Day two in Chicago started as most vacation days do – coffee, brunch, the contemplation of a little hair of the dog. Being that we had gone late night shopping at a nearby Walgreen’s (which was not as nearby as the Walgreen’s kitty corner from our hotel) the night before and purchased a bunch of beer, wine and food that we would probably not consume within the next 36 hours, but gave it a good go, we were a bit wrecked.
To recuperate, we opted for an architectural tour and packed a couple of coffee cups and Lime-A-Ritas in our bags for a little afternoon beverage. As we looked everywhere for the sightseeing boat companies we found them right where we least expected them – a block away from our hotel. The tour proved to be both interesting, informational and just what we needed to cleanse our systems and be ready to drink again. As it came to an end, we popped open our Ritas, poured them in the coffee cups and enjoyed the warm Chicago air and the delicious beverage it is.
As we walked away from the boat we noticed a man openly drinking a can of beer. “Do you think it is legal to walk around with open containers here?” we all wondered aloud. “It’s OK in Vegas,” Beaner advised. We decided against finding out by having an open container and, instead, asked some officers. “May I ask you a question?” I asked. “You want a picture with us?” one officer replied. “No. Why? Do you want a picture with us?” I quipped. “Maybe,” he replied. “My question is, is it legal to walk around town with an open container?” The picture offering officer looked at my cup and said, “Let me guess, you’ve got some Baileys in your coffee?” “Baileys? No. I wish,” I replied. “Well it isn’t legal. It is against the law. So if you’re going to do it, be discreet,” he advised. “Like me,” a female officer said and held up her clear plastic cup with ice, lime and a clear liquid substance inside it. “Is that vodka?” I asked. “Be discreet,” she replied, smirked and they walked away.