Since I hadn't been down to Chicago recently, I went to take a tour of a facility there for work and looked around the Windy City seeing the Millenium Park, Wicked the Musical, and the Art Institute of Chicago. I stayed with my friend Shannon from work and her lovely family who helped me celebrate my brithday as it coincided with my visit! IMG_9149 Shannon's daughter and husband IMG_9147 What a lovely cake! IMG_9151 Waiting for the train into the city from Arlington Heights (suburb of Chicago) IMG_9153 A fancy lobby with fancy elevators in the fancy city. A fancy security guard inside waved me away...evidently taking photos from a non-fancy sidewalk is against the rules. IMG_9155 Yes...that is the right space and a tight fit IMG_9157 The chase is on... IMG_9160 Chicago Picasso - I'm not sure if Picasso (who declined any payment for the work) would have approved! IMG_9164 There's Wicked...in the FORD Center for the Performing Arts Oriental Theatre IMG_9165 IMG_9166 I took this for my friend Alison who runs the blog Knifty Knits IMG_9167 The sculpture Cloud Gate (called "The Bean" by Chicagoans) by British artist Anish Kapoor IMG_9170 IMG_9173 IMG_9175_toned An ice sakting rink in the park IMG_9177 The quite amusing sculpture cost $23 Million to build IMG_9185 The Pritzker Pavilion cost $60 for the band shell (that's 3 beans in case you're counting...) IMG_9189 IMG_9191 And here's a fancy bridge... IMG_9200 IMG_9227_PANO Return to Features