Adventures in winter travel. As each flight from Chicago to St. Louis yesterday was canceled we were put on another, which was then canceled. Eventually all of them. Our flight from Flint, Michigan, to Chicago amazingly got through - seven hours late. It was still snowing at O’Hare when we got this far. Found a hotel and now booked on a noon flight Sunday. Success to be determined.
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
A place we know all too well, O’Hare Airport in Chicago. We used to come here regularly when both of our children were at the University of Chicago. Now, being American Airlines customers since they took over St. Louis-based TWA, we change here on our way to lots of places. Today’s destination was Flint, Michigan, an hour’s drive from the home of our son and his family in Midland.
American went to a lot of expense to hang all the garlands. Humbug. I’d rather they spent it on a little more room in the torture cabin.
A dining area called the Reynolds Club at the University of Chicago, uncrowded on a Saturday afternoon. There is a large, upscale food court off to the right, serving bright, overachieving kids the nutrition they demand. They all agree it looks a bit like the dining hall at Hogwarts, if somewhat less dank. When I caught some of these portraits of old deans and profs out of the corner of my eye, I could swear some nodded and winked at me.
Food vendor at the Christmas market in the Chicago Loop. Hungry as you may be, your plastic will get you nothing.
The theater district of the Chicago Loop on a chilly, late autumn evening. Friends, this ain't New York but it's sure not St. Louis.
Unseasonably warm and sunny day today. Maybe I can get back out on the local streets.
Still in Chicago until I can gather some new local material. This was taped without explanation over a stairway in the computer sciences building at the University of Chicago. The small print at the lower right of the sheet says "UChicago Renzai Zen, Bond Chapel." Don't read too much into this.
Since my son lived in Chicago for so many years, I let him set the itinerary for our weekend. For last night's dinner and entertainment, he picked Andy's Jazz Club in the busy River North area. I've never had a good understanding of jazz but it was thrilling to sit at a front row table and be overwhelmed by the sound.
Brief weekend trip to Chicago to spend some time with my son. He went to college here and stayed for a total of twenty years. He and his family eventually moved to east-central Michigan, near where his wife grew up. We don't see each other enough.
This shop is across the street from the restaurant we went to last night. Name your poison.
Ah, the little island where I was born. Times Square, of course. As my sibs slowly drifted in to my sister's house in New Jersey, I went to Manhattan for a bit of a walkabout.
