Chicago GTG GROUP Trip Report June 6-9
Jun 11th, 2013, 03:40 AM
#41
Yesterday morning before I left for the airport, I wandered over to the Chicago Cultural Center, which is the former Chicago Public Library building. Saw the beautiful Tiffany dome, took many pictures.
I am hoping to get my photos together today and post a link, also hoping to do a separate trip report of my whole trip to Chicago.
I am hoping to get my photos together today and post a link, also hoping to do a separate trip report of my whole trip to Chicago.
Jun 11th, 2013, 08:06 AM
#42
Some photos from the weekend. http://nikkichicagojune2013.shutterfly.com/pictures/8
Jun 11th, 2013, 09:42 AM
#44
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I also loved how we had planned activities, but lots of flexibility.
I arrived Thursday, and first stop after checking in was the Field Museum. I had a problem with the time – the clock in my hotel room was an hour fast; the one at the admission desk at the Field was an hour slow. I wasn’t sure what time it was, and thinking I was early, I missed meeting everyone at the Big Beaver, the designated meeting spot. (The only disappointment of the entire trip, lol).
The Field was fascinating – in the short time I was there, I saw the current exhibits on the Lascaux caves and bioluminescense in animals, and these very interesting (and extensive!) permanent exhibits: Ancient Americas, Pacific/Oceania, and part of Egypt.
Afterwards, elberto, Hershey and I went to dinner. We were too impatient to wait until Saturday to try the deep dish pizza, so we went to Gino’s.
Since I was going to miss the Art Institute piece on Saturday (to go to the book signing/author presentation), I spent Saturday AM at the Art Institute. I enjoyed their collections.
Next up was the Architectural Boat Cruise – which was very informative, interesting and – not cold! The forecast high was only 63 that day, but it was sunny and very comfortable on the top deck of the boat.
Back at my hotel, I met Toucan2 who was just arriving in Chicago. We continued on to the GTG on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building.
Wow – what a view up there! The sun was starting to set, so we got to see the city sparkling. I had a very good drink, which was also very pricey ($18!). It was fun to meet up with more Fodors people while up there. A special thank you to mr. and ms. Go, who gave me a Chicago Bulls rally towel! (ms. Go pointed out to me the United Center, where the Bulls (and their Blackhawks!) play. (A friend recently gave my son a rally towel – it was the 76ers Spencer Hawes, I definitely got a better one! Lol)
Saturday was a very fun meet up at the mirror bean (correct name: Cloud Gate) in Millennium Park. We got some great pics in front of (and on!) the Bean. Then we got our morning workouts – Prancercize and Zumba, followed by a walk through Lurie Gardens. The company was so great, it didn’t even feel like exercise, LOL.
Gotta run for now, but as a side note: everyone really rocked the Orange!
I arrived Thursday, and first stop after checking in was the Field Museum. I had a problem with the time – the clock in my hotel room was an hour fast; the one at the admission desk at the Field was an hour slow. I wasn’t sure what time it was, and thinking I was early, I missed meeting everyone at the Big Beaver, the designated meeting spot. (The only disappointment of the entire trip, lol).
The Field was fascinating – in the short time I was there, I saw the current exhibits on the Lascaux caves and bioluminescense in animals, and these very interesting (and extensive!) permanent exhibits: Ancient Americas, Pacific/Oceania, and part of Egypt.
Afterwards, elberto, Hershey and I went to dinner. We were too impatient to wait until Saturday to try the deep dish pizza, so we went to Gino’s.
Since I was going to miss the Art Institute piece on Saturday (to go to the book signing/author presentation), I spent Saturday AM at the Art Institute. I enjoyed their collections.
Next up was the Architectural Boat Cruise – which was very informative, interesting and – not cold! The forecast high was only 63 that day, but it was sunny and very comfortable on the top deck of the boat.
Back at my hotel, I met Toucan2 who was just arriving in Chicago. We continued on to the GTG on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Building.
Wow – what a view up there! The sun was starting to set, so we got to see the city sparkling. I had a very good drink, which was also very pricey ($18!). It was fun to meet up with more Fodors people while up there. A special thank you to mr. and ms. Go, who gave me a Chicago Bulls rally towel! (ms. Go pointed out to me the United Center, where the Bulls (and their Blackhawks!) play. (A friend recently gave my son a rally towel – it was the 76ers Spencer Hawes, I definitely got a better one! Lol)
Saturday was a very fun meet up at the mirror bean (correct name: Cloud Gate) in Millennium Park. We got some great pics in front of (and on!) the Bean. Then we got our morning workouts – Prancercize and Zumba, followed by a walk through Lurie Gardens. The company was so great, it didn’t even feel like exercise, LOL.
Gotta run for now, but as a side note: everyone really rocked the Orange!
Jun 11th, 2013, 07:59 PM
#45
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On Friday morning, Hershey, DS and I met up for a Stray Boots Scavenger Hunt. Hershey purchased the scavenger hunt online and was sent an activation code. We downloaded the ap to an iPhone, entered the code and down Michigan Avenue we went with smart phone in hand. For a couple of hours, the scavenger hunt led us to less obvious places easily overlooked and provided us with information we wouldn't otherwise have learned. Great fun! There are Stray Boot Scavenger Hunts in many US cities and in the UK. https://www.strayboots.com/
On Sunday morning, DS and I ate brunch at the atmospheric Atwood Café in the historic Hotel Burnham. Lovely dining room, good food, drinks and service. Jalapeno infused vodka Bloody Marys and a St. Germain, cava and apple juice concoction were delish. http://www.atwoodcafe.com/chicago-loop-dining.php
Nikki, I love your photos of Lurie Gardens. What a delightful place.
Ann Marie
On Sunday morning, DS and I ate brunch at the atmospheric Atwood Café in the historic Hotel Burnham. Lovely dining room, good food, drinks and service. Jalapeno infused vodka Bloody Marys and a St. Germain, cava and apple juice concoction were delish. http://www.atwoodcafe.com/chicago-loop-dining.php
Nikki, I love your photos of Lurie Gardens. What a delightful place.
Ann Marie
Jun 11th, 2013, 07:59 PM
#46
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>>
I agree!
I got into town Friday afternoon/evening and joined part of the group at Potbelly sandwich shop for dinner then on to the Signature Lounge at the John Hancock building. That was a LOT of fun and so nice to finally get to meet a small group of the 'imaginary friends'.
Saturday I skipped the group events to sleep in (a total luxury) and dink around shopping in the city. I joined the group again for dinner at Lou Malnatis and had a great time with excellent food. I headed home Sunday morning.
I stayed at the Inn of Chicago on the corner of Ohio and Michigan. It was very well located for what I wanted to see and I got a great deal on the room but my room was a bit shabby. That's okay, I'm a bit shabby so it was perfect for me!
I had a fantastic time and hope to go to another GTG sometime. Maybe next year?
I agree!
I got into town Friday afternoon/evening and joined part of the group at Potbelly sandwich shop for dinner then on to the Signature Lounge at the John Hancock building. That was a LOT of fun and so nice to finally get to meet a small group of the 'imaginary friends'.
Saturday I skipped the group events to sleep in (a total luxury) and dink around shopping in the city. I joined the group again for dinner at Lou Malnatis and had a great time with excellent food. I headed home Sunday morning.
I stayed at the Inn of Chicago on the corner of Ohio and Michigan. It was very well located for what I wanted to see and I got a great deal on the room but my room was a bit shabby. That's okay, I'm a bit shabby so it was perfect for me!
I had a fantastic time and hope to go to another GTG sometime. Maybe next year?
Jun 12th, 2013, 07:16 AM
#47
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Between work commitments and having family in from out of town (and the fact that we live 40 miles outside of downtown Chicago), we were only able to come in for the Friday and Saturday evening activities at the Signature Lounge and Lou Malnati’s. It was great to see a few familiar faces from past get-togethers and meet many others for the first time!
In the spirit of a “trip report”… We drove in both evenings. On Friday, we had a quick dinner at the original Emilio’s (tapas) in Hillside, which is always good! Traffic wasn’t too bad for a Friday evening and we paid an exorbitant amount to park a couple blocks south of the Hancock building. We didn’t plan in advance—just picked the first garage we saw after getting off the Drive. What great weather and views that night; we were very lucky! I think the timing at 7 pm worked out well—and not only for seeing the transition from day to night. Despite the lines to get up, the bar wasn’t full yet, and we were able to secure enough space for everyone (thanks, cheribob, for staking claim to some seats and getting that started). Standing in line 15 minutes to get DOWN after was a little unexpected, though!
On Saturday, we had to pick up relatives at O’Hare and then drive in and park near the Vic Theater in Lakeview, where we were seeing a concert after the Lou’s dinner. Between an unexpected ramp closure and detour from 294 into O’Hare and then Saturday traffic into the city on the Kennedy expressway (Blackhawks, Cubs, Bluesfest, etc.), it was just awful getting in—took nearly three hours from the time we left our house.
Despite living in the area, these are things that we don’t do all that often. I think the last time I was up in the Hancock building was about 10 years ago, and as much as I love Lou’s pizza, we only have it once a year or so.
I’m glad the weather turned nice for the weekend (it wasn’t looking so promising earlier in the week) and that everyone had a great time!
PhillyFan, here’s hoping you’ll actually be able to wave that rally towel for real this time next year
A big thanks to all who helped organize this!
In the spirit of a “trip report”… We drove in both evenings. On Friday, we had a quick dinner at the original Emilio’s (tapas) in Hillside, which is always good! Traffic wasn’t too bad for a Friday evening and we paid an exorbitant amount to park a couple blocks south of the Hancock building. We didn’t plan in advance—just picked the first garage we saw after getting off the Drive. What great weather and views that night; we were very lucky! I think the timing at 7 pm worked out well—and not only for seeing the transition from day to night. Despite the lines to get up, the bar wasn’t full yet, and we were able to secure enough space for everyone (thanks, cheribob, for staking claim to some seats and getting that started). Standing in line 15 minutes to get DOWN after was a little unexpected, though!
On Saturday, we had to pick up relatives at O’Hare and then drive in and park near the Vic Theater in Lakeview, where we were seeing a concert after the Lou’s dinner. Between an unexpected ramp closure and detour from 294 into O’Hare and then Saturday traffic into the city on the Kennedy expressway (Blackhawks, Cubs, Bluesfest, etc.), it was just awful getting in—took nearly three hours from the time we left our house.
Despite living in the area, these are things that we don’t do all that often. I think the last time I was up in the Hancock building was about 10 years ago, and as much as I love Lou’s pizza, we only have it once a year or so.
I’m glad the weather turned nice for the weekend (it wasn’t looking so promising earlier in the week) and that everyone had a great time!
PhillyFan, here’s hoping you’ll actually be able to wave that rally towel for real this time next year
A big thanks to all who helped organize this!
Jun 12th, 2013, 10:13 AM
#48
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I hope so, too, ms.go!
The rest of Saturday was a fun day for me. I had only learned that one of my favorite authors was at the Printers Row Book Festival two weeks before leaving for Chicago. I was able to get tickets to a discussion he was having.
It was supposed to be a 45 min. presentation, but after they opened it up to questions, they had to kick us out b/c the auditorium was needed for the next speaker. Andrew Vachss is passionate about his cause (abuse of children), and tells it like it is - it is fascinating listening to him. He doesn't care if you are a politician or celebrity looking for free publicity for supporting the cause - if they say something ignorant, he will call them on it and exposes (all) the flaws in our systems. He can come across as very gruff and impatient. (He writes fiction to get his information out in a way he feels people will read. He says he wants to get you angry, b/c angry people will make the effort to change things).
After the talk, he did a book signing outside. I bought books and waited in line to get them signed. I asked the guy in front of me if he thought AV would be OK with a picture. The guy was like: Uh, I wouldn't ask him that. But Vacchs was so nice to me while signing my books, I asked him if he woudl tolerate a picture. He said Yes and he was very gracious (and funny) about it.
While waiting in line for the discussion, I met a woman who came all the way from Ireland just to hear him speak! She was too nervous to get her book signed, so I told her I would wait in line with her. She finally got up her nerve, with a bit of coaxing from me, and I left her deep in discussion with the author.
Afterwards, I wandered around the book stalls of several vendors lined up for an entire city block. (A city block of books - heaven to me). However, it was very crowded and a bit difficult to jostle to persuse. I did buy one book (in addition to the 2 books I got signed).
The rest of Saturday was a fun day for me. I had only learned that one of my favorite authors was at the Printers Row Book Festival two weeks before leaving for Chicago. I was able to get tickets to a discussion he was having.
It was supposed to be a 45 min. presentation, but after they opened it up to questions, they had to kick us out b/c the auditorium was needed for the next speaker. Andrew Vachss is passionate about his cause (abuse of children), and tells it like it is - it is fascinating listening to him. He doesn't care if you are a politician or celebrity looking for free publicity for supporting the cause - if they say something ignorant, he will call them on it and exposes (all) the flaws in our systems. He can come across as very gruff and impatient. (He writes fiction to get his information out in a way he feels people will read. He says he wants to get you angry, b/c angry people will make the effort to change things).
After the talk, he did a book signing outside. I bought books and waited in line to get them signed. I asked the guy in front of me if he thought AV would be OK with a picture. The guy was like: Uh, I wouldn't ask him that. But Vacchs was so nice to me while signing my books, I asked him if he woudl tolerate a picture. He said Yes and he was very gracious (and funny) about it.
While waiting in line for the discussion, I met a woman who came all the way from Ireland just to hear him speak! She was too nervous to get her book signed, so I told her I would wait in line with her. She finally got up her nerve, with a bit of coaxing from me, and I left her deep in discussion with the author.
Afterwards, I wandered around the book stalls of several vendors lined up for an entire city block. (A city block of books - heaven to me). However, it was very crowded and a bit difficult to jostle to persuse. I did buy one book (in addition to the 2 books I got signed).
Jun 12th, 2013, 10:22 AM
#49
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The big event Sat. night at Lou Malnati's was fun. dutyfree went above and beyond to create a welcome for us - decorating the tables and providing wonderful gift bags.
I would be remiss if I didn't heartily thank her, and amwosu for starting the FB page that allowed us to do much of the organzing, and Toucan2 for making reservations and suggesting meeting times/locations throughout our visit. Everything worked out really well.
Needing to walk pff our dinner, amwosu, Toucan2, mr and mrs. irecommend, annesherrod and I went to check out the Blues Festival. As we arrived, waves and waves of people were talking toward us - we got there just as the festival was ending! I told the group that after reading Fodors Chicago guide book, I was happy to note that we had arranged to do almost all of the things Fodors had recommended that we do. But, I did see a picture of the Buckingham Fountain, so I suggested we go find and see that.
At a checkpoint type area, as crowds of people were funneling out, we were heading into the park area. Security didn't want us to go through, but when we said we wanted to see the fountain, they acquiesed.
A few blocks later, we came to another block in our path and the Chicago cops there said we could go no further. We said we wanted to see the fountain, but they said it was shut off. I asked if they could turn it back on - and they wouldn't! Actually, the cop told me that the shut off valve was actually located in another state.
And now I am totally curious as to WHERE the shut off valve is located and how it works. (Is it a big valve? a button? Who gets to turn it off and on?!)
I would be remiss if I didn't heartily thank her, and amwosu for starting the FB page that allowed us to do much of the organzing, and Toucan2 for making reservations and suggesting meeting times/locations throughout our visit. Everything worked out really well.
Needing to walk pff our dinner, amwosu, Toucan2, mr and mrs. irecommend, annesherrod and I went to check out the Blues Festival. As we arrived, waves and waves of people were talking toward us - we got there just as the festival was ending! I told the group that after reading Fodors Chicago guide book, I was happy to note that we had arranged to do almost all of the things Fodors had recommended that we do. But, I did see a picture of the Buckingham Fountain, so I suggested we go find and see that.
At a checkpoint type area, as crowds of people were funneling out, we were heading into the park area. Security didn't want us to go through, but when we said we wanted to see the fountain, they acquiesed.
A few blocks later, we came to another block in our path and the Chicago cops there said we could go no further. We said we wanted to see the fountain, but they said it was shut off. I asked if they could turn it back on - and they wouldn't! Actually, the cop told me that the shut off valve was actually located in another state.
And now I am totally curious as to WHERE the shut off valve is located and how it works. (Is it a big valve? a button? Who gets to turn it off and on?!)
Jun 12th, 2013, 02:05 PM
#51
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Actually Dave... kind of not, just not exactly up to date. 
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/p...rial-fountain/
The computer known as the Honeywell Excel-Plus is located in the Fountain's pump house. The computer was moved here from Atlanta, Georgia, during the 1994 renovation.
http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/p...rial-fountain/
The computer known as the Honeywell Excel-Plus is located in the Fountain's pump house. The computer was moved here from Atlanta, Georgia, during the 1994 renovation.
Jun 12th, 2013, 04:29 PM
#53
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PhillyFan, I can't imagine anyone turning down the opportunity for a photo op with YOU. And kudos to you for encouraging the woman from Ireland to have her book signed. You are responsible for making her trip far more memorable.
Ann Marie
Ann Marie
Jun 15th, 2013, 02:44 PM
#54
I have just about finished my trip report here:
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-revisited.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...-revisited.cfm
Dec 28th, 2013, 03:13 AM
#59
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Nikki, do you remember our conversation about my grandson who was leaving for Spain in September, for his senior year in high school? This was at lunch at the museum. We talked about what it takes to get admitted to college (and scholarship/financial aid) and you were very encouraging about his chances. Well, he applied to Brown University, did the early notification thing, and was notified a couple of weeks ago that he was accepted! We are all so excited for him. So, thanks for the encouraging words then!
