Chicago - city of neighborhoods

First things first. 

First chore this morning after a fitful sleep: a bus ride from the hotel to McCormick Place Convention Center. We registered in the press room and got our "badges", talked to colleagues and reps, registered for the media tours and checked what else is going on. Boothes in the main hall were being st up, signage installed (photos below).

 

 

Late morning we departed and took the train to Wicker Park. While in town, we wanted to explore some neighborhoods, to see what has changed since our last visit to Chicago two years ago, and, what's new, always useful for the next update of our Chicago guidebook. 

Wicker Park is an artsy, eclectic neighborhood, lots of vintage clothing stores like "Ragstock" (photo), bookstores like famous "Myoptic", clubs, bars and cafés. 

 

After a quick "pick-me-up" - donuts and cold coffee - at "Stan's Donuts" we took the train back into downtown and walked over to Millenium Park with the famous "Bean", Lurie Garden and Pritzger Pavilion. Passed by a huge protest against the Trump administration, showing clearly, that not all of America favours their current president (photos below).

Chicago Art Museum

The Bean

Lurie Garden

Pritzger Pavilion

After a cloudy, humid start into the day, skies had cleared up and sun was out! Architecture Center next, always worth a visit thanks to its superb city model, which is constantly added on.

Exhibition about Wrigley Field, more on that tomorrow!

Then we took the "L", an elevated train, to Ravenswood,  a green, residential neighborhood, founded in 1868 as a suburb to Chicago. Never have been here before. Historic houses, tree-lined streets and the so-called "Malt Row", a series of  microbreweries like Begygle, Dovetail and - our favorite because of a dozen of different "Hazy IPAs" - Hop Butcher for the World. 

 

 

 

Train trip back to downtown took a good half hour, but was great, since the train rims on elevated tracks and offers great views. Walked part of the Riverwalk back to the hotel at sunset.