Finally, Millenium Park

I finally made it to Millenium Park. It was a long time coming.

In early February of this year, I saw Cloud Gate (aka "The Bean") for the first time, during the few extremely cold minutes before I caught a Metra train down to the University of Chicago.

Last month the whole Splotchy family traveled to the park, but we didn't see any of it because we were down there to watch a cousin of MizSplotchy compete in a pro bicycling event.

So, it was yesterday when we finally devoted time to see some of the park.

We first headed over to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. I had seen the top of it when occasionally walking around in the Loop, and I really didn't like the look of the thing from the side.

After getting a closer look at the thing, I am still going to say that from the side it's not that aesthetically pleasing, but I really did like it head-on:



I think a concert would be nice here, as I am guessing the place has a great sound system, having speakers strategically placed throughout the space. I found the intersecting lines above the field to be somehow kind of comforting.


There was a puppet show going on when we arrived, so we sat down and watched for a bit.



Oh shit, I've been spotted


The kids were getting a little restless, so we left the puppet show before it finished, and checked out Cloud Gate, aka The Bean. It was very impressive.



Under the bean was quite delightful, too.



After having a relatively inexpensive lunch (I had a "Maxwell Street" burger), we headed over to the Crown Fountain to frolic.



By this time the kids were getting kind of tired, so we wrapped it up and headed home. I know there is more to see at the park, but this was what we did that day, and I'm glad we were finally able to visit.

These Things Won't Be Around Much Longer, Folks

If you live in the Chicago area and you haven't been to the following attractions, their last days are both on October 31st.

You will kick yourself if you miss either of them. If you miss them and you don't kick yourself, don't worry, I'll make sure someone kicks you.

Niki In The Garden
A celebration of the work of sculptor Niki de Saint Phalle, at the marvelous Garfield Park Conservatory.

The Garfield Park Conservatory is steps from a stop on the Green Line. If you want to drive, there's free parking. To walk through the lovely greenhouses and an amazing new grassy space out behind the greenhouses, all of them having wonderful sculptures, a $5.00 donation is requested.





One of the highlights of the exhibit was "La Cabeza", which you could actually walk inside.






Freaky Frights On Forest
A two-block stretch in the western suburb of North Riverside -- motion-activated, eerily-lit fog-enshrouded, spooky music enchanted, gross and fantastical Halloween wonderment.



I took these pictures with my digital camera. I didn't want to despook the surroundings with a flash, so I just tried my best at holding the camera still. Some pictures came out a little too blurry, but some also came out kind of cool as a result.



This is the second year I've gone to Freaky Frights. There was a lot of new stuff this year, but this spooky glowing puppet inside a little house was once again my favorite.






Woo, I got the moon in there! It was almost full.



Dracula was actually under a strobe light, which probably contributed to this strange effect.