Day two started with a bit of a setback. I had arranged for a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's home, studio and surrounding homes in Oak Park for what I thought was 8:30am. Turns out, the tour was actually for 10:30am. So, we woke up early, grabbed coffee and rode the L (train) out to Oak Park/Harlem. We were 3 stops away before realizing this. We ended up riding the train for an hour. But it was nice to chat over coffee and see the sights of the green line.
Once we got back, we walked past Millennium Park, and explored Grant Park and the Buckingham Fountain. Now, I'm not one for fountains, but this one was spectacular.
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| Statue outside of the Art Institute of Chicago |
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| Southern-most point of Grant Park |
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| Husband and I in front of Buckingham Fountain |
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| Buckingham Fountain |
After spending the morning by the fountain, we rode the L back to Oak Park. We viewed the surrounding neighborhood homes Frank Lloyd Wright designed first, then finished with a tour of his home and octagonal studio. This is a must-do in Chicago!
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| Home designed by Wright |
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| Frank Thomas House (My favorite home on the tour) |
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| Gorgeous art glass |
We headed back into the city after the tours were over, and shopped for a while on North Michigan Avenue, or the Magnificent Mile. Coming from Dallas, which could be considered one of the best shopping destinations in the South, it was somewhat of a letdown. We didn't encounter any stores that we didn't' have here at home. Not that I need a dress from Escada.
As we walked, I noticed a building that really stood out to me. And in an architectural city like Chicago, that's something. I stopped to read the plaque.
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| Plaque on the Carbide and Carbon Building |
Evidently, this 'champagne bottle' of a building was built by one of the main characters
in the book I was reading at the time. How timely! :)
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| Carbide and Carbon Building |
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| Carbine and Carbon Building |
For dinner we took it easy and had a burger and a Chicago area beer. Then we went on a City Lights cruise of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan. What a windy trip!
The architecture was highlighted by (no pun intended) the lights. Gorgeous!
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| View from Lake Michigan on the City Lights cruise |
Glad you had a good time, and I'm especially glad you made it out to Oak Park, my home town (village) that I miss so much.
ReplyDeleteJoe Madden went to Chicago last week and also ate at Avec. He raved as well.
I'm hungry now. ;-)