CHICAGO ART TRIP 2014
HERE'S WHAT IS GOING ON...
On Day One, March 13, 2014, we will depart from Saugatuck High School to Chicago. We will arrive in Chicago around 10 a.m., explore the Art Institute of Chicago, have lunch at Water Tower Place, get a grand tour of the West Loop's sculptures, go to Chicago Pizza, attend Briar Street Theatre to see the Blue Man Group, and end the night by checking into the Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel. Day Two we will first tour Frank Lloyd Wright's studio & home in Oak Park, have lunch & some leisure time on Michigan Avenue, stroll through the Museum of Contemporary Art, rome around Millennium Park, have dinner at the Athena Restaurant in Greektown, and end the night at the Apollo Theater seeing the Million Dollar Quartet. Day Three will consist of checking out of the hotel, touring the Field Museum of Chicago, lunch in Chinatown, and a bus ride home.
DAY ONE- MARCH 13, 2014
LETS GET ROLLING
We are on the bus and off to an early start! This morning, as we head into Chicago, the sun is rising into a beautiful pink cloud sky. Outside it is a bit chilly, but it looks as if our first day will have some sunshine! We should arrive in Chicago around 10 after we take a pit stop halfway in Indiana. We are driving in on this luxurious Coach Compass bus with windows giving us a spectacular view. The pine trees and evergreens are beautifully dolloped with fresh snow (it snowed the night before last). There are also many new planted vineyards - makes me want to go visit California. I had a breakfast snack of Tropicana Orange Juice that I picked up at the gas station. After our pit stop, we of course had to watch a documentary on Frank Lloyd Wright. The bus had 5 tvs. His lily pad ceiling & building is lovely, especially after the light comes in. Somewhere between the movie and arriving, I took two small cat naps. I had to catch myself from drooling on my scarf. Once we passed two tolls and went over the Chicago Skyway, we knew we were on our way.
WELCOME TO... THE WINDY CITY!
The city has even more sparkle than I remember. I fall speechless seeing the city of Chicago. The snow of March looks lovely in it's landscape. I thought the weather was going to be so-so, but it is better than I could of imagined! When we drove in, the city felt so welcoming the second our Coach Compass bus' tires touched it's pavement, and even more so when we stepped foot on land. The city is bigger than words B-E-A-U-TI-FUL. Now that we are officially in town, we are just driving through the parks to get to where we need to be. We will be waiting for Ducky, our tour guide for the trip, after we get to State Street. I feel as though we have been working up to this moment since last year November (and we have). Once Ducky arrives, we will kick off the trip by checking out the Art Institute of Chicago. We are here - Welcome to CHICAGO!
STROLL THROUGH THE PARK
While driving in, our bus driver treated us to some fantastic scenic views, ones that the city is known for. She drove us in on, drumroll please... LAKESHORE DRIVE! Even though I have been enjoying this ride all of my life, and people drive in on this everyday, it was very special seeing it today on our trip. Since we drove in before, or just about at, the crack of dawn, we were lucky enough to catch multiple glimpses of the light hitting the sprinkled snow branches as the sun rised. It was breathtaking! Lets just say, anyone who wasn't fully awake and everyone who was, was happy to see their arrival strolling through the parks. Some we saw include Jackson Park & Gold Course. Once we got closer to the city, not just building were appearing, but sculptures were as well. One we saw near Lake Shore Drive looked like a modern, headless Frankenstein made of Bronze. Did I mention there was around 50 of these headless creatures randomly placed on the street corner? There was also another very cool one by Millennium Park that was made of painted gold and silver statues sitting on its benches.
ART INSTITUTE
Today we started off the trip with the Art Institute of Chicago. I must say, this museum isn't raveeeedd about for no reason. The museum building itself is very nice, yet it is the work inside that makes it so spectacular! Their gift shop and cafe are even over the top! Some of the go-to pieces in this museum are: El Greco's The Assumption of the Virgin, Seated Buddha, Marc Chagall's American Windows, Grant Wood's American Gothic, Ando Gallery, Claude Monet's Stacks of Wheat, Portrait Bust of a Woman, Jackson Pollock's Greyed Rainbow, and more. Nevertheless, each piece in this museum is worth at least 30 minutes of your time observing. They also had individual rooms packed with works by Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Toulouse-Latre, and more. I was able to see George Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and Monet's most grand piece (both famous and beautiful), Bordighera. Seeing these works in person opened a whole new world. Fun fact- while walking through the museum you will notice doors you have to go through to see the work. They have to keep the pieces fresh, or safe, so they make the rooms humid by putting moisture in the air. How grateful I am for this inspiration from true art pioneers. Thank you for sharing you talents and abilities for us to see. I was truly moved by seeing the amount of beauty this museum has displayed.
LETS GET ROLLING
We are on the bus and off to an early start! This morning, as we head into Chicago, the sun is rising into a beautiful pink cloud sky. Outside it is a bit chilly, but it looks as if our first day will have some sunshine! We should arrive in Chicago around 10 after we take a pit stop halfway in Indiana. We are driving in on this luxurious Coach Compass bus with windows giving us a spectacular view. The pine trees and evergreens are beautifully dolloped with fresh snow (it snowed the night before last). There are also many new planted vineyards - makes me want to go visit California. I had a breakfast snack of Tropicana Orange Juice that I picked up at the gas station. After our pit stop, we of course had to watch a documentary on Frank Lloyd Wright. The bus had 5 tvs. His lily pad ceiling & building is lovely, especially after the light comes in. Somewhere between the movie and arriving, I took two small cat naps. I had to catch myself from drooling on my scarf. Once we passed two tolls and went over the Chicago Skyway, we knew we were on our way.
WELCOME TO... THE WINDY CITY!
The city has even more sparkle than I remember. I fall speechless seeing the city of Chicago. The snow of March looks lovely in it's landscape. I thought the weather was going to be so-so, but it is better than I could of imagined! When we drove in, the city felt so welcoming the second our Coach Compass bus' tires touched it's pavement, and even more so when we stepped foot on land. The city is bigger than words B-E-A-U-TI-FUL. Now that we are officially in town, we are just driving through the parks to get to where we need to be. We will be waiting for Ducky, our tour guide for the trip, after we get to State Street. I feel as though we have been working up to this moment since last year November (and we have). Once Ducky arrives, we will kick off the trip by checking out the Art Institute of Chicago. We are here - Welcome to CHICAGO!
STROLL THROUGH THE PARK
While driving in, our bus driver treated us to some fantastic scenic views, ones that the city is known for. She drove us in on, drumroll please... LAKESHORE DRIVE! Even though I have been enjoying this ride all of my life, and people drive in on this everyday, it was very special seeing it today on our trip. Since we drove in before, or just about at, the crack of dawn, we were lucky enough to catch multiple glimpses of the light hitting the sprinkled snow branches as the sun rised. It was breathtaking! Lets just say, anyone who wasn't fully awake and everyone who was, was happy to see their arrival strolling through the parks. Some we saw include Jackson Park & Gold Course. Once we got closer to the city, not just building were appearing, but sculptures were as well. One we saw near Lake Shore Drive looked like a modern, headless Frankenstein made of Bronze. Did I mention there was around 50 of these headless creatures randomly placed on the street corner? There was also another very cool one by Millennium Park that was made of painted gold and silver statues sitting on its benches.
ART INSTITUTE
Today we started off the trip with the Art Institute of Chicago. I must say, this museum isn't raveeeedd about for no reason. The museum building itself is very nice, yet it is the work inside that makes it so spectacular! Their gift shop and cafe are even over the top! Some of the go-to pieces in this museum are: El Greco's The Assumption of the Virgin, Seated Buddha, Marc Chagall's American Windows, Grant Wood's American Gothic, Ando Gallery, Claude Monet's Stacks of Wheat, Portrait Bust of a Woman, Jackson Pollock's Greyed Rainbow, and more. Nevertheless, each piece in this museum is worth at least 30 minutes of your time observing. They also had individual rooms packed with works by Monet, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Toulouse-Latre, and more. I was able to see George Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte and Monet's most grand piece (both famous and beautiful), Bordighera. Seeing these works in person opened a whole new world. Fun fact- while walking through the museum you will notice doors you have to go through to see the work. They have to keep the pieces fresh, or safe, so they make the rooms humid by putting moisture in the air. How grateful I am for this inspiration from true art pioneers. Thank you for sharing you talents and abilities for us to see. I was truly moved by seeing the amount of beauty this museum has displayed.
FOODLIFE
After going through a revolutionary change with the Art Institute of Chicago, Wyatt, my younger brother, and I went to lunch with our dad. One of the many great places to see while on Michigan Avenue is the Historic Water Tower. Inside, there is a wide selection of shops & food destinations you should be sure to check out. The majority of the second floor is made up of an elegant food court - we are talking homemade (hopefully most of it) & freshly made to order. I could of just walked around and looked into the kitchens. Heck, I would of been happy to just stand in the middle of everything and smell the sinful aromas. Wyatt and my dad did the 'man thing' and ordered the 'manly meal' of BBQ and ribs. I, a vegetarian foodie, ordered a delicious grilled vegetable burrito with cilantro rice and spicy black beans. Boy, it was good. I was so full (and I didn't even finish the burrito), but I decided to walk around and see the dessert options anyway. There was a smoothie/juice bar, sundaes, crepes filled with strawberries and whipped cream, and more. Alliance bakery left me craving their chocolate chip coffee cake for the rest of the trip!
SCULPTURE...
We all reconnected after lunch under the cloud studded sky on the lightly lit sidewalk by Pearson & Michigan Avenue. I am having a hard time recalling the building we went into for out next destination (something historical), but it was for the sculpture tour of the West Loop. Inside of the building, there was a 3D map of the entire city of Chicago. (I know in Brooklyn, or Queens, there is an entire 3D map of New York City.) We explored the whole city on a 25 ft. square while we waited for our tour guide to come. Once Deb came and gave us a brief review of Chicago's history, we were off. We headed out and were on the lookout for all 3D art. We could of just looked up; each and everyone of Chicago's skyscrapers is an architectural masterpiece. Twenty beautiful hidden treasures were at least seen. Some of the first pieces we saw were by Frank Stella, who I just thought was a painter by nature. Turns out, he had other callings; he was also a sculptor! We saw The Town-Ho's Story in the Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building as one of our first sculptures. There was also some others we were lucky enough to see that followed the same theme in his series based on Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick or The Whale. The tour continued looking at sculptures made of stained glass to stainless steel and even some made of wood.
...IN THE PARK
Some of my favorite sculptors, even though they are all fabulous, are Raphael, Picasso, Chagall, and others (like the one-of-a-kind Michelangelo). On our tour, I had discovered some of my new favorite sculptures. These include Picasso's The Pablo Picasso made 3D from a 2D painting Jacqueline et Kaboul (the sculpture looks like a lovely elephant/baboon/dog from the front, and a beautiful Picasso woman from the back), Miro's Miss Chicago which is meant to represent a snake goddess (made from concrete, stained glass, & more) across the street from Picasso's, and Chagall's Four Seasons stained glass mosaic two blocks down. Four Seasons (a HUGE 4-sided rectangular sculpture made up of lovely designs, the four seasons and suns, a rainbow on the top, and more) was my personal favorite of Chicago. Another sculpture I particularly liked was Chicago Fuge by Anthony Caro. This piece was unique due to its GINORMOUS size and composition of many instruments. The building it was in was also a great landmark considering the ceiling was covered completely in Gold Leaf. Around 5 p.m., after seeing goddess after god on top of buildings, we took the underground sidewalk (yes, it was under the street) back to our bus. We were off to Lakeview for a spectacular dinner, chicago-style.
After going through a revolutionary change with the Art Institute of Chicago, Wyatt, my younger brother, and I went to lunch with our dad. One of the many great places to see while on Michigan Avenue is the Historic Water Tower. Inside, there is a wide selection of shops & food destinations you should be sure to check out. The majority of the second floor is made up of an elegant food court - we are talking homemade (hopefully most of it) & freshly made to order. I could of just walked around and looked into the kitchens. Heck, I would of been happy to just stand in the middle of everything and smell the sinful aromas. Wyatt and my dad did the 'man thing' and ordered the 'manly meal' of BBQ and ribs. I, a vegetarian foodie, ordered a delicious grilled vegetable burrito with cilantro rice and spicy black beans. Boy, it was good. I was so full (and I didn't even finish the burrito), but I decided to walk around and see the dessert options anyway. There was a smoothie/juice bar, sundaes, crepes filled with strawberries and whipped cream, and more. Alliance bakery left me craving their chocolate chip coffee cake for the rest of the trip!
SCULPTURE...
We all reconnected after lunch under the cloud studded sky on the lightly lit sidewalk by Pearson & Michigan Avenue. I am having a hard time recalling the building we went into for out next destination (something historical), but it was for the sculpture tour of the West Loop. Inside of the building, there was a 3D map of the entire city of Chicago. (I know in Brooklyn, or Queens, there is an entire 3D map of New York City.) We explored the whole city on a 25 ft. square while we waited for our tour guide to come. Once Deb came and gave us a brief review of Chicago's history, we were off. We headed out and were on the lookout for all 3D art. We could of just looked up; each and everyone of Chicago's skyscrapers is an architectural masterpiece. Twenty beautiful hidden treasures were at least seen. Some of the first pieces we saw were by Frank Stella, who I just thought was a painter by nature. Turns out, he had other callings; he was also a sculptor! We saw The Town-Ho's Story in the Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building as one of our first sculptures. There was also some others we were lucky enough to see that followed the same theme in his series based on Herman Melville's classic novel, Moby Dick or The Whale. The tour continued looking at sculptures made of stained glass to stainless steel and even some made of wood.
...IN THE PARK
Some of my favorite sculptors, even though they are all fabulous, are Raphael, Picasso, Chagall, and others (like the one-of-a-kind Michelangelo). On our tour, I had discovered some of my new favorite sculptures. These include Picasso's The Pablo Picasso made 3D from a 2D painting Jacqueline et Kaboul (the sculpture looks like a lovely elephant/baboon/dog from the front, and a beautiful Picasso woman from the back), Miro's Miss Chicago which is meant to represent a snake goddess (made from concrete, stained glass, & more) across the street from Picasso's, and Chagall's Four Seasons stained glass mosaic two blocks down. Four Seasons (a HUGE 4-sided rectangular sculpture made up of lovely designs, the four seasons and suns, a rainbow on the top, and more) was my personal favorite of Chicago. Another sculpture I particularly liked was Chicago Fuge by Anthony Caro. This piece was unique due to its GINORMOUS size and composition of many instruments. The building it was in was also a great landmark considering the ceiling was covered completely in Gold Leaf. Around 5 p.m., after seeing goddess after god on top of buildings, we took the underground sidewalk (yes, it was under the street) back to our bus. We were off to Lakeview for a spectacular dinner, chicago-style.
CHICAGO STYLE PIZZA
I had been looking forward to this meal ever since January. It definitely met all of my Chicago Deep Dish expectations. Thankfully, we arrived and the food was fresh from the oven and ready to eat. We had many options available such as fresh bread, tomato & cucumber salad, Spinach & Cheese Deep Dish (plus other like sausage (EW!)), thin crust pizza, and I will get to the dessert later. Being born in Chicago, I think it is the law to say your favorite kind of pizza is deep dish. Yet, even if I wasn't from there, I would still without hesitation tell you Lou Malnati's has the best pizza on the planet! From an art point of view, Chicago Pizza in Lakeview had a very well designed sign hanging outside. I know the bright flashing lights can get somewhat cheesy, but I still like them. On second thought, the sign should be cheesy; it's a pizza restaurant! Once I got done with the sign, I caught up with everyone to get dessert. I had a scrumptious dense square of graham cracker crust, chocolate, pecans & toasted coconut with a fresh slice of orange. What did I do right away? I sketched it.
I had been looking forward to this meal ever since January. It definitely met all of my Chicago Deep Dish expectations. Thankfully, we arrived and the food was fresh from the oven and ready to eat. We had many options available such as fresh bread, tomato & cucumber salad, Spinach & Cheese Deep Dish (plus other like sausage (EW!)), thin crust pizza, and I will get to the dessert later. Being born in Chicago, I think it is the law to say your favorite kind of pizza is deep dish. Yet, even if I wasn't from there, I would still without hesitation tell you Lou Malnati's has the best pizza on the planet! From an art point of view, Chicago Pizza in Lakeview had a very well designed sign hanging outside. I know the bright flashing lights can get somewhat cheesy, but I still like them. On second thought, the sign should be cheesy; it's a pizza restaurant! Once I got done with the sign, I caught up with everyone to get dessert. I had a scrumptious dense square of graham cracker crust, chocolate, pecans & toasted coconut with a fresh slice of orange. What did I do right away? I sketched it.
BLUE MAN GROUP
WHAT. A. SHOW. The Blue Men really know how to use a stage! We saw paint whiplashing (from both MOUTHS & BODIES), over 20 marshmallows thrown into one guy's mouth, a marshmallow sculpture (the spitten mess from the guy with 20 marshmallows) put into a woman's coach bag, a camera put down in someone's stomach (don't worry, it only went down to the back of their mouth), Soutine's (a trip member) chocolate stolen, plumping pipes used as drums, toilet paper flown into the audience, everyones booty shaken (or badonkadonk), every color under the sun projected through strobe lights, canvases painted, balloon balls the size of China dropped into the crowd, the best performance I've ever seen & more. Walking into Briar Street Theatre, I thought our group took a wrong turn and were in a haunted house. Thank goodness, I was proven wrong. I knew when the first drum was hit, and the first marshmallow was thrown. I turned into a Blue Man admirer INSTANTLY. It was two hands up for the stars, over-the-top FABULOUS! This group is funny, interactive, and multi-talented. Besides being extremely great with working with props & paints, when it comes to instruments, they definitely know what's going on. It was like an African drum circle + The Beatles and added mega sound boxes. This show was enough for me to say this trip was all worth it.
WHAT. A. SHOW. The Blue Men really know how to use a stage! We saw paint whiplashing (from both MOUTHS & BODIES), over 20 marshmallows thrown into one guy's mouth, a marshmallow sculpture (the spitten mess from the guy with 20 marshmallows) put into a woman's coach bag, a camera put down in someone's stomach (don't worry, it only went down to the back of their mouth), Soutine's (a trip member) chocolate stolen, plumping pipes used as drums, toilet paper flown into the audience, everyones booty shaken (or badonkadonk), every color under the sun projected through strobe lights, canvases painted, balloon balls the size of China dropped into the crowd, the best performance I've ever seen & more. Walking into Briar Street Theatre, I thought our group took a wrong turn and were in a haunted house. Thank goodness, I was proven wrong. I knew when the first drum was hit, and the first marshmallow was thrown. I turned into a Blue Man admirer INSTANTLY. It was two hands up for the stars, over-the-top FABULOUS! This group is funny, interactive, and multi-talented. Besides being extremely great with working with props & paints, when it comes to instruments, they definitely know what's going on. It was like an African drum circle + The Beatles and added mega sound boxes. This show was enough for me to say this trip was all worth it.
CHECK IN
After the performance that put us all over the top, it wouldn't be long before we all crashed to sleep. Heading back from Briar Street Theatre, we were able to see the city at night. How beautiful it is. Other than all the stunningly lit buildings, I love seeing the bridge & building reflections in the Chicago River (as if they aren't nice enough in the daytime). It is one of those things where you can't capture the magic in a picture. It is so romantic. It's a present moment of bliss; you have to be there. However, if you have seen it, a picture will bring you right back. After 15 minutes of driving later, we were taking a turn on South Michigan Avenue to discover the gem of a hotel we were staying at: The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel! The lobby was like an art museum with all of it's Greek, Roman, & Byzantine decorations. When Lauren, Addi, & I opened the door to our home for the next two days, we were speechless. When we saw our view (&, my gosh, the bathrooms), we knew Mrs. Wise and Mrs. Hanna had made a mistake and given us a luxury suite.
After the performance that put us all over the top, it wouldn't be long before we all crashed to sleep. Heading back from Briar Street Theatre, we were able to see the city at night. How beautiful it is. Other than all the stunningly lit buildings, I love seeing the bridge & building reflections in the Chicago River (as if they aren't nice enough in the daytime). It is one of those things where you can't capture the magic in a picture. It is so romantic. It's a present moment of bliss; you have to be there. However, if you have seen it, a picture will bring you right back. After 15 minutes of driving later, we were taking a turn on South Michigan Avenue to discover the gem of a hotel we were staying at: The Renaissance Blackstone Chicago Hotel! The lobby was like an art museum with all of it's Greek, Roman, & Byzantine decorations. When Lauren, Addi, & I opened the door to our home for the next two days, we were speechless. When we saw our view (&, my gosh, the bathrooms), we knew Mrs. Wise and Mrs. Hanna had made a mistake and given us a luxury suite.
SKETCHES ON DAY ONE
DAY TWO- MARCH 14, 2014
BREAKFAST
The next morning (Friday March 14), the sun rose beautifully into the sky. It changed the colors of the fading clouds from a dim white to bright be-a-u-ti-ful pinks, oranges, and purples. It was a great start to a soon-to-be great day. My hotelmates (Lauren and Addi) along with Wyatt and I went down to enjoy breakfast at the hotel's restaurant: Mercat a la planxe! We were given vouchers that I thought would not get us far. Once again, my pre-judgement slapped me in the face (but, for good!). When our meals arrived (contained our choice of drink (coffee, tea, or juice), two eggs any style we'd like, crispy potatoes with herbs & bell peppers, our choice of meat or a fruit bowl (I chose the fruit bowl), and toast (white, wheat, or rye) with a small dish of butter and jam), I was speechless. Just like the rooms, the hotel just got better and better! The restaurant was flawlessly designed using dull warm colors & geometric shapes, and the tables were dressed elegantly in exquisite dishware. I think you can guess just how great the food tasted. Besides Wise & Hanna (mama bears), the rest of the cubs were still getting their beauty sleep. One of the last groups to come down, Mike & Eddie, came down in their bathrobes. After a few laughs, we were told that was funny, but don't do it again. Now we were all ready to get going on the bus.
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT
Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect like no other. Besides being an American architect, he was an interior designer, writer and educator who designed more than 1000 structures and completed over 532 works. What a lifetime! Frank is well known for his turn-of-the-century idea of Prairie-Style homes. He also went on to develop the concept of the Usonian Home. Wright believed in the philosophy he called organic architecture: designing structures that worked in harmony with humanity and it's environment. Some of the revolutionary & innovative examples of his work include many different building types including offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, museums, and much more! In 1991, he was recognized as "THE GRE-A-TEST ARCHITECT OF ALL TIME!"
OAK PARK
Getting on the bus to rome Oak Park was quite a pleasure. The sun was out, it was around 50 F (15 degrees warmer than Thursday), and everyone had gotten their Starbucks from the one in our hotel lobby. On the highway there, we saw the flat apartment building that was painted 3D to look like a popping piece of Greek architecture (decked out columns and everything). As we were driving through Oak Park, we saw Mrs. Wise's preschool and favorite ice cream shop, Petersen's. The old fashioned ice cream parlor looked very tempting; however, I am sorry to say it was not opened at 9 that Friday morning. We all knew the second we had arrived at Frank Lloyd Wright's, the greatest American architect, home & studio. It was the diamond among coal. I felt as though we could feel Frank Lloyd Wright, the young architect he was when building this home, walking around. We saw the 1898 studio addition, the fireplace, the kid's playroom, and more. While walking through, we learned his second son was the toy maker who invented Lincoln Logs. I have never had this much appreciation for art since I saw Frank Lloyd Wright's work. His legacy, passion, & vision will live on through his masterpieces on Earth's canvas.
Frank Lloyd Wright was an architect like no other. Besides being an American architect, he was an interior designer, writer and educator who designed more than 1000 structures and completed over 532 works. What a lifetime! Frank is well known for his turn-of-the-century idea of Prairie-Style homes. He also went on to develop the concept of the Usonian Home. Wright believed in the philosophy he called organic architecture: designing structures that worked in harmony with humanity and it's environment. Some of the revolutionary & innovative examples of his work include many different building types including offices, churches, schools, skyscrapers, hotels, museums, and much more! In 1991, he was recognized as "THE GRE-A-TEST ARCHITECT OF ALL TIME!"
OAK PARK
Getting on the bus to rome Oak Park was quite a pleasure. The sun was out, it was around 50 F (15 degrees warmer than Thursday), and everyone had gotten their Starbucks from the one in our hotel lobby. On the highway there, we saw the flat apartment building that was painted 3D to look like a popping piece of Greek architecture (decked out columns and everything). As we were driving through Oak Park, we saw Mrs. Wise's preschool and favorite ice cream shop, Petersen's. The old fashioned ice cream parlor looked very tempting; however, I am sorry to say it was not opened at 9 that Friday morning. We all knew the second we had arrived at Frank Lloyd Wright's, the greatest American architect, home & studio. It was the diamond among coal. I felt as though we could feel Frank Lloyd Wright, the young architect he was when building this home, walking around. We saw the 1898 studio addition, the fireplace, the kid's playroom, and more. While walking through, we learned his second son was the toy maker who invented Lincoln Logs. I have never had this much appreciation for art since I saw Frank Lloyd Wright's work. His legacy, passion, & vision will live on through his masterpieces on Earth's canvas.
MAGNIFICENT MILE & EATALY
Once we were back in the city from Oak Park, we had some free time to do some shopping and have lunch on State Street & Michigan Avenue. Wyatt and I met up with our dad and went on a little adventure to Eataly (an Italian Whole Foods) down by East Ohio Street and North Wabash Avenue. Eataly is filled with sections such as pastry, lait gelato, venchi chocolate, flour and bread, pasta and grains, la mozzarella, fruits and vegetables, plus more - all on two floors! It is worth a whole day of exploring. Due to the fact we had an hour, we went to the first hotspot we liked that was free of a line. We decided to go to their savory bakery; we got all different kinds of focaccia bread. Wyatt and my dad got Prosciutto & housemade mozzarella along with housemade sweet sausage with bell peppers and onions. I ordered the tomato and basil with housemade mozzarella and the sweet brioche. I also was lucky enough to walk away with a fresh rustic fig loaf. The space upon space of this location was most positively decadent (although the abundance did disturb me a little bit). There was two places left we wanted to check out: me- Trader Joe's, Wyatt- Nike Store. Before going back to the gang, Wyatt, our dad, and I took a journey through a sports-fan-dream: The Nike Store. All I can say is: I am sorry for your exploitation Michael Jordan.
Once we were back in the city from Oak Park, we had some free time to do some shopping and have lunch on State Street & Michigan Avenue. Wyatt and I met up with our dad and went on a little adventure to Eataly (an Italian Whole Foods) down by East Ohio Street and North Wabash Avenue. Eataly is filled with sections such as pastry, lait gelato, venchi chocolate, flour and bread, pasta and grains, la mozzarella, fruits and vegetables, plus more - all on two floors! It is worth a whole day of exploring. Due to the fact we had an hour, we went to the first hotspot we liked that was free of a line. We decided to go to their savory bakery; we got all different kinds of focaccia bread. Wyatt and my dad got Prosciutto & housemade mozzarella along with housemade sweet sausage with bell peppers and onions. I ordered the tomato and basil with housemade mozzarella and the sweet brioche. I also was lucky enough to walk away with a fresh rustic fig loaf. The space upon space of this location was most positively decadent (although the abundance did disturb me a little bit). There was two places left we wanted to check out: me- Trader Joe's, Wyatt- Nike Store. Before going back to the gang, Wyatt, our dad, and I took a journey through a sports-fan-dream: The Nike Store. All I can say is: I am sorry for your exploitation Michael Jordan.
TRADER JOE'S
The foodie part of the trip continued with a few window peekings inside some bakeries like West Town Bakery and Diner, and a little pitstop at my favorite grocery store- TRADER JOE'S! I got my yearly supply of dark chocolate in two bulk one-pound size bars. Although I could of very easily purchased months worth of food supplies (including their Concord Grape Juice, Pretzel Breads, cheeses, and more), I had to get what I could fit in one bag and be okay sitting on the bus for a few days. Besides the chocolate, I got Speculoos Cookie Butter (both crunchy and smooth) for home, a raisin & pecan dark chocolate bar, an 85% Cacao Bar, and Wyatt got a mixed berry fruit leather. Luckily, Wyatt (or Mr. Muscle Man) helped me carry this doubled bag of cacao & sugar while we continued touring Chicago. If and when I live in Chicago, I will be one of TJ's for-sure regulars. I plan on making Chocolate Babka with this chocolate; I have been dreaming on it all winter. I might even go a little French and make pain au chocolats. Or, I could just eat it plain. Chocolate is best at it's simplest form.
The foodie part of the trip continued with a few window peekings inside some bakeries like West Town Bakery and Diner, and a little pitstop at my favorite grocery store- TRADER JOE'S! I got my yearly supply of dark chocolate in two bulk one-pound size bars. Although I could of very easily purchased months worth of food supplies (including their Concord Grape Juice, Pretzel Breads, cheeses, and more), I had to get what I could fit in one bag and be okay sitting on the bus for a few days. Besides the chocolate, I got Speculoos Cookie Butter (both crunchy and smooth) for home, a raisin & pecan dark chocolate bar, an 85% Cacao Bar, and Wyatt got a mixed berry fruit leather. Luckily, Wyatt (or Mr. Muscle Man) helped me carry this doubled bag of cacao & sugar while we continued touring Chicago. If and when I live in Chicago, I will be one of TJ's for-sure regulars. I plan on making Chocolate Babka with this chocolate; I have been dreaming on it all winter. I might even go a little French and make pain au chocolats. Or, I could just eat it plain. Chocolate is best at it's simplest form.
MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART
This location, along with basically all of the other stops, was one I didn't feel I spent enough time in. One of my problems is I will spend about 25 minutes looking at the art on the walls that rightly deserves more of my attention, and the rest of the time (around 60 minutes) in their gift shop or cafe. I did look at the artwork and respectfully enjoy it; however, I would like to take a closer look at these masterpieces. Some pieces we got the ever-so-great opportunity to view include Under the El by Keith Morrison, Untitled (Chicago) 1-14 (iris prints) by Catherine Opie, and many by the change of the century pop-artist Andy Warhol. Did you know? The MCA began collecting artwork in the 1970s. Today, there is no longer any room in the building to store their entire collection of approximately 5,000 works. Most of this collection is stored off-site, in a BIG warehouse. Also, like the Art Institute of Chicago, MCA protects the artwork by maintaining an atmosphere of 70 degrees with 50% relative humidity. Thank you MCA for helping me recognize my issue. I look forward to coming back to your galleries and seeing all you have to offer. What I did see was PHENOMENAL!
This location, along with basically all of the other stops, was one I didn't feel I spent enough time in. One of my problems is I will spend about 25 minutes looking at the art on the walls that rightly deserves more of my attention, and the rest of the time (around 60 minutes) in their gift shop or cafe. I did look at the artwork and respectfully enjoy it; however, I would like to take a closer look at these masterpieces. Some pieces we got the ever-so-great opportunity to view include Under the El by Keith Morrison, Untitled (Chicago) 1-14 (iris prints) by Catherine Opie, and many by the change of the century pop-artist Andy Warhol. Did you know? The MCA began collecting artwork in the 1970s. Today, there is no longer any room in the building to store their entire collection of approximately 5,000 works. Most of this collection is stored off-site, in a BIG warehouse. Also, like the Art Institute of Chicago, MCA protects the artwork by maintaining an atmosphere of 70 degrees with 50% relative humidity. Thank you MCA for helping me recognize my issue. I look forward to coming back to your galleries and seeing all you have to offer. What I did see was PHENOMENAL!
MILLENIUM PARK- THE ONE AND ONLY
Our original plan was to go to the hotel and prep for dinner from 3-5 this Friday. Since we're all so interested in the city, and we're excited to see anything we could, our tour guide, Ducky, brought us around to Millennium Park. It was a lovely afternoon in the park. We saw the following landmarks: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor, and The Fountains. I also found out something new. Within Millennium Park, there are (I believe) four buildings you can go to get information. These buildings look like big black cubes. It turns out these buildings contain solar panels that power the ENTIRE PARK! The group also learned about the cleaning process of the Bean- one of my favorite subjects to draw! When we went back to the hotel, we were able to freshen up. I loved going back to our rooms and seeing the beds made. Some people decided to take little cap naps in these dreamy sheets. I decided to wait in the lobby and do some sketching. Also, it was nice to get some peace & quiet away from the group. Wyatt, Addi, and Kaylie came to the lobby after getting Starbucks. The frappuccinos looked tempting, so I ended up drinking some of Wyatt's sugared iced coffee. One everyone was ready, we got on the bus. Off to Greektown!
ATHENA RESTAURANT
In Greektown, I was proven wrong once again. GREEKTOWN WAS AMAZING! I am usually not a fan of greek food, so I was surprised to see myself falling in love with the taste and going back for seconds. I will admit: I may never be a fan of Spinach Dill Pies or wrapped grape leaves, but I will go for Greek again. I especially want to go back to the Athena Restaurant. When the food first came out, I didn't know what to expect. We started with fresh toasted sesame bread. Then, came the flaming cheese- SAGANAKI. That was head-over-heels delightful. A Greek salad with tomato chunks, cucumber slices, feta blocks, and peperoncini peppers was next. A plate of meatballs with red sauce was brought after. The plates were cleaned, and the crisp Spinach Dill Handpies were brought out. I waited for the next plate of vegetables to come. A platter that touched the sky arrived with gyro meat, warmed quartered pitas, & tzatziki sauce. Chicken and Vegetables over Brown Rice came shortly after. The last savory item, which I ate up, was Spicy Broccoli & Cheese over thick spaghetti. My favorite item came next: a plate of perfectly cut triangles of Baklava dusted with cinnamon & drizzled with chocolate sauce. YUM!- YUM!- YUM! This meal was course after course after course splendid. If you are trying to count everything I listed, the number nine is right. Out of everything, I must say the Cinnamon Walnut Baklava gets best of menu.
Our original plan was to go to the hotel and prep for dinner from 3-5 this Friday. Since we're all so interested in the city, and we're excited to see anything we could, our tour guide, Ducky, brought us around to Millennium Park. It was a lovely afternoon in the park. We saw the following landmarks: Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor, and The Fountains. I also found out something new. Within Millennium Park, there are (I believe) four buildings you can go to get information. These buildings look like big black cubes. It turns out these buildings contain solar panels that power the ENTIRE PARK! The group also learned about the cleaning process of the Bean- one of my favorite subjects to draw! When we went back to the hotel, we were able to freshen up. I loved going back to our rooms and seeing the beds made. Some people decided to take little cap naps in these dreamy sheets. I decided to wait in the lobby and do some sketching. Also, it was nice to get some peace & quiet away from the group. Wyatt, Addi, and Kaylie came to the lobby after getting Starbucks. The frappuccinos looked tempting, so I ended up drinking some of Wyatt's sugared iced coffee. One everyone was ready, we got on the bus. Off to Greektown!
ATHENA RESTAURANT
In Greektown, I was proven wrong once again. GREEKTOWN WAS AMAZING! I am usually not a fan of greek food, so I was surprised to see myself falling in love with the taste and going back for seconds. I will admit: I may never be a fan of Spinach Dill Pies or wrapped grape leaves, but I will go for Greek again. I especially want to go back to the Athena Restaurant. When the food first came out, I didn't know what to expect. We started with fresh toasted sesame bread. Then, came the flaming cheese- SAGANAKI. That was head-over-heels delightful. A Greek salad with tomato chunks, cucumber slices, feta blocks, and peperoncini peppers was next. A plate of meatballs with red sauce was brought after. The plates were cleaned, and the crisp Spinach Dill Handpies were brought out. I waited for the next plate of vegetables to come. A platter that touched the sky arrived with gyro meat, warmed quartered pitas, & tzatziki sauce. Chicken and Vegetables over Brown Rice came shortly after. The last savory item, which I ate up, was Spicy Broccoli & Cheese over thick spaghetti. My favorite item came next: a plate of perfectly cut triangles of Baklava dusted with cinnamon & drizzled with chocolate sauce. YUM!- YUM!- YUM! This meal was course after course after course splendid. If you are trying to count everything I listed, the number nine is right. Out of everything, I must say the Cinnamon Walnut Baklava gets best of menu.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET
I am still in awe. It's as if I was shocked (in a good way) and still in recovery. That's what Million Dollar Quartet at Apollo Theater in Lincoln Park will do to a person. When I first drew my sketch of the interior of the theater, I had no idea I would be a different person 90 minutes later. I don't think I can stress this enough: THIS WAS A GROUND-BREAKING, WORLD AWARD-WINNING, OH MY GOD PERFORMANCE! It was so great I don't have words, let alone know where to start, when it comes to describing how spectacular it is. I was already close to nirvana after our 9-course feast. This performance brought all of that to a whole new level of extravagance. I loved the stage set up. I loved the red theater seats. I loved the broadway lights. I loved the youthfulness of the production. I loved the blues music. I loved the guy in the back playing the bassist. I loved Jerry Lee Lewis hammering away on the piano. I loved Carl Perkins playing his guitar as if it was a part of him. I loved Johnny Cash singing from the heart. I loved Elvis Presley's crazy dancing. I loved the passion in the performers. I LOVED IT ALL! I truly could not believe all the talent, beauty, and passion I had just seen.
I am still in awe. It's as if I was shocked (in a good way) and still in recovery. That's what Million Dollar Quartet at Apollo Theater in Lincoln Park will do to a person. When I first drew my sketch of the interior of the theater, I had no idea I would be a different person 90 minutes later. I don't think I can stress this enough: THIS WAS A GROUND-BREAKING, WORLD AWARD-WINNING, OH MY GOD PERFORMANCE! It was so great I don't have words, let alone know where to start, when it comes to describing how spectacular it is. I was already close to nirvana after our 9-course feast. This performance brought all of that to a whole new level of extravagance. I loved the stage set up. I loved the red theater seats. I loved the broadway lights. I loved the youthfulness of the production. I loved the blues music. I loved the guy in the back playing the bassist. I loved Jerry Lee Lewis hammering away on the piano. I loved Carl Perkins playing his guitar as if it was a part of him. I loved Johnny Cash singing from the heart. I loved Elvis Presley's crazy dancing. I loved the passion in the performers. I LOVED IT ALL! I truly could not believe all the talent, beauty, and passion I had just seen.
ENCORE
I got back on the bus and wrote OH MY GOD in bold in my sketchbook. According to the Chicago Sun-Times Million Dollar Quartet is "MUSICALLY DAZZLING FROM FIRST BEAT TO LAST!" I would have to agree. Could you just imagine what this magical event in 1956 was really like? If this musical can make history, think about what it would of been like in 1956 with an audience. At the end of the performance, each of the artists performed their own solo. First up was the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley, singing "Hound Dog." Next was Johnny Cash performing "Ring of Fire." Third was "See You Later Alligator" by Carl Perkins. And, the BIG FINALLY was Jerry Lee Lewis on the jamming piano playing, one of his top chart songs, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." At a couple of parts, Jerry Lee was playing without even looking at the keys. He even played backwards; I think a few times actually. Starting at "Hound Dog," people were getting up clapping and dancing. I even got up, and it wasn't because I couldn't see. The night still lives on in my mind. The magic in the air was timeless. "Who Do You Love?" and "Hound Dog" are on constant replay in my head.
I got back on the bus and wrote OH MY GOD in bold in my sketchbook. According to the Chicago Sun-Times Million Dollar Quartet is "MUSICALLY DAZZLING FROM FIRST BEAT TO LAST!" I would have to agree. Could you just imagine what this magical event in 1956 was really like? If this musical can make history, think about what it would of been like in 1956 with an audience. At the end of the performance, each of the artists performed their own solo. First up was the King of Rock 'n' Roll, Elvis Presley, singing "Hound Dog." Next was Johnny Cash performing "Ring of Fire." Third was "See You Later Alligator" by Carl Perkins. And, the BIG FINALLY was Jerry Lee Lewis on the jamming piano playing, one of his top chart songs, "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On." At a couple of parts, Jerry Lee was playing without even looking at the keys. He even played backwards; I think a few times actually. Starting at "Hound Dog," people were getting up clapping and dancing. I even got up, and it wasn't because I couldn't see. The night still lives on in my mind. The magic in the air was timeless. "Who Do You Love?" and "Hound Dog" are on constant replay in my head.
INDOOR POOL
Before coming to stay at this hotel, I obviously had looked it up and scoped out it's hotspots. For some reason, I arrived thinking there was an indoor pool; except, I forgot to pack a swimsuit. Luckily, I was wrong. There was no pool. But, there was an indoor pool...TABLE! Considering we were all jazzed up (again) after seeing MDQ perform and going back to our rooms would of given us the blues, a good bunch of us (the ones who didn't go to the gym or to bed) played in the lobby. I, someone not particularly good at pool, decided to stay on the coaches and sketch. I did a wide shot of the group around the table (Wyatt, Addi, Hannah, and Kara), some individual portraits (Soutine, Wyatt, Tina M., & Kara H.), and I also continued the small series I was working on that focussed on the architectural detail of the hotel lobby. That night, I sketched the lights & lamps. I know it's called the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, and it does have that feel, but I for sure thought it was more 1920s. I imagined jazz playing and possibly catching a glimpse of Pablo Picasso. From the pool table to the Byzantine tile mosaic in the elevator to the lobby's clock, the art in this hotel was beautifully decorated & detailed.
Before coming to stay at this hotel, I obviously had looked it up and scoped out it's hotspots. For some reason, I arrived thinking there was an indoor pool; except, I forgot to pack a swimsuit. Luckily, I was wrong. There was no pool. But, there was an indoor pool...TABLE! Considering we were all jazzed up (again) after seeing MDQ perform and going back to our rooms would of given us the blues, a good bunch of us (the ones who didn't go to the gym or to bed) played in the lobby. I, someone not particularly good at pool, decided to stay on the coaches and sketch. I did a wide shot of the group around the table (Wyatt, Addi, Hannah, and Kara), some individual portraits (Soutine, Wyatt, Tina M., & Kara H.), and I also continued the small series I was working on that focussed on the architectural detail of the hotel lobby. That night, I sketched the lights & lamps. I know it's called the Renaissance Blackstone Hotel, and it does have that feel, but I for sure thought it was more 1920s. I imagined jazz playing and possibly catching a glimpse of Pablo Picasso. From the pool table to the Byzantine tile mosaic in the elevator to the lobby's clock, the art in this hotel was beautifully decorated & detailed.
SKETCHES ON DAY TWO
DAY THREE- MARCH 15, 2014
OLD AND NEW
You may have guessed this already, but I will tell you anyways. I used up all 27 exposures/pictures on my disposable Kodak camera. I thought I could manage 1 picture per location, but it was all so BEAUTIFUL! Tomorrow morning I am going to get a new one. I called the front desk; they were extremely nice, and gave me directions to the closest CVS. Its only TWO BLOCKS away! On the corner of State and Randolph! (That street sign is in my mural of Chicago.) Next morning: Now that I have gotten a new camera, I am excited to soak up all of the trip that is left while taking a whole camera's worth of pictures. Wyatt came with me as a security guard at 7:15 this Saturday morning of March 15. (We left early so we would have time for breakfast & not be rushed at checkout.) As his reward, we went to Dunkin' Donuts (I know, I know, don't even get me started) to get him a chocolate long john. I had been telling him we would go to Glazed and Infused Doughnuts (best in Chicago), and we didn't get around to it. Something to go back for. Thank you Mrs. Hanna and Mrs. Wise for letting us go. Thank you CVS for giving me the opportunity to document this trip.
You may have guessed this already, but I will tell you anyways. I used up all 27 exposures/pictures on my disposable Kodak camera. I thought I could manage 1 picture per location, but it was all so BEAUTIFUL! Tomorrow morning I am going to get a new one. I called the front desk; they were extremely nice, and gave me directions to the closest CVS. Its only TWO BLOCKS away! On the corner of State and Randolph! (That street sign is in my mural of Chicago.) Next morning: Now that I have gotten a new camera, I am excited to soak up all of the trip that is left while taking a whole camera's worth of pictures. Wyatt came with me as a security guard at 7:15 this Saturday morning of March 15. (We left early so we would have time for breakfast & not be rushed at checkout.) As his reward, we went to Dunkin' Donuts (I know, I know, don't even get me started) to get him a chocolate long john. I had been telling him we would go to Glazed and Infused Doughnuts (best in Chicago), and we didn't get around to it. Something to go back for. Thank you Mrs. Hanna and Mrs. Wise for letting us go. Thank you CVS for giving me the opportunity to document this trip.
DEPARTING THE HOTEL
The three days sure went by fast! We have had two nights of a fabulous stay, and now it is time for us to head out. I will definitely miss looking at the "windy city"scape while going to bed. It was a spectacular view. After having breakfast of 2 sunny side up eggs, potatoes & herbs, 2 slices of wheat toast with butter and jam, and a glass of fresh grapefruit juice (it had just the right amount of tartness and pulp). Starbucks, although I never ordered anything, will be missed for being a tempting treat. And, the room service! We took a peek to see what they had to offer; you could order a fresh homemade pizza then follow it up with an apple tart with vanilla ice cream and caramel, &, if you were feeling up for it, a cup of espresso. I will also miss sketching in the lobby, and their lovely French Bistro music in the elevators. Out of all the art trips I've been on, this was the best stay. This was not your average motel or Holiday Inn; this was a $700 a night room hotel. It fit the snappy criteria for sure.
The three days sure went by fast! We have had two nights of a fabulous stay, and now it is time for us to head out. I will definitely miss looking at the "windy city"scape while going to bed. It was a spectacular view. After having breakfast of 2 sunny side up eggs, potatoes & herbs, 2 slices of wheat toast with butter and jam, and a glass of fresh grapefruit juice (it had just the right amount of tartness and pulp). Starbucks, although I never ordered anything, will be missed for being a tempting treat. And, the room service! We took a peek to see what they had to offer; you could order a fresh homemade pizza then follow it up with an apple tart with vanilla ice cream and caramel, &, if you were feeling up for it, a cup of espresso. I will also miss sketching in the lobby, and their lovely French Bistro music in the elevators. Out of all the art trips I've been on, this was the best stay. This was not your average motel or Holiday Inn; this was a $700 a night room hotel. It fit the snappy criteria for sure.
THE FIELD MUSEUM OF CHICAGO
The departure from one of the greatest hotels I've ever stayed at was a tear-jurker; however, the Field Museum turned that frown upside down. I know I have been here when I was younger, yet I had a hard time recalling this place. Wyatt & I strolled through this museum together checking out just about every corner. Some of the exhibitions and rooms we saw include: Preserving the Rainforest, Gem Hall, Evolving Planet, World of Plants, Egyptians, Stanley Field Hall, Africa, Nile in Egypt, 1893 World's Fair, and more. I loved the Plantology section. We got to see how coffee was made, what a tea plantation looks like, & others like the cacao plant (or chocolate) in it's purest form right off the tree. Wyatt got frightened in the Pacific-Spirits - the supernatural - section after seeing a face mask disappear before his eyes on a screen. Besides the African elephants, the giftshop was the largest thing there! Infact, this place had four total "Field Trip" shops (one on archeology, Sue & the dinosaurs, a central, and a large). Another touristy thing we saw was the photo booths & Mold-A-Ramas, which of course Wyatt got. Unfortunately, all of our feet were hurting from all the walking us country bumpkins had been doing. That being said, the museum wasn't entirely scoped out. However, everything that was seen was well worth discovering & learning about. As far as Sue goes, thank you for being in Chicago. From the second Wyatt & I walked in, we thought we were apart of the Night at The Museum movie. Sue, you were so surreal! I am sorry greedy-for-history archaeologist dug you out from your homelands, and put you in a museum. You should know though: when people stand next to you at the Field Museum of Chicago, you introduce a whole new world & level of respect to them - THANK YOU!
The departure from one of the greatest hotels I've ever stayed at was a tear-jurker; however, the Field Museum turned that frown upside down. I know I have been here when I was younger, yet I had a hard time recalling this place. Wyatt & I strolled through this museum together checking out just about every corner. Some of the exhibitions and rooms we saw include: Preserving the Rainforest, Gem Hall, Evolving Planet, World of Plants, Egyptians, Stanley Field Hall, Africa, Nile in Egypt, 1893 World's Fair, and more. I loved the Plantology section. We got to see how coffee was made, what a tea plantation looks like, & others like the cacao plant (or chocolate) in it's purest form right off the tree. Wyatt got frightened in the Pacific-Spirits - the supernatural - section after seeing a face mask disappear before his eyes on a screen. Besides the African elephants, the giftshop was the largest thing there! Infact, this place had four total "Field Trip" shops (one on archeology, Sue & the dinosaurs, a central, and a large). Another touristy thing we saw was the photo booths & Mold-A-Ramas, which of course Wyatt got. Unfortunately, all of our feet were hurting from all the walking us country bumpkins had been doing. That being said, the museum wasn't entirely scoped out. However, everything that was seen was well worth discovering & learning about. As far as Sue goes, thank you for being in Chicago. From the second Wyatt & I walked in, we thought we were apart of the Night at The Museum movie. Sue, you were so surreal! I am sorry greedy-for-history archaeologist dug you out from your homelands, and put you in a museum. You should know though: when people stand next to you at the Field Museum of Chicago, you introduce a whole new world & level of respect to them - THANK YOU!
CHINATOWN + DA BAKERY
Leaving the Field Museum, I was beyond ESTATIC. When we arrived in Chinatown, Wyatt & I broke into a little group again and explored the strip mall. This far into reading, you can figure that we took a wrong turn. Sorry Mrs. Wise and Mrs. Hanna, we had no idea what we were walking into; we thought we were in the 'real' Chinatown of Chicago with the gates & everything. It should of been a red flag when Wyatt & I never saw the gates... Although, we did have quite an adventure. We saw what dried seafood looks like, experienced running out of smelly stores after holding our breath, over a hundred bottles filled with fish oil pills, cakes filled with jello frosting (EW!), and more. We were not exactly what you would call a fan. In fact, we left feeling like we never needed to go back. For lunch, we did something rather silly and got milkshakes. Wyatt ordered a vegetable egg roll and sweet & sour chicken. As for me, I got the fried wheat buns with sweetened condensed milk and the vegetables with soy sauce over rice noodles. It was, all and all, what I would call slimy. Now, don't let me dwell on the negative. Chinatown was very interesting and a cultural experience from many perspectives. The strip mall of thin shop windows that extended back and had double decker shops and walking ground was rather cool. The stores had awesome postcards (cheap too), cool mugs, and bags and bags of fortune cookies - WHICH I LOVED, until I read the ingredients. Wyatt & I also ordered some cakes from Saint Anna's Bakery. My friend Cheri from Ox-Bow, who goes to school in Chicago, came down and said hello to us. Wyatt & I then headed back to the bus after 2 hours with our Banana Cake with Chocolate Mousse, Chestnut Cake, Strawberry and Cream Cake, and more.
Leaving the Field Museum, I was beyond ESTATIC. When we arrived in Chinatown, Wyatt & I broke into a little group again and explored the strip mall. This far into reading, you can figure that we took a wrong turn. Sorry Mrs. Wise and Mrs. Hanna, we had no idea what we were walking into; we thought we were in the 'real' Chinatown of Chicago with the gates & everything. It should of been a red flag when Wyatt & I never saw the gates... Although, we did have quite an adventure. We saw what dried seafood looks like, experienced running out of smelly stores after holding our breath, over a hundred bottles filled with fish oil pills, cakes filled with jello frosting (EW!), and more. We were not exactly what you would call a fan. In fact, we left feeling like we never needed to go back. For lunch, we did something rather silly and got milkshakes. Wyatt ordered a vegetable egg roll and sweet & sour chicken. As for me, I got the fried wheat buns with sweetened condensed milk and the vegetables with soy sauce over rice noodles. It was, all and all, what I would call slimy. Now, don't let me dwell on the negative. Chinatown was very interesting and a cultural experience from many perspectives. The strip mall of thin shop windows that extended back and had double decker shops and walking ground was rather cool. The stores had awesome postcards (cheap too), cool mugs, and bags and bags of fortune cookies - WHICH I LOVED, until I read the ingredients. Wyatt & I also ordered some cakes from Saint Anna's Bakery. My friend Cheri from Ox-Bow, who goes to school in Chicago, came down and said hello to us. Wyatt & I then headed back to the bus after 2 hours with our Banana Cake with Chocolate Mousse, Chestnut Cake, Strawberry and Cream Cake, and more.
BACK ON THE BUS
We took our last steps in Chicago at Chinatown. The next stop was Saugatuck, Michigan. Because all of us were ready to get out of Chinatown, departing on the bus did not seem so bad. However, at this point, we did have to say goodbye to our Chicago tour guide, Ducky. I will miss her name. The bus ride back was relatively peaceful. After 45 minutes of settling down & waving goodbye to the skyline, we all sat down and wrote letters to the donors who made this trip possible. I finished mine then remembered just how much tea I had back at the Sweet Station in Chinatown. Excuse my French, but I really had to pee! I decided I would just suck it up and use the penalty box, or bathroom, in the back of the bus. It was actually pretty nice; I was thankful to have it there. Ferris Bueller's Day Off went up on the screens once all the letters were finished up. It was perfect. Wyatt & I enjoyed the movie as we ate our fortune cookies and talked about the trip. Once we stepped foot in Saugatuck, we were sad but ready for sleep! It had already felt as if the trip was months ago. Chicago, from all of us here in Saugatuck, we can't wait to see you again.
We took our last steps in Chicago at Chinatown. The next stop was Saugatuck, Michigan. Because all of us were ready to get out of Chinatown, departing on the bus did not seem so bad. However, at this point, we did have to say goodbye to our Chicago tour guide, Ducky. I will miss her name. The bus ride back was relatively peaceful. After 45 minutes of settling down & waving goodbye to the skyline, we all sat down and wrote letters to the donors who made this trip possible. I finished mine then remembered just how much tea I had back at the Sweet Station in Chinatown. Excuse my French, but I really had to pee! I decided I would just suck it up and use the penalty box, or bathroom, in the back of the bus. It was actually pretty nice; I was thankful to have it there. Ferris Bueller's Day Off went up on the screens once all the letters were finished up. It was perfect. Wyatt & I enjoyed the movie as we ate our fortune cookies and talked about the trip. Once we stepped foot in Saugatuck, we were sad but ready for sleep! It had already felt as if the trip was months ago. Chicago, from all of us here in Saugatuck, we can't wait to see you again.
SKETCHES ON DAY THREE
SHOUTOUTS
TO MRS. HANNA
TO MRS. WISE
TO DONATERS
TO MRS. WISE
TO DONATERS