Steve Wilson’s Day Off
Well, technically Steve didn’t play hooky from work. But he did have an unexpected day off. And like Ferris Bueller, we had a free day in this marvelous city of Chicago, and we made the most of it.
We started with the Chicago Architecture Center’s River Cruise. It was a beautiful day to be out on the water. We enjoyed learning more about Chicago’s iconic skyscrapers and seeing them from different vantage points. It was inspiring to see the Chicago skyline from out in the harbor - a good dose of awe!
After the river cruise, we walked to the Loop for lunch at The Berghoff, the iconic German restaurant founded in 1898, still family-owned and operated and serving great food and beer on Adams Street. After lunch, we walked up Michigan Avenue, where buskers played Chicago blues, providing a lively soundtrack for our day off.
After lunch, we did a walking tour of several iconic Golden Age buildings in the area. In contrast to other architecture tours, this one featured the marvelous interiors. Highlights included the art deco peacock doors and magnificent lobby at the Palmer House hotel, and the colossal Tiffany glass dome in the Cultural Center (formerly the Public Library). Many good doses of awe!
Ferris Bueller ended his day with a parade; we had a picnic with a free concert at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. The Grant Park Festival Orchestra played a selection of epic music by the great John Williams. It was a fitting finale for a memorable day off.
