Strolling in the summer heat...a bit like Sex and the City
A visit from my pal was such an energy boost! Not to mention that it was summer in a big city! Nicki and Lucas were en route to our friend's wedding in Michigan and a pit stop in Chicago for 5 days was perfect! Last time she visited was in Frisco during the snowed-out week---not the most exciting.
Too bad my job has already started then and I didn't have that much time to spend with them. While I was at work, they visited around the city on their own... to the beaches, the parks, the mall. The day I have off, we took a walk just near our apartment, talked and had the oh so delicious Gyu-Kaku for dinner!
Our many attempts, including one time when Nicki's sandals flew off
Our apartment building is the one right behind the lamppost in the background
A game of Werwolf, Tuesday's tradition!!
John, the Skeptical Cook. Katie, the Ginger
Hiro, the Japanese way and the Mighty Stomach
Some bowling action! Blur = speeeeed
More evidence of summerlicious!
Giant water slide blown up next to the kitchen for Family Day!
Some water fun between shows
In Lev goes into the dunk tank!
Ice cream van on site!!!
Petting zoo! Looks like the goat needs to be excused...
I love petting zoos...Especially I rarely gets to pet ducks!
Feeding time
Poker Tournament
A trip to the 6 Flags on the double dark was a popular decision!
Li Wei is amazing on the slack wire, not so much here...
So who's going to get wet?? Steve is not going to have mercy on anyone!
Looks like Laura and sister is getting the biggest hit!
I said it coz I can, today I don't feel like doing anything~
Whirly ball... if only we discovered it earlier. Only been to it one time and how I wish they have it in every city! Good ol'bumper car + "lacrosse", simply amazing!
That's a wrap for Chicago, moving on! (but we miss this city)
"You know what they say about Chicago. If you don't like the weather, wait fifteen minutes."
--Ralph Kiner
That was quite true. The weather was very unpredictable. We've had days where there were sudden down pours in-between sunshine, or storms in the morning so I'd put on my wellies for work but the rest of the day was sunny...I didn't feel very smart wearing rain boots in the sun..
Chicago had a record breaking hail storm when we were there. Hail as big as a baseball!
Anyway, besides the weather that was ever so busy changing scenes, so was the city of Chicago! Chicago is one of those cities that come to life when summer hits! Tourists, festivals, fairs, concerts, everything!
An outdoor food festival, held at the Grant Park was more than 2 streets long of delicious food from 50+ restaurants, showcasing the diversity of Chicago's dining community. Undoubtedly there were lots of pizzeria luring with their deep dish pizza, but I was drawn to Eli's Cheesecake! I'm not sure know why, I'm not normally a cheesecake person, but when I saw it.... I had to get one! In the end I had 2 slices of cheese cake that day, and another one another time I went back, then another when I saw it in Chicago's airport before leaving. Don't miss it if you like cheesecake! It had a very rich flavor and creamy texture.
Lots of concerts were held at the Grant Park
And also Gold Coast Art Fair
Last photo before escaping the rain!
Dancing and singing Hindus promoting Yoga
Ahh... big city, more crazies
Art Institute of Chicago has the 2nd world's biggest collection of Impressionism, just behind Louvre Museum of France. Impressionism is my favorite art movement, I had to paid a visit to the museum, along with Gersh and Tanya.
Van Gogh. I had a print of this painting as the cover of my binder for a year in high school!
Monet
Tanya and Gersh. Discovered that Gersh isn't a fan of pointillism...with a legitimate reason:
colorblind people have a hard time making those colors out, thus the painting.
Mummy duck calling to her ducklings. Check out the video above!
Chicago's architecture is famous throughout the world, in which there is one style that is referred to as the Chicago School (Commercial Style). A lot of the buildings along the Chicago River are historically significant, and so is the river itself, notable for being the reason why Chicago became and important location. River guided tours were very popular, especially the Architecture Tour among our friends.
Corn cob looking building
Just so you know, the weather was absolutely beautiful earlier in the day when we did the boat tour. It's true about the weather... next time you visit, make sure you have all seasons clothes!
The most famous landmark was of course the Cloud Gate, nicknamed "the Bean", located at the AT&T Plaza in Millennium park, which was downtown within the Loop community area (historic commercial area). Designed by a British artist Anish Kapoor (cue in Gary's "Of couuursee, it's British, it's the best!"), was a very popular attraction.
Adjacent to the plaza, was the Great Lawn and the bandshell, known as the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, was designed by Frank Gehry (Canadian-American architect). The Pritzker Pavilion hosted the Grant Park Music Festival, US' only remaining free outdoor classical music series, during the summer. It performed in the afternoon and evening, where friends, couples and families filled the lawn and enjoyed an evening of music and outdoor with food and wine. Besides the orchestra, the pavilion also hosts a wide range of performing arts.
The BP Bridge, also designed by Frank Gehry, a pedestrian overpass that connects the both parts of the larger Grant Park. The structure behind is the Great Lawn and the bandshell
An attraction that was especially popular with children was the Crown Fountain, which was also located next to the Bean. The pair of glass brick towers that stood opposite of each other was an interactive work of public art and video sculpture, that intermittently display faces on the two towers and water sprouts through a nozzle where the mouth would be. The fountain was also a public play area and offers people an escape from the summer heat, and allowing children to frolic in the fountain's water.
Sometime I forget that beaches existed even when there were no seas or oceans, but a lake. Located by Lake Michigan, Chicago has plenty of beaches including some in downtown!
Restaurant on Oak Street Beach. Review? Stay. Away.
Beach by the big shopping street/area, Magnificent Mile as they called it
Food wise, Chicago is famous for their deep dish pizza...which to be honest looks more like a quiche. We had it for dinner on our second day upon arriving. TV and pizza, mom and dad immersed straight into the American culture. However, ordering delivery is not the same as going to a restaurant, so we set out to Little Italy.
Except unfortunately there wasn't much there. I guess it would be more busy at night, as there were many fine dining restaurants that were only opened in the evening.
My parents did a lot of exploring on their own. While Gary and I were still asleep in the morning, they would go out for a walk, shopping or take a random bus and stayed on until they see some interesting neighborhoods!
Walking by the shore and yacht club. The 3rd building from the right is our apartment.
Found Little Mexico, just pass Little Italy
Snacks from Mexican shop
One of the many channels that flow through the city
