Right after I wrote the previous post I briefly visited the Chicago History Museum, a place I get to scandalously infrequently considering how interested I am in Chicago history, and how it's just a bus ride away, in an area I easily visit 5 times a week, maybe? They were having free admission from 11-1 for Chicago's birthday party. I missed whatever performances took place. The Chicago Public Library had a table set up with lots of free copies of the books they've used for their "One Book, One Chicago" program. Now, I'm the last person in the world who needs free books, especially since for weeks now I've been taking out free books from
this place. But I love "retired" library books, so I got The Things They Carried and The Coast of Chicago. It was the last copy of the latter, and a man browsing the table expressed disappointment to the librarian...he'd wanted to get a book set in Chicago on Chicago's birthday (my thinking too). Luckily, I pointed out that A Raisin in the Sun is set in Chicago, so I hope that helped. People who share Chicago's birthday were given a certificate or something, but my friend who does was probably at work at the time and like most people couldn't visit a museum at noon on a Tuesday. Oh well.
There's a nice sign section in the lobby, shown above, and an original L car. I also took a quick look at the Sullivan section of the architecture exhibit and the section on Chicago businesses and inventions. Surprisingly, the Chicago Food display doesn't have any of the Chicago candy companies (but it does have Wrigley and Cracker Jack). I picked up a few brochures. I've never been on any of CHM's tours but I hope to check out one of their L tours--they offer the Brown, Blue, Green (West) and Green (South). Green (South) is next Sunday...I think it's possibly the most interesting, and I'm planning to go.
I got some hot chocolate (just okay) and a potato bagel with honey butter (longtime fave) from Einstein. When I boarded the #72 at Wells, the driver said she'd be gone for "3 minutes" and I used the time (it really was 3 minutes) to take photos--no other passengers, and I don't know if I've ever been completely alone on a bus before. Unfortunately, the photos were blurry. But here's the inside of a CTA bus, for any of you who've never seen one.
Right after I wrote the previous post I briefly visited the Chicago History Museum, a place I get to scandalously infrequently considering how interested I am in Chicago history, and how it's just a bus ride away, in an area I easily visit 5 times a week, maybe? They were having free admission from 11-1 for Chicago's birthday party. I missed whatever performances took place. The Chicago Public Library had a table set up with lots of free copies of the books they've used for their "One Book, One Chicago" program. Now, I'm the last person in the world who needs free books, especially since for weeks now I've been taking out free books from this place. But I love "retired" library books, so I got The Things They Carried and The Coast of Chicago. It was the last copy of the latter, and a man browsing the table expressed disappointment to the librarian...he'd wanted to get a book set in Chicago on Chicago's birthday (my thinking too). Luckily, I pointed out that A Raisin in the Sun is set in Chicago, so I hope that helped. People who share Chicago's birthday were given a certificate or something, but my friend who does was probably at work at the time and like most people couldn't visit a museum at noon on a Tuesday. Oh well.
There's a nice sign section in the lobby, shown above, and an original L car. I also took a quick look at the Sullivan section of the architecture exhibit and the section on Chicago businesses and inventions. Surprisingly, the Chicago Food display doesn't have any of the Chicago candy companies (but it does have Wrigley and Cracker Jack). I picked up a few brochures. I've never been on any of CHM's tours but I hope to check out one of their L tours--they offer the Brown, Blue, Green (West) and Green (South). Green (South) is next Sunday...I think it's possibly the most interesting, and I'm planning to go. 
I got some hot chocolate (just okay) and a potato bagel with honey butter (longtime fave) from Einstein. When I boarded the #72 at Wells, the driver said she'd be gone for "3 minutes" and I used the time (it really was 3 minutes) to take photos--no other passengers, and I don't know if I've ever been completely alone on a bus before. Unfortunately, the photos were blurry. But here's the inside of a CTA bus, for any of you who've never seen one.
5 comments:
Do you have to buy tickets in advance for the El tours, or is just a matter of getting on the right train at the right time? I might be interested in that one.
If you think it's scandalous how infrequently you go to CHM, well, I've never been. I don't even know where the entrance is, though I have seen the building. Someday...
I was lazy with including links today, so here's more info: the tours depart from the Concierge Desk of the Palmer House Hilton (17 E. Monroe)--it'll be nice to have an excuse to visit that place. It's $15, $10 for members (I think I'll join the CHM, that'll get me there more since they drastically raised admission [but are free on Mondays]), which includes a $5 1-day pass.
I could give people free tours of any CTA line whenever, but it'd mostly just be me saying "look at that!" and "that looks old!"
Rats, the upcoming one conflicts with the South Side Irish parade, which I'm intent on seeing this year. I didn't know about these tours, though, but now they're on my radar; hopefully I'll get one in soon, so I can take a bunch of bad pictures out of the window of a train.
Damn, the parade! I forgot! I've been meaning to get to that...great photo opportunities, I'm sure, and I love visiting the far south side. Well, maybe I'll have to go April 13 instead.
That "Gas for Less" sign looks like the one that used to be at Lincoln and Berteau. The first time my (now) wife and I passed it, she thought it said "Gas More or Less" which was probably about accurate.
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