Eight Days in Chicago, May-June 2007

June 5, Tuesday (last):
Today was the perfect day for my planned itinerary to visit the Sears Tower, the Adler Planetarium, and the Hancock building, because it was overcast and rainy the day before, but it was clear and sunny today (and warmer in the morning). At the Sears Skytower entrance, we were shown a short film on the construction of the Sears Tower before ascending to the 103rd floor. wooosh! The views from up there are awesome! I got the free trolley to Museum Campus, and went to the Adler where I saw two shows, “The Black Hole” and “Space and Time” on their dome screen. Both shows were “included” in my GO card. I visited all the exhibits before heading towards the Hancock for my last venue before dinner and meeting with joe and JPB at Second City for our “last night out.”

The Hancock Observatory is only 93 floors above ground, but with some of the better views of Chicago and its environs - especially when looking at the shoreline, towards the LOOP and northward. I bet over 95 percent of pictures taken from the Hancock Observatory on a sunny day with some clouds are postcard quality - even for bad photographers.

I had dinner on Rush Street at the TAVERN bar and grill, because Rush Street was one of my favorite destinations when I lived in Chicago back in the fifties. I thought it was a good way to say “goodbye” (again) to one of my favorite destinations. I sat in the bar at a table for two, and before my dinner arrived, a gentleman seemed a little lost, so I invited him to join me at the only chair left in the room. Interesting fellow; he’s originally from Cape Town, so we had something to talk about right away. He travels extensively around the world for business as a consultant. I had to say “goodbye” at 7pm, because I was scheduled to meet up with joe and JPB at Second City for our last meet. The Second City alumni includes such greats as Alan Arkin, Joan Rivers, Robert Klein, David Blum, John Belushi, John Candy, Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, and that’s only up until 1974. We were treated to “Between Barak and a Hard Place.” It was very funny, and JPB was laughing her ‘guts’ out! The Tribune wrote “Funniest revue in years,” and I agree!

Joe and I left about 10:30pm, because I had to get up early in the morning to catch the air porter to O’Hare for my 9:55 flight back to San Jose.

FINALLY: Chicago’s LOOP is really an amazing place. One can view the artworks on the sidewalks and interiors of buildings of such artists as Picasso, Chagall, Miro, and other local and international artists such as the “Bean” at Millennium Park, all that architectural marvel where one can stand below and look up skywards at some amazing glass and steel as well as the older buildings with real classic lines, the Buckingham Fountain, and of coarse the CHICAGO theater and Art Institute with the lions in front. The Trump Tower now under construction will become the tallest building in the world when completed.

Public transportation in Chicago is very good and at reasonable prices. My seven day bus and L-train pass with unlimited rides cost only $20. I got $117 value from my $89 GO card. I lost my pedometer record, but guess I have walked about 60 miles (avg. 7.5 mpd) during my eight days - 12+ total miles during my last two days. I truly enjoyed every minute of my eight days in Chicago. I hope you have too!

Sears Tower:


Looking towards Millennium Park:


Towards the Hancock:


Miro's Universe in the Sears Tower lobby:


The Adler:


The two shows at the Adler:


Mars rover:


The Hancock from Lincoln Park:


Close up:


Lincoln Park:


Water Tower:


That extension in the middle is Museum Campus:


Rush Street restaurant, next door to the Tavern:


Second City:


Barak Obama (I got a warning for taking this pix):


Street sculpture by Calder:


By Miro:


By Picasso:


Guess?


Goodbye at O'Hare:


Will add a few more pictures I like.

c.i. wrote :



i thought c.i. had landed in a foreign country - before i read on !
perhaps c.i. was picking up some 20's at half-price - freshly made by al capone's grandson ?
hbg

c.i. :great pictures !
chicago seems to have changed a bit inthe last 25 years .
went to a couple of conferences in ch in the late 80's .
mrs h and i stayed at the drake - one of those great old hotels .
went to a couple of great jazz-concerts by the lake at night - awesome !
mrs h liked marshall fields - no longer there ???
hbg

Hi hbg, Glad you dropped by to visit. Yeah, Chicago is in a constant change mode, so 25 years is a long time. There are many new buildings going up, but I think they're mostly condos. My old haunt used to be North Clark Street, and I don't recognize anything except Wrigley Field. Even Rush Street was a young person's hangout for clubs and bars, but it's more like businessmen/women with suits predominate. At the Tavern bar and grill, I was the only one (almost) without a sport coat. I was never a fancy dresser anywhos. Chicago still has great jazz and blues venues, and I'm pretty sure that will never change.

I checked out the Drake and the Palmer House at last year's A2k meet, going through them on my walks. Hmmm, maybe next time.

Hbg, Marshall Field's is now Macy's. When I saw it last year, when it was still Field's, it seemed a ghost of the Field's I remember from my childhood.

Very well done, indeed! 'Twas a pleasure and a joy, CI. Hope to see you on your own turf soon.

The sculpture in front of the Thompson Center that looks like paper mache painted white with black trim is called the "Monument with Standing Beast" by Jean Dubuffet.

Around here it's known as "Snoopy in a blender."

That makes sense.

joe: Around here it's known as "Snoopy in a blender."


Now, you tell me!

Very well done, C.I.! Thanks!

O'Bill, It was entirely my pleasure to share the Chicago of today, but especially our hosts, joe and JPB, and to show what the a2k gatherings are all about - to encourage more people to participate.

Missed you at this one.

BM

Nice one, c.i..