Today In…

We’ve been back to Mr. Churro’s three times.  We read somewhere that these are the best — certainly better than the Costco version.   Lucky you….I am about at the end of the Parker/Jones trip to Chicago.  We’re about to board the Coast Starlight back up to Eugene.

Our train was early into LA, so we had more than two hours to stroll around downtown.  So here is the Los Angeles City Hall — newly renovated.  It took three elevators to get to the 27th floor for these panorama photos of downtown LA.  I can’t take credit for the photos — I sent Durry to the top with the camera.  He did a nice job.  (Editor’s note:  I can’t do elevators or subways in Los Angeles….the earth has too much potential for shaking.  But while in Chicago I did get up the 13 floors to Clay’s office by elevator, and I lived through numerous tunnels on the train across country!)

Chicago has the highest sales tax rate in the nation.  The highest at 10.25%.  Ouch.  The taxes help to keep the flowers planted.  The spring bulbs are being planted downtown.  The same bulbs are not beautifing the south side of town….a little political commentary.

Whispering to Durry in some magic, scientific booth.

This museum has changed a lot since we were all last there in 1982.  I’m remembering this as the main entrance.  Now we enter from below the whole complex.  Still no sign of Mon ChiChi.

Waiting for the bus, and looking a little tired. The museum is located in Hyde Park, which is also the location of the University of Chicago.  This is the neighborhood where Michelle, Barack, Sasha and Melia live.  We did NOT see Bill Ayers lurking around anywhere.

The media has staked out their area for coverage of the Obama Election Day “party”. To the right of the satellite trucks is Grant Park where the tents are set up, baracades are in place.  Grant Park is the location of the 1968 Democratic Convention disturbances.

A bit more of the Chicago skyline.  We’re on our way to the Field Natural History Museum.

“Sue” the T-Rex.  Her bones are all real, located in 1990 in South Dakota. 

On the bus going to the haircut appointment.

Look at those curls.  My apologies to Clay because the sun and camera makes his hair look rather salt and peppery.  His hair is still very brown.

Cardoon

I’ve read about this plant in our Visual Food book….have never seen it until today.

Is the Cardoon related to the artichoke?

"Mum's the Word Autumn Show"

One of Many Mums

Dale Chiuly glass floating in the Koi Pond

100 year old place.

Portillo’s — Italian Beef Sandwich and a Chicago Dog.   We didn’t get to go to Milwaukee because Clay had to go to a meeting here in Chicago.  I went to the Vale Craft Gallery, and Durry to the Newberry Library.  THEN…we went to the Garfield Park Conservatory — the world’s(?) largest.  Amazing.  Anyone who lives in Chicago who hasn’t been there…MUST go.

We’ve arrived.  This is the view from our humble hotel downtown.  That’s the new Trump Tower on the left.  When Durry was last here in Chicago the Sun-Times Building was being being destroyed to make way for Trump’s tallest building.  The little round building peaking up on the right is one of the Marina Towers….they are round-ish, and I think you may have seen a glimpse of them in the new Batman…that was being filmed the last time I was here with Adam and Clay.   It’s 62 degrees.  Warmer than Arcata.