Today was our annual trip to the Chicago Auto Show — a tradition nearly a decade strong. Every year, Gilberto, Cesar, and I make it a point to go together, and this marks our ninth year keeping it alive. There’s something special about sharing the same ritual year after year — cars, conversation, and a lot of laughs.
We started the morning at Bryn Mawr Breakfast Club, a cozy neighborhood spot known for its hearty breakfast plates and strong coffee. I ordered the breakfast burrito with a cup of coffee, which hit the spot. Gilberto, as usual, ordered about twice as much food as Cesar and me. We split the check evenly, with the understanding that Gilberto would cover parking and gas since we were taking his Jeep downtown. Over breakfast, we caught up on life — work, goals, random stories — the kind of conversation that only long-time friends can fall into so easily.
On the drive to the show, I played some of the music I’ve written and uploaded to my Bandmix page. It felt good hearing my tracks fill the car speakers, and even better hearing Cesar and Gilberto genuinely enjoy them. Sharing something creative always feels a little vulnerable, but today it just felt right.
We arrived at the convention center around noon. As we walked toward the entrance, I whistled the theme from For a Few Dollars More, that classic western with Clint Eastwood — dramatic and iconic. Gil and Cesar had already purchased their tickets, so I bought mine at the booth for $25, and we headed in.
We started with Toyota’s display, where I checked out the Corolla Cross Hybrid. It stood out to me immediately — a practical subcompact SUV with excellent gas mileage, solid reliability, and a price point that makes sense. It felt like the most balanced option among the Toyota lineup. From there, we explored installations from Kia, Jeep, Subaru, and Hyundai. Gil and Cesar usually take part in the Jeep and Ford track rides, but the line was too long this time, so we skipped it.
One of my favorite parts was the Outlander section — a showcase of vehicles customized for camping and off-grid adventures. Roof tents, storage builds, rugged tires — everything geared toward exploration. Seeing those setups sparked that quiet urge to take off on a road trip somewhere wide and open.
After making our rounds, we headed back to the car and decided to grab drinks at Maria’s Packaged Goods on 31st Street. It’s a laid-back neighborhood bar with affordable drinks and good food — the kind of place where you can sit for hours without feeling rushed. I ordered a round for the table. Cesar and Gilberto went with a dragonfruit beer, and I had the Sketchbook stout. They ordered fries and a sandwich to share. The food was solid, the drinks were cheap, and the atmosphere was easygoing.
From there, we walked over to Cesar’s café, Opus Cafe on Chicago Street. There’s a small stage inside with instruments set up, which naturally drew us in. Gilberto and I tried playing the drum set — we did not sound great. Someone stopped by to donate a guitar, and at Cesar’s request, I gave it a quick look. It was playable, just needed new strings — nothing a little care couldn’t fix.
By the end of the night, we were tired in the best way. It wasn’t just about the cars. It was about the tradition. The familiarity. The comfort of friendship that doesn’t require effort.
It was a good day with friends.
