Chicago 2013: Day 3 - Bridgehouse 1

The McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum is located inside the five-story southwest tower of the Michigan Avenue Bridge.  The museum tells not only the story of Chicago's bridges but also the ecology of the Chicago River and how it changed with the growth of the city.

Chicago 2013: Day 3 - Boat Tour

Breakfast again at Ann Sather's. I just can't get enough of those Swedish pancakes with lingonberry syrup! After eating, Mom mentioned that she was really interested in going on one of the boat tours on the Chicago river. We ended up going for one that featured architectural highlights of notable Chicago buildings. We had quite a bit of time to kill before our boat was to leave so we took a self tour of one of the bridge houses. The above photo was taken from inside the southwest bridgehouse tower on the Michigan Avenue bridge.

Chicago 2013: Day 2 Brenda & Irv's Anniversary

Wednesday July 24, 2013

After a long day of clomping around Grant Park we all came back to the hotel to get ready to take Brenda and Irv out for their 60th Anniversary dinner.  We ate at Jack's on Halstead which was only a couple block walk from the hotel.  We all had a great time and the food was fantastic.

Chicago 2013: Day 2 - Buckingham Fountain

Wednesday July 24, 2013

Since we were in Grant Park we had to stop and see Buckingham Fountain. Dedicated in 1927, this is one of the world's largest fountains. We didn't get to see one of the water shows up close although we could see it from a distance which is what directed us to the fountain.

Chicago 2013: Day 2 - Crown Fountain

Wednesday July 24, 2013

Another attraction in Millennium Park that we visited was the Crown Fountain.  The following is from Wikipedia:

"The Crown Fountain is an interactive work of public art and video sculpture, named in honor of Chicago's Crown family and opened in July 2004.  It was designed by Catalan conceptual artist Jaume Plensa and executed by Krueck and Sexton Architects.  The fountain is composed of a blakc granite reflecting pool placed between a pair of transparent glass brick towers.  The towers are 50 feet tall, and use light-emitting diodes behind the bricks to display digital videos on their inward faces."

"Weather permitting, the water operates from May to October, intermittenly cascading down the two towers and spouting through a nozzle on each tower's front face.  To achieve the effect in which water appears to be flowing from subjects' mouths, each video has a segment where the subject's lips are puckered, which is then time to correspond to the spouting water, reminiscent of gargoyle fountains; this happens roughly every five minutes."

It is really delightful watching the smiling images displayed on the towers and the water that spouts from their lips.  Like the Crown Gate, this attraction contributes a nice sense of whimsey to the overall good mood of the park-goers.

Chicago 2013: Day 2 - Joe, Mom, & Dale

Mom and I reflected in the Cloud Gate sculpture of Millennium Park.  Dale is taking the photo.

Chicago 2013: Day 2 - Cloud Gate

Wednesday July 24, 2013

The official name of this Millennium Park sculpture is Cloud Gate but I like to refer to it as the Giant Jelly Bean.  It's fascinating to walk around it as it provides an alternate view of the Chicago skyline.  It's interesting to peer at yourself in the sculpture as it provides a backdrop of you against the Chicago skyline.  I think the whole thing helps place park visitors in a whimsical mood.  It is located in the AT & T Plaza and is the work of artist Anish Kapoor.  I understand that the sculpture was inspired by liquid mercury.

Chicago: Day 2 Part 4 - Jay Pritzker Pavilion

Wednesday July 24, 2013

As we wandered around Millennium Park there was beautiful orchestral music playing.  I assumed it was piped in but soon discovered that an orchestra at the pavilion was doing a live rehearsal in preparation for an evening concert. 

Chicago 2013: Day 2 - Mom

Wednesday July 24, 2013

I love this photo of Mom that I took in Millennium Park.  She looks so pretty.

Chicago 2013: Day 2 - Millennium Park

Wednesday July 24, 2013

After breakfast the five of us ventured to Millennium Park.  It's been there a few years now but this was the first time there for all of us.  I don't know that I've ever been so moved before in an urban space.  It almost made me a little teary-eyed.  It was this vast and expansive space that had so many people just milling about everywhere.  The park was beautiful in and of itself and seemed to celebrate the city, the skyline of which rose above it.  In a way it seemed to unify all of the buildings by pulling them together and acting as a base.  The prairie garden in the middle was gorgeous.

Chicago 2013: Day 2 - Ann Sather Restaurant

Wednesday July 24, 2013

Brenda, Irv, Mom, Dale, and I had breakfast at a restaurant on 
Belmont called Ann Sather's.  It had a Swedish theme.  Above is a photo of part of the mural on the wall.  Mom and I both had the Swedish pancakes.  They were thin and delicious and divine with lingonberries on top.

Chicago: Day 1 Part 3

Tuesday July 23, 2013

After getting settled in at the hotel, we all went around the corner to a Mexican restaurant named Caesar's which features killer margaritas.  The margaritas come in two sizes - large and extra large.  Irv and I both each ordered a large blended one. They were quite strong and quite good.

Chicago: Day 1 Part 2

Tuesday July 23, 2013

Dale usually stays at The Willows when he's in Chicago but this time we're staying at The City Suites on Belmont in Boys Town.  The hotel is fantastic although the view isn't so hot.

Chicago Day 1 Part 1

Tuesday July 23, 2013

Dale and I picked up Mom at 8:00 a.m. and hit the road right away.  We made it to Union Station in Chicago around 4:30.  We were slowed down during our trip due to some heavy construction on US 90.  By heavy I mean 35 continuous miles of construction.  Anyway, it was good to be back in Chicago.  It's been since 2005 for me although Dale is here once per year for work.  The city looks great and we arrived just in time for some perfect weather.