Double Chicago
I hadn’t been to Chicago for far too long, so I’m glad I spent the last two weekends there. Meredith and I went on the 4th of July, though we avoided the official celebrations as much as possible. I’m not a big July fourth fan, and this year in particular I felt too bitter about the state of things to celebrate America’s birthday.
We did venture downtown once, narrowly avoiding the Taste of Chicago crowds as we checked on the new Millennium Park. The official opening isn’t until this weekend, so we weren’t able to see everything. Sure, its four years too late for its namesake, but it might end up being worth the wait. There’s a Frank Gehry designed band pavilion, a giant interactive video sculpture by Jaume Plensa, and a 110 ton polished steel sculpture by Anish Kapoor.
In it’s unfinished state it was hard to tell if this was a park or Mayor Daley’s giant sculpture collection, but I’ll leave that judgment aside until it’s open. If you’re at all intrigued you should visit this Saturday because Ira Glass and Chris Ware and having a free multimedia presentation in the park. Additionally Chicago Public Radio has a special archive of Millennium Park related stories available for you to listen to.
The Frank Gehry music pavilion in his signature titanium.
This fountain will apparently spit water in-between two giant video faces.
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This last weekend was the Peddy Cash BlingBQ Moped Army rally. We rode 30 strong from Humboldt Park to downtown, following the El and racing through the underground section of Wacker. Blockers with faster bikes were holding up traffic during most red lights, so we drove non-stop through every intersection. Riding downtown with that many people was amazing. Afterwards we rode to Montrose beach to cook up hotdogs and relax.
Mopeds in Humboldt Park before the ride.
One of the red lights we actually stopped the at.
Mopeds swarming Michigan Avenue.
Moped Army members hanging out at Montrose Beach
Comments
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