My trip to Hawkeytown.

[osaraba]

Unfortunately, I did not find Fraser or either Rays wandering around. I tried to go to the Canadian Consulate, but this resulted in epic fail that wasn't even realized until I got back and looked up the address again. We were around the corner from it at 180 Randolph Avenue instead of 180 N Stetson Ave. (AND OMG, WHY IS THE CANADIAN CONSULATE ON A STREET NAMED AFTER A HAT?!) So, it's actually the building directly behind the one I thought it was. SIGH. WHATEVER. YOU'RE STILL GOING TO GET MY NOW-POINTLESS PICTURES.





(Now we know why....)



This isn't exactly far off... it's just the tall building right behind it. The one you can't see, but looks almost exactly the same as this one.

So we went to Millenium Park which is right nearby the Consulate. Here I got an awesome photo of the city from the Nichols Bridgeway...



...visited Cloud Gate ("The Bean")...



...and then walked by these crazy round apartment buildings, Marina City, designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg. The apartments are built over parking lots in the same structure -- and it's really interesting because you can clearly see the cars parked right up to the open edge of the building. Juliet hates them, but I think they're amazing and would love to live in one!





And BONUS PHOTO: Juliet and I took the bus over to United Center and walked around the area (pretty much deserted except for a high school gym class running laps!), but abruptly came across this street! I was like, OMG I SHOULD FOLLOW THIS UNTIL I COME ACROSS THE BURNT REMAINS OF FRASER'S OLD BUILDING. Instead, I just took the picture. Lame, I know.



More photos here on fbook.

ETA: I really feel like Chicago is more like NYC than any other major US city (that I've been to). And I suppose, knowing that Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the US (with almost 3 million), I guess it makes sense.

Only Los Angeles (almost 4 million) and NYC (almost 9 million) are larger!

/fraser-lecture

Comments

[surya74.livejournal.com]

Boy, lotsa tall buildings in Chicago! O.O

Uh, I'm gonna friend you on fbook? :D?

[osaraba]

YAY FOR FBOOK FRIENDS! WOOO! <3

I know, actually, I really like the tall buildings in Chicago! I meant to say in the post, but I really feel like Chicago is more like NYC than any other major US city (that I've been to). And I suppose, knowing that Chicago is the 3rd largest city in the US (with almost 3 million), I guess it makes sense.

Only Los Angeles (almost 4 million) and NYC (almost 9 million) are larger!

/fraser-lecture

[idreamedmusic.livejournal.com]

Wow, cool pics!
Chicago... man, always wanted to go there, but never managed to aside from seeing O'Hare a couple times :(

"The Bean" is great - on your FB pics as well because it just disappears in the sky.
And I love the apt towers as well. Look like corn on the cob.

Bummer about the consulate, *wail*

edited because I can't spell Chicago. I need a coffee...

Friending you on FB as well, hope that's okay ;)

[osaraba]

YES, I FRIENDED YOU BACK! =D

I went to this con last year, but didn't have a chance to actually go into Chicago at all, so this year I was determined to go since I had more reason to go. Of course, now I'm sad I didn't go last year because I'd have liked to do more.

Haha, I really like those apartments! They really are kind of ugly, but they're so interesting and I LOVE THEM ANYWAY! =D

[idreamedmusic.livejournal.com]

Yay, FB Buddies! ;) *HUGS*

And hey, maybe you can go again next year - now that you know where the Mounties are!

The apartments really stand out, so, job well done. I bet the view from the top floor must be spectacular!

[osaraba]

I expect to be back in Chicago in October for a fan convention and a hockey game, so I'll see if I can stalk track some Mounties down. Hee! =D

I wonder if those apartment buildings give tours or anything... I'm a bit captivated by them. =D

[mamaffy.livejournal.com]

Awesomeness! Too bad there were no Mounties standing guard. On the upside, if Fraser returned to Chicago, it leaves him more time to liase!! Imagine Fraser living on the nth floor of that building. Oh, man, I would have missed his old apartment even more, I didn't think that's possible. *sobs*

Very cute pictures of you, especially with the tongue and the camera, I love it! ;)

[osaraba]

I know, I was so disappointed by the lack of Mounties. =( Poor Fraser, if he had to actually work in that building I think he'd have left Chicago way before RayK came into the picture. Which would've been such a sad, sad thing. And yeah, I didn't think it was possible to miss his old apartment more either!

LOL, I wish I'd taken even more silly pictures at The Bean! Clearly I must go back! =D

[osaraba]

I KNOW! The timing on that trip was all sorts of bad, actually. I was really hoping WCF game 1 would be Saturday or Sunday night so that I could have gone to a Real Chicago Bar™ to watch as I was actually working at the convention. DAMN NBC! Though I was able to catch the last period at the hotel bar, so that was nice, at least.

Aha! But! I will be back in Chicago for Wincon (you may be familiar with it as it was originally SPN-fandom con?); I'm not really that much into SPN fandom (though the con is multi-fandom this year) but I'm kinda tagging along with 2 friends and hoping to catch a Hawks game while I'm there. So... maybe want to go to a game then? A bunch of us will be going!

YAY FOR FBOOK CREEPERS! =D

Just saw that yesterday was your birthday! Happy belated birthday! You are ACTUALFAX only 5 days older than me! \o/

[osaraba]

Haha, you too? Office jobs are good for pretending to work while actually surfing internets!

I am beginning to suspect that somehow *stalker music* will now be our theme music?

From what I understand, WinCon is a travelling con; I think it was in Colorado last year? But it's in Chicago this year, which worked out really nicely, IMO! Since I may not have been all that interested in Denver... Anyway, yay for Hawks game plans!

Oh no, I totally understand about being super into it! I just ignore the weirdos who think that there's something wrong with yelling back at a TV screen what can't answer you. WHATEVER. My roomies think I'm crazy too, but gladly they're cool with it. Especially when all they hear is "Comeoncomeoncomeon! FUUCK!" Though I remember in high school I was (even then) the only one I knew who was into hockey and my friends at the time thought it was even weirder. 'Cause really, what high school girl is randomly into hockey when none of her other friends or family are?

Sigh, and it was so nice then, with hockey on so many channels, including ESPN...

[osaraba]

I'm now conducting a survey on twitter regarding the stalker theme music question. So I guess we'll have a few options. Currently "Every Breath You Take" by The Police is winning, which isn't really much of a surprise.

Someone suggested the theme song from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood, and unexpectedly (because I never thought of it as stalkery before), but I think that it's actually a good fit for us! =D


Your mom is clearly an amazing lady. (I would kind of like DETAILS clarification of the stalking of the Hawks in the 60s/70s thing.) My father used to be an Isles fan -- in the 70s/80s (I know, I gag every time I think about it) -- because he used to work with photo-journalists and go to games at Nassau Coliseum for work. But he was never a hardcore fan and I got into hockey completely independently of that (and long after he'd stopped going to games that way). Which, I suppose I should be grateful for, actually, because then I'd be an Isles fan. Ewwwwwww.

And BTW, yes, WinCon is a fan-only convention. I've never been to one before, either, so I hope it turns out well!

[kitzal.livejournal.com]

That is so fun! So jealous!

[osaraba]

Still interested in Vancouver over Thanksgiving? =D

[fredericks.livejournal.com]

Awesome pics, even sans Mountie. I keep saying I want to head to Chicago. I toyed with heading there this January, but then someone knocked sense into me (I lucked out with great weather during my January trips to San Francisco and reasonably mild weather during a trip to Toronto during the same time, but I think Chi-Town in January would be pushing things).

[osaraba]

Thanks! I didn't really have much time there -- only about 5 hours in the downtown area, total -- so I definitely want to go back myself. But yeah, I think you made the wise choice not going in January. My friend who goes to school there says it's really horrible in the winter. =(