All done in Chicago – and its off to San Francisco tonight.
Not before a recap of our adventures here. Weather is low to mid 20’s – just right for walking and eating out. Or running under the sprinkler in the city park!!
First stop was the Red bus tour to buy a three day ticket – and we used it every day. We have been regular “commuters” on the Red Bus (circle route) – rather than using taxis or regular buses. Each time we board we get a different guide and a different story – nice! The guides are paid so little here they rely on tips so they work hard at being entertaining. Yesterday we had ‘Eddie Murphy’ at his craziest but our favourite so far has been ‘Jason the Movie Guy’ Did you know that almost every street in Chicago has been in a movie and he could tell you all about it.
First afternoon we just did the complete circle to get our bearings.
First night was to “Andy’s Jazz Club” where Denis had been twice during business trips. It didn’t disappoint. Here we are with the headline act – Guy King and the Little Big Band. $15 cover charge for fantastic local jazz and good food too. Only about 100 people in the club – nice.
Day 2
Back on the Bus and down to the Institute of Art – the (Museum of art). Great Impressionist collection (for example – a room of Renoir’s!) and US exhibitions (we made a point of getting to know some US artists – Hopper, O’Keefe and Dove are favourites and of course Andy Warhol features here – if they have wall space big enough! – see chairman Mao below – which is around 5m x 6m) and much more.
At the Art Institute building on Michigan Ave – even the “Silver Man” has to have a lunch break!
The Chagall windows exhibit
A room of Miro’s work
Andy Warhol
Picasso (in his blue period)
Edward Hopper – “Nighthawks”
We were also lucky enough to be here for the 34th Blues Festival the Taste of Randolph Festival – all free performances in Millennium Park day and night.
Here’s Denis in front of the main venue in Grant Park.
On day 3 we took the river cruise focussed on the City Archeticture – fascinating to see everything from the great 1930’s buildings through to the 2000’s. Here are some examples
Guess who owns this building – the only building in Chicago with a visible name.
The City has discovered it’s river in much the same way as Melbourne and there is a huge development of apartments around the river going on. for your trivial pursuit night — did you know that the River was “turned around” to flow from the Lake back into the hinterland around 1900 to stop the industrial pollution getting into Lake Michigan and polluting the drinking water – stopping the pollution might have been easier!! But now it still flows from the lake back into the Mississippi River – without the pollution.
On our last day we visited the observation deck on the 100th floor of the Hancock tower – we did not experience “the Tilt” which allows you to be suspended over the edge of the building. Even though it survived the earlier occupants!!!
Also caught up with the demonstration in support of cyclists rights ‘Less Gas More Ass’. Well maybe not so lucky – Nudes on Bikes is definitely not a theme for a porno movie!! — but it was fun to see – I have edited out the photos of the really bad bodies on bikes!!.
Cheer for now – see you in San Francisco.