We just returned home from a week in the Chicago area, visiting family and enjoying just a smidge of what that great city has to offer. Ever since our younger daughter started attending Loyola University and our eldest started her career there in 2006, we’ve managed to visit the Windy City at least once a year. We’ve established a few spots we like to return to nearly every time we go, but we always look forward to trying new restaurants and visiting new sites as well.

Our late October visit included very cool but mostly sunny and dry weather, perfect for a quick jaunt in the expansive and lovely Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Ill., a western suburb where daughter Sarah lives. We stop in nearly every time we’re in town, and this time we enjoyed the brilliant yellows and reds of the leaves and the fanciful scarecrows ranged along a lakeside pathway. I’ve yet to time a visit to coincide with the daffodils blooming in the spring or blankets of snow beneath the bare branches of winter, but every visit provides balm to the soul and beauty to the eye. Next time I think I’ll take advantage of the bike rental business outside the visitors’ center and wheel along the miles of roadways within the property.

Saturday found us headed downtown for a special dinner at Girl & the Goat, chef Stephanie Izard’s funky, friendly and oh-so-popular gastro pub in the West Loop on Randolph Street. Our 4:30 p.m. reservation was our only option when we called three months ago, but based on everything we’d read and heard about the place, it was no inconvenience. We experienced great service and fantastic food in a welcoming, unpretentious atmosphere. By 6 p.m. the lounge, bar and dining tables were completely packed and the place was buzzing, but we never felt rushed to clear our table nor did the service and attention diminish. The menu is divided into Vegetable, Fish and Meat sections with tapas-style items meant to be shared. Our server, Brendan, handed us a Sharpie and menus and encouraged us to mark up what we wanted to try — a simple way for the five of us to see what each planned to order. We started with one of three breads baked fresh daily in house (we went with “apple smacks” served with ginger butter and apple sauce — YUM!) and ordered a total of 10 different plates. There are some truly unique and unusual items on the menu (pig’s face?!), but everything comes with complementary garnishes and  sauces, and the kitchen paces and orders the dishes perfectly so that flavors of one don’t overpower or get lost in another.

After our perfect meal, we headed north for a show at The Second City’s e.t.c. Theater. On weekend nights especially, one can usually choose from three different shows and a number of performances at Second City, and we nearly always visit when we’re in town. This time we saw a revue — A Clown Car Named Desire — performed by six actors. A little singing, some improv, audience participation and a lot of laughter make up the recipe for a typical performance, and we thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Sunday found us visiting another of our favorites for after-church brunch: Prasino in LaGrange. We hit the sweet spot: during the hours when both the breakfast and lunch menus were open, so we had much to choose from at this family-run restaurant (which also operates in Rosemont and Wicker Park). “Prasino” means “green” in Greek, and the menu is full of healthy options and locally sourced items with plenty for vegans, vegetarians and gluten-intolerant diners to enjoy.

We always look forward to our visits to the Second City; familiar enough to us now to provide favorite spots to revisit and yet always offering new adventures.

— Patty Vanikiotis, associate editor/copy editor