Chicago – City of Contrasts

After a fitfull night's sleep, we got up early on Saturday morning and were out before 9 am. Unfortunately, skies were gray and cloudy, but with temps of almost 50 deg. F. couldn't complain. Pictures are a little dull and dark (with the exception of two, taken on Sunday, from Millenium Park, but can't change the weather...

We checked out the new Riverwalk expansion first, a "park" or, rather, separate public spaces, along the long-time neglected Chicago River (pic). They did a great job, but, of course, in winter just used by joggers and walkers, restaurants and bars closed. Must be nice in summer when events are going on and people are enjoying themselves. Until not too long ago the river was completely neglected, but now there are even (doubtful) plans that people will be able to swim there till 2020...

We criss-crossed the Loop - that's how the downtown is called in Chicago after the loop the elevated train (the "L" - see pic) is following - with its theater district (pic), it's famous public artwork (from Picasso to Calder) and stopped by at the historic Union Station (still under renovation) to find out about our Monday train. There was some confusion caused by emails we received from Amtrak yesterday about a disruption en route and the cancellation of the train. It showed that the information was not correct (fortunately!), only thing is that we will need to spent the last 8 hours or so, from Salt Lake City to Reno, on a bus instead of in the comfy sleeping car of the train.

Sort of relieved, we continued our sightseeing tour to the fantastic post-modern architecture of the public library with a winter garden on the top floor we haven't seen before and some nice exhibitions, e.g. about the famous, first afro-american mayor Harold Washington, after whom the library is named.

On along the riverfront to the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF), which offers the best tours in town. Besides a great shop, the building on its own - the historic Santa Fe Building from 1904 - is worth being seen. Also, there is a fantastic model of the city (pic), which is always added on to. The CAF is closeby the point, where Route 66, the famous first overland route, started.

Millenium Park - part of the Grant Park - was a huge improvement when it opened in 2004, with Frank Gehry's unusual Pritzker Pavilion (a concert stage). Now another new part was opened last year: the Maggie Daley Park - more of a common playground, with a "skating ribbon", a climbing wall (see pic) and other playgrounds. The BP Pedestrian Bridge, also planned by Gehry, leads over to this newest addition. "The Bean", officially "Cloud Gate" of Annish Kapoor (pic above) is crowded as it has always been since its opening in 2006. A fantastic piece of public artwork!

We took the train to Lakeview and Boystown, the predominantely gay neighborhood, checked out a couple of pretty unusual, fancy retro/vintage shops like "Ragstock" and walked over to the huge construction site of Wrigleyville. The historic Wrigley Field is being "updated", not much will be left of the old ballpark of the Chicago Cubs from 1914.
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After a quick stop at the hotel out again for a delicious dinner at "Luxbar", good conversation with the manager there, born in Germany. Tired to the bones...