Spring Break In & Around Downtown Chicago

[chitowngirl]

Re: Spring Break In & Around Downtown Chicago

The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest commercial building, largest wholesale design center and one of Chicago’s premier international business locations. Encompassing 4.2 million gross square feet, The Mart spans two city blocks and rises 25 stories. Today, The Merchandise Mart welcomes more than three million visitors each year to its retail shops, LuxeHome® boutiques, 11 floors of permanent showrooms for gift, residential, casual and contract furnishings, 10 floors of office space, dozens of trade shows and a myriad of special educational, community and consumer events.

[chitowngirl]

Re: Spring Break In & Around Downtown Chicago

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">To walk on Chicago's streets was to take one's life in one's hand. Road courtesy? Non-existent, or so it seemed.
</div></div>
you were not imagining this [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/scareyuh.gif[/img] and the messengers on bicycles are the most dangerous! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: chitown</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">To walk on Chicago's streets was to take one's life in one's hand. Road courtesy? Non-existent, or so it seemed.</div></div>
you were not imagining this [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/scareyuh.gif[/img] and the messengers on bicycles are the most dangerous! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] </div></div>
Worse than the cab drivers???? Mercy...some of those guys were making lanes where there were none \o/

Thanks for the info re the Merchandise Mart. The tour guide didn't mention the name of the building, but good golly, that's one massive structure. Now I wish we had gone inside to check it out.

[Diplomat]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bink</div><div class="ubbcode-body">thanks so much, CEW. i miss chitown so much. it is a wonderful city. </div></div>
Glad I could bring back some of the memories. Thanks for dropping in. More pics to post, and I hope you'll enjoy those as well.

[churchgirl]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CEW</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Thanks for the info re the Merchandise Mart. The tour guide didn't mention the name of the building, but good golly, that's one massive structure. </div></div>

Um..yes sar, shi did mention di name, but yuh was busy trying to capture di monstrosity in yuh camara. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]

chitown, tanks fi di tip on the popcawn place. Girl, it nice bad. We got the Cheese Corn. All now mi wish mi still a eat some. Nice gawn to bed. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[Diplomat]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

Did she really mention the name??? In which case, my bad. I only heard the part about the zip code.

[djrosen1]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago



An interesting building. Built in 1930 by Marshall Field, it was sold in 1945 to Joseph Kennedy (father of John F., Bobby, and Teddy). The Kennedy family owned it until 1998.

[chitowngirl]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: churchgirl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">chitown, tanks fi di tip on the popcawn place. Girl, it nice bad. We got the Cheese Corn. All now mi wish mi still a eat some. Nice gawn to bed. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] </div></div>
churchy [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] wah mi tell oonu [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] did papcawn addictive bad [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img] CEW chry ie? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]


btw, Walgreens (do you have these pharmacy stores? - if not, it can be ordered online) carries a bagged caramel/cheese mix that I guarantee is the best pre-packaged popcorn you'll ever eat...it may help curb your Garrett's craving [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]

[Bandana]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70458-applaud.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/notworthy.gif[/img]


CEW your photography is awe inspiring as usual!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/blushing2.gif[/img]


Churchgirl you look so happy [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]



[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img] thanks for sharing [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[Seveen]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

beautiful pictures

CEW - Churchgirl [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]

did i miss something [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/inlove1.gif[/img]

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img]

[churchgirl]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

chi I saw one of the Garrett shops and I said to him "Isn't that the popcorn place that chitown mentioned?" He just went off about how fattening it sounded. Suh wi nevva stop fi get nuh. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/frown.gif[/img] A really nevva show mi disappointment still. So the second day we passed another one and I said, "Here's another one of the popcorn place chitown mentioned. I think I'm gonna get some". He said, "Oh okay". We went in and opted for the large bag of the cheese corn.

When we got back to the hotel we started munching on it. To his credit, he had just a small amount. I had a little and said, "but it nuh taste alla dat". Mi did haffi tek back mi wud. Later on I had some more and I mean, I almost ate the whole bag in one sitting. I'll give that one from Walgreens a try. I've been so tempted to order some from garrettpopcorn.com

BD, I was happy! It had been a long rough winter and an even rougher semester at school so getting away was a good thing. Graduation was a couple of days away too, so I was on cloud 9.

Seveen Hi mi dear. What yuh missing? [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif[/img] Dis may help.

[Seveen]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

<span style='font-family: Fixedsys'>hey babies

i'm happy for ya'

free babysitting

from someday to noneday

[img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70459-hugs.gif[/img]</span>

[Diplomat]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

Seveen, BanDanna, RambleOn: Thanks much for dropping in, and for the kind words. I'm having as much fun with this 'report' as I had on the actual tour.

chitown: The popcorn was good but a bit cloying for me. I could see why someone could get addicted though.

[Diplomat]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

Off the DD here, and back on foot. What better way to explore a city?



The picture doesn't show it, but walking on this stretch was to be moved along by a sea of humanity. It was hard to stop for pictures.







WTP - one of the first vertical malls in the world.

[Diplomat]

Re: Spring Break In &amp; Around Downtown Chicago

The Water Tower - completed in 1869, and standing as the principal memorial to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.



Tender moments...



Lot of these traffic control folks around, though with all the stoplights working, I wasn't quite sure what they were doing. Considering how congested the streets were most of the times, maybe they ensured traffic kept moving / no illegal stopping [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70402-thinking.gif[/img]



The Chicago River - 156 miles long and flowing through downtown Chicago. It is dyed green on St. Patrick's Day.





Walking dogs must be a great way to strike up a conversation...