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Art, Culture, and an Anniversary in Chicago

We arrived in Chicago last Wednesday on a warm, overcast afternoon, ready to explore this iconic city and excited to visit the Obama Presidential Center. I booked our museum tickets in April; the center opened in mid-June, and here we are in late September, celebrating the autumnal equinox and our 31st wedding anniversary, and reminiscing about a time of compassionate and intelligent leadership. Yes We Can – Barack Obama Music Video

One of our favorite NPR radio shows, Wait Wait, Don’t Tell Me, records on Thursdays at the renovated Studebaker Theater. They tour the country throughout the year, so we lucked out getting tickets while they were here in town. We laughed and cheered at the two-hour show, which will be edited down to an hour. It will be fun listening to the podcast when we’re back home, knowing we were in the audience.

The following night we attended an improv show at The Second City, known for launching several show business careers, including Alan Alda, Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Gilda Radner, and Jason Sudeikis. I’ve taken improv classes before, so I appreciate the talent on stage and wish them all future success. It was another night of laughter.

Exterior view of The Second City building featuring a prominent yellow sign and decorative architecture, surrounded by trees and urban elements.

We’ve been walking three to five miles a day, stopping in at unexpected places like a Harry Potter store

A person enjoying Butterbeer in a cafe with a window view, smiling while holding a cup with foam on top, under a colorful 'Butterbeer' sign.

and a Starbucks Reserve, a multi-story destination with fabulous displays, tastings, tours, and all things coffee.

It goes without saying that I’ve loved all the sidewalk gardens lining Michigan Ave,

along with a current art installation by sculptor Carole A. Feuerman along the Magnificent Mile.  Her sculptures are extraordinary. I found her website and Facebook page so I can learn a bit more about her.

Brooke with Beach Ball
Quan
Eyes Open
Patience (with Pearl White Suit)

Mike and I both love architecture, and I’m a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s work, so we took the train to nearby Oak Park for a docent-led tour of Wright’s first home and studio. The volunteer docent shared fascinating details about the man and his work.

Hearth: Frank Lloyd Wright

Today we took a different kind of architectural tour along the Chicago River. I have a renewed appreciation for the design elements and the challenges of building along the waterfront. Every building told a story.

Needless to say, we’ve had several enjoyable meals and coffee breaks (coffee for Mike, tea or diet soft drinks for me) along with visits to a couple of art museums.

The only disappointment so far was having to cancel the Botanic Gardens. It poured rain that day, all day, so we went to a museum instead.

Rainy day view from the Art Institute
Rainy day view from the Art Institute

I had hoped to see the temporary art installation at the Botanic Gardens called Evanescent, which ended Sunday. Sue, who blogs at The Nature of Things, wrote about it earlier this summer. You can view her fabulous photos of the bubbles here.

We’re having a restful evening back at our hotel, then we’ll be off to what will surely be the highlight of our trip. I’ve been asking everyone to manifest a meet-and-greet with Michelle Obama. Wouldn’t that be something? 

“While we breathe, we will hope.” – Barack Obama

A rainy afternoon at the Art Institute of Chicago

34 thoughts on “Art, Culture, and an Anniversary in Chicago”

  5. So many interesting and diverse things ~ I am not sure what to comment on first. Maybe the feeling that you have been able to see and experience many things that you have wanted to see for a long time. And special that they all lived up to expectations. Oh I do hope you got to see Michelle Obama!

    The photos of you and Mike are very special. You both look so happy and are obviously enjoying the time and each other’s company. Many congratulations on having 31 years together. Here’s to the next 31 😘

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    • Thank you for your gracious comments, Anne. I thought about you, your art, and your recent post about London as we made our way through the museum. Here is the link to a 100-foot painting called Paradise Lost by Raqib Shaw. His use of automobile paint, among other unique mediums, creates texture and illumantion.

      https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions/10569/raqib-shaw-paradise-lost

      We’re having fun together and enjoying the break from daily life.

      No Michelle Obama sightings, but the museum experience was joyful, emotional, and extraordinary.
      .

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  12. Wow – who was looking spectacularly gorgeous in her outfit…Alys perhaps? Wonderful photos and what a time in Chicago! I’ve been there many times (John used to have to go on business) and I remember visiting Oak Park years ago – love FLW also! We always have fun at Starbucks Reserve and could spend hours sitting around there. We actually got a couple of their mugs to just remember the experience. I am not a big proponent of Starbucks but I am in love the the huge Reserve locations and the vibe! I once spent 4 hours at the Art Institute in Chicago and that was dreamy – wonderful way to spend an rainy afternoon, well done :-)

    I will forever miss the days of “Yes We Can” and I feel so lucky to have been alive during that time :-)

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    • Thank you for your sweet words, Tierney. It’s fun dressing up now and again.

      I’m so happy to hear that you’re a fan of Chicago. We’re having such a good time. We did a walking tour today of famous interiors, including the original library. Oh my goodness it’s gorgeous.

      Tierney, we got a pair of mugs, too, to commemorate our trip with something practical. My tea mugs at home have dwindled, so these will be put to good use.

      The Obama museum left a profound impression on us. I teared up a few times, but also smiled and remembered. Hope and “Yes We Can” rang out several times. Like you, I’m glad to have lived through the Obama years. I spoke with and embrassed a woman there about my age, and she said “we just have to get through this.”

      I still shake my head wondering how we got here.

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  13. Wowsah, what a trip! So much to comment on: the art, the architecture, the shows, the flowers. How pretty you look in that lovely dress., A very happy anniversary to you and Mike! Can’t wait to read about your visit to the Obama library.

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  15. Happy Anniversary to you both! ❣️ What a beautiful dress Alys! Chicago looks and sounds like a great city and you seem to have made the most of it. The coffee houses and art installations would appeal to me too. What did the butterbeer taste like? 😁 Such a shame about the Botanical Gardens, but the art gallery visit must have been a highlight too. Glad you both enjoyed it!

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    • Thank you so much, Cathy. We’re having a wonderful week. I found that wrap in a local shop while browsing with my friend, Mary. I needed something to wear with my black dress. When I got it home, I realized it worked perfectly with the blue dress as well. It’s fun to dress up for special occassions.

      The swimmers on display are extraordinary. The skin tones, the musculature, and even the bathing suit details are amazing. They all look serene.

      I’ve been curious about butterbeer for ages, and I can say with confidence that it’s one-and-done. It was far too sweet and heavy for my tastes, but I’m glad I tried it. The store is an adventure, with people lining up to try on the sorting hat, or spinning a wheel to land on flavored jelly beans. They have an entire section selling wands (who knew), and clever displays above the merchandise, reminescent of all the books. I read the first four or five books outloud to my younger son.

      I love botanic gardens, but in the grand scheme of things, it was ok to let it go, and yes, time in an art museum on a rainy day is never wasted.

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  16. You certainly ‘did Chicago’ in style! FYI: a great novel based upon FLW you might be interested in – “Loving Frank” by Nancy Horan. I was born in the Chicago area, and raised thereafter from my early teens in Boulder, CO so the references to places in the novel are nostalgic as well as fairly accurate. Congrats on the Anniversary!

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    • Laura, thank you for letting me know you were raised in Chicago. We’ve met wonderful people here, with a warmth and friendliness that I didn’t expect for a big city. It’s nurturing.

      I read “Loving Frank” many years ago with my book club. It’s a great read, and nice to hear that the references are fairly accurate.

      Thank you for your well wishes.

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