The rain has stopped, the sun is shining and my spirits are lifting. But I must confess my spirits were actually lifted from leaving Lombard for the day. My sister Maureen and I took off for downtown Chicago last week to see one of the best Broadway plays I have ever seen.

The fabulous uplifting play “Jersey Boys,” playing at the Bank of America Theatre (formerly known as the LaSalle Bank Theatre) located on Monroe, just off of State in downtown Chicago, was one of the best plays I have ever seen. This was a walk down memory lane based on the group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, who were popular during the ‘60s and ‘70s. The story went back to the days these wise-cracking guys sang under a street lamp in New Jersey when Frankie was only 16. How the group came about, their downfalls, rise to fame and stories behind the songs we are familiar with like “Big Girl’s Don’t Cry,” “Sherry,” and “Walk Like a Man,” kept my interest throughout the two-and-a-half hour play. There was never a dull moment. We sang along, clapped along, laughed and sometimes roared. At the end they received a standing ovation. Their performance was outstanding.

I wholeheartedly recommend this play but must warn you that the language can be colorful at times. Get the girls together for a night out, or buy your sweetheart a ticket to enjoy a night they will always remember. Any age would love this play.

But don’t stop there. Be daring, stay downtown and try a new restaurant located on 24 S. Michigan, right across from Millennium Park, called The Gage. When my sister told me she wanted to take me to this Irish restaurant that opened last year, my mind immediately considered the city equivalent of a suburban Irish pub where we would be settling in for a beer and some shepherd’s pie, which would be fine with me. So I was pleasantly surprised when we walked through rather sophisticated doors into a large room with the eclectic mix of tin ceiling tiles, subway wall tiles, and a bar reminiscent of the ‘40s giving it a clean vintage look.

Our server, Stephen Thompson, who had a bit of an English accent hailing from London, led us through the wine list. We eventually let him decide for us. He also explained that the owner of the restaurant, Billy Lawless, prefers to buy locally and purchase organic food when he can so he can bring to his customers the best experience he can provide.

Although they are touted as Irish and English fare, I found the menu to be all-American. I ended up ordering Amish chicken with a side order of mashed potatoes, which was absolutely delicious, and my sister Maureen had the fish and chips. Both dishes were great. Dirk Flanigan, the executive chef who is an American born Irishman, tantalizes the palette with everything from salad of braised rabbit to roast saddle of elk to rib eye steak. Of course we savored the desserts of caramel crème brulee and the ultra rich chocolate mouse, which completed The Gage experience.

To Lawless and staff of The Gage, thank you for topping off our day with a great meal and providing us with a server from London who fell in love with a Midwestern girl, married her and now lives in Chicago with their child. His story warmed our hearts. You can bet we will be back for more of that Irish hospitality.