UPDATE 07.04.11: I went again. This time on the Fourth of July on what Dad labeled the most beautiful day of the year in Chicago. While I did not get to hear any music, due to an earlier than normal arrival, I was able to tour the Lurie Garden and make a return trip to the Crown Fountain. On the way home we hung out in an almost deserted Daley Plaza and played on the Picasso.
Millennium Park has been somewhat of a staple of my early-childhood in Chicago. There were a few afternoons in the park with Mom and Dad and some early-evening meet-ups with Gigi & Papa at Pritzker Pavilion for some classical and/or opera. However, the past couple years, Mondays have been the favorite due to the Downtown Sound series in the Pavilion. Thanks to this free event and others like it, I've had the pleasure of- mainly hearing- Amadou & Mariam, Besnard Lakes, Decemberists, Dirty Projectors and others I can't recall.
Last Monday, we finally made it down for a show, where Dad, Chad and I met the O'Conors for some food and drink while Ben l'Oncle Soul performed. During the set break, I got to run around my favorite part of MP, Crown Fountain. The cooler and kind of cloudy day meant a young lady and I had half the fountain to ourselves. I took advantage of the obstacle free space, until Dad heard the first notes of Kings Go Forth and signaled for us to return to the lawn for some more pizza and beer (water for me). I knew I'd be back soon, so I did not put up a fight.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Millennium Mondays
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Summer Night In Millennium Park
Millennium Park, the world's largest green roof, is easily one of Chicago's greatest attractions and on a recent- beautiful Monday night I managed to experience just about all it has to offer. Uncle Dave, Dad and I headed down around 6:00 PM to meet Gigi & Papa, who took the Silver Train (re: Metra) from LaGrange and brought some sandwiches along. Before we ate, I got to play in the Crown Fountain (shhh... I peed). Then I dried off before checking out Amsterdam architect Ben van Berkel and his UNStudio's new Burnham Plan Centennial Pavilion. What a great piece of public art. After some exploring, we at dinner on the lawn while listening to The Dirty Projectors and The Sea & Cake play Pritzker Pavilion, before walking up the new Nichols Bridgeway that leads to The Modern Wing at The Art Institute of Chicago. Our friend Chad joined us and Uncle Dave snapped a great photo, just before a security guard told daddy he could not have me on his shoulders. Stupid rules.