Our four weeks at home in California allowed us to check on the house, reconnect with family and friends and take care of some medical needs. It also served to delay our entry into the river systems in order to experience the fall colors of Middle America.
We flew to Chicago on Wednesday, September 15, then taxied to our hotel. It was easy and fast. Our Sheraton Grand was right on the Chicago River with a west corner view that overlooked at least six bridges. We saw several river cruise options from our 16th floor room so we immediately set off to find one. Shoreline Sightseeing was top-rated and just two blocks away. Jim, our tour guide, was excellent! We loved learning about Chicago and the beautiful architecture through his lens and very funny stories. In his past life he was an engineer and self-proclaimed nerd. He shared some very nerdy facts in such an entertaining way.
After our boat tour, we went in search of the best Chicago deep dish pizza. Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria did not disappoint. We descended into the below ground dining room to a booth with a large photo of Lou and his family on opening day, 1971. That’s 50 years of delicious pizza from recipes developed by Grandpa Malnati in the 1940’s! We ordered the Malnati Chicago Classic with black olives. Absolutely the best pizza I’ve ever had. Both of Lou’s sons are keeping the tradition alive.
After a short rest we walked to The Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the former John Hancock Center on the Magnificent Mile. We arrived just after sunset and the sky had a gorgeous orange glow. The city lights were twinkling and we could identify several of the famous buildings we learned about on our boat tour.
We finished our cocktails and walked back to the river to see Art on theMart, the largest permanent digital art projection in the world. The Merchandise Mart (now known as simply theMart) is a commercial building (4.2 million gross square feet, 2 city blocks, 25 stories tall) and business hub for interior designers, architects, contractors, and many other well-known companies. (Motorola Mobility, 1871, Yelp, PayPal, MATTER, ConAgra, Allstate, Kellogg, Beam Suntory and Grainger.) The south façade is 2.5 acres and serves as the screen for a 30-minute show. It was mesmerizing!
Our second day started with a tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park. Our docent was a retired Lutheran minister with a love for all things Wright. No question was left unanswered. He knew all kinds of tidbits about Frank, his wives and children, and his unquestionable genius. Some say his style is cold and stark. I felt right at home, maybe because I’ve studied and admired many of his houses or that I’d love to be more of a minimalist. He is the father of “organic architecture” bringing the outdoors in and blending in with nature.
From there we went to The Field Museum of Natural History. This could have been an all-day affair on its own, but in our three hours we hit nearly every exhibit and experience. My favorite was “SUE, the T. rex.” The gender of this giant is unknown but it is named after the discovering paleontologist, Susan Hendrickson. After this discovery the scientific world was giddy. This is the largest and most intact tyrannosaurus rex ever found, not to mention the most popular. You can follow @SUEtheTrex on Twitter!
Pete was intent on finding a true Chicago hot dog. Portillo’s answered the call. This lively and well-known restaurant started out in 1963 as Dick Portillo’s hot dog stand called “The Dog House.” Their menu has expanded and they’ve branched out to over 60 locations in several states. We had an original hot dog that was “drug through the garden,” meaning it was topped with mustard, relish, celery salt, freshly chopped onions, sliced red ripe tomatoes, kosher pickle and sport peppers. Paired with fries and a beer, it was a very filling meal. We walked it off and returned to our hotel.
Don Shula’s Restaurant in the lobby of our hotel was closed but the bar served a limited menu. We only wanted a nightcap and a space to discuss our next day’s excursions. With a plan in mind, we went to bed.
Our third day started with the Museum of Science and Industry. The exhibits and movies kept our attention for five hours! And we still didn’t get to every exhibit. We know there will be a future Chicago visit to see the rest of this museum, the Shedd Aquarium, the Alder Planetarium, the Art Institute and some other Frank Lloyd Wright properties.
On Day Four we got up early, checked out of the hotel and stored our luggage, then we met our niece, Caroline, at The Bean. She happened to fly in to Chicago, from Austin, Texas, to attend a multi-day Punk Rock concert! We found the Pittsfield Café for breakfast, then walked to the Navy Pier. It was great to catch up on her life and learn of her successes.
Caroline returned to her concert friends and we returned to our hotel to wait for our evening train to St. Joseph. Mid-afternoon we filled our bellies with Chicago Burger Company’s “CBC Burger” with the works while watching all the boats on the river.
We have been blessed with great weather and wonderful experiences in the third largest city in the United States. The next week will bring inclement weather. It’ll be nice returning to Reverie and testing her mechanical fixes before the expected storm.
Then, we wait.
The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.
Captain Jack Sparrow
Note to self: Do not read Hnat-Webb blog at bedtime unless you want to go to sleep hungry! My goodness, you two eat well!
Have a safe trip down the rivers. Be sure to stop at Paducah. There are several nice restaurants within easy walking of the riverfront.
Love your shoes, mom. (KEDS)