A Truly Truly Wonderful Book

I've reviewed some great books on this blog in the last half year. In fiction, The Caine Mutiny, John Dunning's "Bookman" mysteries, and The Plague. In non-fiction, 1776, Freakonomics, and Moneyball.

"Devil in the White City" is a great book that could fit on either list. Yes, it's non-fiction, but it's also a great yarn that could easily be a novel. I've seen this book on the shelves for a few years and was put off for some indescribable reason. Finally I caved and read it and I'm glad I did.

The book has it all: a struggle against adversity, unexpected engineering marvels (quick: what US engineer figured out how to create an engineering marvel more spectacular than the Eiffel Tower? The answer will surprise you.) The book also has a crazy serial killer, cameo appearances by the rich and famous, great writing, and even a great tale of urban studies, if you can believe it.

I came late to this party, but it's well worth it. Go for it.

A few more of The Bean

It does crazy things with reflections. I'm in this picture a number of times, actually.

See my pictures!

Finally got them to work. Sorry about that!

I've thrown in a couple more below. Remember when the Project for Public Spaces was in town? They would have loved this Corporate Plaza. A Picasso scultpure...


An eternal flame (helping the pigeons, of course) ...


And a halloween fountain.


I guess Chicago really likes to dye their water. Orange fountains at Halloween and a green river in March.

Something Tacoma could learn from Chicago

Think big.

Visiting Millenium Park in Chicago was like a wake-up call to me about the potential of open public spaces in Tacoma. The park is beautiful, the location is perfectly placed between the Loop and the Lake, and the art is great. Great and big.

Cloud Gate (AKA The Bean) is a great blend of art and appreciation of the city's architecture and skyline. The picture below is pretty clear why. The Bean shows off the entire city.


And the fountains below, while a little odd and unorthodox, followed with the same idea: think big. (If the fountain had been on there would be a spout of water coming out of the guy's mouth, right in the middle of the LCD screen that created him.)



They've created a wonderful public space with just these two pieces of art. There are many other things to do at the park, of course, but their good use of art stood out the most.

Chicago update

If all goes well with the weather in Illinois and Texas, I'll be home by midnight tonight. We'll see.

I did get to spend some time at Millenium Park today, which exceeded my expectations of what a public space could be. I'll post some pics tomorrow (real pics, not just cell-phone snapshots).

Slow day in Hinsdale, IL

Most of the guests to the Strickland-Lopez wedding left today amid a long morning of goodbyes. I'm left and am now hanging out with the husband and wife with a long day of casual ease after two days of non-stop action.

I learned how to play Pinochle and read part of a book and it's been very good. Tomorrow I'll explore some of the Loop and Millenium Park before my afternoon flight, which unhappily takes me through Dallas, making for a long night home.

On the plus side, I get to see Caleb in Dallas for all of an hour or so maybe tomorrow evening. As long as my plane isn't late or anything again.

All done

No hitches, except for--of course--the big hitch. But other than that, much fun in Chicago (Hinsdale, actually, SW of Chicago). If I can muster the energy I'd like to go in to Millenium Park tomorrow and visit "The Bean."

Outdoor Wedding Called Off

Had it been above 55 degrees and with no wind, we may have been outdoors, but 49 and gusty wasn't looking to promising. So we're indoors.

Sign of the times that the Ramada - Burr Ridge has free wireless I guess. It's expected everywhere now. Although I got an e-mail from Boeing today that announced they have decided to drop their "Connexion" service, which is what I used to blog over Greenland on my way back from the Olympics. So I guess it's not available everywhere.

Return of the Water

Yeah for the return of water and heat late last night!

Also, the sun is out, but it's still not exactly warm, either.

Winter Wedding?

Snow this morning in Chicago and very cold weather this evening. Wind chill and all, it made for a cold evening. And the cold seems to have snapped a pipe near Peter and Jenny's so we're without water tonight. And heat, since the radiator is water-based.

Which means we'll probably try to get to the hotel early tomorrow for showers if it's not fixed by then.

But it's a good time to be back in Chicago after three whole years!

Chicago Bound!

I'm off to Chicago tomorrow morning for the wedding of Jennifer Lopez and Peter Strickland. Not the J. Lo, but two Carleton friends. Blogging will be light, but I hope to post some cell phone pics of Chicago. I'll probably take my camera too since it's such a pretty city.

Ladies and Gentlemen, please turn on your cell phones

The Chicago Sinfonietta tried an experiment: orchestrating the audience's cell phones into their world premier of the Concertino for Cellular Phones and Symphony Orchestra. Audience members were encouraged at a light to activate their cell phone ringers. Four amplified cell phones were operated on stage with variations on the theme.

Something new for the Northwest Sinfonietta to tackle next season? I'll bring my cell. It plays the Super Mario Brothers theme.