Being the third largest city in the United States, there is no question that Chicago has its share of problems. For a tourist, though, there are plenty of activities and fun places to go. This expose is to reflect on those interesting areas our four sojourns to the “Windy City.”
My first trip was back in 1980. I vividly recall eating the “best” pizza I have ever had. Seeing Aretha “The Queen of Soul” Franklin at the “Chicago Fest” was a real treat. And, finally, exploring ways on how I could move there. I had not experienced a blizzard of the Lake Michigan to change my mind.
Coming off a ramp in 2014, the car next to us alerted me that our gas cap was off and open. This is the Mid-West where people are friendly—and they are!
Chicago has all sorts of budgets for accommodations. In 1980, I stayed at a YMCA in both Evanston and downtown Chicago. In 2014, Kathie and I stayed at the Renaissance Hotel across from the Chicago River and the “corn cob towers—the Marina Towers.”
It seems there is always something being advertised. We received free Haagen-Dazs popsicles in one advertisement.
For a beginning tourist to the city, we highly recommend taking the Hop-on-hop-off bus. On the web, there are “city-cards” that can get you discounts on an array of activities. We joined Pam, our daughter, for her Chicago trip in 2014.
A starting point for the busses is the Chicago’s famous Navy Pier. Built in 1916, the pier juts out over 3,000 feet. Originally built as a municipal pier, it was used as a jail for draft dodgers from WWI. In WWII, it was used as a training center for the Navy. To honor those veterans, the pier is name “Navy Pier.” Today the pier has an assortment of restaurants, shops and even a large Ferris wheel.
Near the Navy Pier, there are a number of high-rise buildings. Chicago was the first place in the world where a steel-framed high-rise building went up in 1885. Our tour guide pointed out a window in one of the high-rises where a man daily would show his “buttock.” I was lucky to have my long-range zoom camera that day. This guy was not fake either as he moved positions!
The bus took us to Wrigley Field. In 1980, I saw the Giants defeat the Cubs in extra innings. It was in the day when Wrigley did not have lights (until 1988).
In 2014, the bus drove by the field.
I was able to capture the Ernie Banks statue, an American professional baseball player, placed there in 2008.
Ernie played shortstop and first basemen for the Cubs from 1953-1971. He was known as “Mr. Cub” and “Mr. Sunshine.” He died as a Hall-of-Famer in 2015.
One of our stops was seeing the Chicago Zoo. I was surprised on how close we were able to the animals.
Stopping at The Art Institute of Chicago is a must see. It was easy to find one of Vincent Van Gogh self-portrait paintings. He did 35 self-portraits in his 37 years of living.
One of my favorite artists is well presented at this museum: Claude Monet. I liked his “Houses of Parliament” painting.
The American Gothic, by Grant Wood, is located at this museum. In 1930, Grant used his dentist to model the man in the picture. The woman is Grants sister.
The Art Institute of Chicago was able to purchase Edward Hopper’s famous “Nighthawk” for $3000. After paying commission, Ed received $1971 dollars for this work. Painted in 1942, many people see “loneliness” in this American realism style. Ironically, the diner that was used was from Greenwich Village, NY, not Chicago.
One of my favorite female artists is Georgia O’Keeffe. She is quite famous for painting cow skulls. At the institute, the “Cow’s Skull with Calico Roses” is a prime example.
Not far from the Institute, is the famous “The Bean’ statue.
The sculpture was designed by an Indian-born British man named Sir Anish Kapoor. He named his piece, “Cloud Gate.” Weighing about 100 tons, the 2006 stainless steel sculpture is supposed to represent liquid Mercury. I think the Chicagoans have correctly called it right, “The Bean.”
From early morning to dusk, the array of colors and reflections are amazing on “The Bean.”
Chicago does lend itself to be photographed. There is always another picture around the corner.
Chicago does have several tier one museums. One of my favorites is the Field Museum. In 2014, the T.rex, “Sue,” was in the center of the main hall. She is the most complete, and the largest Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton ever found. Sue dates back to 67 million years ago. She was found in the Black Hills of South Dakota. She was auctioned for over thirty million dollars (highest price ever paid for a dinosaur). Sue has since been moved to another hall in the museum.
Close by is the Shed Aquarium. Our tourist card enabled us to “skip” the long summer line.
The large glass enclosures of all the living life are quite impressive. I took a few photos to share.
We decided to walk the ten miles down Lake Michigan to the Museum of Science and Industry. Along the way, we came across Buckingham Fountain.
Built in 1927 in Grant Park, this fountain is one of the largest in the world. It symbolizes Chicago’s entrance into the city. It was, indeed, inspired from the fountain in Versailles.
The parks in Chicago are used for various festivals. In Grant Park, we came across a number of Porta-Potties. One can get literally lost.
At night, we came across a “free” concert:
Not far south is “Soldier’s Field” where the Chicago Bears play American style football. I tell my nurses when they ask my height, “I am the same size of Walter “Sweetness” Payton at 5’10¼”. It is so sad to think that Walter Payton died so young at 45 in 1999.
When we looked at the map the Science Museum looked so close. It is indeed about 10 miles. About the eighth mile, we asked someone about where this museum was located. The man in the van looked at us and said, “you guys need a ride.” The Mid-West friendliness is special.
At the time of our visit, the Science Museum had the exhibit of “Body Worlds.” If you saw the movie, Casino Royal, there is a clip with the type of displays used in this exhibit. I was keenly interested, though, in seeing U-505 submarine.
An intact Nazi submarine was captured off the Gold Coast of Africa in June 4th of 1944 (two days before D-Day). The Navy kept it as a secret. In 1955, it was donated to this museum. It was quite a feat engineering the final berth.
On the basement floor is an original Burlington train. Kathie saw this and said, “they have a train that comes right into the museum!” I actually laughed at the thought, but taking a train back to Chicago is what we eventually did.
The Bears and Cubs may not be winning, but the food in Chicago is always a standout champion. We enjoyed various meals. Pictured with us is our oldest daughter, Pamela, who “forced” us to travel with her to Chicago!
We all enjoyed taking “The Architectural boat Tour” on the Chicago River. It is that same river that turns green on St. Patrick’s Day.
There is always something to see walking the famous street called “Miracle Mile.” One day we came across street performers.
Another day we came across a couple having wedding pictures.
Another day we came across a Palestinian protest against Israel.
There are a number of unique buildings down by Miracle Mile. One building had stones that were imbedded into the outer structure. Each stone had a historic significance.
The Water Tower survived the 1871 Chicago fire. It was the only public building that did. Three square miles of Chicago was destroyed—over 17,000 buildings and killing 300 people. In today’s cost, it was nearly a half trillion dollars of destruction.
By legend and a claim, a cow supposedly knocked over a lantern at Mrs. O’Leary’s barn causing the fire.
On Dearborn St, in apartment 1239 is where Ernest Hemingway once lived for four months with his first wife, Hadley. Indeed, Ernest was from Chicago coming from an affluent middle-class family in the neighborhood of Oak Park. We have enjoyed seeing his home in Key West.
Walking anywhere in Chicago you can come across an interesting points where history was made.
There are a number of interesting cars too.
One day we came across a beach volleyball tournament!
For whatever reason, I have been attracted in going to the top of the “John Hancock Building” twice.
Today, it is called “875 North Michigan.” This is the building on the 60th floor where Chris Farley, the famous actor, died from an overdose of cocaine and morphine. I do miss that guy. Chris died in 1997. Time sure does go by quickly.
In 2014 at the base of the building is a Cheesecake Factory that we have enjoyed.
It was close to this building that we accidentally met Sarah Beth Warren’s (former volleyball player of mine) husband, Justin Mize, walking along the sidewalk. He was helping a Miracle-Mile Chick-fil-A get started. It is truly a “Small, small world.”
The largest building in the world for many years is the “Sears Building” now called “Willis Tower.” We have never made it there.
The Hancock Building (ok, 875 North Michigan building) does have an observatory that overlooks Lake Michigan on the 95th floor. There are incredible views.
There is also a platform that juts out. A 30-degree platform “tilts” giving a dramatic view to the person standing on it. We did not do this.
One has to admire the workers who clean all these windows. It is a job I would not want to do.
Thank you for joining us for “Reminiscing Sunday’s” with our expose of the Windy City, Chicago.
