Shedd
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We had breakfast again at Yolk. I went the savory route with biscuits, gravy, eggs, and potatoes. The star of meal was their strawberry orange juice Beth ordered after seeing many glasses. It wasn’t too sweet and had a perfect juice ratio. I wish I would have ordered a glass as well.
The big plan for the day was Shedd Aquarium. We have visited aquariums and Chattanooga, Newport, and Atlanta due to Beth’s love for aquarium. This was certainly the oldest of the three which was obvious inside and out. The location, along the lake, is beautiful. I can only imagine how good the area looks during Spring. The mainly comprised of many small tanks instead of fewer large tanks like the other aquariums we have visited. It also didn’t have a one-way flow like Chattanooga & Newport. This leads to unnecessary congestion but is essential due to the buildings layout. The addition on the backside of the building has a few more exhibits and a large area for their show, Fantasea. When we arrived and got our free Bank of America tickets, we were asked if we were going to see the show. We shrugged our shoulders knowing nothing about it. We were given our included tickets for the show and told about its location and show times. We saw most of the exhibits before the 2pm show time. Most of that time was spent observing people instead of the fish. People using flashes, spouting off incorrect information about animals, and clueless parents are a greater spectacle than fish.
Knowing nothing about the show was a rare treat for us. We were seating shortly before 2 in an area flanked with large, fake rocks depicting the Pacific Northwest. On the far side of the crescent pool was a wall of windows overlooking Lake Michigan. These windows were covered and projected upon when the show began.
It centered around one audience member and 5 different types of animals, or in our case 4 since the sea lion was cut. We saw penguins, birds of prey, dolphins, and beluga whales. They made a point to have very little dialog and just show off the animals which was unique. The show also had people coming from the ceiling, flying through the air, and riding in a boat suspended from the ceiling. It was over the top and highly entertaining. Overall the show didn’t impress me much but I would recommend it.
We took a long walk North to Millennium Park so I could get my Bean credit. Then we were presented with 5 hours to kill before flying out. So we decided to have an early dinner before heading back to the hotel for bag retrieval.
The fact that we had not tasted deep dish pizza was weighing heavily on my shoulders. I had to try it and figured that the afternoon of Super Bowl Sunday was perfect to avoid crowds. Sure enough Lou Malnati’s on Wells was empty, cheap and delicious. My world hasn’t been changed and angels didn’t sing but we both really like it. I wouldn’t hesitate to return to enjoy it.
Then it was back to the hotel and out to Midway where we arrived with 1.5ish hours before departure. Our gate didn’t have a working television for the game which didn’t bother us as we read. The flight home was smooth and quick. I insisted we carry on Beth’s bag which went well till I had to get it in the overhead bin. With a little pushing I got it in there. That shaved off a lot of time back in Nashville where we would have waited at the baggage claim.
I’m unpacked and already have a load of clothes washing. Mission accomplished.
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MDW ✈ BNA
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Nashville 3G > Chicago 3G
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Saturday
We slept in all morning and had brunch at Yolk. We nommed on banana nut bread french toast and a pot roast sandwhich. Their fresh squeezed OJ was very nice too.
Then we walked to the Museum of Contemporary Art. It is a well kept museum with exhibits has to describe together. There were photos, videos, paintings, and a lot of other medias. One display had photos of chair bottoms and then a womans butt who had sat on the chair long enough for indentations to appear. Wierd, clever, and beautiful were common words we used.
Then we browsed The North Face where Beth grabbed a fleece jacket. We made a circle in the Apple Store and Niketown before retreating to the hotel.
We left it around 5:30 for dinner at Coalfire, a small pizzaria with a coal-fired oven. We ordered white and prosciutto pies. The very thin crust was chewy in the middle and cracker-like on the outside. We didn’t care for the burnt edges which left a pile of crust afterwards. I would go back to give them another chance. The white was bland and the other had too much meat. But their tomato sauce was delicous.
We caught a train to the loop for an 8 o’clock play, August: Osage County. We didn’t arrive too soon or late. Our seats were at the very top, where the important people sit. The viewing angle up there was much better than TPAC’s. The show was long and had a dialog I didn’t expect. It was a modern story, with a realistic storyline but over-the-top when all of the conflict was known. The actors were terrific. I would have rather seen Wicked again but I lied branching out.
Today we are heading out to the aquarium and Cloud Gate. I am not sure what else we will do before our flight.
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We ate Coalfire Pizza before August: Osage County at Cadillac Palace Theatre.
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This is how you stand when you visit a museum.
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Update
I am lying on the floor to prevent my phone’s glow from waking up Beth and figure I could share details of yesterday to pass the time while Beth is passed out.
We got the same shuttle driver at BNA that sings and gives you a beautiful spiel about having a productive, fun, and safe trip. This man enjoys his job and ensures everyone else enjoys their ride.
We flew up through the worst turbulance we have experienced with an empty plane and Jimmy Wayne. (+1 Rhyming Bonus) We took the orange line into town and was able to check in at noon. The hotel is nice. Our room is small but comfortable and good looking. We unpacked, regrouped, and thawed out before heading to Michigan Avenue. Our only goal was a little food. The stretch we walked disapointed us so we ducked into the mall for a slice of pizza. Then we hit H&M before riding out to the Field Museum. The handful if blocks to walk from the train station to the museum were brutal with snow and crazy wind. It was entertaining and made us wish we brought scarves.
The museum was empty. We spend nearly 1.5 hours there enjoying artifacts from Tibet, Pacific islands, Africa, and Native & Ancient Americans. The highlight was the massive collection of stuffed animals like every fucking bird in the world as well as 73 different antelopes. It was almost better than a zoo because you could see so many easily. By the way, there is a Pink Fairy Armadillo.
We took the train back North, grabbed chips, salsa, guacamole, and soda from Whole Foods and nommed in bed while planning our night. We settled on dinner at Quartino, a casual Italian tapas restaurant. It wasn’t an amazing experience. Our server was great. Beth ate peas, her favorite, with tortilini and prosciutto. We ordered a pork dish that was bland and overcooked. I told the server about it and he said he had heard that before. It was comped without hesitation. I would definitely cone back and get a plate of meat and cheese and steer clear of the pork.
We had less time than I wanted to get up to iO so we grabbed a cab and then had plenty of time to walk around before the show. We were seated in the front row, stage left. Front row was great but the angle wasn’t. Anywho, the show was amazing. We had great comedians and suggestions. I am amazed how they tie everything together. I would goback tonight if we didn’t have other plans.
Yesterday had some very dull points but it was great overall. Today’s plans are weak with only a few suggestions. I am hoping to get to a pizza place that gasp doesn’t served deep/stuffed/whatever.
And I think we are going to fund Oprah and complain about Dr. Oz.
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