July 3, 2010

Family Vacation

We just got back from a fantastic vacation with our family. The first stop was IL for my daughter's graduation from Northwestern University. Every time I visit Chicago, I like it more. They have great galleries, restaurants, entertainment, friendly people and public transportation. Usually, we stay in Evanston, but this time we stayed in the River North area of Chicago. Here's the view from my hotel.
Can you see the giant frog sitting on the building across the street? It just about gave me a heart attack the first time I looked out the window. Freaky!This giant stainless steel sculpture is located in Millennium Park and is called Cloud Gate or the Bean. The way it reflects everything around it is fantastic, but the best part (IMHO) is inside the bean.Here it is. I'm underneath the bean looking up! How cool is that? Every person turns into an abstracted shape and is reflected many times. I took quite a few photos in here.There are two of these giant towers (40-50 feet) in the park. Each has a different face projected on it and the facial expressions constantly change. You stand there watching it, and the next thing you know, the mouth opens and water comes streaming out. It was a hot day, and the kids were having a great time playing in the water.
Two of my favorite art visits were to Vale Craft Gallery and Chiaroscuro. Everything is handcrafted and gorgeous. Definitely worth visiting.
My next post will feature NYC. Stay tuned!