Chicago for Lunch with Bryan

I have been downtown Chicago many times. Always with Mike taking care of travel arrangements. I mostly just tagged along.
He was busy on Bryan's birthday so Sharen offered to come with me to have lunch with Bryan. She has only been downtown twice. Once years ago when we were on the Oprah show and once a few years ago the four of us went down for Christmas. Her trips to Chicago was always to see a White Sox game.
We caught the train at Big Timber with plenty of time to buy our return tickets at Union station and make the walk to Bryan work.

Sharen watching for the train

We board the train and the conductors tells us they have a 2 day ticket special for lollapalooza $15.
That means we didn't have to stop and get our return ticket and could sightsee as we walked to Bryans work.
I was very surprised how wide the sidewalks were and so clean. My last walk was down the streets of NYC - no comparison.

My Son the birthday boy

Bryan with his Godmother outside his office

After lunch we decided to explore the city.
We stop at Daley Plaza for a farmers market. We were looking for something sweet after lunch. A lady was handing out sample cookies on the corner. Score...
We see some men who were talking into their lapels with ear pieces in. They were surrounding mayor Lightfoot as she walked down the street. She is really tiny. We decided to walk across the street and avoid the chaos that she could bring.
Next stop was the Pritzer Pavilion and the Lurie gardens.  We wanted to walk over to Maggie Daley Park but the bridge over was closed.
We had to stop for a picture at the bean. Doesn't everyone.

Selfie of our butts

We certainly were getting our steps in.
The next we see the lions at the Art Institute.

We were becoming the old ladies that people come up on and have to figure out how to walk around them. We didn't care - having fun.
Mike and I took all 3 of Stacy's kids downtown when they turned 13 and we would ride the EL around the loop. We would pass by the Harold Washington Library and I always wanted to go inside.

The entrance was inviting

Sharen was interested too, so we walked to it.
I was sooo disappointed. Not at all what I expected. Everything was bright and modern with escaladers and elevators, bright lights and all metals bookcases. No wood anywhere.
We did want to check out a veterans memorial on the 4th floor. That was pretty cool.

10,000 dog tags

The weather was perfect. There was a breeze off the lake and the sun was shining.
We just kept walking around making our way back to Unions Station and noticed that the lollapalooza crowd were forming.
Lots and lots of teenagers dressed like I'm pretty sure we could never get away with, streaming down the street to Grant park to have some fun and listen to some music.
Time to get outa town.
I'm so glad Sharen decided to go. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't or couldn't do it alone. I got to spend some time with Bryan and give him a hug on his birthday.
I also spent some quality time with my Twin.