After Riley moved in with me life seemed perfect we loved taking long walks on lakeshore trail eighteen mile labyrinth of trails. one of the most spectacular urban trails in the country, gorgeous views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline, urban beaches, marinas, and beautiful parks, passing by some of the city's famous and beautiful cultural institutions.
Our favorite trail is Chicago Street at Navy Pier to McCormick Place Convention Center, seven Miles in length. This beautiful trail parallels the heart of downtown and the Magnificent Mile, and includes sights such as Navy Pier, Grant Park, the Museum Campus, and Soldier Field. The trail is particularly spectacular around the Museum Campus, where we can pop off the main trail and do a spectacular loop around the tip to the Adler Planetarium.
There are even additional trails along Northerly Island Park. Edgewater Beach to Navy Pier that are seven miles in length. The northern terminus is at Edgewater Beach, and runs along the water passing Foster Beach, Montrose Beach, and Lincoln Park. McCormick Place to Rainbow Beach Park, south of the Convention Center area are several gorgeous miles with wonderful waterfront views, featuring Prairie Shores, Burnham Park, and Promontory Point. There are some fantastic skyline views headed north from Promontory Point. Trails in Jackson Park, paths around the University of Chicago Campus, Midway Plaisance (59th St.) west to Washington Park.
We walk and talk holding hands taking in the sights and sounds of our wonderful city. A great way to end a day coming home after a long day at the office or court day. Holding Riley's soft hand as the sunsets I remember the first time I met her cold, wet, shivering. She had unknowingly weaved herself into all my days and all my nights, into each memory filled with bliss and recklessness. She is part of my every day, my every thought, my very heart, my very mind, all of my being. She is my sun and I am her sunflower, seeking Riley's sweet light, always turning where she shines so bright, even when she's away we our never apart. In the absence of those rays that make me bloom, my petals remain folded waiting to open for her sweet light.
I had reserved tickets at Cabaret ZaZou, a special night out for Riley and I, housed in an extraordinary Belgian Spiegeltent on the 14th floor of The Cambria Hotel. An unrivaled immersive experience where music, comedy, cirque with a four course gourmet meal converge.
The Cambria Hotel is in the Chicago Loop theatre district offering upscale accommodations and I booked a suite for us with a king size bed for after the show. I met Riley through my volunteer work as a pro bono attorney handling her divorce. We had both survived abuses relationships. I'm an Irish Catholic thirty year old woman I know my place in the world I'm a bright, articulate, well educated, highly paid attorney, being a victim did not fit into who I thought I was. Facing that reality is hard but finding a loving relationship with Riley, a fellow survivor, as allowed me to open up be vulnerable again.
Walking down the downtown streets through the theatre district dressed to kill in matching Givenchy black dresses with slinky black Giovanni heels on our cute little feet, our pretty toes painted red.
Taking our seats for the show which was amazing the talent of the performers was remarkable, the vibes were intimate and interactive, the service was very attentive. We were transported into a sophisticated fantasy land concocted to form a brew that is a mix of Wes Anderson, Cirque du Soleil and The Cotton Club.