The Sun Comes Out

Thursday was a beautiful day and gratefully so because we had a lot of walking to do.  We took a quick stop at Millenium Park and the Cloud Gate sculpture better known as the BEAN.

The refelctive surface provides a sort of funhouse self-portrait effect

This is from underneath looking straight up

Next to  Water Tower Place (shopping) but we walked back down Michigan Ave. to Eddie Bauer. All I bought was a lousy T shirt. We then trodded north again to meet the group and the bus after a little exploring the 5 story mall at Water Tower Place.

The sidewalks on Michigan Ave. are rampant with mini-gardens.  Some even have water features.  The dividers in the center of the street are also planted.

Navy Pier was our next stop where we boarded the OdysseyII for an very yummy lunch cruise.



Right next to the big wheel was this guy "fixing the roof" of a huge tent.  Looks like he's on a ski slope. 

View from Lake Michigan & skyline of Chicago from the back of the boat

After an enormous lunch we walked it and our feet off on the mile and a half to the Chicago Institute of Art.  We left the group at this point and will meet up with them at dinner.



These pictures are out of order.  The exterior shot of the museum garden should be at the end but I am having technical difficulties!

We visited the Impressionist and American Art up to 1900 (2 hours) before heading out for another walk further south on Michigan Ave. to our hotel where we got a taxi to dinner at Tommy Gun's Garage.  I liked it better than I thought I would.  You can check it out here.  No  photography allowed.

http://www.tommygunsgarage.com/