Downtown, as featured on the blog of Love, Lulu Mae

Petula Clark sings to us about the beauty of going downtown; you know, where “Everything’s waiting for you!” I have found this week that this could just not be more true. Downtown Chicago is possibly the second most magical place in world (Disney World being the first, naturally.)

I started a new job (at the Chicago Tribune, no less) this week, so I get to get up three days a week, put on clothes that are not going to get glitterfied and regurgitated upon by minions and take the train from Boystown down to Grand and State. I do a crossword and listen to my iPod or chat with my mom before removing myself from the Red Line and walking the few blocks over to Michigan Ave and down to the Tribune Tower. Here, I swipe an ID to access my floor and go to my cubicle. My cubicle in the Tribune Tower that overlooks Michigan Ave. Victory. Cubicles are supposed to be gray and depressing and completely uninspiring. But not this cubicle.

This girl is more than a little starstruck. Seriously.

I look out my window and there’s the river and tourists taking photos and businessmen running late to meetings hurrying down the Magnificent Mile. Women stroll for lunch dates down by Nordstrom and pick up all of the latest in the Mecca for shopping this girl can’t afford. (Yet. But I will.)

I explored on my first lunch break and was just overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the city I live in. Seriously, Chicago is gorgeous. Especially in the fall, when everything gets washed in the gold glittery almost chilly sunlight. Waltzing about in the shadows cast by skyscrapers and seeing couples kiss ever so sweetly down by the River Walk, I felt just like the girl I always wanted to be when I was little. I mean, there I was, strolling the Magnificent Mile on my lunch break in my trench coat and high heels, living on dreams and a smidge of caffeine and red lipstick.

Just a little bit of that downtown Chicago perfection that made me fall in love with this city to begin with. And it has me all excited and ready to conquer this little corner of the world. So, go take a walk downtown and enjoy the fabulous weather this weekend, dear reader!