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So, first full day of exploration.
Started with a river Architecture tour ob the Lickety Spit. Our lovely guide covered the various buildings, the styles, the purpose and so on. Chicago was where modernism started - the idea being that form follows function, where the structure istelf defines the look, rather than ornamentation. This then led to post-modernism which tends towards the referential. This can be archtecture in-jokes, sympathy with the surroundings, or evoking other objects.
The thing I like about Chicago architecture is it really is skyscraper city. In other cities a few tall buildings tend to overshadow their neighbours. This doesn't happen in Chicago. Not even Sears Tower. At 103 stories, it's the tallest building in the city, but not by that vast a margin. So it blends in rather than dominates. The Trump tower deliberately does this by having its various levels at the same height as neighbouring buildings.
So, after this I was feeling cultural, so I went to the Art Museum. But not before getting a hot dog. Done in a DIY style - you get a bun and sausage, and the condiments are at the end. The state of Illionois reserves the death penalty for people who put ketchup on the thing. While I wouldn't say the Hot Dog is culinary excellence, it's tasty and ketchup would make it taste of ketchup.
Art museum was worth a visit. I'm not a huge art lover, so tend to whiz around until I see something I really like. In this case it was some of the more modern stylistic pieces. Still don't get Jackson Pollack. Some nice Picassos and Dalis though. Also, of course, the famous Nighthawks by Edward Hopper. Was disappointed that the Lichtenstein exhibition wasn't open yet.
"The Picasso" on Washington Street is impressive. I had no idea ho large it was.
Finished off the evening at a meetup group at a bar in the north of the city, chatted about Sci-fi and played Alhambra. They did a passable belgian style beer. I find the local craft beers all have this bitterness to them though. I wonder if this is just what the locals expect.
I think I made a friend. One of the people at the meetup suggested I call her if I want someone to do stuff with. Should probably take her up on this.
Started with a river Architecture tour ob the Lickety Spit. Our lovely guide covered the various buildings, the styles, the purpose and so on. Chicago was where modernism started - the idea being that form follows function, where the structure istelf defines the look, rather than ornamentation. This then led to post-modernism which tends towards the referential. This can be archtecture in-jokes, sympathy with the surroundings, or evoking other objects.
The thing I like about Chicago architecture is it really is skyscraper city. In other cities a few tall buildings tend to overshadow their neighbours. This doesn't happen in Chicago. Not even Sears Tower. At 103 stories, it's the tallest building in the city, but not by that vast a margin. So it blends in rather than dominates. The Trump tower deliberately does this by having its various levels at the same height as neighbouring buildings.
So, after this I was feeling cultural, so I went to the Art Museum. But not before getting a hot dog. Done in a DIY style - you get a bun and sausage, and the condiments are at the end. The state of Illionois reserves the death penalty for people who put ketchup on the thing. While I wouldn't say the Hot Dog is culinary excellence, it's tasty and ketchup would make it taste of ketchup.
Art museum was worth a visit. I'm not a huge art lover, so tend to whiz around until I see something I really like. In this case it was some of the more modern stylistic pieces. Still don't get Jackson Pollack. Some nice Picassos and Dalis though. Also, of course, the famous Nighthawks by Edward Hopper. Was disappointed that the Lichtenstein exhibition wasn't open yet.
"The Picasso" on Washington Street is impressive. I had no idea ho large it was.
Finished off the evening at a meetup group at a bar in the north of the city, chatted about Sci-fi and played Alhambra. They did a passable belgian style beer. I find the local craft beers all have this bitterness to them though. I wonder if this is just what the locals expect.
I think I made a friend. One of the people at the meetup suggested I call her if I want someone to do stuff with. Should probably take her up on this.
