We started off their trip with what every visitor should do on their first day in Chicago, the Architectural Boat Tour. This was my second time on the tour. I enjoyed going on the tour a second time because each tour guide puts their own personal spin on the stories and history of the city. A new story for me was the one behind the Carbide and Carbon building. It's hard to miss this large skyscraper with it's dark green body and beautiful gold detailed top. It's one of the most impressive executions of Art Deco design. What I did not know was how the design was decided upon. The architects and financier of the building were discussing design plans (and have a few drinks) when the financier raised his champagne bottle and said this is what my building should look like! Now it seems so obvious... a dark green glass bottle with gold foil top.
The next day we took another type of tour combining sight seeing and eating. A walking food tour of the Gold Coast and Old Town areas. We ate our way through these two neighborhoods including deep-dish pizza (of course), old school reuben sandwiches (with beats and boiled egg), chocolate, tea, olive and balsamic oils, and spices. Highlights were taking shots of olive and balsamic oil pairings, trying cinnamon from different regions of the world, and eating lots of homemade toffee. What was really interesting was the history of my hood (Old Town). Old Town was first settled by German immigrants who grew cabbage along the road for sauerkraut. Therefore, it was referred to as "the cabbage patch". In the 1960's the area was home to a large hippie movement until the Chicago riots broke out and within 10 days the hippies had moved to more peaceful pastures. Also, I was unaware I was living down the street from the original Playboy Mansion.
O, and we had some donuts :)
No comments:
Post a Comment