Chicago is also known for Garrets Popcorn, flavored popcorn flavored with cheese or caramel, which my son Troy has a particular weakness for. People wait in line for a fresh bag, but lucky for us the popcorn fairy at the Park Hyatt surprised us with one in our room when we returned.
I went to the famous old Pump Room at the Public Hotel for a quick meeting. I last visited the Pump Room many years ago when I was in town making The Dollmaker. They even had a photo of me from that time, as they do of many celebrities who have dined there over the years. Its been completely redone but it was delicious and the room was so beautiful!
The next day we went to Millennium Park. There is the Jay Pritzker Pavillion, a public amphitheater type structure designed by my favorite architect, Frank Gehry. Every week in good weather there are free concerts including the Chicago Symphony.
We also saw Cloud Gate affectionately known as the Bean, an amazing piece of sculpture by Anish Kapoor. As Troy pointed out, it is probably one of, if not the most, interactive piece of sculpture anywhere. Hundreds of people gather, year-round, around the outside, walk beneath it, stare into it.
Close by The Bean is an L.E.D fountain, Crown Fountain which becomes a sort of wading pool where a lot of children were having water fun. The fountain wall becomes different images including faces that spew water from their mouths. While watching the fountain and other art pieces throughout the park I realized that there is a sense in the air that the city officials and wealthy Chicagoans really care about people’s quality of life in downtown Chicago. There is so much art, beauty and public activities. The parks and gardens are gorgeous, in large part thanks to the late Mrs. Daly, who was responsible for all the city’s plantings and landscaping. What a beautiful gift.
From the park we went to the bustling Navy Pier where there are many restaurants, a Ferris wheel, all kinds of rides, the Shakespeare Theatre and the Funhouse Maze. I waited in the Billy Goat Tavern (the kids are too young to know about cheeseboger cheesebooger) place next door while the others did the funhouse and, judging by their looks when they finally emerged, they had fun.
bill starkey
among other things, you are mighty handy with a iPhone camera
Cindy Trells
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
SusanK
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?
Angelica Fresquet
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
April Campbell, MD
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.
Jane
April, I have heard so much about that museum and it will be for the next trip, for sure!!
Mary Heistand
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!
Debra Puce
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.
Peter Spencer
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?
Jane
Peter, I couldn’t agree more which is why Gloria Steinem, Robin Morgan and I co-founded The women’s Media Center. Thanks
antonella belloglio
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
Brittany
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 🙂