Chicago – Day 6

March 2016

Our 6th day was less planned since we were doing well at crossing sights off our list. In the morning, we went to see Old Saint Patrick's Church, one of the few structures to survive the Great Fire of 1871. Then we wandered into Union Station to enjoy the architecture and people watch. We were joined by a lady who described herself as "the crazy little black lady." She made things more interesting. We stopped and grabbed an Italian Beef for lunch before heading to the Lincoln Park Zoo for the afternoon. Every city should have a free zoo like this! After a stop back at Marshall Fields for some souvenirs, we crossed another historic restaurant off our list for dinner, The Berghoff. After dark, we enjoyed the beautiful Riverwalk along the Chicago River.

6-001 Water Taxi
A water taxi heads past our hotel on the Chicago River
6-003 Union Station
Chicago Union Station was opened in 1925 and is still in heavy use by Amtrak.
6-004 Al's Beef
Al’s Beef, purveyor of Chicago style Italian Beef sandwiches
6-008 Old Saint Patrick's Church
Old Saint Patrick’s church is one of the few buildings to have survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
6-009 Grainne Plaque
The statue “Grainne” was a gift from the city of Galway, Ireland to Chicago. (Gaelic plaque)
6-010 Grainne Plaque
The statue “Grainne” was a gift from the city of Galway, Ireland to Chicago. (English plaque)
6-012 Grainne Plaque Statue
The statue “Grainne” was a gift from the city of Galway, Ireland to Chicago.
6-013 Old Saint Patrick's Church Sign
Old Saint Patrick’s church is one of the few buildings to have survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
6-014 Historic Route 66 Sign
Historic Route 66 passes through Chicago
6-015 Historic Register Plaque
Old Saint Patrick’s church is one of the few buildings to have survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It’s a national and city historical landmark.
6-016 Historic Landmark Plaque
Old Saint Patrick’s church is one of the few buildings to have survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It’s a national and city historical landmark.
6-017 Old Saint Patrick's Church Entrance
Old Saint Patrick’s church is one of the few buildings to have survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
6-019 Flower Box
I guess when you’re in Chicago, plastic flowers are more economical or at least easier to maintain
6-020 Old Saint Patrick's Church Rectory
The rectory of Old Saint Patrick’s Church
6-021 Old Saint Patrick's Church
Old Saint Patrick’s church is one of the few buildings to have survived The Great Chicago Fire of 1871. It’s a national and city historical landmark.
6-023 Union Station
Chicago Union Station was opened in 1925 and is still in heavy use by Amtrak.
6-024 Union Station
Chicago Union Station was opened in 1925 and is still in heavy use by Amtrak.
6-025 Union Station Entrance
Chicago Union Station was opened in 1925 and is still in heavy use by Amtrak.
6-026 Union Station Interior
The architecture inside the almost 100 year old Chicago Union Station is spectacular
6-027 Union Station Interior
The architecture inside the almost 100 year old Chicago Union Station is spectacular
6-029 Trains Sign
This way to the trains
6-030 Union Station Interior Detail
The architecture inside the almost 100 year old Chicago Union Station is spectacular
6-032 Statue
Statues adorn the inside of Chicago Union Station
6-033 Statue
Statues adorn the inside of Chicago Union Station
6-034 Union Station Interior
The architecture inside the almost 100 year old Chicago Union Station is spectacular
6-035 Al's Beef Sign
Al’s Beef specializes in another Chicago specialty, the Italian Beef sandwich
6-036 Italian Beef
Al’s Beef specializes in another Chicago specialty, the Italian Beef sandwich
6-037 300 South Wacker
300 South Wacker has a map on the side just in case you get lost
6-038 Chicago River
Crossing the Chicago River on one of many draw bridges
6-039 Ceres Statue on Board of Trade Building
A statue of Ceres, goddess of agriculture, stands atop the Chicago Board of Trade building
6-040 Quincy L Station Sign
The Quincy L station is a beautiful old station built in 1897 and quite well preserved
6-043 Flemish Giant Rabbit
This photo doesn’t do justice to how big this Flemish Giant Rabbit is!
6-044 Cows
It only seems appropriate that a city with historic stockyards would have plenty of steer & cows in their zoo
6-045 Cows
It only seems appropriate that a city with historic stockyards would have plenty of steer & cows in their zoo
6-046 Steer
Sometmes a steer just needs a nice soft pad to walk on
6-047 Steer
I’m not tellig this guy that I had an Italian Beef for lunch!
6-048 Steer Head
This steer head statue hung in the Chicago Stocktyards
6-050 Pony
Ponies
6-052 Lincoln Park & Skyline
Looking out over Lincoln Park to the downtown Chicago skyline
6-053 Mom & Skyline
My mother stops for a photo op with the Chicago skyline
6-054 Camels
I would assume these camels are glad the weather is warming up
6-055 Sichuan Takin
This is a Sichuan Takin. I know no fun facts about them.
6-056 Sichuan Takin
This is a Sichuan Takin. I know no fun facts about them.
6-058 Alpaca
Alpacas, they’re cute and their wool is nice and warm. It’s a win-win.
6-060 Zebra
Zebra
6-061 Popcorn Truck
In the summer, you can buy popcorn from these cool little trucks.
6-062 Chimpanzee
Apparently chimpanzees love a good salad
6-063 Chimpanzee
This young chimpanzee was getting his workout in
6-066 Black & White Colobus Monkeys
Black & White Colobus Monkeys
6-067 Black & White Colobus Monkey
Black & White Colobus Monkey
6-068 Leopard
While cute, I’m sure this leopard could tear us limb from limb.
6-069 Leopard
While cute, I’m sure this leopard could tear us limb from limb.
6-072 Lion
Listening to this huge lion chomp on that bone from right up close was both fascinating and disturbing at the same time!
6-073 European White Stork
European White Stork
6-074 Black Necked Stilt
The Black Necked Stilts have no partition. They just stay in their enclosure because they want to.
6-075 Black Necked Stilt
The Black Necked Stilts have no partition. They just stay in their enclosure because they want to.
6-076 Bird
Walking among the birds in the bird room is a lot of fun. They aren’t very afraid of us.
6-077 Snowy Egret
Snowy Egret
6-079 Spoonbill
Walking among the birds in the bird room is a lot of fun. They aren’t very afraid of us. This is clearly a Spoonbill.
6-080 Spoonbill
Walking among the birds in the bird room is a lot of fun. They aren’t very afraid of us. This is clearly a Spoonbill.
6-081 Spider
This spider is not behind glass or anything. Needless to say, I’m using a zoom lens!
6-082 Hippo
Hello hippo!
6-083 Hippo
Just a hippo casually swimming among big blue fish
6-084 Meerkats
I love the quizzical looks that meerkats always have on their faces.
6-085 Meerkat
I love the quizzical looks that meerkats always have on their faces.
6-086 Giraffes
Thanks to the chilly spring air, the giraffes are spending their time indoors.
6-087 Giraffes
Thanks to the chilly spring air, the giraffes are spending their time indoors.
6-088 Fish
Now that’s an aquarium!
6-089 Lilypads and Koi
Koi pond in the Lincoln Park Conservatory
6-090 Tropical Room
Lincoln Park Conservatory’s tropical room
6-091 Coffee Tree
Coffee tree
6-093 Flower
I can’t name a lot of the flowers in the Lincoln Park Conservatory, but they’re all beautiful
6-095 Azaleas
Azaleas of every color
6-096 Flower
I can’t name a lot of the flowers in the Lincoln Park Conservatory, but they’re all beautiful
6-097 Flower
I can’t name a lot of the flowers in the Lincoln Park Conservatory, but they’re all beautiful
6-098 Easter Lilies & Azaleas
Easter lilies and azaleas
6-099 Mom & Azalea
A frame just begs for a photo
6-100 Azalea
HUGE pink azaleas
6-101 Orchids
Orchids of all varieties
6-102 Pansy Orchid
White pansy orchid
6-103 Fern Room
Lincoln Park Conservatory’s fern room
6-105 Cattleya Orchid
Cattleya Orchid
6-107 Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros coming out for some sun
6-108 Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros
6-109 Spotted Turtle
Spotted Turtle
6-110 Dyeing Poison Arrow Frogs
Dyeing Poison Arrow Frogs
6-111 Golden-Headed Lion Tamarin
Golden-Headed Lion Tamarins
6-112 Sand Cat
Does it get any more cute than this Sand Cat sleeping in a tree
6-113 Red-Footed Tortoises
Red-Footed Tortoises
6-114 Flamingos
Flamingos
6-115 Flamingos
Flamingos
6-116 Carbide & Carbon Building
The Carbide & Carbon Building was built to resemble a bottle of champagne
6-117 Carbide & Carbon Building
The Carbide & Carbon Building was built to resemble a bottle of champagne
6-118 The Bean
The Bean and Millennium Park seen from the bird sound filled hallway at theWit
6-119 The Bean & Lake Michigan
The Bean, Millennium Park and Lake Michigan seen from the bird sound filled hallway at theWit
6-120 Macy's Fountain
Fountain in the atrium inside Marshall Fields (now Macy’s) on State Street
6-121 Chicago Institute of Art
Chicago Institute of Art
6-122 The Berghoff Sign
Open since 1898, The Berghoff is an amazing and historic restaurant. Incredible atmosphere, great food and they brew their own root beer!
6-123 The Berghoff Sign
Open since 1898, The Berghoff is an amazing and historic restaurant. Incredible atmosphere, great food and they brew their own root beer!
6-124 The Berghoff Interior
Open since 1898, The Berghoff is an amazing and historic restaurant. Incredible atmosphere, great food and they brew their own root beer!
6-125 The Berghoff Casserole
The Berghoff Casserole appetizer contains spaetzle, spinach, gouda and bacon. Wow, is it good!
6-126 Sausage Trio
The Berghoff’s sausage trio with German potato salad and sauerkraut
6-127 The Berghoff Bar
The bar at The Berghoff is an historic and cool as the rest of the restaurant.
6-128 The Berghoff Sign World's Fair Sign
Berghoff beer was served at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair
6-129 The Berghoff Historic Menu
Prices have gone up a little in past 100+ years, but this old menu from The Berghoff is fun to read.
6-130 Jeweler's Bulding Clock
This massive clock adorns the Jeweler’s Building
6-132 Wrigley Building
The Wrigley Building by night as seen from the Chicago Riverwalk
6-134 Chicago River
Walking along the Chicago River on the Chicago Riverwalk
6-135 Marina City
Looking up at Marina City from the Chicago Riverwalk
6-136 Chicago River
Checking out the Wabash Avenue bridge and the Wrigley Building as we walk along the Chicago Riverwalk
6-137 Marina City
Marina City and its scary parking garage as seen from the Chicago Riverwalk
6-138 Whirlpool Clock
The Whirlpool/Britannica clock
6-139 Merchandise Mart
The massive Merchandise Mart as seen from the Chicago Riverwalk
6-140 Riverwalk
The Chicago Riverwalk is a fantastic way to check out the city by night.
6-142 Chicago River
The Chicago Riverwalk is a fantastic way to check out the city by night.
6-144 The Wit Sign
Coming back to theWit after a long day of exploring the city of Chicago