Thursday 29 May 2025
The weather was warmer and sunnier than yesterday – not quite what I am used to in Chicago at this time of the year, but certainly better than it has been and could have been. Slept in after a late finish at the Weller’s last night, and went for a walk around the nearby streets after that.
We drove over to downtown Naperville and met Ivana for lunch. She took us to a great Mexican spot called Fat Rosie’s, which had a really cool vibe and, as it turns out, sensation food as well. I had to let my shrimp fajitas sit for a few minutes or I would have burnt large portions of my tongue. They came out sizzling. Good food and good conversation.
Downtown Naperville has a really cool River Walk, which was partially under construction but we were still able to stretch the legs a little after lunch – very much needed after the enormous portions at Fat Rosie’s – and visit some of the bridges and fountains that are dotted along the River Walk. Hopefully the next time I’m back, we’ll be able to do the full walk.
Speaking of walking, after eating far too much at Fat Rosie’s, we said goodbye to Ivana and drove over to the Moreton Arboretum, which is in the suburb of Lisle.
Considering it’s bordered on one side by freeways and a decently-sized neighbourhood on the other, there are lots of places in the 1700-acre property where you feel like you’re out in the middle of nowhere. It’s very pleasant to stroll around on a warm afternoon.
New for 2025 are some cool and vibrantly-coloured animal sculptures (called Vivid Creatures) scattered around the place as well, including a giant snail up on a hill overlooking the freeway and the rest of the Arboretum. We also successfully navigated the maze. A really fun afternoon; walked just over 6km. I can’t recommend Morton Arboretum enough.
Back to Wheaton in the afternoon for dinner with Brian and Debbie at their house. We sat outside for a while, a rarity this trip, but went inside when a large and very persistent bee started buzzing around, impervious, as it turned out, to Brian’s rolled-up copy of the Chicago Tribune.
Teriyaki steak and vegetables for dinner, which is a bit of a tradition, and a really nice caramel and apple pie for dessert. Always nice to see Brian and Debbie.
kitchtrips 