Chicago Morn

A fabulous Sunday morning with stellar blue skies, Lake Michigan sparkling in the sun, flowering trees lining Millenium Park, Chicago is THE best city to be in.  Bob and I enjoyed a 1 1/2 hour bike ride yesterday–no kids, no schedule, no plans.  A rarity.  Boy, it brought back memories of riding my bike to work down Lake Shore Drive and taking Maxx to the lake. 

We certainly were not lonely on the lakefront.  Everyone had shed their parkas and boots and a few most of their clothes to enjoy a summerlike warmth.  People were biking, running, skating, strollering, walking their dogs, playing soccer/volleyball/baseball/frisbee, a brave couple swimming, building sandcastles, photographing, phoning, dining, snoring, sunning, watching, laughing, talking, kiting, biting, boating, singing, sunning, dancing, fishing, smoking, enjoying. Living. Loving. Being.

What a perfect morning. C

 

Chicago Loves

Other than the weather, what’s not to love about Chicago?  I’m sitting in a coffee shop, after walking across the city  from the train station on a frigid below zero morning (with wind chill–like the ”lack of humidity” in the Arizona heat that keeps it cool, the winter wind makes it colder than seems possible.  Where are all the hot-aired politicians to warm it up?  Oh yeah, one was arrested by the feds last week).

People are bundled up like toddlers, shuffling along the city streets, bike messengers delivering packages, eyes watering, ipods playing, furs on men and women–can’t an ash from your cigarette catch that fur on fire?, cars stream along the city streets, the highways are bumper to bumper, the train windows fog as passengers fill the aisles.

So many reasons to love Chicago in all seasons.  Here are just a few of mine:

1. The Bears

2. Hour train rides to enjoy all the city has to explore–only $5 on the weekends!

3. FREE Lincoln Park Zoo

4. The Bean, Milennium Park, and Buckingham fountain

5. Theatre–so many great shows, too little time and cash.  And the inside of the glorious Chicago Theatre

6. Large venues and corner bars to watch up-and-coming or fading away bands

7. Cool graffiti

8.  A myriad of ethnic neighborhoods to embrace whatever culture you wish

9.  Lake Michigan on a sunny day–floating diamonds!

10.  Bike trails along the lake

11.  Hidden parks for kids to play

12.  Free ice skating in winter

13.  That we allow Disney to “sponsor” the lighting of Michigan Ave. for Christmas.  Talk about selling out!

14.  The White Sox–and northside/southside rivalries. Sorry, all my Cub friends

15.  In the Loop, gridlike steets that are numbered numerically, so it’s easy to find places.

16. FREE summer festivals, farmers markets and art shows

17.  Great shopping, if you like that type of thing

18.  Underground bars, and ones high above the city

19.  The Chicago skyline.  Best in the world, look north from by the Planetarium for a great photo op

20. Fab friends who share a city condo with their friends.

21. Natives who think this city rules over NYC.

22.  WXRT. 

This list could be endless.  Add what you like about Chicago in the comment section, if you wish.  May the clear blue skies and beaming sun warm your hearts, if not your cheeks.  C

 

The Bean: Inside and Out

Wow–what an amazing sunlit morning to be the ONLY person at “The Bean” in Chicago, in the oh-so-beautiful and fun for all Millenium Park.

how small am I?

If you are lucky enough to be there one day all by your lonesome, you that you can truly appreciate its wonder and beauty when you are alone.  I walked around it, under it, felt it, saw the reflections and the many views of Chicago’s skyline and truly understood its depth. 

I would have to go very early in the AM to let my kids experience Cloud Gate like I did. 

How different from the outside….again, with no one in sight.    Enjoy the peace. C

on the side

 

Sundown on the 49th Floor

 

Night arrives with a gust, as lights appear like fireflies–flickering at first, then a swarm lights up the distance. Waves undulate along the shoreline, the wind rocking both the water and the steel building I stand in.

As evening falls in the city, the crowds gather herdlike onto the sidewalks, seaching for prey and great food and better company.  Let the summer festivities begin. C

 

The Zoo Conundrum

To zoo or not to zoo?  We went to the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago last weekend, on a gorgeous spring day.  What an fabulous location, this free oasis in the city next to the glorious blue Lake Michicagn and Lincoln Park, teeming with people.  It’s amazing to me that this place is free to all who come.

We had been there before for a Gin Blossoms summer concert (which aren’t free), but our kids haven’t wandered the grounds for several years.  On a perfect summer night, I can’t think of a more fun place to hear live music.

While I have an extremely hard time seeing animals living in their spaces, I know there are advantages to having them live in captivity.  Man is destroying their habitats, poaching, and encroaching upon their lands, so the zoo can be their place to their species to breed and survive for now.  Zoos are used for research to learn more about the myriads of animals in our world as we find ways to re-introduce species into the wild.

I also know my kids seeing the elegant giraffe, playful sea lions, and hissing cockroaches in person will give them a much better appreciation of the animals that live no where near us–so they might take better care of the world around them. My daughters had recently had a fennec fox come to their school, so they were able to tell me about this adorable creature.  We certainly don’t have the funds to travel the world to see all these animals in person.

There were some new an improved exhibits at the zoo since we had last been there.  The ape house now gives the animals much more room to play, and we we very impressed with the new African rainforest house. 

However, as I watched the gorillas swing from bamboo-loooking poles, I could not help but think of Charelton Heston in Planet of the Apes on display in a cage.  I tried to suppress that idea and enjoy the moment.

I must say that all the kids loved the day at the zoo, learned a little more about our world near and far, and truly enjoyed seeing the animals in person.  The polar bears were certainly good for a laugh, and the rhinos gave an educational display as they engaged in a little “afternoon delight”, oblivious to the onlookers. Turn off your video cameras, fools! 

It’s been awhile since I have written. Feels great to be back. C