Chicago IS my kind of town! Not that I’m ready to move here but it’s definitely my favorite U.S. city and one day in the city only whetted my appetite for more. Tammy, Ralph and I may have to choose this place for a Chick Weekend instead of Kansas City.
We caught the train a little before 9:00 in Libertyville and shortly after 10 were exiting Union Station and heading down Adams Street toward Michigan Ave. Our first stop was in Millenium Park where we admired the stainless steel “bean” and walked around the park. One of the things I always love about Chi-town is the energy is exudes and today was no exception – the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure was held today along Lake Michigan so the participants were swarming all over the park still in their running gear with plenty of pink in honor of the fight for breast cancer.
We walked up Michigan Ave. to catch the noon cruise on the Chicago River held by the Chicago Architecture Foundation – our guide was a retired professor of architecture and she created a wonderful experience for us during the 90-minute ride complete with historic facts and architectural descriptions. The Donald’s new building is under construction along with plenty of other buildings – hard to believe there actually are a few spots of green still waiting for the footprint of a building.
After the cruise and a quick lunch we were off on Michigan Avenue – the Magificent Mile – again. Agnes and I quickly ditched the guys when they ducked in the Garmin store to look at the GPS systems – what puzzles me is why the same guys who won’t stop and ask for directions will use a GPS!
We drooled over the designer shoes at Neiman-Marcus and I was wishing for my personal shopper, Tammy, when I tried on a black and white plaid trapeze jacket at Filene’s Basement. I left it for another shopper but had she been along I’m guessing she would have either given me “the look” and said “no” or told me about 6 different outfits I could make with it and let me know I was crazy not to buy it! I ventured into the American Girl store and picked up a catalog in case Julia starts a collection – but I think Agnes had it right when she called the whole American Girl thing a cult! She should know, their granddaughter is into them but she’s 9 so I’m not sure Julia at 4 is ready for one.
My one piece of shopping success came at Talbot’s where I found a blouse I wanted that my local store didn’t have – and of course it was on sale and I got double points on my Talbot’s card! Unfortunately we ran out of time before I could explore all the shops on State Street as we wound our way back for dinner at Berghoff’s German restaurant which Burl chose – the beer and dinner were both quite tasty and the atmosphere was definitely Art Deco with great ambiance.
After we got home I got our reservation for Monday night – the Boardwalk Inn B&B in St. Ignace, MI – we hope to spend Monday on Mackinac Island but with the rainy forecast we may do something else and then go to Mackinac on Tuesday – we’re staying flexible and not planning too far ahead. Just hope to spend Monday night the 8th in Des Moines!
Tomorrow we’re looking at an early start as we head into Michigan – destination Charlevoix in the northwest part of the lower part of the state – at the Inn of the Seven Gables. Don’t know when I’ll be at a computer again…….
