Millennium Park - Chicago

Photo Blog of Millennium Park in Chicago

So, since I just blogged about my day at Boston's Millennium Park in West Roxbury, it's time to do that photo blog of the big Millennium Park, in Chicago. The more I think about it, the more it's becoming one of my favorite places in the world. These photos might tell you why:

This is the entrance from Michigan Avenue. No big whoop. A little beguiling, actually, considering what's inside.

This is the Elysium, a traditional fixture in Ancient Greece. It's a nod to the past, before you see the rest of the park, which is a giant embrace of the future. I included the skyscraper in the background because it's so very Chicago. It seems there's always a skyscraper in the background of everything in Chicago.

I loved this sculpture but forgot to get its name. Next to it, by the same artist, is a really ugly stupid sculpture lamely called "Johnny Appleseed." It was a lazy hunk of rusted metal slapped together and called art. This piece, on the otherhand, is an elegant sculpture. It looks different from every angle: left, right, front, back. I even went underneath it.

Next was the amphitheatre with a remarkable structure for lighting and bringing sound to the "cheap seats in the back". I took this photo from the bench at the end of the lawn area. The stage is bordered by a sculpture that looks like silver metal ribbons.

After I took the photo, I saw one of the many security guards. This woman, like all the other guards, gets around the park on a Segue.


In a nod to traditional city parks, Millennium also has a large garden section. There's wild flowers, evergreens, and this long waterway, which park-goers have turned into a wishing well.

After walking around this area, I finally came to the piece d' existence of Millennium Park. I can't remember the formal name for this structure, but it's informally and affectionately called "The Bean."

I have no idea why I was so obsessed with it, but I wasn't alone. This is it from afar. Next is close. Notice the "Adventures in Babysitting" building behind it.

When I got closer, I, like all those around me, became bewitched by the infinite refractions of images. I took lots of pics, but here's the "neat-o-est".

Then this one from the street side with the skyline across it.

After that, it was time to go. I went out the back way, instead of the way I came in. That was a good decision on my part, because it means I got to cross this bridge, which reminded me of the Wizard of Oz, to Grant Park.

The Bean at Millennium Park and Other Chicago Things

So, I went to Chicago last week. It was very very fun. Here's the itinerary, with links and some photos:

Thu nite : Lou Malnati's Deep Dish Pizza - yummmmm

Thu nite cont: The Union, I believe - half off drinks! Sadly, Cubs lost

Fri day: downtown, architectural boat tour, TJ Maxx to buy a jacket because it was colder than I anticipated, Chicago Burger

Fri nite: Red Sox bar called Tripoli Tap. It was more fun to watch the playoffs at a sports bar in a sports town that wasn't Boston but was a Boston sports bar. The crowd was way into it.

Sat day: Wrigleyville to take obligatory photo and shop for obligatory souvenirs. Took the El. Then we separated. I went to the Chicago Public Library, because I am a nerd. Then I went back to the souvenir shop because I left my camera there and the nice young man in the Yankee hat who worked there -- that I had given a hard time to the first time I was there because he was wearing a Yankee hat...but anyway -- found it and set it aside for me. When I got back to Wrigley, though, I saw some seriously funky shtuff. It deserves and will get its own blog.

Sat nite: dinner at Ballo then Second City. Second City had some funny skits but some of it was flat. It was still enjoyable though. and who knows, may be one of them is the next Stephen Colbert or Tina Fey and we can say, "We knew him/her when..."

Sun: I went on my own to Millennium Park and even though I was solo, it was my favorite thing. I think I might dedicate a later post with a bunch of my cool photos from there, because I got a bunch. Then I met up with everyone at the Hancock Tower. Then we left Chicago.


It was fun and I'd like to go back again to visit Kat elyn now that she lives there. I want to go to the Field Museum and the Art Institute because I missed that. Plus I'd like to to go Wrigleyville at night.

But for now, I am concentrating all of my traveling efforts, I've decided, on somewhere in mainland Europe, because I've never been and I really would like to.

Up next on the travel section of the blog: my weekend in Martha's Vineyard. Good times! And now I'm broke! But this is what happens when one works part time and goes on vacation two weeks in a row...

(Thank goodness I'm now fully employed, as of today!)