“Chicago? Don’t you go there like once a week?”
Yes, with the always accomplished goals to soak up the atmosphere of the great city, admire the architecture, find good food and use my Chicago Architectural Foundation membership to participate in tours.
But this was a very special trip.
I was honored to be accompanied by my nieces. AKA the smartest, cutest and most personable ladies in the world.
Meet Brooke (9) and Caliey (11).
Wednesday, July 7th, 2010
The day commenced at 4:30AM to drive up to Kohler and then on to Kenosha to grab the 8:49AM Metra. Second level mezzanine seating provided the best views of the passing countryside and northern Chicagoland affluent towns.
After arriving at Ogilvie Transportation Center the MO is always to visit the adjoining Chicago French Market. Picture at right- does she take after me?!
The route to the hotel was chosen to take advantage of the open vistas along the Chicago River for that captivating skyline including our hotel (on the right).
The ladies excitedly explored the boutique room and then unpacked. “We’re staying for one night!” Guess it starts young.
Brooke earnestly took pictures for the two days. At trip’s end she reported the total was 206.
In my youth NW Grant Park was a blight of railyards. In 2004 a stunning transformation has made Millennium Park (who says anything in Chicago is finished on time?) beloved by both locals and tourists.
Famed architects, artists, landscapers and sculpturers put their stamp on parcels of the park. By luck a performance was in progress at the Frank Gehry designed Pritzker Pavilion for my musically inclined nieces to enjoy while eating lunch from Park Cafe.
Cloud Gate, affectionately nicknamed The Bean by locals, is 168 highly polished stainless steel panels.
“Why is everyone standing underneath it?” “You’ll see once we get there.”
Not intended to became a water playground the Crown Fountains rise 50 feet using LEDs embedded in glass blocks to display images of Chicagoans who purse their lips to spray water to anticipating youngsters every 12 minutes.
An off the radar jewel are the rotundas and ballroom in the Chicago Cultural Center, originally the Chicago Public Library. I think Brooke liked running up and down the curving staircases best.
It wasn’t until completion of the Michigan Avenue Bridge in 1920 that North Michigan Avenue blossomed into a world class shopping destination nicknamed the Magnificent Mile.
Stops included the Apple store (the girls fave), American Girl and Hershey’s.
Municipal Pier #2 was built in 1916 for freight and gained its current Navy Pier moniker after housing soldiers in World War I. After a multitude of uses its 3300 feet sat mostly unused for decades until being renovated in the 1990s.
Navy Pier’s jewel is the grand promenade for views of the skyline and people watching.
On top of the Pavilion the girls took a spin on the merry-go-round and then the wave swinger.
They pleaded to rent a quadcycle and soon we were peddling along the lakefront. Admiring the backdrop of the harbor on one side and skyline on the other were overshadowed by their chances to steer. It proved to be one of their favorite activities of the trip.
Ice cream was needed to recuperate followed by watching a pirate music show inside the Pavilion.
More exceptional architectural views along the riverwalk. And cute girls!
Most of the adventure was a democracy and the option chosen for dinner was take-out from the ubiquitous Chicago chain Corner Bakery Café, where it took some major brokering to pick while making sure there was a nutritious element. They then settled on the bed and became entranced by SpongeBob SquarePants.
Before bedtime they called their parents. Caliey started giggling animatedly. After hanging up she explained Dad told her if I fall asleep first they should put my underwear in the freezer. I was actually worried they’d do it.
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
We selected the Michigan Plaza for breakfast, a 2 building business complex, for its multitude of restaurants. And they chose McDonald’s.
The lobby in the Santa Fe Building outside the Chicago Architectural Foundation has a wonderful model of the city. Caliey and Brooke circled it snapping away and made sure to give get Soldier Field for their Bear fan Dad.
Finished in 1974 the Sears Tower (I refuse to call it by its new name) was the tallest building in the world and still retains the status of tallest in the western hemisphere.
The ‘Ledge’ glass boxes were added last year for an unobstructed view straight down.
Caliey had chosen Panera for lunch and gave a strong a recommendation to Brooke, who had never been to one. Dense office crowds taking up all tables required eating al fresco.
The Chicago Water Taxi was an efficient means to get back to Michigan Avenue while having that tremendous backdrop.
That democracy in practice the ladies choose going back to the Magnificent Mile for the balance of our time. Lego fan Brooke wondered around gaping in The Lego Store. And then back to their beloved Apple store.
Just last week I had taken her to see Toy Story 3. Oh, and those rumors about someone tearing up at the end are not true!
The ladies got their taxi ride wish in from the hotel back to the train station. After some bakery for everyone it was time to settle back in for the hour and half ride back to Kenosha.
With any luck my favorite girls had a rewarding experience and great memories. Certainly for me.