Jo’s Monday Walk…the Windy City

Today you’ll be happy to be doing a virtual walk, as this walk was cold and windy, windy being a trademark of Chicago, and as I’m writing this, it’s also cold and windy. But you don’t even have to bundle up, whereas this poor lion in front of the Art Institute of Chicago was wearing nothing but a wreath. (He’s even blue with cold!) The enormous line of people waiting were bundled up a lot more.

We’ve seen part of the weaving exhibit at the musuem, but today we’re going to venture around the environs of the museum, heading toward The Bean, more formally known as Cloud Gate, in Millennium Park. But first let’s take a look at Crown Fountain, where the faces change regularly in all seasons, but no water comes out in winter. Wonder why? 🙂

Conceptual artist Jaume Plensa’s interactive, larger-than-life video sculpture is composed of a black granite reflecting pool positioned between a pair of 50-foot glass brick towers that use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to display digital videos. From May through October, the faces of Chicago locals spout water from pouting lips, showering splashers with cooling spray.

(From https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/parks-outdoors/millennium-park-campus/)

Debuting in 2005, British artist Anish Kapoor’s first outdoor public sculpture in the United States and one of the largest of its kind in the world, The Bean, as it’s more familiarly known, is an iconic Chicago landmark and destination. If you want to be nice, you could offer to take pictures for people so they can all get in the shot. I’ve done it and people really appreciate it because who wants to be left out of the photo and it’s really much too big to catch in a selfie at arm’s length!

When it’s cold enough, the hardy can be found ice skating. Has to be warmer than waiting in line for the Museum. At least you’re moving!

As with all good walks in winter, you should eventually end up indoors, preferably somewhere with good food and drink. Miller’s Pub had been recommended to our younger daughter and although there was a line for tables, we managed to find two seats at the end of the bar. (You might enjoy the story of the pub if you click on the link above.) Her friend had also recommended the Tom and Jerry, described by Wikipedia as:

…a traditional Christmastime cocktail in the United States, devised by British journalist Pierce Egan in the 1820s. It is a variant of eggnog with brandy and rum added and served hot, usually in a mug or a bowl.

I don’t do eggnog, but my daughter tried and like it and our bartender was excellent.

We were also ready to eat. This was her meal, which looked amazing. I had a corned beef sandwich, only to realize once again that, except for perhaps New York City, there’s no corned beef like that in Cleveland! We did, however, have a great time and I hope you did as well.

for Jo’s Monday Walk