Chicago, that toddlin' town

Sept 3
 Thurs

Drove to Chicago from Richmond to pick up younger dtr Bobbie who will be spending a few days seeing the midwest and my hometown in Ind with me.

On the way to Chicago couldn't resist stopping here for lunch.  And no, I didn't get gas but the Doodle did.

Chicago style deep dish pizza is a must when you are here.

It was great and about 4" tall!

Knife and fork pizza for sure.

Our Carlton Inn hotel at Midway Airport had a shuttle the few blocks to the Orange L line.

We were in the heart of Chicago at Millenium Square in 10 minutes.

Very safe, commuters going to work.

The L let us off at the very futuristic State of Illinois bldg.

We were both struck by how clean Chicago is, no litter or graffitti and only one homeless person in two days of touring.

Walked the river walk to find the dock where we were to meet our riverboat tour. 

Mirrored ceiling under the bridges reflect the water.

Until recently the riverfront has been industrial and avoided by tourists but now it is beautiful.

The First Lady Riverboat tour is led by a member of the Chicago Architectural group and emphasizes the history of the beautiful buildings along the river in downtown Chicago.

This church is right in the middle of modern skyscrapers.

Building on the left is known as the Corn Cob for obvious reasons.

It's real name is Marina City condos.

The middle one is the John Hancock Bldg, one of the tallest.

This one wanted to be on the map so badly the architect put a map on the outside of the building with a red rectangle showing where the building is located in the city.

And of course this one, Rump Tower with the other building casting a perfect shadow over the T.

Mother Nature making a political statement.

Beautiful old Chicago Tribune building,
neo-Gothic from 1923,

old drawbridge stations

The Chicago river was reversed to flow backwards in 1885 when it was discovered that industrial and human waste dumped into the river was contaminating Lake Michigan, the city's drinking water supply.

A series of canals was dug to make the river flow into the Mississippi.

In the middle of downtown is a tribute to 1812 history.

A monument shows that Fort Deerborn stood on this spot.

This mural looks like the Indians are losing, but no.

The entire garrison along with women and children were massacred by the Indians and are considered martyrs now.

At least that was the historical perspective in 1927 when the monument was erected.

Back on land we found our way to Millenium Park to see the Bean.

Underneath feels like you are in some kind of weird psychedelic cave.

A Jazz concert in the park.

What's Chicago without Jazz?!

Next stop the Chicago Art Institute

Erected in 1879, Chicago has long been a hub of culture.

To see something that has been on Bobbie's to-do list for 25 years:  

The Thorne Miniature Room Gallery

This collection of 68 rooms on a

1" to 1' scale was constructed between 1937  and 1940.

                                                                                                 

                                                                

                                                                                     Tiny perfect replicas of rooms from the 13th century to the 1930s are shown in perfect historically correct detail.

                

Couldn't leave without seeing Edward Hopper's Nighthawks

And who knew there were actually three people in Grant Woods' American Gothic 

This is good for a laugh, and it's the real me, without the baseball hat, makeup, and all wrinkles showing. This trip was to find the real me.
 I think I've found her and I like her.

Also at the Art Institute is

 Architect Louis Sullivan's Chicago Stock Exchange from 1893 that has been meticulously put back together  with all its incredible detail.

Louis Sullivan has been called the "Father of Skyscrapers" with many buildings in downtown Chicago to his credit.

Beautiful lush ceiling detail of stenciled decorations and art glass.

In 1960 the original building was being used only sporadically and scheduled for demolition when the Art Institute reconstructed the Trading Room portion of the building for its new wing in 1976.

We couldn't resist rapping the gavel on opening day of our imaginary start up company going public!

Dinner at a street hot dog vendor.

Chicago dogs NEVER have catsup. I think you can be arrested or something if you try it.

They started during the Depression with cart vendors who always put a dill pickle spear along side the all beef dog.

And it must have yellow mustard and bright neon green relish.

YUM!

Tomorrow more of Chicago!
 Wish we had a week here, so much to see!