What's in Evanston?

Evanston's a beautiful little city, seemingly built around Northwestern University campus along Lake Michigan, and around the fact that it is a northern suburb of Chicago, but not necessarily a direct part of it.  No skyscrapers here to speak of, but plenty of old and new buildings which house old standards, but also a new rich mix of very modern restaurants, brewpubs and boutiques.

Unlike the frigid waters of the recently visited Lake Superior, there's quite a bit of 'fun traffic' out on lake Michigan right in Evanston, including, directly around the corner of this boardwalk, a surf rent shop no doubt for the college clientele.  The water flows behind here in a clear blue stream.  Off in the distance is the city that looks as though it's growing right out of the water.  Wrigley Field is approximately 22 minutes away.

Downtown merges with campus.  Little parks all over the place.  Cool, though, as the lake water drifts up over the shore directly into the city.  Windy City number two.

The Bistro Bordeaux could easily be the best authentic French restaurant we've been to.  We tried escargot flavored by pesto and a dash of Pernod for fun.  True baguettes fresh out of a baker's bag.  Ice cream macaroons for dessert.  Cute French songs in the background.

But the real reason we were in Evanston is because Julia had been accepted into a gifted and talented academic program, one she earned, deserved.  Dorm rooms at eighth grade might bring on a sense of early beginnings.  The halls were decorated nicely, full of other graduated eighth graders soon.