wednesday's words and wanderings and wonderings

Chicago. Lots seen in a short amount of time. 

We arrived on the weekend of the Chicago Air and Water Show. It's a huge event, we were babysitting our grandson so there was no way we were taking him into that mayhem. As we were looking over the take-care-of-the-baby instructions, our other daughter called and excitedly told us to get to the roof. The Blue Angels were putting on their show. We watched it from a distance and were thrilled when they passed directly over the roof from where we were watching.

Our daughter and son-in-law requested that we take little grandson to his daycare during our stay. They're paying big bucks for this service and they also wanted to keep his routine going. Monday after dropping him off, Todd said, "Let's go to Lou Mitchell's for breakfast." It's an iconic breakfast diner and bakery on Historic Route 66. We found street parking, I paid for the spot with the ParkChicago app, we got to Lou Mitchell's, thrilled that there was no line. It's closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. We walked around the area, strolled through beautiful Union Station, and found another breakfast spot along the Chicago River.

The Democratic National Convention started this past Monday and banners were posted all around downtown and in the United Center neighborhood. We passed the United Center daily on the way home from little grandson's daycare and even followed Route 66 part of the way. If we were there this week, we would have to take an alternate route home. Fences, checkpoints, all kinds of security in place.

The Obamas are from Chicago but after spending two presidential terms in Washington D.C., they opted to stay there. The Obamas haven't forgotten their Chicago roots.

The Chicago Cultural Center, an architecturally beautiful building (two Tiffany glass domes, hand laid tile on every floor), an event center and art gallery, with free admission. A mural on the outside pays tribute to twenty women who have contributed to the culture of Chicago. A current exhibit shows 934 handmade bowls, some with a pint of change, and when each one is filled, that will pay the artist's college loan debt.

This post has gone on long enough with plenty of photos and now it's time to stop. At least for right now.