Well, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth but I have been busy traveling for work, took a vacation back to Louisiana, and adopted a dog over the past month.  Busy, busy this summer!  However, I did make time to take some photos in Chicago while I went there for a meeting last week.  It was my first time there and I just loved it!  I wish I had time to do more than a quick city and park tour.  The city was beautiful, clean, with breathtaking views.  And the food was incredible!  I definitely want to go back there and do the city right in a future trip.

 

Anyhow, here are some of the highlights:

 

 

 

A few views of Chicago streets and skyscrapers

 

 

 

 

I couldn't get a good shot of the Sears tower, but here's what I did get:

 

 

Skyline of the Windy City

 

 

Famous Bean Sculpture with skyline in back:

 

Looking into the Bean, here is my reflection and the city:

 

Chicago Art Institute (blurry picture)

 

Some famous water tower that survived a great flood

 

Outside of Oprah Winfrey's Studio (I had to pass here for my mom - she loves the Oprah Show)

 

Channel 7 News Studio in downtown

 

LET'S TALK ABOUT FOOD NOW!

 

A visit to Greektown:

 

Greek's famous flaming cheese appetizer - can you say OPA!

 

the end result

 

 

A Brazilian steakhouse place - I have never been to anything like this.  You get colored coasters - green on one side and red on the other.  Green for Go - meaning come by and offer me all your skewered meat (filet mignon, pork, chicken, etc. etc.)  Red for stop my plate is full or I can't possibly eat another bite.  It was a meat lovers (or Atkins diet lovers) dream come true

 

 

 

Then you can't visit Chicago without trying their deep dish style pizza.  I was referred to this famous chain there.  It was mmm, mmm, good:

 

 

Can you say big?

 

 

My favorite part of the visit - Millennium Park

 

 

The park's outdoor ampitheatre

 

 

Crown Fountain where Chicago people's faces are on these great gems. Every few minutes or so, the mouths of these Chicagoans open and water sprays the fountain's inhibitants, mostly kids looking to be cooled off in the summer heat.  I love these shots!

 

 

 

 

 

 

BELOW IS MY FAVORITE PHOTO I TOOK - I'M SENDING THIS IN TO PARADE MAGAZINE IN HOPES THAT THEY PRINT IT

 

 

 

 

 

that completes my tour - told you it was short!  Hope you enjoyed it.  I hope you're all having a great summer!  I know I am.

Sincerely,

New Orleans Lady

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

wow beautiful stuff! excellent work.. very beautiful!

Ah.....what Cleveland COULD have been if the forefathers would have taken their heads outta their asses!  lol  Takes me back when I spent a lot of time in Chicago....great pics!  That Brazilian steak house reminds me of the one in downtown Cleveland (Brasa)  same thing with the red/green coaster.  I need to get back to visit Chicago soon.

I love Brazilian steakhouses :D.

Great pics, it looks like you had a fun time.

Man that pizza looks amazing right now. Culture is one thing Chicago obviously does not lack. I love the design of the amphitheater! Thanks for sharing the pics :]

chicago = architecture mecca - Thanks for the fun shots!  Maybe we should consider a picture of Pete Rose spitting on us on Fountain Square! :D

Yay Chicago!  Looks like a fun time.

Ah, yes, Giordano's! I still have the stretch marks from trying to finish one of their pizzas back in '97. Alas, I could not, and was ashamed to take home leftovers and a bulging tummy.

Thanks all! It was a fun time - just wish I could have done more but i was there primarily for business.  I was only able to finish one and a half slices of that deep dish pizza.  Luckily, another girl was there to help me eat it and she took home the leftovers.  Hey PigBoy, I thought about you as I saw the Wisconsin sign.  My GPS got a little thrown off with all the construction in downtown Chicago so for a few minutes I was heading toward Wisconsin unintentionally but i found my way back to the hotel I was staying.  Thank goodness I missed most of the rain and storms there although I did drive back to Dayton in quite a bit of rain.  Like I said, I hope to go back and really see more of this great city.

Great Pics!!! When i was in chicago for a mission trip years ago (my first trip to a REALLY big city), we went to that same greek restaraunt. I remember being completely amazed. I had never been to a greek/real ethnic restaraunt in my life. These places are what makes cities truly magical places. I will never forget that fried cheese...that stuff was DAMN good!! Thanks again for the tour!!

This might warrent a different thread, but what were your impression upon your return to New Orleans?

Great pics of the Windy City!

Great pics NOL.  Thanks.

This might warrent a different thread, but what were your impression upon your return to New Orleans?

 

To be perfectly honest, my husband and i didn't go much into the city.  Our time there was limited with visiting family who mostly live in the suburbs.  The thing I noticed more than anything is that nearly every home has a FEMA trailer in front of it and that progress seems very slow.  If you want to know more, you can send me a personal message. Thanks.

 

 

I love Brazilian steakhouses .

 

Oh my gosh - it was so incredible.  Everyone should try them.

 

 

I will never forget that fried cheese...that stuff was DAMN good!!

 

Amen brother! That was so cool to watch.  One table ordered four of them and the waiter lit them all in a row.  That was some serious flames!  I wonder how they deal with smoke detectors there.