Chicago Weeklet, Day Two
We woke up on Wednesday morning, admired the view and lazed around a bit before heading off to the Planetarium. I told the guys we were going to take a cab and they just stared at me. Leo said, "hmmm, that's a taxi, right? I've never been in one of those." They were silent and wide-eyed as we sped down Lake Shore Drive. When we got into the Planetarium it was hot and crowded but we'd decided to buy a membership as it was only a few dollars more than admission for the four of us so we didn't have to wait in the long line. We got tickets for two of the shows and settled in. The first show was about the origin of the galaxy, the second about the night sky. Leo pronounced the first show "AWESOME," the second one not so much. Personally, the swirling around of the sky made me feel as though I'd had WAY too much to drink....I kept having to close my eyes. My Leo was happy though. Afterward we wandered around a bit but I think we were all getting a bit overwhelmed by the crowds and noise so we headed outside and admired the view. Before the museum campus and the addition to the Planetarium, it used to be one of my favorite spots to take a break when you were driving around. Your could drive totally around the planetarium and you could almost find a spot to park there during the week and just sit and enjoy the view.t.....I guess that's a long time ago though....
We hopped into a cab again and trundled off to Marshall Field's....well, Macy's to be more exact. I grew up going to visit Marshall Field's at Christmas....and eating lunch in the Walnut Room....and when I was in high school one of my favorite things was to take the train into the Loop by myself and wander the Art Institute and Field's. So I had told the boys all about Field's and wanted to show it to them.
Now THIS is what a department store is supposed to look like!
Now you'll note I'm not showing the top of the tree. That's because.....Uncle Misteltoe was NOT there. I was so sad. I walked around, looking from every angle because I was sure he'd be there....Macy's or no. Sigh. Leo theorized that it was a legal issue while Owen put his arm around me as I walked, patting me and comforting me, "Mom, I want to call the people that didn't put him up there a bad name but I won't. It'll be o.k. Mom, really, it'll be o.k." I love my boys.
When we found the Tiffany ceiling we had to wade through women's 'Intimates." The boys admired the ceiling until finally Owen asked if we could go somewhere 'more appropriate for him.' I looked at him puzzled and he pointed to the sea of tiny little red and black bras we had come through....
After lunch (I did not subject the boys to the long wait for the Walnut Room) and some wandering we headed over to the Cultural Center. I had planned a trip to the Art Institute but I could tell that they were wearing out so we postponed that until the next day.
We walked back to the hotel to take a break, as we had reservations for dinner later on. However as we got snuggled in we watched the fog roll in and then it started to snow/sleet and we decided to just stay in. Ernie and Owen went down to the lobby to check out a guitar. Yes, you can check out guitars. The two blondes were QUITE HAPPY.
The boys had plans to make a Plushes On Vacation video so they asked us to leave for awhile. We acquiesed. So on orders from the boys we went downstairs. The China Grill is right off the lobby so we headed into the bar there.
We had a couple of drinks and split two small plates of appetizers. The tuna tempura sashimi with champagne mustard sauce was very nice but the spiced crispy pork belly with watermelon salad, avacado salad and sweet chili sauce was incredible......one of the best things I've had in ages and ages. Splitting the small portion was perfect, we each had one square of pork belly on watermelon and the freshest avacado salad on the side. Our bill was a fortune but it felt worth it and my husband looked so handsome sitting at the bar....
We went back upstairs....I don't think the boys were thrilled to see us but they let us in anyway. We ordered some dinner for the guys and a dessert for us because the two appetizers had filled us up but we still felt like splurging and we all curled up and watched the fog creep closer then all tumbled into bed pleasantly tired and watched Storage Wars on tv. Leo eventually crept over to his couch (he had the best views from his vantage point which I think he liked) and we all drifted off.....