With nothing to do today, I decided to take the Blue Line into Chicago proper to have a delicious Giordano's pizza for lunch and see what's new at the Apple Store. I've been to Chicago many times, which makes it easy for me, since I already know where everything is and how to get there.
The pizza was bitchin' (as usual), though I ate too much (also as usual). There are several Giordano's locations in the city, but I like the one on Rush St. best, and was not disappointed. Around the corner on Michigan Ave. was the beautiful Chicago Apple Store, where I proceeded to immediately fall in love with the new iPod that can play video. When it was first released, I decided the screen was too small... but, after holding one in person, I see that it is perfectly watchable and totally sweet. Damn you Apple! I want one bad. So bad I nearly dropped the FOUR HUNDRED FREAKIN' DOLLARS to take one with me. Ultimately, I decided it might be nice to eat for the month of December and... very reluctantly... decided against it.
I did buy a copy of Bejeweled 2, which is the sequel to one of my favorite time-wasters. The new version is really beautiful, and they've added some cool new toys that make it even more fun than the original...
After drooling over everything in the Apple Store, I decided to head to the Art Institute Museum since I missed it the last time I was in the city. The guardian lions at the entrance have been dressed for the holidays, which is kind of cool...
This truly sweet museum holds numerous well-known works, including American Gothic which, oddly enough, is out on loan to a museum in Rapid City Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Most children of the 80's (such as myself) will best know the museum for Seurat's A Sunday on La Grande Jatte from the movie Ferris Bueller's Day Off...
And Mary Cassatt's beautifully rendered painting The Bath...
And Edward Hopper's much-imitated work Nighthawks...
But my favorite is the nifty collection of Monet's, which includes an entire series of Stacks of Wheat, painted in different seasons and different times of day, along with this haunting Waterloo Bridge painting...
Two hours is much-too-brief a time to spend at a museum this fine but, since I had been here a few times before, I decided it would be best to be getting back to my hotel before rush hour came.
And just like that, my Chicago adventure comes to a close... but not really...
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pizza!!! i want pizza too! sounds like you’re having a good time.. take care!
I really love that museum. One of my favorite things in that museum is a painting by Jackson Pollack that pre-dated his well known style. He was a cubist painter before that. It’s not a great painting and I don’t really like Pollack but I thought that was interesting.
Poor guy looks out of sorts in his new garb.
Love your ramblings and pics.
However, a world traveler like you could at least keep the “Rapids” cities right. It’s RAPID CITY, South Dakota. GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan. And CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. (Sorry, just a pet peeve of mine.)
CR happens to be Grant Woods country, so American Gothic deserves some time there. It’s also only a half-day from Chicago by car.
On the way is the Herbert Hoover Presidential Museum and Library, a surprisingly fascinating display right alongside I-80.
Come on, you don’t need to eat this month! Go get that new iPod!!!
Hmmm, the Art Institute Museum looks like the museum in TheRelic. I wonder if it is?
“Nighthawks At The Diner” … one of my favorite Tom Waits albums. I’d like to listen to it while staring into that painting.
Whats the cliffhanger ending about? Is there an alternative post finalé on some TV show tonight?
I’ve been missing Chicago a bit lately, and am rather jealous that you got to eat my favorite pizza. If you’re looking for an amazing beer selection (you may already know this), try out The Map Room (blue line to Damen – it’s on Armitage) or The Hopleaf (Clark & Foster).
It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Chicago, and sadly, I don’t remember too mucha bout it other than Giordano’s and the aquarium. I’d really like to return so I can visit all the other cool stuff, or if I’ve already seen it, so I can just remember the stuff I’ve already seen.
If you like Thai, when in Chi town, and want service so fast it will blow your mind, try:
Star of Siam
11 E Illinois
Chicago, IL 60611 View Map
(312) 670-0100
Cross Street: State Street
Directions: El: Red Line to Grand
Me loves it.
Wow..I loved Chicago…great pics Dave! Haven’t been to Chi-town since 1986. *sigh*
HAH! Finally you visit somewhere I’ve actually been… Now I don’t feel like such a sedentary moron any more. Thank you.
PS. The new Bejeweled really does look great!
D’oh… I swear that the information guy told me “Rapid City!” I’ve only been to Iowa City (never making it up to Cedar Rapids) or else I hopefully would have remembered that! 🙂
Oh no!!! BEJEWELED 2? I did NOT need to know that. Yes I did. But not I didn’t. There goes the rest of my evening!
Indeed. My life is ruined now that I’ve discovered the new “Puzzle Mode” in Bejeweled 2! 🙂