Cloud Gate and the Art Institute of Chicago

We got on the EL today and went down to the Loop.  

First stop was Cloud Gate, this 33 foot high stainless steel sculpture.

 This is the view underneath it; CL and I are there (at least twice).

And this is just a simple, single reflection.

This sculpture is illuminated internally; the pictures change.

The current special exhibit at the Art Institute is Picasso & Chicago.

We also checked out the Impressionists

and a bit of other stuff.

Field Museum

We visited the Field Museum today, a cold, foggy day.

Sue, the largest intact T-Rex skeleton in existence.

Soldier Field is next to the Field Museum.

Museum of Science + Industry

The Museum of Science + Industry is in the only remaining building of the White City from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.  It was then the Palace of Fine Arts.  Here we have Mr. Toad approaching the front,

and the rear, from across the Columbia Basin.

Inside we saw lots of trains, starting with this one, the Pioneer Zephyr.

Here CL relaxes in one of its cars.

Another large object in the museum is this captured WWII German sub.

A picture for Jesse:

The 999 Steam locomotive set the world's record for fastest land vehicle in 1893, at over 112 mph.

Static electricity.

Airplanes.

Just a small part of a model railroad with 1400 feet of track and 20 trains.  The model includes Chicago, Seattle, and the mountains and plains in between, but not quite to scale.

Another plane.

And, finally, a Fairy Castle.

A Change in Weather?

No; we visited the Garfield Park Conservatory today.

And, afterward, we enjoyed some Goose Island beer - Green Line Pale Ale for CL (on left) and IPA for me -

and Chicago deep dish pizza (at Giordano's)

Both were excellent.

More Snow in Chicago

Images taken at noon,

5 pm,

 and 8 pm.

The TV claims this is the largest storm here in the past two years - only five or six inches.

Lake Michigan

Grosse Point Lighthouse, Evanston, IL; that's CL in the lower right corner.