Hello friends & family - Back to blogging, I am in my element! Before our ladies trip began, I could not help myself, and typed up what is now referred to as "The Binder", an itinerary and many many pages of Chicago info for the ladies to read on their flight, so that upon hitting Chicago they would be somewhat "up to speed" on what this great city is all about. Duly noted, from this point on, if anyone sounds surprised or impressed about some tid-bit of Chicago lore that a tour guide has spoken, I am known to lean over and say those words they have learned to DREAD "Hello!!! Didn't you read that in THE BINDER?"
SOOOO according to THE BINDER, we were scheduled to depart from LAX on Sunday (the day after July 4) on a 9:00am flight. That morning, American Airlines called us with the cheery news that our 9am flight would actually be taking off at 6pm! Bob Sacks set to work...THIS would not do for us ladies...and together with the AA representative, we were put on a 2:20pm flight. Upon hearing this news, Colleen demanded to know, "Why wasn't this flight change in THE BINDER?"
Upon arriving at O'Hare (remodeled and quite lovely since Cindy's been here), we jumped into a taxi and went straight to the The Drake Hotel, a magnificient classic Chicago icon, which opened way back on December 31, 1920. At the time, a single room was $5.00/day WITH a bath. Photos of dignitaries and famous folks adorn the walls of the beautiful lobby. (Unless I was dreaming, I received a phone call last night from the concierge asking for a photo of the Huntington Honeys to be displayed next to Princess Di).
We ate dinner at a fun outdoor restaurant on Rush Street, which on Sunday night was hopping!!! We had asked to be seated outside but the waitress informed us that we had just missed the "after 11:00pm no one can eat outside" city ordinance, so no worries we sat just inside in the open air bar area. Then it was back to The Drake for bed, as we
had a big day ahead of us.
Monday brought sunshine & breezy weather...perfect for what Official Tour Guide Chris had planned for us. Off we set on foot from The Drake, down Chicago's Magnificient Mile (Michigan Avenue) where we stopped every few feet to admire over how beautiful the city is with it's clean avenues, flowers and plants EVERYWHERE, sparkling stores (closed...but we would be returning soon), and incredible buildings. I am sure Chicago must have grafitti, but so far we have not seen ANY. We boarded The First Lady, the Chicago Architectual Foundation River Cruise, for a 90 minute tour of the city's diverse and striking architecture...suffice it to say it was a WOW experience! Every building was more impressive and OMG than the next.
Then we headed further down Michigan Avenue to Millennium Park, a 24.5 acre park in the middle of downtown Chicago. Built in a run down, train track section of the city in 2004, this park is fantastic! Upon entering, you see the Jay Pritzker Pavillion, designed by our very own Frank Gehry, then the Kapoor Sculpture, better known as The Bean. People young & old are seated on the grass reading or playing with their kids...everyone outside enjoying their city! Our next stop was right next door, the beautiful Chicago Art Institute, where we entered through the brand new Modern Art wing (this after Anne had her Hot Dog for the day...she gets a little cranky if she doesn't eat on a regular schedule). A world class museum, you could spend many days and still not see everything it offers.
A little arts & crafts shopping followed (no fear, if AMEX calls you hubbys just ignore them. They don't know what they are talking about, and must be mistaking one of us for someone else...). Exausted from making that perfect decision of what to buy as a sovenier, we took a taxi back to The Drake and walked across the street to visit Chris's fabulous mom, better known as "Mother", but you can call her Marie. Marie lives in the same building as Oprah, indeed only 4 floors below her on the 52nd floor, and has been known to run into her with her doggies & bodyguard from time to time in the elevator. Marie's beautiful apartment has spectacular views of the city enhanced by her floor to ceiling windows. A highlight of our visit was seeing Marie's very special collection of evening bags, especially her small petit-point needlepointed purses. Colleen was especially admiring of her tiny pink one...note to Chris - check with Mother to see if it is still in the display case... hmmm...
Then we went back to the hotel for some R&R before heading out to dinner
at Oprah's favorite restaurant TABLE 52, for a delicious meal. Tomorrow we head off to "memory lane" - the suburbs of Oak Park and River Forest, where Chris and Cindy will regal the ladies with "Here's where I got married...Here's where I went to elementary school...Here's the Burger King where all well mannered and appropriate teenagers met at 1:00am..."
Stay tuned!!
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