Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is the one city in the entire US that I have wanted to see and not yet seen. Arriving with a very tired mind, the city woke me up the instant I stepped foot onto Wacker Drive. Chicago was a mush more dense and vertical place than I had anticipated. Obviously rich in early Native and American history, the city was a vibrant place, both qualities made very apparent just stopping to ask a question or look down the Chicago River. The people are cordial and the elements of the city possess such tremendous variety. Intentionally avoiding the traditional architectural tours, I was more into uncovering the gems that so many decades of sophisticated designers could bring. Public spaces and places both new and old can be found throughout the cities inner and outer cores, both sharing some common threads. Outstanding sculptures, fountains, pathways, intimate and large scale spaces that I don't feel have a rival in terms of sheer quantity, I found it a very inspiring place. I certainly haven't taken as many pictures as I did in the two days I was in chicago, EVER. I decided to rent a bike to make my way as far south as safely possible on day one, and got to see the majority of the eastern part of town. That next day I spent the morning with an old architecture school friend who gave me my own incredible tour of the entirety of downtown then traveled further south on the red line to the Illinois Institute of Technology. From there, I went to the north end of Michigan Avenue and walked to the Navy Pier and beyond. This morning I took the water taxi (very cool and efficient I might add) to the stop closest to the old Sears Tower (Willits Tower) and made it to the observation deck. I nearly lost my marbles! The new viewing deck has a component of it which protrudes from the building and is made entirely of glass (yes even the floor). Too cool! I am off to New York with and unexpected cancellation of my New Orleans leg and can't wait to hit the ground running. My favorite city on the planet, it is a very interesting time to be headed there.