Thursday, April 3, 2003. Exploring the windy city.

Craig worked today. Joan, the kids and I took a taxi down to Deani and Don’s apartment in Hyde Park directly across the green from the Museum of Science and Industry. http://www.msichicago.org/ Joan hopped out, and the three of us went to explore the museum ‘til lunchtime. Deani picked us up for a delightful lunch of jerk chicken and spicy conversation at a Caribbean restaurant, “Calypso,” near the University of Chicago. Afterwards, we stopped by their lovely hi-rise to see Don. They’re contemporary art patrons, so it was as if we were on a private gallery viewing. The kids recognized their Barcelona chairs (except they were made of a handsome tan leather instead of black), and Deani explained Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s connection to Chicago. The Barcelona connection “haunted” us the rest of our visit. 

Maddie at the train exhibit The kids and I returned to the science museum until it closed. Hands down, this is one of the best museums we’ve ever visited. We could’ve stayed another day and still not seen it all. Madison’s favorite exhibit was The Great Train Story, a 3,500 square-foot model railroad layout showing the rail link from Seattle to Chicago, with a fascinating urban landscape of both cities. Dating back to a city design project his first year with favorite teacher Mrs. Ward, Maddie has his sights set on being an urban designer. Lizzy and I thought the section on genetics was the best. Other things we liked at this museum included The Farm, the mock-up of how residential plumbing works with real toilets and fresh and (uncontaminated) sewer water gushing through the pipes, and the F14 Tomcat flight simulator. We particularly regretted not having time to go down the authentic coal shaft. We saw the IMAX movie “Magic of Flight.” It’s terrific.

Normally, we’d rely more on public transportation to get around, but the weather only worsened over our brief stay, and cabs were cheap. So, we hailed a taxi outside the museum and headed back up to the Navy Pier, a large entertainment complex extending out into Lake Michigan. Maddie had wanted desperately to see the Children’s Museum, located on the Pier, and I knew it was open late on Thursdays and free. So, after we first blew too much moola doing a very lame 3D thrill ride and then a fun house maze, Lizzy and I found a cozy place to sit, drink our Starbucks and read while Maddie checked out the museum. I walked around it a bit, as well, and was impressed—this is one of the best children’s museums we’d visited. However, Madison announced on his return that the museum was only “okay,” and on gentle questioning, he admitted he had probably outgrown children’s museums. It was a bittersweet moment for both of us. 

The weather was too nasty for a ride on the Pier’s landmark ferris wheel. We had hoped to take an architectural boat tour, as well, but it was easy to appreciate why they’re not offered until better weather months. Chicago is the home of modern architecture, and we all agreed we’d like to return to take several of the tours featuring the works of Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, among other noted architects who called Chicago home. http://www.architecture.org 
We heard from Craig by cell phone, and coincidentally, his evening’s dinner cruise was going to take place on a yacht docked at the Pier. We walked out to meet him, and he reported that today’s presentation went well—one down, one to go. The kids and I took a quick peek inside the yacht before the party began. On the strength of fond memories of last year’s birthday night out with Madison at the ESPN Zone in Washington, D.C., the kids and I decided to hit the Chicago ESPN Zone for the evening. I had a beer while the kids played $25 worth of games, but there was no climbing wall, race track or other “wow!” features like the DC version, so like spoiled brats, we were disappointed. We decided to skip the overpriced burgers and walk down the street to the infamous “rock ‘n roll” McDonald’s. The prices were higher than usual, presumably to fund the mini collection of primarily Elvis and Beatles paraphernalia. The neighborhood was fringe, the restaurant was dirty, and we’ll never forget the strange patron whose wild-eyed stares and spontaneous guffaws creeped us out. It was a bad choice. We stepped in a grocery to buy a dozen Krispy Kremes for tomorrow’s breakfast and arrived at the hotel around 8:30 p.m., just as Deani was dropping off Joan. We were all beat and asleep by 10 p.m.

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