LIGHT SHOW

I mentioned that we spent the night before our departure to Chicago at the Union Station Hotel. What it calls the Grand Hall has a barrel vault ceiling, elaborately restored. From 5 until 10 PM, there is a light show on the hour, lasting perhaps 5 minutes. These are but a few samples.                  

ALLEGORY OF THE RAILROADS

I’ll continue with images from our trip to Chicago until something else comes along. In its day, St. Louis Union Station was the busiest in the country. With the advent of air travel and the Interstate highways, rail travel went into great decline. Union Station became decrepit and empty. More recently, it has been gloriously transformed into a fine hotel and something of a small amusement park. This window is an allegory of the American railroads, with San Francisco on the left, St. Louis in the center and New York on the right.                      

CITY DAILY PHOTO AUGUST THEME - SWEETS

A cotton candy vendor at a St. Louis parade. Our health secretary Kennedy would tell you the spun sugar is poison. My granddaughter would tell you he’s nuts. She would be right on both counts.                       

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - CHICAGO NIGHTLIFE

Americans and maybe Canadians know the ubiquitous coffee and pastry chain, Dunkin’ Donuts. Chicago has a harder edge. This place serves local food specialties - Chicago hot dogs are a thing and they would like you to buy three - but also offer a full bar. Sounds like one of those places you would go to at three in the morning.              

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - CROWN FOUNTAIN

 

Crown Fountain is a short distance south of the Bean in Chicago’s Millennium Park. There are two 50 foot / 15.25 meter glass block towers facing each other across a black granite floor. The inner faces have LED displays with rotating faces of Chicago residents. Periodically, water streams out of the mouths for a few seconds.

I told Ellie she couldn’t get all wet because we had to get a car back to the hotel. She didn’t pay any attention. There is a very good discription of the name, design and planning process at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crown_Fountain                      

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - EVERYBODY TAKES THIS PICTURE

Or something like it when they visit Chicago. It’s in Millennium Park, the sculpture officially called Cloud Gate but popularly known as The Bean. Ellie had never seen it, and it got a big WOW out of her.                    

STL DPB ON THE ROAD - WHO NEEDS THE TROPICS?

Playground of the rich and possibly famous, a pleasure boat harbor on Chicago’s near north frontage on Lake Michigan. We took the grandkids to the observation deck on the 94th Floor of what used to be called the Hancock Building, now just 875 North Michigan Avenue, and pointed the lens down. I don’t get this very expensive hobby. What’s it worth to putt putt around on the lake during nice weather? The boats all have to be hauled out for the winter since the costal areas of the lake freeze over.