Day Off in Chicago

Our day off here in Chicago is being spent at the Hotel Sax, which used to be the House of Blues Hotel. I've stayed here a bunch over the years. Great location – there are lots of bars and restaurants nearby – plenty to do.

Hung out in my room until it was time to meet up with John downstairs. We walked about 8 blocks to a bar called Streeters. Angela, our Production Assistant told me about it yesterday. She lived less than a block from it for a few years, so she knew what it was like and had decided that I would like it.

She was right. It's a little hole-in-the-wall, about 7 steps down from street level. The bartender was friendly, the crowd was both racially and generationally mixed, and the beer was cheap.

It's now my new favorite bar in Chicago. I can't wait to go back.

After about 6-7 rounds, we were joined by Lowell, our lighting crew chief. A few beers later, we jumped in a cab and wound up at a McCormick and Schmick's location a few blocks on the other side of our hotel. Had a killer meal and I was back in my room by about 10…