I've just come off a week's vacay in Chicago. I'm convinced that Chicago in the summer is the best vacation destination there is.  And since I live around here, that's really saying something.

The occasion was that one of the sisters came to visit for a week.  (This is a sister you haven't met yet. There are six of us all told in our family. She's not one of the authors. She's the good one.)  So when she told me she was coming, I decided to take the week off to introduce her to the sights, sounds and tastes of Chi-town. And in the process, I fell in love again with this glorious city.

Right now in particular, Chicago is a steaming hot place to be. Our mystery book, Liar Liar, takes place in the Chicago southside neighborhood of Bridgeport. Just an inch outside Bridgeport's boundaries is U.S. Cellular Field: home of the White Sox. And if you are a baseball fan, you know how hot the Sox are. And since Chicago is a baseball town, the energy in this city is rockin', particularly the southside.

Now, here's the thing about Bridgeport.  Since the neighborhood is almost entirely residentially zoned, it's not going to be your vacation destination. It is, however, a go-to place to eat a wide variety of excellently prepared cultural foods on a budget. In the mystery novel, much of Cat's time revolves around fueling up on Italian delights and this is one of Bridgeport's specialties. Gio's Café and Deli should not be missed. I tell you this as a friend.

But while Bridgeport may not be your destination, all around it is. You've got the loop. You've got the shoreline. (What other city has the entire length of its shoreline open as public parks?) You've got world-class museums. Millenium Park.  And for those who love the night life, well, you might first think of blues and jazz, but the truth is, whatever your flavor, Chicago will excel in offering it to you.

I'd love to hear your favorite Chicago haunts. Especially those that fly under the radar. There is just so much this city offers that even after a non-stop week, I feel like I've barely scratched the surface. But like any great mystery novel, it keeps drawing you in.

- Kristen