BirdsEyeViews: Chicago Family Gathering

GETTING THERE & MEETING UP

Dateline Chicago- The fam came together for a long weekend in August- a weekend that stretched into a couple extra days in the Windy City due to flight and weather complications.

We, of course, flew in from Charleston to see Justin who lives in Chicago.

Joseph flew from New York and was able to stay with us in the Westin Hotel located on the Chicago River in the Loop, as the locals call the downtown skyscraper district.

Our 5:30 a.m. flight to Atlanta was so early we were able to see the sunrise while having breakfast at the Atlanta airport. Pretty cool!

Approaching Chicago’s Midway Airport the impressive skyline including the Willis (formerly Sears) Tower came into view.

The Westin where we stayed is dwarfed by much taller buildings around it.

The Westin Chicago River North is the official name and the address is 320 N. Dearborn St.

The hotel’s 20 floors (1420 was our room) offer great views of the river and many big buildings plus it is close to train stops and many restaurants and nightlife spots.

TEN FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHS

I took pictures just about every place we went during the four days that turned into six because of return flight issues. Here is my Top 10 list in no particular order except the first photo that shows the great view from our room.

EVANSTON EXCURSION

We took the “L” elevated train to Evanston to partake in some deep-dish Chicago-style pizza and to visit Northwestern University where I went to graduate school. We had plenty of company on the train as throngs of Cubs and White Sox fans were on their way to Wrigley Field for an afternoon game between the crosstown rivals.

In Evanston we hit Lou Malnati’s for some tasty pizza.

A Chicago visit MUST include at least one meal of this local specialty. It took about 30 minutes for it to be served but it was worth the wait.

We even had a leftover slice to take with us to Northwestern and to the hotel. It was nice to see this impressive campus again. Being summer there weren't too many students or other people around.

We did see some purple NU graduation gowns after a summer commencement. Congratulations graduates!

Northwestern, founded in 1851, has a very distinctive white stone Gothic style.

Above is the hazy view of Chicago’s skyline as seen from NU’s Lake Michigan waterfront.

(Below) Urban art over a street in Evanston.

Back in the big city, we saw this taxi-seeking statue standing outside the Chicago Four Seasons Hotel. Couldn’t resist striking a pose with him. It's called the "Allow Me" statue and the bronze work was created by John Seward Johnson II.

Then there was this group of guys not far from our hotel. Umbrellas are big in this town!

MANSIONS!
We got a taste of the city’s Gilded Age wealth along Erie Street where two late 19th century mansions in pristine condition evoke oohs and aahs.

For an admission fee, we got to see the opulent inside of the Driehaus Museum mansion.

Thanks for letting us tour your fine home Samuel Nickerson, the wealthy banker who was the original owner back in 1883.

MIX OF CITY SCENES

Michigan Avenue is the city's wonderfully busy shopping district.

The famous Hancock Building (left) completed in 1965 next to the old water tower built in 1869. What a contrast in architecture 100 years apart!

Amid Michigan Avenue's shopping is this beautiful old church, the Fourth Presbyterian Church.

Taking a rest on a bench next to the church. It was very warm and humid the whole time we were in Chicago. No break from Charleston's summer heat!

A FEW NIGHT SCENES

THE MIGHTY MERCHANDISE MART

“Art at the Mart” is a neat nightly light and sound show along the Chicago River.

The huge Merchandise Mart, the world’s largest building when it was built in the 1930s, is used as a big screen to provide an hour’s worth of vivid sites and sounds.

This is the powerful projector system across the river that makes happen “Art at the Mart.”

Former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle were honored in one of the short shows we saw.

This is the Merchandise Mart during the day.

Outside the mart is a row of several sculptures of pioneering American marketers and retail giants. Those recognized include Marshall Fields who built Merchandise Mart for showrooms, manufacturing and storage. Montgomery Ward and the founders of Sears are also part of this row of fame.

I also want to mention (below) this historic sign- historically tragic- that happened in 1915. More than 800 men, women and children perished when the Eastland ship capsized at a dock near here as it and fourth other vessels was preparingto take some 2,500 Western Electric telephone workers and their families across Lake Michigan to a big company picnic in Wisconsin. The Eastland Disaster took more lives than the Titanic disaster that everyone knows about. Few know about this tragedy. Some say that is because those who died were mostly young immigrants, blue-collar workers and not the rich and famous as were aboard Titanic.

GALLERY SABINE

Our son Justin recently started his own art gallery near where he lives in Chicago. We were able to see his second themed installation at Gallery Sabine as he calls the venue. He’s not the artist but rather the one who brings it all together. This show has more than 50 different pieces of art from I think a dozen or so different artists from coast to coast, including a few from Chicago.

That’s Justin in the background (above)

BEST OF THE REST (PHOTO-WISE)

Early birthday dinner for me at this really good restaurant located a short distance from our hotel. Radio Room had only been open three weeks at this time. Hope it is successful because I would be happy to return in the future.