February 2, 2007 by Stephen.

Click here to open it up in an new window (http://flickr.com/photos/ponchiang/379345095/map/?view=ponchiang)

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February 1, 2007 by Stephen.

The next day (Thursday - Free Museum Day for Museum of Science and Industry and Art Institute of Chicago), we went to see Museum of Science and Industry (Bus 6) and Art Institute of Chicago. We saw the exhibits of Pioneer Zephyr and Coal Mine. The tours they have for the Coal Mine and Pioneer Zephyr are very cool and “FUN.” In Pioneer Zephyr, the streamlined train, they pretended it was 1934 when they had the first run and you are the passagers for the run and showed you all the 3 trains from inside and a talking donkey, Zeph, the mascot for Pioneer. And in the Coal Mine, they had a coal miner welcoming you and took you inside the coal mine by a elevator, which light will go out when you are in there, and a train. Very cool presentations. And another exhibit is the Body World 2 which is very cool, but I don’t think I was ready and they charged like 15 dollars per person so we didn’t go. But if you go to the stairway, they have some free exhibits for the Body World there. It is like a trial version of it before you commit to buy the ticket. HEHE

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January 31, 2007 by Stephen.

Today, since no museum that we are interested is on the Free Day. I planned to go to the Millennium Park. We found out there is a pegway and also another way in the Hyatt buildings that we could go through to close to the park without in the cold weather. We saw the AON building and Prudential building, and the cloud gate, Millennium Monument and Pritzker Pavilion in the Millennium Park. The breakfast that we had in the Hyatt Regency Hotel West building are coffee from Dukin Donut, which was not that good like other Dukin Donuts because it was tasted like water. The Italian Sandwish that I ordered from POTBELLY SANDWCH WORK in the same building was worth it.
We went to visit the Chicago Cultural Center. When we get in the building, it had music inside. We didn’t know there was a concert. I went to the information desk, the lady ther whispered to me asking me if I need anything. I couldn’t hear her so she had to speak a little louder to me again. Then she told me there is a concert here.

That is the the LaSalle Bank Dame Myra Hess Memorial concerts, a series designed to showcase talented young artists, are presented each Wednesday at 12:15 P.M. (http://www.imfchicago.org/hessmain.html) and broadcast on WFMT-FM, Chicago, 98.7 and Channel 25 TV. (http://www.wfmt.com/). They had the beautiful Tiffiny Dome Ceiling and glass windows.
This is what we heard there:

Après une lecture de Bartók
Free Variations
Open Strings
Allegro poco vivace
Elisa Järvi (b. 1976)

Later, we went to the John Hancock Building, Signature Room restaurant and Cheesecake factory in the John Hancock building. Fourth Presbyterian Church across the street, Macy’s in the Water House Plaze and the “real” Water Houses across street from the Plaza. Then we took a chance to see the Navy Pier. There is a Crystal Garden, Children Museum and boats.

In the evening, we went to a restaurant called HOULIHAN’S, which is also in the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The Cabernet that we ordered was the best and it made me become the Cabernet lover from Merlot lover. That was called Redwood Creek Cabernet. HOULIHAN’S had an description about it: “Picture this: you’re strolling through a grove of oak trees, eating chocolate covered cherries.” We could not agree more than that.

Also in HOULIHAN’S wine list: “DEEP THOUGHT: WATER DIVIDES THE PEOPLE OF THE WORLD. WINE UNITED THEM. ”

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January 30, 2007 by Stephen.

We woke up at 4 A.M. The traffic to Bradley International Airport was good so we were ontime for 7 A.M. flight to chicago. The united personel couldn’t upgrade our seats because one way for each person is requiring 15,000 frequent flyer milage to Chicago.

When we arrived at Chicago O’Hare Airport, it’s 8:10 AM. We gained one hour because it’s in different timezone. We followed the sign to take “L-Train” to the Washington/Dearborn stop for our hotel (directed by the hotel website). But the “L-Train” is actually called “Blue Line Train” now.

After we arrived at our train stop, there is no elevator or escalator for our big luggage to the ground level. This stop is not handicap accessible stop. When we go out of the building, we could feel the windy and cold weather right away. It is easier for us to go to our hotel (Hyatt Legency Hotel) by walking north on Dearborn to Wacker, but the intersection on Dearborn is under construction and we had to turn right first to Washington St. and go north on the State St. which is the main street for Chicago. Macy’s and Chicago Theater is there on State Street. (Macy’s bought Marshall Field and Company couple year ago and now Marshall Field and Company doesn’t exist anymore) Then we turn right to the Randoplh St (the theater street) to Michigan Ave. The Chicago Cultural Center and the Millennium Park was there.

Finally we arrived at Hyatt. They gave us a beautiful room on the 17th floor facing north so we could see the Chicago Tribute Building (http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/tribunetower.htm) (http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/T/TribuneTower.html), Wrigley Building and Michigan Ave. Bridge Pylon at the beginning of the Magnificent Mile.(http://www.aviewoncities.com/chicago/magnificentmile.htm)

After take a little rest, we walked across the Michigan Bridge to the front of the Wrigley Building and took Bus 146 to the “Museum Park” which has the “Field Museum” and Shedd Aquarium. Today it is the Museum Free Day for these two places (Tuesday). We first saw “SUE”, the rex in the museum and then the baby Beluga Whale, called Bella in the Aquarium. She is 6 month old now.

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January 28, 2007 by Stephen.

• Heard about a free day (Free Admission Day) for Museums in Chicago? Click Here(877chicago) for an example. (make sure you call to make sure)
• From our hotel, Hyatt Regency Chicago to Field Museum and the aquarium, only need one bus #146 since #146 go around the whole Museum Campus (Field Museum, Soilder’s Field and the aquarium.)

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January 21, 2007 by Stephen.

We got a good deal last week from orbitz.com for Chicago even though we could go to Orlando, FL for the same price. Orlando/ Disney World didn’t sound interesting to me last week. But today, I walked out in the morning for work, it was cold and I realized that we might be too brave for Chicago next week.

Tried to call Orbitz.com and they said they could refund our hotel reservation with no charge but not the air ticket. Call ed United Airline and they have to charge $100 a ticket for change or refund. Then we decide to wear lots of layers when we go to Chicago.

Planning:

http://www.igougo.com/

http://chicago.citysearch.com/

http://chicago-hotels.tripadvisor.com/

http://www.coachusa.com/chicagotrolley/

http://www.viator.com/Chicago/d673

- Called Hyatt Regency Chicago to upgrade our room with view for first night. (Fee applied)

- Finding ways to keep us warm in the chilling Chicago.

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January 21, 2007 by Stephen.

United States:

• Chicago:

Chicago Trolley

(Map& Desnations: http://www.coachusa.com/CoachUsaAssets/files/102/route_map.pdf
http://www.coachusa.com/chicagotrolley/booking.asp?action=ProductDetail&productId=1063)

Chicago Transit

Citysearch Map

aviewoncities Chicago Map

• Philadelphia:

Big Bus Company (http://www.bigbustours.com/phila/html/i/BigBusBrochure2006.pdf)

Trolley Work (http://www.phillytour.com/2006_PTW_Brochure_Final.pdf)

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