Last week on Wednesday through Friday I attended the NCEO conference in Chicago with a co-worker. The sessions I attended on employee ownership were mostly well-informed but in many cases the advanced tax accounting topics were well over my head!This was my fourth or fifth overnight trip to Chicago and as such I always enjoy walking around and seeing the sites if I have time. And, I walk. A lot.
On Wednesday evening, according to Google maps, we covered almost 8 miles walking to and
from dinner and around downtown. It was 2.8 miles from our hotel just to Giordano's pizza where we had dinner. It was worth the walk though because you just can't get true Chicago-style pizza like that around OKC (at least as far as I know).On the Thursday night we only covered about 4.5 miles. We had a reception at the Chicago Art Museum sponsored by Bank of America. I didn't see any art but the food was pretty good...and FREE. Afterwards we hoofed over to Orvis, Northface, and the Nike store on Michigan Ave. All I can say is, as always, NEVER pay retail if you can avoid it!
You may be at least party familiar, in name, with Grant Park or Millenium Park. There is usually a whole host of dog walkers, frisbee players, etc. all milling around. Unfortunately for us it was pretty doggone cold and windy (Windy City, ya know) so there wasn't a lot of activity. Somehow having a massive lake next to your city leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to blocking the wind. Nonetheless we are pretty intrepid souls and forged ahead having a great time along the way.
This crazy looking thing fascinates me every time I see it. I need to do a little research on it. I don't know what it's made out of or what it represents but it is fascinating both from an engineering and artistic standpoint. It's like looking at the world through an ultra-wide angle lens on your camera.
Here is the Chicago River that gets dyed green for the St. Patrick's Day parade. This picture was taken from the end of one of many drawbridges over the river. In the late fall, there is a
designated Saturday where the bridges spend most of the day in the UP position while the boats all parade in off the lake before the big freeze starts. The schedules are apparently pretty well set and the drawbridges are only lowered occasionally so traffic can flow again.
