CHICAGO – MY KIND OF TOWN Part 2

We had a great table outside perfect for people watching

We had a scrumptious dinner that evening at Gibson’s, a major Chicago institution in the middle of an attractive, busy neighborhood that is a little reminiscent of Greenwich Village.

We went back to the Navy Pier for a much anticipated ride on the Sea Dog out into the lake to watch the twice-weekly fireworks display. What a ride! The boat was fast and whipped around and gave a stunning view of the city from the lake. Sitting behind us on the boat was a large group of dieticians who came from around the country for a meeting. They all work in Kidney Dialysis clinics where diets need to be strictly monitored

The Sea Dog docked at Navy Pier just before we boarded

Here I am with the group of dieticians onboard

From the seat of the Sea Dog, the fireworks display was awesome

Again I thought, “wow, this display must cost tens of thousands to do and it’s all for the pleasure of the city’s people and visitors.”

I managed to get some video of the finale, Click the image to play the video

You can stand on one of the ledges and have a professional photo taken.

Our last full day, our dear friend, Bill Bartholomay, took us up to the top of the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) known as the Sky Deck Ledge. Along with having been Chicago’s Park Commissioner and many other things, Bill has been an executive with Willis Insurance company for 50 years. Willis took over the naming of the building from the Sears Company a number of years ago. Bill and I became friends when I married Ted Turner because it was Bill who brought the Braves baseball team to Atlanta where Ted eventually became owner. Bill remains a member of the board of the Brave’s franchise. No one is as kind and generous as Bill. With his help, we were able to quickly get out onto the “glass box” at the top of the Willis building.

We may have gotten up there quickly, but I took awhile to get the courage to step out onto the enclosed glass ledge—even though normally I’m not afraid of heights. When I stepped out onto that glass floor waaaaaay high up above the city streets, I was scared.

Once you’re up there, what a view!

this is the view looking straight down!

Here we are hamming it up for the camera.

(continued on next page)

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12 Comments

  1. among other things, you are mighty handy with a iPhone camera

  2. Hello, Jane. You are a time traveler. By that I mean you look decades younger. May I recommend that on your next visit to Chicago you visit the museum about women’s history that is maintained by the following organization? Please copy the following and paste it into your web browser to see its website.

    http://www.cawhc.org/

    Keep on truckin’.

    Fondly, Cindy Trells

  3. I have absolutely loved reading your Chicago blogs! So much detail and information! Thank you! Looks like I need to head back to Chicago this summer to go explore more! What was your favorite thing that you did? What was your grandkids’ favorite thing? Also, what was your favorite restaurant?

  4. I had the nitrogen ice cream also, made by the same guy ;)) thank you for all the photos. My son went away to college there in 2001 and only comes back to Miami for a week once a year. I just went for the first time this past Mach and have enjoyed relieving my experience with you!! my kind of town too!! so much culture! xox

  5. Hope you got to the Art Institute of Chicago. Their permanent collection of African-American Art is superb. And for movie rats like my self, what a surprise to be staring face to face with the hideous visage of Dorian Gray as rendered by Albright. I had no idea the painting was actually a real painting instead of a movie prop! One of my fav art museums.

    • April, I have heard so much about that museum and it will be for the next trip, for sure!!

  6. Thank you for being so gracious to the members of our DaVita Dietitian Council and including our picture on your blog. It was a pleasure to enjoy the boat ride with you!

  7. Hi Jane, I work at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. Sorry I missed the chance to see you during your visit to the Museum. But wanted to let you know how much I loved your movie “Peace, Love and Misunderstanding” that I caught last week.

  8. Entirely off-topic, but I was wondering what your thoughts were on the way NBC handles personnel issues regarding their on-air female talent? It seems very misogynistic to me—discard the older model for one with a “fresher” appearance and/or personality. Or is that just the nature of the beast when you are a woman in the media industry?

    • Peter, I couldn’t agree more which is why Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan and I co-founded The women’s Media Center. Thanks

  9. Gentle Jane I read with great pleasure the report of the trip to Chicago.
    Definitely want to go and visit this beautiful city.
    I’ll be in New York on July 21 with my family (the first American holiday of my daughters) but I do not deny that Chicago has wowed me. It will be for a second time in the USA. Thanks for sharing your blog through and enthusiasm that shines.
    With very admiration.
    Antonella

  10. Hi Mrs Fonda I just wanted to say it was a pleasure meeting you in iCream Cafe 🙂 I was the emplyee who recognized you as soon as you came in. I asked you has anyone ever told you that you look like Jane Fonda? You winked at me and whispered “I am” That absolutely made my day! Thank you for stopping in and I hope you cand your family enjoyed everything. Come back again 🙂

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