On The Job-Embarcadero Center

The Embaradero Center is comprised of 4 buildings linked together by pedestrian walkways.  The pedestrian bridge the connects building 1 to 2 is the only thats covered.  Below the bridge is Front Street which is a one-way street poiting north

All the other connectors are open to the sky to let you view the many skyscrapers in the area.  At each of the centers, there is an office building attached to it housing many big corporations and companies, Like the building to the right in the picture below

The walkways are landscaped and prvided with tables and chairs for the mealtime crowds.  Open areas on the second floors are usually occupied by restaurants and eateries that provide validated parking for the expensive underround garage parking

At the east end of the facility, anchored by the number 4 buidling, is the bayshore.  The Ferry Building butts up against the bay and the  Hyatt Regency is ideally loacted for those in the area.

Once you reach the end of the last building, it opens up to Justin Herman Plaza.  Vaillancourt Fountain sits at one end of the plaza.  Here, Bono of U2, while holding a free concert, vandalized the fountain and caused an uproar with the citizens of the city.

Lastly, we look back on our journey through the 4 buildings that make up this complex.  Offices and restaurants hve been alluded to as well as parking.  However, there are many retail establishements that reside here as well.  They range in size from the large well-known chain stores to small businesses.  Boutiques selling clothes and other fare but up against nationwide sellers of the same items all in the shadow of the Financial district

Travelogue-Chicago Departure

With a few spare hours open before my flight, I walked around the Loop area.  In the north around Lake and Clark, I ran across a lively farmers' market.  There are the usual fruits and vegetables.  alot of vendors were selling honey crisp apples, I guess they were in season.  Still others were selling baked goods and other wares.

This seller had peppers on sale.  There were a number of varieties on offer.  Different kinds were found on the rack behind this one.  It was a mix and match sort of thing.  There was even live music and when it reached lunch time, it was the place to be to enjoy a midday meal

Near my hotel was the Chicago Board of Trade on Jackson at LaSalle.

At this same intersection, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

Bags packed, I boarded the Orange line to Midway airport.  for the first time in a long time, I was on a flight that was not filled to capacity.  Although the stewardesses would lead you to believe otherwise when people were boarding.  There was an actual open seat between myself and the traveller sitting on the aisle.  With no headwind, the flight made great time and landed 30-45 minutes early.  On top of that, my checked bag was among the first 15 to exit the carousel.  This good fortune was in contrast to what happened when I arrived at the airport.  First, I was pulled aside to be swabbed and tested.  Second, I had to go through the full body scanner.  I had no problem with it but it was my first time through one of these contraptions.  The workers were none too pleased when I had all kinds of papers in my pockets during the scan.  Well, excuuuuuse me!  I was expecting to go through the metal detecter and not expecting to be pulled into the full body scanner.

Travelogue-Chicago Day 4 Wrigley Field

I had tickets toa Cubs night game on my last full day in Chicago.  They would be playing the Cincinati Reds tonight.  The stadium is easy to get to.  I just take the Red line to Addison and walk a block to the gates.

As I strolled to the gate, I was bombarded by a number of folks selling Cubs branded clothing and souvenirs, roasted peanut vendors, and the usual scalpers.  The team is not doing all that well this year so ticket sales are a bit slow.  But, the scalpers will reduce their prices after a few innings have been played.

It was still hours before the first pitch.  I walked around the ballpark to look around.  My seat is down the left field line.  Not visible in the picture below

Right field

My camera has the widest field of view when its in stitch mode

Section 202 is where I will plant myself for the next couple of hours during the game.  The overhang provides a nice bit of shade during the day games.

The streets that border the ballpark are lined with buildings.  Some are tall enough to see over the walls of the stadium.  Thus, bleacher seats have been built on some of these rooftops to provide extra income.  A few were enjoying some tailgating and barbecues before the start of the game

As evening fell, the skies turned a shade of purple and pink.  The Cubs did not breakout first but managed to beat the Reds 6-3.

Travelogue-Chicago Day 4 Costco/Vienna Beef

Ok, I know that this post is well over due.  The fact is, I get lazy towards the end of the trip and am not so good about posting the last few days on time.  forgive me for wanting to get some sleep before I have to fly home.  Anyway, I had planned to go to the Vienna Beef plant for a tour of their operations.  Funny thing, whenever I brought this up, friends thought I was going to take a tour of the place that makes those tiny vienna sausages that you find in those itty bitty cans.  In fact, nost people who sell hot dogs in Chicago proudly display that they use the Vienna Beef brand of franks.  Coincidentally, I fount that Costco in Lincoln Park was just steps from the hot dog plant.

I stopped in to take a look around as I am want to do when a Costco is nearby.  As I strolled the aisles, I found nothing to make this too distinct from any other domestic location.  With that done, I went to the snack bar to see what tbhey offered.  Once again, I fouind the same menu items as I would back home.  I was, maybe, expecting deep dish pizza or Chicago-style hot dog.

Vienna Beef offers tours of their plant once a week for a limited number of people.  You can sign up online at their website.  Unfortunately, they had to cancel the tours for the week prior, my week, and the week following.  Apparently, the USDA was in town for some reason.

I decided to stop by anyway because they had a onsite cafe.  My choice was obvious.  One dog with everything, a side of fries and a drink.

I dont know what it is but Chicagoans insisted on intensely colored relish for their dogs.  The brighter the green the better it seems.  To me, its just not natural to see this color of green.  The color does not take away from the flavor of the wiener and its accompaniments.

On The Job-Beach at Aquatic Park

This foggy morning finds me at Aquatic Park and more specifically, its beach.  This beach affords the Dolphin Club members a place to start their daily swim in the cold waters of the bay.  The area is open to the public and lies just north of Ghiardelli Square and just west of Fisherman's Wharf.

Out just past the pier, A;catraz can be seen in its luxurious position in the middle of the bay.  When the weather is nice, this place makes for a great picnic area either on the sand or on the grassy area just above.

During the fireworks show on the 4ht of July or during the airshows around Fleet Week, this is the central vantage point to view the events.  If you can find a spot at the end of the pier, count yourself lucky for one of best seats in the house for seeing the rockets red glare and the bombs bursting in air or experiencing the display of aerobatics



Travelogue-Chicago Day 3 Chinatown

South of the Loop area, Chicago has their own Chinatown.  Im somewhat biased and theres no other Chinatown that Ive been to that can compare to the one we have back home.  The closest one in feel was the one in Yokohama, Japan.  No others have matched the density, feel, or energy to our original.

 

There are shops that run down either side of the street.  Retail,  restaurants, and grocery shops are mixed in with banks and community centers

 

There are a few people walking around in the area.   Since my Chinatown is located near the financial disrict, there are usually many people milling around.

In a shopping area a few blocks away, there were more pedestrians roaming this area.  There was a denser collection of shops.

The shops are sitauted on 2 floors which allows for more shops in the same area than the other location.  And, much to my benefit, there more places to find something to eat

I ran across this place.  It says its a noodle place but it was much more than that.  If its asian cuisine, they served it to some degree here.  Chinese, japanese, korean, vietnamese, and pearl teas are all at your fingertips on the menu. 

For some reason, I order beef pho.  It was like most #1 pho bowls in most vietnamese places.  However, there were a few differences like daikon, sliced intestine/stomach,  The large format menus had so many items that I was dizzy at all the options.  If I was thinking clearer, I woiuld have order soemthing else.  But this was ok, not the best pho Ive had.  The bowl was large and there was quite a mound of noodles sitting in ankle deep borth left over.

Travelogue-Chicago Day 3 Soldier Field/Skyline

Yesterday, the Windy City lived up to its name and brought to a halt the operation of the water taxi service from Navy Pier to the Shedd Aquarium area.   Today, the weather was better but not by much, better enough to let the service run today but you will definitely feel it.  You may think Im going soft because Im going to an aquarium.  But Im not going to the big fish tank but to the football field behind it.  Soldier Field is another hallowed ground for sports fans.

 

The Chicago Bears have won a Super Bowl and have had famed players such as Walter Payton,  Jim McMahon, and Mike Singletary who went on to recently coach the SF 49ers.  They loved their columns at this arena.  The east and west sides are bordered by columnades.  The arena is also famed for the snowy winter games that are a commonplace during Chicago winters.  

There is no game today but there were areas open to walk around on.  Views of the field not readily acce3ssible.  The best that could be had was this sighting of the scoreboard and the adjacent seats

After completing my little walk, it was time to catch the water taxi back to Navy Pier.  The wind has kicked up and the boat was rocking pretty heavily and we hadnt even left the dock yet.  From this vantage point, there are great views of the city skyline from where I just left to where Im going to disembark.

 The sun was going down in the western sky and chasing us on our way north.  The wind jostling us up, down, left, right and every which way.

At times, it was very challenging to hold the camera still while trying to take a snapshot.  Even harder when taking video as every little movement is pronounced.   Even time lapse could not smooth out the ride that I had. 

Travelogue-Chicago Day 3 Lunch

Morton's  Steakhouse started in Chicago but not at this locaton on Wacker near Michigan.  The reaon I didnt go to the original location is because of the specail lunch menu available at this location.  This is my first time at Morton's even though there is a location back home

 

Im first served this large onion roll  with a pat of butter thats just as large.  There was only me at the table, me.  I would have needed a much larger appetite to finish this beach ball of a bun.

The first of therr courses begins.  I chose the lobster bisque.  It smelled very creamy but did not taste as it smelled.  Aside from that, theres a slight spicey finish to each spoonful.  It was finished off with a nice little nugget of lobster meat.

The entree was a nice rib eye done medium rare.  It was accompanied by mashed potatoes.  The steak was cooked very adeptly and very good.  This was aplain cut of meat, not aged in anyh way.  The potatoes were to have garlic butter but did not pack much of a garlic punch to it.  However, The waitress did initially offer to add more butter if it was not to my taste

Lastly, I opted for the double chocolate mouse in the third course.  By now, I was very full and could not even finish the dessert.  Im no chocolate fiend but I thought it was good with a littler bitterness on the tail end.  The whipped cream helped to round that off

Travelogue-Chicago Day 2 Navy Pier, Magnificent Mile, etc

Navy Pier sticks out into Lake Michigan just north of the Chicago River.  It is much like Pier 39 back home but on a much larger scale.

 

There are retail outlets as well as many places to get a varied assortment of meals.  Knowing how kids are such an important demographic, they are marketted heavily with a kids museum and stores that cater to their wants  

At the very far end of the pier, a llarge unoccupied hall can be used for all manor of events, I assume

Nary a flag lay limp as powerful winds made walking difficult for some.  Angling your self into the wind was the only way one could make headway

The flipside of the pier was less ornate and seemed to only serve as an after thought

Adjacent, the blocks of Michigan Ave north of the riverr make up s shopping district knwon as the Magnificent Mile   Shops that line this boulevard range from high end brands like Burberry

Laastly, I went back to Portillo's to try their italian beef sandwich.  I took the sandwich back to my room so it was not as hot as when I ordered it and it had softened itself during the journey.  The seasoned slices of beef lay in a roll with onion, jalapeno peppers, and carrots.  The au jus can be applied with a heavy hand or a light touch.  It was good.  It had much more flavors than a Philly cheesesteak.