Noteworthy: Chicago Fun

On July 29 and 30 I worked in Chicago Public Schools training teachers in the Imagine It! Reading Program. Kimberly and I conducted a two day training for the teachers who follow the year round calendar. Since we trained at a school in downtown Chicago, we decided to act like a couple of tourists after work and made a visit to Navy Pier. It was a beautiful afternoon and we enjoyed walking along the pier looking at the boats. We bought tickets for the architectural cruise and took the evening cruise that ended with viewing the Navy Pier fireworks from the boat! What a fun experience!

Kimberly and Jennifer at Navy Pier!

Jennifer had to get some counseling after a long day of training teachers!

The Forest of Skyscrapers lining the Chicago River had its roots in 1770 in the low-lying prairie river area the Indians called "Chicagou," which means smelly onion patch.

Two major events helped shape the architectural history of the city: balloon frame construction and the famous Chicago fire. The unique Chicago invention in the 1830's of balloon frame construction was a method of building in sections that let homes be assembled quickly. This innovative concept was used to build towns from Chicago across the nation to the West Coast.

On the Chicago Architectural Cruise, we learned about the following landmarks:
Navy Pier, Lake Point Tower, Aon Tower, John Hancock Center, Cityfront Center, Illinois Center, NBC Tower, Chicago Tribune Tower, 360 North Michigan, 333 North Michigan, 401 North Michigan, Wrigley Building, 35 East Wacker, Leo Burnett Building, IBM Building, Marina City, R.R. Donnelley Center, LaSalle-Wacker Building, 222 North LaSalle, Central Office Building, Merchandise Mart, 333 West Wacker, Montgomery Ward Complex, River Cottages, Merchandise Mart, Fulton House, 225 West Wacker, Boeing World headquarters, Civic Opera Building, AT&T Corporate Center and USG Building, Riverside Plaza, Citicorp Center, Sears Tower, Chicago Board of Trade, Central U.S. Post Office, U.S. Post Office Central Processing and Distribution Center, 311 South Wacker, and River City.

We saw over 40 buildings, learned about the architects and architecture, and heard the history of this fascinating city.

After work the next day we went to Ed Debevic's before heading to the airport. I had been to Ed Debevic's multiple times throughout the years and always enjoy the classic cheeseburger and fries and the world's smallest sundae for dessert! Eating at Ed's is a true experience! Upon sitting down in a plastic, sparkly booth at the "diner deluxe," you are forced to wear a paper Ed Debevic's deli hat. The servers dish out sassy mock rudeness while taking and serving your order. There is a DJ and at least once during the visit, the servers stop and dance on the counter. A staple for tourists and one-time necessary visit for locals, Ed's lavishly spans almost an entire block in bright pink and green. Enter the faux-'50s eatery and prepare to be sucked into a hodgepodge of characters, fake prints of Elvis and Sinatra autographs and other smart-aleck decor.