The Chicago Theater has been standing in this spot since 1921. It has been the entertainment of movies, music venues, and Broadway like shows for years. The theater holds a long history of performers, identified as a national landmark and had many restorations. The theater closed in 1985 with it's final performer Frank Sanetra. It has since been restored and re-opened.
UP next we learned about Muddy Waters. Born McKinley Morganfield, Muddy is known as the father of modern Chicago Blues. He was a musician, songwriter and performer whose music helped to influence several of the musical styles we have today, including Jazz, Blues and Rock and Roll.
The Berghoff restaurant was built in 1898, but before this, Herman Berghoff and his three brothers, were brewing beer in Fort Wayne Indiana. Herman set out to sell his beer at the Chicago World's fair at 5 cents a glass and a free sandwich. His success in the Chicago area encouraged a permanent location here, and Berghoff's was born.
In the 1920's during prohibition, Berghoff's shifted it's beer focus to "near" beer which included non-alcoholic beverages such as rootbeer and Berghoff pop. He also expanded his food menu. Berghoff was issued Chicago's 1st liquor license once prohibition had ended and the restaurant became a local favored pub. This was at the time a men's only place and it held this tradition for many years after most alcohol serving establishments had stopped. It wasn't until 1969 when Gloria Steinmen and several women of the National Organization of Women demanded a beer from the bar did this segregation end.
In 2006, after 107 years in operation the doors closed. However, the family reopened in shortly after and the doors have remined open ever since.
Just down the block we passed the Chicago's famous Willis (formally Sears) Tower. The tower stands 1,450 feet into the Chicago skyline. It was built in 1974 and held the title as the tallest building in the world. For 25 years it held this title. This title has changed since, becoming the second tallest in the United States in 2013 to One World Trade Center and 23d tallest in the world. From the years of 1974-1994 it was the headquarters for the Sears company.
The top of the Tower holds a popular tourist attraction, the sky deck. This is the tallest observation tower in the US. Unfortunately, we did not go to the top on this trip, but like the boat tour, a definite thing to do in Chicago. In fact, on our last day, I was ready for a return visit, there is just so much more to do then we could complete in the 2 days we were there.
The Monadnock building was built in 1891 and is the tallest load bearing brick building built. It's historical reference has placed it in the national registry.
Chicago is full of sky scrapers. It's one of a kind architecture is world known. The city is the 3d largest in the United States and known as the Windy City as it sits along lake Michigan and the winters can be extremely cold.
Chicagoan's, have well thought out city streets. After the fire of 1871, which killed over 300 people and destroyed over 17,000 structures during it's 3 day blaze, the city was forced to rethink the layout of the city. Overtime, they have worked hard to "naturally" blend the old with the new in their design and purpose.
They also built a city over a city when rebuilding. In an attempt to limit the traffic flow along the main streets, they built access to business's underneath the loop. Store fronts were accessible to customers, but below is an entrance for service workers, goods and materials.
Its' often that one will see a beautiful restored building along side a new modern structure.
Along with the architecture, the city is also well known for it's art. Below is Caldors Flamingo.
This does not look very much like a flamingo to me, but I guess it is all in the perspective. Another piece of art is this piece. Although untitled, it is the Chicago's own Picasso. The piece was unveiled in 1967. Picasso was offered $1000.00 for his art, but instead he gifted it to the city. It's look was quite controversial. People asked and wondered, just what is it. A bird? a baboon? An Egyptian deity?
It's modern and unusual style had much to talk about. However, the public has grown accustomed to the piece and have embraced it.
Chicago holds a vast number of races and ethnicities; a Ukraine flag hangs in solidarity.
We headed toward the park area (Millenium Park) and drove along the long stretch of road filled with parks and art galleries. The Art Institute of Chicago holds paintings and art from famous artists such as Monet and Dahli. Across the way, is the famous Hilton Hotel, built in 1927, it was the biggest hotel in the world at the time. (We had planned to go inside and enjoy the interior, but our bus came and we didn't want to wait in the rain.)
These two native Americans on horseback hold invisible weapons. The Bowman and Spearman sit along the gates of Congress Plaza. although the weapons were left out intentionally, there was rumor that they were taken as a prank, while others believe they were removed after 911 out of respect.
We were soon making our way towards the seaport area of Chicago. There are some pretty interesting people and legends about Chicago's development and what caused the big fire of 1871. The Chicago fire is pretty well known throughout our history, but you might not know, what started it, or at least what is rumored to have started it. Legend has it that Ms. Catherine O'Learly was milking her cow by lantern one night and accidently the lantern was overturned. Although this legend has no solid proof, it's an interesting view that the great fire was started by a cow. Poor Catherine, imagine her historic recall is that she started the worst fire in US history.
General John Logan, stands atop his horse. in Grant Park. He fought both in the Mexican/American war and a General in the Civil war for the Union. He also was a politician and is best known for the establishment of Memorial Day as a day of remembrance.
Our bus moved on as we headed towards Navy Pier. We passed Solider Field and home to the Chicago Bears. I don't know that much about football, but I did catch during my educational info in my ears that The Grateful Dead played their last show here in 1995.
We entered into an area of Chicago named Streeterville. This 3,000 stretch of land along the lakefront is the most expensive area to reside in Chicago. The area has an interesting back story. George Wellington "Cap" Streeter was a Mississippi boat captain and in 1886 during a storm he ran his boat up on a sandbar. Stuck, he claimed the land as the United States District of lake Michigan and not subject to Chicago laws. As the city dumped ruble from the great fire, Streeter used this rubbish to built on the land. He furthered this land mass and provided deeds to the areas homesteaders. Several attempts to have him removed failed, usually run off by rifles and scalding hot water. He resided there until his death, although his family continued to claim land ownership up until 1928. Below is a statue of a seamen, although I was told later this is not "Cap".
Magnificent Mile, which is home to some of the most beautiful and expensive mansions in Chicago is now located in Streeterville. The road way that runs along the shoreline is named Lake Shore Drive, commonly known as LSD. Our tour guide on day three noted the humor by reporting we were taking a trip on LSD.
Once in the Navy Pier area, we passed along several of the local attractions.
The area is host to several indoor attractions which included an aquarium, planetarium and a children's museum, along with Navy Pier, which is actually a mall (to my disappointment the following day.)
Our tour bus stopped to offer us a view overlooking Lake Michigan, which we were told is the best viewing, but unfortunately there was so much fog, we couldn't see anything.
Our drive continued and we headed back towards the city and where we had started earlier that morning.
We got off for lunch and then caught the next tour following the route we had just gone on. I attempted to ride on the top on this second run, but the fog was so thick and the rain was starting. I did get a few more pictures of the buildings as we passed.
Below is the Chicago water tower. It was built to hide the "ugly" machinery in 1869 and one of the few buildings to survive the great fire.
The John Handcock Center. (later named 875 North Michigan Ave) but still called the previous name, was built in 1968 and was at the time, the 2nd tallest building in the world. It stands at 1,128 feet and like the Sears tower offers an observation tower at the top.
On the 95 floor is dining where while eating you can view lake Michigan, four states and up to 80 miles. Additionally, this building is home to TILT, a moving glass platform that leans guests out over the city at a 30degree angle, YIKES. The building offers the only open-air observation tower in Chicago and has the 3d highest indoor swimming pool. Wish we had taken a look. However, it may have been an epic fail as the fog was everywhere.
We got a few more facts as we drove along the same route, but this time we got off the bus at Millenium park.
While we exited the bus, I grabbed free rain ponchos and I am glad we did, as soon after our desired stop the clouds opened up and RAIN was falling hard. But first we stopped at this unusual area called Crown fountain. At the time, none of us knew what the heck this was, we just saw people taking selfies in front of them so we did too. It wasn't until I did some research that I was informed about what this structure is really about. Apparently in the summer months these moving faces interact by spitting water out of the mouths forming a fountain. No water today, but we enjoyed the 50 foot tall led screen of faces.
According to some research, the project included 1,000 ordinary people of Chicago.
As we continued through Millenium park, we started to see the glimmer of what we had stopped here for; The Bean.
Although The Bean is not the name the artist; Anish Kapoor gave it, it is what many people call it. The real name is Clouds Gate and it is one of the largest outdoor permanent structure in the US.
It stands 33 feet high, 42 feet wide and 66 feet long, weighing some 110 tons.
Placed in Millenium park in 2004, it quickly became one of the most visited and most selfie taking spots in Chicago. The steal computer generated structure was made to reflect the Chicago skyline. (wish it wasn't so cloudy today)
Of course we had to do some selfies ourself.
Heading back to our bus stop with plans to visit the Hilton Hotel, the clouds opened up and it started to pour.
Our bus showed up shortly after we crossed the street to make our way to the hotel for a peek and since it was raining so hard we decided to get on the bus instead. We were all pretty wet by then, I didn't make my way up to the top deck at this point knowing I would surly get wet. Infact it was raining so hard, water was falling down the stairs into the lower deck. We spent the rest of the tour back to our original stop looking through foggy windows, not seeing anything. The bus driver was kind enough to drop us off close to our hotel. We made it back to the rooms dried off and made plans for dinner.
We decided to go to Legends. This popular jazz/blues club offers free music before a certain time as well as meals. We did run into one little bump. (Good to know) You have to have at least at the time, your vaccination card to enter. We did not know this when we arrived, so Annette had to go back to the hotel and get them for everyone. Luckly it had stopped raining.
The music was impressive.
Dinner wasn't bad.
We spent the rest of the evening enjoying music. It was a pretty good day.
The following day we had breakfast in the hotel then headed off to search for souvenirs. We shopped then headed back to the hotel to wait for our personal tour bus in the afternoon. We were being dropped off at the railroad station after our tour, so we packed ourselves up and waited for our personal tour guide to arrive. Kevin showed up just about 1pm and we made our way for some local food. He took us to Barnelli's.
This was a pretty interesting place filled with odd things and memories of Chicago's past. Kevin informed us of the Chicago Hot Dog, and recommended this as our meal. He also suggested the steak sandwich. I skipped the dog and went for the sandwich.
I had it dipped, he said this was the best way to eat it. Had to have cheese fries to complete the meal.
Kevin told us that many of the business's in Chicago grew from small sellers. Portillo started his business selling hot dogs out of a trailer he purchased for just over 1,000.
His hot dog mobile was called the dog house and in 1963 he started one of Chicago's most favorite restaurants.
Once lunch was complete we headed back on our bus and went towards downtown. Kevin shared a little more about the city and filled in any gaps from yesterdays adventure.
We made a stop here at Holy Name Cathedral. This is the site where true crime boss history was made. The story goes something like this.
Scholfield "big Bill" owned the Flower shop directly across the street from the church. The shop, although it did sell flowers was extorted by North Side mobster Dean O'Bannon and used as a gathering place for members to meet. He was later killed by the Torrio/Capone Gang, in front of the store. This gang, known as the North Side Gang or The Market Street Gang, was then taken over by Earl "Hymie" Weiss. In revenge over the death of his friend, Hymie was out for Capone and his cohort Johnny Torrio. Capone was well aware that his life was in danger, and it is noted that Hymie was the only man Capone ever feared. In defense Capone put a hit out on Hymie.
On October 11th 1926 shots were fired upon Hymie and fellow gang members just outside the Holy name Cathedral. Hymie and a fellow gang member, Paddy Murry were both shot and killed. There was so much damage to the church that from stray bullets, stairs were added to cover up the damage. There is this one hole (above) but it is believed that this is not really the result of a bullet.
I still had to get up close and look at it for myself.
Up next, we headed towards Lincoln Park. As we drove we passed some of the most beautiful homes I have ever seen. This one, 1340 North State Parkway, was the original playboy mansion. Yep, Hugh Hefner was a Chicagoan before he went west and this was his 1st "playful" mansion,
Lincoln Park is an area of green that stretches 1,208 acres along Lake Michigan. The park is home to museums, a zoo, beaches, gardens, public art and harbors and it also host several recreational activities within. But it wasn't always a park. In fact it was once the town cemetery. Now, many/most of the dead have been moved, however, during the 1800's there were steps to burying your dead loved ones, you had to purchase the lot. Many people were poor and could not afford a lot, so people were buried here, (illegally) without headstones or markers. Additionally, the loose sandy, lakefront area made bodies shift and move underneath. Finally, after the great fire, many markers were burned, moved, and trampled upon. With this being said, it is estimated that over 12,000 bodies are still buried in Lincoln park. Just be careful where you dig.
We did get to visit the zoo at Lincoln park. It is one of the only free zoo's left in the country. Unfortunately, we never did see any animals, we were running out of time, but the zoo looks amazing even if the lions were hiding when we visited.
I was actually disappointed in this place, I don't know exactly what I thought it would be, but it turned out its really just a shopping mall with a few adventure rides and entertainment venues, that happens to be along the harbor.
We spent our time at the cany store, and doing some last minute gift shopping before we made our way back to the bus for our last goodbye of Chicago.
We got one more stop, not on the addenda, but I insisted. I just had to get a picture in front of the beginning of the Route 66 sign.
We ended today in front of Union station, I was sad. There are so many things in Chicago I still feel the need to do and see. I was also sad because we had a long wait to board the train and that insane long train ride back home. It was all worth it! I simply fell in love with this city and look forward to a return trip in the future. TTFN.
The desserts were the biggest improvement. Before, they had some good desserts, but this time they really stepped it up. I'm lovin the new dessert buffet. (Don't tell Del Lago, they have been replaced as the best buffet desserts.)
I wish I knew the back story on the surprise winner, before the race I may have bet him. Rich Strike, the winner, wasn't even always on the derby ticket. He was thrown in last minute after Ethereal Road was withdrawn. A long shot from the start this horse came in from the long shot to take the crown. 
Great meal and a great race. 
We had Birthday cake at the house as well as a dinner out with the family to celebrate. Happy Borthday Nick.
Spring also means getting outdoors, my mother and I took a hike at a local trail. I had started the 52 hikes in January, but had not made it out in some time. Sorry, I might have to start this later this year. (How many weeks in 2020 do we have left?)
She loves Baby Yoda. 
Nick's.
And my Unicorn Mermaid Princess, Alexis. 
I don't think my grill has ever had such yummies on it. 
It was chilly, but we had a great time. 
