hope for the best.

After the audition, I knew a great way to celebrate the accomplishment was to treat myself at one of the nation's well-known city restaurants.

Giordano's Famous Stuffed Pizza is unlike any other pizza you'll ever find in Mount Pleasant. These stuffed pizzas can include almost any ingredient or combination desired and is made in layers resulting in the look of a lasagna pie.

The restaurant is lightly dimmed for an intimate yet fun setting to bring friends and family together for a nice meal.

Along the walls are articles about the city's history as well as old black and white photographs of the Sears building and other statues and landmarks.

Since the pizzas can be made to the customer's order from the list of options on the menu, it takes about a half-hour or more of waiting time before anyone can dig into their meal. But it's all worth it. In fact, the restaurant takes great pride in displaying their menu's reviews in publications, like The New York Times, praising their pizzas.

The meals are fairly affordable and the portion sizes are quite large - even a small pizza can be too much for one person. Ordering just one pizza and sharing it will most likely still leave you with leftovers to take back home.

After eating there, it's a fact that microwavable pizza in a college dorm or apartment will never match the cheesy goodness of Giordano's Famous Stuffed Pizza.

Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010

It has been a long day of auditions and despite the relief of putting them and the nervousness behind me, I knew that before my parents and I were to head for home tomorrow, we would have to see more of the city.

The advantage of staying at the Hyatt Regency Hotel is that it's literally within walking distance of almost all the major retail stores and tourist attractions.

Bloomingdale's and Macy's are among the biggest department stores located in the nearby area and inside of each are smaller boutiques and coffee shops.

There's a two-story Best Buy and even a Borders bookstore where there are not only two main floors but an underground level as well.

Nearby is the famed Chicago Theatre where, according to posters outside of its doors, will soon have performances and presentations by singer Mariah Carey, comedian Lewis Black and Travel Channel host and writer Anthony Bourdain.

Growing up in Ontario, Canada, I remember a restaurant called Elephant & Castle that served European cuisine. I would eat there whenever I traveled to a city like Toronto. However, when I moved to Michigan, I wasn't able to go there anymore.

That is why I was shocked to discover an Elephant & Castle only minutes away from the Hyatt Hotel and that served all of my old favorite dishes.

One of the unique aspects of the restaurant is that many of the dishes are given European-slang names. For example, "Bangers 'n Mash" is actually a meal of English sausages, mashed potatoes, beans, gravy and baked apple slices.

Other traditional meals available at affordable prices included a shepherd's pie, fish and chips and nachos.

I can only hope that one day this restaurant will find itself in Mount Pleasant so that others can experience the tasty home-cooked meals prepared in the way they do it on the other side of the Atlantic.

Thursday, Feb. 4, 2010

There was only one last stop that I knew I had to make before I left Chicago this afternoon.

It only felt right as a journalism student to visit the Chicago Tribune.

Since the 1800s, the highly-acclaimed newspaper has featured some of the nation's top journalists who reported on both local and national news, from the crimes of Al Capone to the presidential elections.

It's a place that many aspiring journalists often dream about working in.

Although I didn't get to fully explore the building, the main lobby area consists of quotes from former presidents, journalists and other famous American figures that deal with the freedom of the press, reporting and writing.

Attached to the lobby is a store where people can shop for Chicago and Chicago Tribune souvenirs such as shirts, key chains and post cards. Books about Chicago's history and others that have been written, edited and published by the Chicago Tribune are there as well.

Although I didn't go on any tours or have as much as time as I would have liked to explore the city in depth, my trip to Chicago will always be a memorable one.

With so many cultures, shopping malls, little cafes and the convenience of some of the most historical sites in the country, including Union Station and the Sears Towers within walking or short driving distances from one another, there's always something to go see.

I guess Frank Sinatra was right when he sang that Chicago is "my kind of town."

 

 

By Laura Uribe

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