Chicago 2013: Day 3 - Bridgehouse 2

Top photo: The southeast bridgehouse taken from inside the southwest bridgehouse.
Bottom photo: Outside of the southeast bridgehouse.

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 - 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 - 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.

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - "Flamingo"

Flamingo sculpture by Pablo Picasso.

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Tribune Tower

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Lion at the Art Institute of Chicago

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Aon Tower

Choir Trip to Chicago 1985 - Buckingham Fountain

Choir Trip to Chicago - 1985 Part 3

I love wide open spaces but I also love the feeling of being surrounded by tall dramatic buildings. This photo definitely captures that. The John Hancock tower is in the background. It's nice to know that some buildings still have the same name.

Choir Trip to Chicago - 1985 Part 2

My friend Mary is checking out some of the Loop buildings along the Chicago River. I always found it amazing that the course of that river was reversed.

Choir Trip to Chicago - 1985 Part 1

In 1985 my college choir took a trip to Chicago. I don't remember much about the trip but I did get some decent shots of some of the buildings. I recently found the pictures while sorting and then scanning some photos from an old album. The two pictures where taken from the Sears (now Willis) Tower observation deck. The red building in the first picture is known as the CNA Center. I don't know if that's what it was in 1985. So many building names have changed. The second picture is also from the observation deck of the Willis Tower. The bottom picture is the Willis Tower itself. It's now the 7th tallest building in the world and the tallest in the U.S.

Trip Out East Day Eight - 1979

Saturday, June 16

We will leave in the morning for Chicago where we will stay with the Gassar family with whom we spent our final night on tour last year.

Journal: "Our host family was really nice I forgot there name but they were really nice. We have a 9 hour ride today also. Me and Jeff don't have to stay at the Gassers but at Jeff's dad's. Thank God tomorrow we go home."