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| Cloud Gate, Chicago |
Not having a lot of free time to see the sights, we used a self-guided walking tour booklet by Metrowalkz , which included route maps for different areas of the city and gave good background on the main sights. The routes were interesting, scenic and felt very safe.
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| Millennium Park, Chicago |
One of our highlights was Millennium Park, a large (25 acre) open space amidst the tall buildings. It includes the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, an impressive outdoor venue designed by Frank Gehry
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| Millennium Park, Chicago |
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| Cloud Gate, Chicago |
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| Millennium Park, Chicago |
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| Cloud Gate, Chicago |
The most arresting thing that we saw there, however, was the Cloud Gate (by Anish Kapoor). Also known by locals as ‘the bean’, it’s a flowing sculpture that’s highly reflective in all directions, like a hall of mirrors.
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| Cloud Gate, Chicago |
It’s fun to play with taking various pictures of yourself and the surrounding buildings, including from right under the sculpture. Of course everyone wants to play in the same way, so it’s best to avoid going there at peak times if you want some of the reflections to yourself without waiting for too long.
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| Cloud Gate, Chicago |
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| Cloud Gate, Chicago |
Another stand-out place that we visited was the Art Institute of Chicago. Travelling a lot, we often find it often too easy to get a bit bored by museums and galleries, but this rose above most of them. Maybe it partly depends on what you like. But if you like Impressionism, then you’d love the many very recognisable works on show, including loads of Monet haystacks. There was also a very large temporary Picasso exhibition, which one of us liked a lot, the other not so much.
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| Willis Tower, Chicago |
We also rose above the sights in another way, in The Signature Lounge on the 96th floor, 875 N Michigan Ave (the John Hancock Centre). Visit this stylish bar as an alternative to the 103rd floor view from the Willis (formerly the Sears) Tower, and for the entrance fee saved you can buy a cocktail or a couple of beers.
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| Willis Tower, Chicago |
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| Willis Tower, Chicago |
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| view from Willis Tower, Chicago |
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| view from Willis Tower, Chicago |
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| Tribune Building, Chicago |
The neo-gothic Tribune Tower is a peculiar building, as the outside includes 120 labelled stones from various world structures, including the Berlin Wall, Westminster Abbey, and the Coliseum. It is unclear whether all of these were acquired openly and honestly, but it is interesting to see what’s there.
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| Tribune Building, Chicago |
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| Tribune Building, Chicago |
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| Tribune Building, Chicago |
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| Tribune Building, Chicago |
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| Chicago Cultural Centre |
The Chicago Cultural Centre, dating from 1897, is also worth a look. Originally the city’s central library, which was established with a donation of 8000 books after the Great Chicago Fire of 1870 destroyed the old public reading rooms, it has a Greek/Roman style.
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| Tiffany dome, Chicago Cultural Centre |
But we especially liked the restored 38-foot Tiffany stained-glass dome, containing 30000 pieces of glass – the world’s largest Tiffany stained-glass dome.
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| Healy-Millet dome, Chicago Cultural Centre |
There is also the nearly as impressive, 40-foot Healy-Millet stained glass dome.
The Centre hosts many free arts events and exhibitions, so make sure it’s not closed for a show if you just want to pop in to look around.
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| Chicago Cultural Centre |
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| Chicago Cultural Centre |
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| Chicago Cultural Centre |
Another stand-out place that we visited was the Art Institute of Chicago. Travelling a lot, we often find it often too easy to get a bit bored by museums and galleries, but this rose above most of them. Maybe it partly depends on what you like. But if you like Impressionism, then you’d love the many very recognisable works on show, including loads of Monet haystacks. There was also a very large temporary Picasso exhibition, which one of us liked a lot, the other not so much.
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