We’re just back from eight days in my beloved home town. We arrived in Chicago exactly a week after the third largest blizzard in Windy City history. As we got off the plane, the temperatures were plummeting to dangerous levels—the difference between the Chicago wind chill and the weather we just left in Los Angeles was about 100 degrees!
Charlie had never experienced cold weather before but I think he was more freaked out by the amount of clothing we bundled him into than the actual temperature. Used to the free movement of his minimal California duds, Charlie’s outerwear practically doubled his weight. After getting him ready to go outside he’d try to crawl a few feet and end up flat on his back staring upwards, looking like an immobile mini-Michelin Man. The bitter subzero temperatures prevented any fun in the snow for the first few days—but the glistening white city was a beautiful sight.
Our shelter from the arctic freeze was a fabulous 2011 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid, once again courtesy of the fine folks at General Motors, people quite familiar with a punishing winter climate. This full-sized SUV seemed like a Sherman Tank compared to the other GM vehicles I’ve driven, and it was a comfort to have a vehicle that could handle the gigantic snow drifts and frozen mountains of plowed snow and ice.
The Tahoe Hybrid uses a combination of its dual displacement 6-liter V8 engine and two continuous electric motors that charge a 300-volt battery. It can run on electricity, gas, or both. It seemed surreal driving in such a quiet vehicle in the snow-covered city that sometimes looked like the landscape of a frozen planet from another galaxy with its gigantic snow formations. We felt very safe and protected in our Tahoe. In North America, it is used by many law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and EMS agencies. We were able to fit all our family members in the vehicle for group outings to our favorite Chicago spots.
My favorite thing about the Tahoe? Besides the heated seats, great GPS, BOSE speakers, XM radio, and OnStar? The indentation in the unit next to my seat which seems to have been created specifically to accomodate the size of a Superdawg box. Yum! Now that’s good planning, General Motors!
My family warned me about the hazards of post-blizzard parking because of the uniquely (and in my opinion questionable) Chicago practice of “dibbing.” Following a major snowstorm, when residents spend hours digging their snowbound cars out of drifts, many feel it is their right to place stray furniture or boxes in their parking spaces so that no one else can take them. I get the concept but it doesn’t exactly promote an “it takes a village” sense of community with everyone calling dibs on their spaces in public streets. It also creates quite an eyesore with all the broken-down furniture in the thoroughfares. The practice is officially illegal but city officials turn a blind eye after a blizzard. Happily, I was able to park my giant Tahoe pretty close to my sister’s house, wedged between unplowed drifts and decaying wicker lawn furniture shivering in the cold.
On Thursday I got to attend a social media brunch on press day at the Chicago Auto Show, the largest auto show in North America. The brunch was sponsored by the new Chevy Volt and, as luck would have it, I got to drive one of these beautiful babies on a very scenic if frigid jaunt from McCormick Place to the Adler Planetarium. All I can say is, I WANT ONE. This amazing vehicle has already replaced the Toyota Prius as the world’s most fuel-efficient car, according to the EPA.
Unlike previous generations of plug-in electric cars, the Volt is a hybrid, its gas engine allowing for long-range travel. The EPA rated the Volt’s combined city/highway fuel economy at a whopping 93 miles per gallon. One Volt representative mentioned that some people who’ve had the car since it was first introduced in December are calling up GM to ask how to access the gas tank—they haven’t had to fill their tank in over two months! Best of all, the car plugs into a regular three-pronged outlet and to fully charge the vehicle over 10 hours uses less than $1.50 of electricity.
I loved driving the car, even on the coldest day of the year. The interior is gorgeous and all touch-controlled—I felt like I was in a giant iPad. There are a ton of special features and I only wish I had more time to explore them. That is a car I definitely want to drive again.
It was great seeing my family members during this rare winter visit. We didn’t get out all that much except to go to some of our favorite restaurants. The amount of food I usually ingest during these trips is so outrageous that I created a Weight-Gain Checklist on the blackboard in my sister’s house to keep track of the high-caloric meals. I’m happy to say we made it through the entire checklist except for Manny’s Deli and Ann Sather’s.
Bizarrely, but I guess not that strange for Chicago, in the short time we were there we went from extreme cold to an unseasonable thaw. By the time we left, the temperatures were on par with L.A. and the mountains of snow were melting faster than Carol Moseley Braun’s chances of winning Chicago's upcoming mayoral election.
This whole trip started when my sister and brother-in-law decided not to come to the Grammy Awards where the album Jeff did with the fabulous Mavis Staples was nominated. To appease their disappointment in not seeing us (well, let's face it—not seeing Charlie!) as planned, we hightailed it to the arctic tundra instead. Happily, while our orthodox relatives were over munching on kosher deli, we saw Mavis win her first (much deserved) Grammy. Mazel Tov, Mavis and Jeff!
Here are a few more photos of our winter escapades:
As soon as we arrived, my nephew Sammy turned us all into Chasidic Jews with the aid of this crazy app on his iPhone. I frankly think Kendall and my sister look pretty good in their beards and I especially love Charlie is his fur shtreimel.
Charlie and my father had a great time together. I think there's a definite resemblance.
Aunt Susie could barely put Charlie down. It's a total love match between those two.
Uncle Jeff taught Charlie how to laugh on command, how to blow kisses, and how to sing. They also played guitar together.
Leah loved playing in the snow and built a snow lady who promptly melted in the unexpected heat wave. My "unschooled" daughter was so busy in L.A. that she came and went separately from us—her first flights alone where she was NOT an unaccompanied minor! She survived all of the attention on Charlie quite well. Sorry, Leah, but you'll always be the first-born grandchild--with hundreds of photos to prove it!
Charlie's first cousin Sammy shared his very cool science fair project with us—a study on how people perceive music on vinyl versus music recorded digitally on CD. Is he a Tweedy, or what?
And Charlie gave his cousin Spencer, drummer extraordinaire, a run for his money. I think we may have two percussionists in the family!
Till next time, Chicago!
Looks like you had a wonderful time here! Next time you come in try to squeeze in some "old" friends time!! Charlie is adorable. Thanks for sharing the pics of you and your great family.
Posted by: Arlene Andresen | February 18, 2011 at 01:06 PM
Hey Danny, I absolutely love the pics, charlie is absolutely beautiful!However that said, the blackboard list is tdf!
Posted by: susie specter | February 18, 2011 at 07:00 PM
Yeah, thanks for sharing. All the pictures are great, but in the last one Charlie looks like a professional model!
When we lived in Chicago, that practice of "saving" shoveled-out parking spots annoyed me so much. Apparently, people do it in Boston also.
Posted by: Julie R. | February 18, 2011 at 07:07 PM
What did you bring me? Hello? Helloooooo???
Posted by: kerry.karsian@gmail.com | February 18, 2011 at 07:50 PM
Dear Danny,
Wonderfully descriptive account of your trip. For 25 years, I lived in the snow belt of New York State, and I can honestly say that I don't miss those Winters one bit. Charlie must be the most contented kid in the world. He always looks happy, and curious about everything around him. What a prize.
Thanks,
Gordon
Posted by: Gordon | February 18, 2011 at 09:00 PM
The beards look natural!Does Sammy need a job?
Posted by: helena | February 20, 2011 at 08:11 AM
you missed manny's...huh. I will not share this with my nephew-in-law.
FYI-when Andrew was Charlie's age, David used to tease me..."one day, you will turn around and he'll be shaving"...
well, those days are here and it is sad as they did fly by. Enjoy!
Posted by: Julie Levin Freireich | February 20, 2011 at 06:49 PM
LOVED this, Danny! You do such a uniquely awesome job of reviewing our vehicles...with a little fabulous entertainment thrown in. And I totally dig the beard photo. A big Michigan hello to your fam from me!
Posted by: Connie Burke | February 21, 2011 at 05:35 AM
I love Charlie's bundled up pic. how sweet.
Posted by: churlita | February 21, 2011 at 01:08 PM
FABOOOOOO pix!!! Everyone looks so happy in the coldest city ever!!
BTW, I'm friends with some of Mavis' back-up band...Jeff, Rick and Steve!
Posted by: Ellen B. | February 22, 2011 at 05:05 PM