I may live in Wisconsin, but I will be cheering for Chicago... GO BEARS!
Showing posts with label Chicago. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago. Show all posts
Friday, January 21, 2011
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Road Trip 2009
We did a family vacation last weekend. It started off with a Brewers game last Friday night. Alex's only request was that we get peanuts to eat during the game.
Saturday we headed down to Chicago. First stop was the museum campus near Soldier Field. We hit the Shedd Aquarium and it was really neat! We didn't get to do the dolphin show, but we did see the big sharks, stingrays, a few big snakes, sea lions, beluga whales, big fish, little fish, you name it. Very cool! We then headed down toward the Adler Planetarium just to soak up the sun and enjoy the gorgeous Lake Michigan lakefront. 
Saturday we headed down to Chicago. First stop was the museum campus near Soldier Field. We hit the Shedd Aquarium and it was really neat! We didn't get to do the dolphin show, but we did see the big sharks, stingrays, a few big snakes, sea lions, beluga whales, big fish, little fish, you name it. Very cool! We then headed down toward the Adler Planetarium just to soak up the sun and enjoy the gorgeous Lake Michigan lakefront. 
The next stop was the Sears Tower. We bought our tickets ahead of time online so while we had to wait to go through security, we got to skip over the "buy your tickets here" line. After a short movie about this history of the tower, up we went! Alex did great in the elevator... he enjoyed seeing all the buildings from the sky and finding shapes. He and Craig walked out on the Ledge... the see through cut outs that stick out from the top of the building. I walked up to the Ledge, looked over it, but didn't step out on it. Alex's quote: "I've got the whole world in front of me up here." After that, we had Chicago-style pizza at Giordano's, then it was back to the hotel. 
Sunday we headed back to the city for an architectural boat tour. It's the same tour I did in August with my friend Sangeeta. The boys liked it. Alex was just excited to ride on a boat.
After grabbing some lunch, it was Alex's turn to behave like a kid in a candy store... or more accurately, a kid in the Lego store! Life-sized Darth Vader made of Legos, life-sized R2-D2 made of Legos. Two smaller sets of Lego's to take home. He was ecstatic. Next time we're going to hit the Lego wall, where you can get a small or large container and fill it with any color and shape of Legos you can imagine. Next time!
Then a quick spin through Millennium Park (which is amazing) and we were on our way back to Milwaukee.
Sunday we headed back to the city for an architectural boat tour. It's the same tour I did in August with my friend Sangeeta. The boys liked it. Alex was just excited to ride on a boat.
After grabbing some lunch, it was Alex's turn to behave like a kid in a candy store... or more accurately, a kid in the Lego store! Life-sized Darth Vader made of Legos, life-sized R2-D2 made of Legos. Two smaller sets of Lego's to take home. He was ecstatic. Next time we're going to hit the Lego wall, where you can get a small or large container and fill it with any color and shape of Legos you can imagine. Next time!
Then a quick spin through Millennium Park (which is amazing) and we were on our way back to Milwaukee.
I was hoping to connect with my friend Zenna... but Alex was getting crabby and then he passed out in the car (after not napping all weekend) and I couldn't bear to wake him up.
So I'm hoping to catch up with her soon... we're both expecting and we need a "dueling bellies" pictures! We've known each other since kindergarten, we were in each other's weddings, we need a pregnant pals picture!!! We've only got a few more months to go!
I will try to add pictures soon!
So I'm hoping to catch up with her soon... we're both expecting and we need a "dueling bellies" pictures! We've known each other since kindergarten, we were in each other's weddings, we need a pregnant pals picture!!! We've only got a few more months to go!
I will try to add pictures soon!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
I Love Chicago
I've blogged before about my love affair with Chicago. I went there last fall to see "Wicked" with my book club friends. I posted some pictures from that visit. One of my best friends was back in the city visiting her sister, so I took a day off and snuck down to spend the day with her.
Sangeeta and I have known each other since we were five. That's nearly 30 years now. Amazing, huh? We can finish each other's thoughts and sentences. We know each other's families. There's almost a short-hand I have with her that I don't have with anyone else. We only see each other a couple of times a year. I saw her at Thanksgiving last year and before that I went to visit her in D.C. We always have a great time and yesterday was definitely a great time! We did an architecture tour along the Chicago River. Walked on Michigan Ave. Went to the beach. Ate a lot of really good food. And talked and talked and talked. FAB!
I'm not frightened in this picture... we were on the boat for an architecture tour. The first photo the random stranger took made me look hungover. So I opened my eyes a little too wide for this one.
We spent some time on Oak Street Beach. Still trying to figure out what they do with the palm trees on this beach in the winter. Doesn't seem fair to make the palm trees try to survive a Chicago winter.
From the boat... forever in my heart the Sears Tower.
TrumpTower from Millennium Park
Looking East from the Chicago River
The Bean in Millennium Park. I think they need to put video cameras inside to record all the silly things people do when they look at their reflections.
Sangeeta and I have known each other since we were five. That's nearly 30 years now. Amazing, huh? We can finish each other's thoughts and sentences. We know each other's families. There's almost a short-hand I have with her that I don't have with anyone else. We only see each other a couple of times a year. I saw her at Thanksgiving last year and before that I went to visit her in D.C. We always have a great time and yesterday was definitely a great time! We did an architecture tour along the Chicago River. Walked on Michigan Ave. Went to the beach. Ate a lot of really good food. And talked and talked and talked. FAB!
I'm not frightened in this picture... we were on the boat for an architecture tour. The first photo the random stranger took made me look hungover. So I opened my eyes a little too wide for this one.
We spent some time on Oak Street Beach. Still trying to figure out what they do with the palm trees on this beach in the winter. Doesn't seem fair to make the palm trees try to survive a Chicago winter.
From the boat... forever in my heart the Sears Tower.
TrumpTower from Millennium Park
Looking East from the Chicago River
The Bean in Millennium Park. I think they need to put video cameras inside to record all the silly things people do when they look at their reflections.I have another friend who lives in Chicago who I hope to visit in Sept. She's pregnant too. I've known her since kindergarten too. Guess I'm lucky that way. The September visit will be Craig, Alex, and I. This whirlwind day trip actually gave me some great ideas. Can't wait to get back to my favorite city again soon!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
More Chicago Pictures
Macy's On State St. (Formerly and Forever in my heart, Marshall Field's)All decked out for the Holidays
Friday, November 14, 2008
Finally Posting about Wicked!
It's been almost a week since my weekend trip to Chicago to see "Wicked" with my friends Therese, Lisa, and Michelle. If I had to pick one word to describe the trip it would be FABULOUS!
We stayed at the Dana Hotel and Spa. We shopped at Water Tower Place. We went to mass at Holy Name Cathedral. We ate at Cafe Iberico dining on tapas of all sorts, enjoying dessert, and two pitchers of sangria! We stayed up late (okay, late for a bunch of moms... 11:30PM) and slept in. We shopped on State St., taking in the Macy's windows and hitting Nordstrom's Rack. I have to admit I got a little choked up at the Macy's Christmas windows. It's not quite the same as when it was Marshall Fields, but I haven't been in Chicago around the holiday since I was a kid. There's something magical about seeing all the decorations. There's just something magical about Chicago. It's hard for me to express it sometimes, but I genuinely love the city. I would love to get a job down there and live in one of those fantastic high-rise condos. But I don't think that will ever happen, and that's okay. I can dream and I can visit. That will be enough for now.
I have to say it was also nice to walk around Chicago and see all the orange and navy blue. It's not easy being a Bears fan in Wisconsin! But we still sport our team colors and merchandise with pride, even if people say rude things about it! (I'm not making this up. There are some Packers fans who think it's okay to just rip into you for supporting your team. It has happened to me personally and to friends of mine. I don't engage in bashing of other teams, I just stick to supporting my team.)
We ate at the Emerald Loop bar for lunch. Then we went to Wicked. I honestly cannot say enough about this wonderful show. I started listening to the CD before we left. I just about had the music memorized... then getting into the gorgeous Ford-Oriental Theatre and actually seeing it just about blew me away. The staging was amazing. The story is amazing. I'm so glad I saw it with my girlfriends. I'm telling you, when the song "Because I Knew You, I Have Been Changed For Good" came around, the four of us were grabbing for our tissues and holding hands. The actress who played Glinda was hysterical! She actually had the actress who played Elphaba cracking up and trying not to break character during the song "Popular." The original Broadway cast may get all the accolades for launching the show, but I'm telling you... the Chicago cast was amazing! I think this is definitely in my top 3 Broadway Shows of all time. (I would say "Wicked," "Les Mis" and "42nd Street" are top three, with "Lion King," "Aida," and "Chicago" making up the top 6. )
It took us over a year to plan the trip. We almost cancelled it once or twice. But I'm so glad it worked out! I hope we're able to do another trip again soon!
We stayed at the Dana Hotel and Spa. We shopped at Water Tower Place. We went to mass at Holy Name Cathedral. We ate at Cafe Iberico dining on tapas of all sorts, enjoying dessert, and two pitchers of sangria! We stayed up late (okay, late for a bunch of moms... 11:30PM) and slept in. We shopped on State St., taking in the Macy's windows and hitting Nordstrom's Rack. I have to admit I got a little choked up at the Macy's Christmas windows. It's not quite the same as when it was Marshall Fields, but I haven't been in Chicago around the holiday since I was a kid. There's something magical about seeing all the decorations. There's just something magical about Chicago. It's hard for me to express it sometimes, but I genuinely love the city. I would love to get a job down there and live in one of those fantastic high-rise condos. But I don't think that will ever happen, and that's okay. I can dream and I can visit. That will be enough for now.
I have to say it was also nice to walk around Chicago and see all the orange and navy blue. It's not easy being a Bears fan in Wisconsin! But we still sport our team colors and merchandise with pride, even if people say rude things about it! (I'm not making this up. There are some Packers fans who think it's okay to just rip into you for supporting your team. It has happened to me personally and to friends of mine. I don't engage in bashing of other teams, I just stick to supporting my team.)
We ate at the Emerald Loop bar for lunch. Then we went to Wicked. I honestly cannot say enough about this wonderful show. I started listening to the CD before we left. I just about had the music memorized... then getting into the gorgeous Ford-Oriental Theatre and actually seeing it just about blew me away. The staging was amazing. The story is amazing. I'm so glad I saw it with my girlfriends. I'm telling you, when the song "Because I Knew You, I Have Been Changed For Good" came around, the four of us were grabbing for our tissues and holding hands. The actress who played Glinda was hysterical! She actually had the actress who played Elphaba cracking up and trying not to break character during the song "Popular." The original Broadway cast may get all the accolades for launching the show, but I'm telling you... the Chicago cast was amazing! I think this is definitely in my top 3 Broadway Shows of all time. (I would say "Wicked," "Les Mis" and "42nd Street" are top three, with "Lion King," "Aida," and "Chicago" making up the top 6. )
It took us over a year to plan the trip. We almost cancelled it once or twice. But I'm so glad it worked out! I hope we're able to do another trip again soon!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
One of my guilty TV pleasures
I LOVE Project Runway! I've watch all four seasons faithfully. I admit that I don't always watch it at it's scheduled time. Thanks goodness for the weekend marathons and DVR so I can get caught up. Tonight was the season finale... and I'm not real happy with the outcome.
The finalists were Christian, Jillian, and Rami. All three had beautiful collections.
Rami and Jillian were both my picks to win. I would have been happy if either of them had won. I think their designs are more commercially viable. But Christian won. His clothes are beautiful and artsy, but they don't translate to everyday life. I live vicariously through this show.
Does anyone remember "Fashion Plates?" It was probably my favorite toy growing up. Of course, my sister and I had to share it. But I would spend hours coming up with different combinations. We would both get so excited when the Easter Bunny or Santa would bring up a new set to mix things up. We discovered that really sharp colored pencils worked best for coloring. We loved experimenting with patterns on the dresses or 
stockings. I think we both figured we'd be fashion designers some day. I used to try to make clothes for my Barbies too. Those never turned out very well.But I've always wanted to live in New York City, so I get an NYC fix, as well as a fashion fix by watching this show. I just love how catty the designers sometimes get. And I love the dramatic personalities. Now I'm looking forward to "Top Chef: Chicago." Chicago is my favorite city in America. I'm not from there, but when I'm standing in Downtown Chicago, I feel like I'm home. And I love to cook, so this show should be great!