This sums up most of the businesses. There was music blaring over a loudspeaker from this building, which made it rather eerie!
Most of the houses were boarded up & had gates on them...people lived in them too. This building was in the middle of a neighborhood. I was thoroughly done with my trip to Gary!
Joe decided to treat me to one of the nicest hotels in the region. This was the Radisson Star Plaza Hotel in Merriville. The beds were Sleep by Number, they had this really nice pool, 2 hot tubs, and we went to a little function in the Green Room @ 6 pm for free drinks. It was nice and relaxing before visiting the Windy City!
We stayed in the Congress Hotel, which was very pretty inside. This was the view from our room on Michigan Ave.
We went down Michigan Ave our first day and went site seeing. I really wanted to check out the American Girl Place, since it opened. I was really into the books when I was younger and had one of the dolls with most of her accessories. I felt like a kid again. I think anyone who has a daughter should take her here. Even Joe admitted that it was really neat.
This was the snack parlor that you could get various treats from with your doll.
This was a hair salon for your doll. They could fix her hair and style it in many ways. It reminded me that I need to do some maintenance to my doll and maybe put her on display since they cost a little over $100.
This was the doll that I had. Joe was a little shocked that Addy was MY doll since she's not exactly fairer in complexion. I told him I didn't get the doll based on how she compared to me; I liked Addy's stories the best.
Here are the Addy dolls in all of her outfits and accessores. I had over half of them. After looking at the prices of everything....I think I was spoiled.
These were really cool. There were 2 facing each other, & they displayed various pictures. Sometimes they showed waterfalls, but mostly they showed facial expressions. It was kind of creepy.
The big chrome jelly bean in Millinium Park was neat, since you could see the reflection of the city.
Here is the entire thing in all its glory!
This stadium was near the big bean. It was really interesting.
We went to the Field Museum on my birthday. The Shedd Aquarium had a line that was too ridiculous. I like museums better though.
We were pretty high up in the museum, so I took a picture of the Planetarium. That's next on my list of things to do in Chicago.
Dinosaurs are my favorite!
Joe had to get a picture, too. I made him!
These artists were only here for about a couple weeks. There were doing drawings of various things in Chicago using a sphere canvas. It created a "ghost vision" or double vision, so they were somewhat tracing what they saw in that "double vision" overlaying the canvas. Crazy but very cool and intricate!
It's Sue the T-Rex!! She greeted you as you came in and said goodbye when you left.
No trip is complete without visiting Sears Tower. The Observation Deck was under construction so we could only go to the 99th floor. I was actually relieved because I don't do well with heights, and I felt safer enclosed! It was a really neat experience, though.
We had a lady take a picture of us. We wanted a good view behind us with the John Hancock building and other buildings too. The lady sucked but we just said whatever with it.
This was my first birthday drink of the day, a Hurricane. (I only had 2 the entire day.) Joe had never been to a Hard Rock Cafe, so I decided to choose this place for lunch. The atmosphere is really neat if you've never been before. This one was kinda small; I can't wait to take him to the big one in Orlando in June!
I'm pretty sure I got a cavitiy just walking in here!
The American Gothic statue was very freaky at night. I had to take one in the day too...
....ummm still freaky!
This was my nice birthday dinner. We ate at the 676 on Michigan Ave above the Omni hotel. We had window seats (that only sat 2 anyway) that overlooked the busy street and designer stores. It was amazing. Joe picked this place for me. It was very fine dining.
The waiter noticed it was my birthday when my ID was checked for a glass of wine...25 and still highly carded! damn! The writing was in chocolate and frozen, and the cake was very rich. I'm not really a chocolate fan so Joe ate most of it. It was really good, though!Overall, my Chicago experience was great. We did a lot in a couple days, and it was a great way to spend my birthday since it was my first time there. I didn't want to look weird so I didn't take a picture of the other stores I went into to drool...which were Gucci, Armani, Louis Vuitton, and well...I think you get it. I can't wait to go back!
