My day as a tourist......at least its not another blog about plants.

This Saturday I went for a walking tour of Chicago's modern skyscraper's by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. It was pretty funny. We were all given a headphone and a receiver......and away we went.

We saw the Chicago library. Fun fact: The things that appear to be gargoyles are actually owls.

Here is the happy (and cold, it was 30ish degrees that day) group of walkers. They came from as far off as New York, Paris and, er, ah, Chicago.

We went to the civic center area which was designed by Mies van der Rohe. Fun fact: This piece of art was not originally in van der Rohe's "vision" of this plaza area and it is supposed to be a.............flamingo.

As we turn the corner from the civic center we see this fantastically interesting build. But what is this building????

Oh, you, know.........a prison. Fantastic, a prison in the city, I feel safer already.

Turning quickly down LaSalle St we get a good shot of the Sears' Tower. Soon to be Willis Tower........... Fun fact: the "dull" midsection is where all the AC, water pump, etc. are housed.

Looking back down LaSalle we get a shot of the Chicago Board of Trade. Definitely not a "modern" skyscraper, but a great looking building none-the-less.


Taking a quick warming break we see a tapestry of what the original design of Chicago was going to be. Please note the diagonal streets and the small buildings. How interesting that we get the "more confusing then imaginable" street design (honestly coming to a light and having to make 5 choices........very irksome) and then not getting the "cleanness" of the short buildings. Oh well.

Ok, ok, this next picture is clearly not a skyscraper. However, this is the First National Bank Clock that is still standing even though the old First National Bank building is no longer around. For those who are trying to place this clock it is in the Chase building plaza. Fun fact: the city of Chicago gives buildings tax credits for creating plaza space.



This next buildings was actually one of my favorites on the walk. The appearance of the building "just made sense" to me. It was stainless steel with a really cool looking green glass. It was done in the "international" style, i.e. raised building so lobby can be "see through" with support pillars on the outside. The part I like about this building is that it was built in the 50's, but looks "modern" today.

Here is a view of it from the side. It apparently doesn't met current safety codes, but was grandfathered in. Please note the grey colored part on the back of the building. This is where the elevator, bathrooms, etc. are housed. Yes, it doesn't met code as there is only one way out......d'oh. Not to worry, the tour guide says it is a very safe building. Sigh.....what a relief.

The next picture is also not of s skyscraper, but of a piece of art by Picasso. It stands in front of the Daley Center. I can appreciate that Picasso was a famous painter, sculptor, etc. and that art is always open to interpretation. However, I wonder if Picasso had a big laugh after making this sculpture. Who knows. I personally think it looks like an orangutan. Others thought it looked like a dog, an angel or any other manner of being. Fun fact: The tour guide mentioned that some people think this was a sculpture of Picasso's wife. I got a chuckle out of that one......I suppose this is one way of showing someone you care.....ha, or what you really think about them.

Now on to the Trump International Hotel and Tower. Honestly, I think this is a very nice looking building regardless of what I think of the man whose name it unfortunately shares. It is now the 2nd tallest building in Chicago and if you haven't seen Chicago in a while it certainly changes the skyline.

This next building was not covered in the tour. I seriously doubt if it could be considered modern, but during my 8 years here I've never noticed this building and what appears to be gold on the roof. Truly a stunning building.


This is a picture of the Aon Building. It is the 3rd tallest building in Chicago. Fun fact: when they first built the tower the exterior was marble. However, due to the severe Chicago winters they had to take it all down and put in a more durable material (granite). Doing this, supposed, doubled the cost of the building...........

This building was not covered on the tour and honestly I'm not sure what it's name is, however, I've always wondered if you could slide all the way down the slanted part. You know, with some sort of potato sack or something..........weeeeeeeee.

This is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Such a cool looking structure.

Here is another shot of it, this time looking at the performance stage.

And here is the famous "bean" in Millennium Park. Fun fact: the sculpture was suppose to represent mercury.

Here is the new modern wing of the Art Institute. Fun fact: the roof has controls, so that as the sun moves the roof adjusts the light in the galleries.

Looking back towards the Aon Building there is the Blue Cross Blue Shield building. Note it appears that they are building on top of the building......because they are. When the building was first built they only built 30 stories with the idea that they might build more. Note that the building doesn't have anything on the exterior which would fade or rust....thus making it easier to add and not have the building look weird.

This is the fountain in Millennium Park. During the summer, no joke, water comes out of that guys mouth. Lots of fun.

A view looking north bound on Michigan Ave. by the Art Institute.

Hope you've enjoyed the tour. I'll leave you with a saying from ol'blue eyes, "Chicago, it's my kind of town."