Category: Excursions

Museum Sunday

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Sunday we decided to take advantage of Bank of America’s Museums On Us program and check out the Shedd Aquarium’s new jellyfish exhibit. We arrived just as they opened, parked at a close-by meter ($1.50 an hour) and had to pay $9.95 each to access the Oceanarium and special exhibit area, so it wasn’t 100% free, but much better than nearly $40 per person!

Upside-Down Jelly

The exhibit wasn’t huge, but it was interesting, and I enjoyed seeing some new jellyfish species I haven’t seen before. Afterward we went to the underwater viewing areas to see the beluga whales, dolphins, and penguins, and then went back to the main level to check out the huge tank before driving to Millennium Park to an underground parking garage which has an exit across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago.

It’s been so long since I’ve last visited the Art Institute! At least 15 years, if not 20. It’s not the most exiting museum in the world, but it was interesting, and the $18 per person admission was 100% free which made the $20 parking easier to swallow. Joe was happy seeing the painting pictured below which was featured in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

A Sunday on La Grandette Jatte

We spent about two hours there before growing bored. Plus I was sweating up a storm. It was around 80 degrees out but I figured since we’d be inside all day I’d be cold in the air-conditioning so I wore track pants and a short-sleeved shirt but either the museums weren’t cranking out the air as usual or the medication I was on was making me warmer than normal.

On the way home we picked up BBQ beef brisket from an awesome placed called Smoque which we’ve been to once before. They were featured on Diner’s, Drive-Ins, and Dives on the Food Network and they are amazing. It’s always busy with the line out the door but well worth the wait. I’ve said it before – I don’t really care for BBQ, but this place is so good I just love it! If you’re ever in the Chicago area you must make a point to try it.

It was a really nice weekend that passed far too quickly, and obviously a busy week as well since it’s taken me this long just to post an update!

Photos
Shedd Aquarium – Flickr // Perfect Pixels // Perfect Pixels 2
Art Institute – Flickr

Videos at YouTube
Beluga Whales
Pacific White-Sided Dolphins
Tank cleaning and the Sting-Ray

Oak Park

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Last weekend was a lot of fun. It started with us visiting Oak Park Conservatory which I learned by accident even existed. It’s much smaller than Garfield Park Conservatory but it has tons of charm, plus it was full of pretty flowers and cute (caged) birds, turtles, etc. We gave our cameras a nice workout after months of non-use.

After just over an hour in the conservatory we decided to drive around the area and found ourselves at Frank Lloyd Wright’s birthplace. We really didn’t have any interest in seeing the inside of his house so we just walked around the neighborhood for awhile and then drove to a nearby beef place for lunch.

On our way home we decided to visit Oakbrook Center (an outdoor mall) to walk around, eat gelato, and check out the Apple store where I touched a real live iPad for the first time and was…. underwhelmed. Not to say it isn’t a great device, it’s just really not much different from my iPhone so it was tough to feel any excitement over it. I’d really like to get a tablet this year but I won’t be surprised if it’s not until next year when there’s more competition. And perhaps by then the iPad 3 will blow me away. ;)

The next day we went to the movies (saw the remake of Arthur which was fun because Russell Brand is so endearing) and then did some shopping. It was a lucky day for me as I found not one, but two nice bathing suits for a reasonable price and two pair of comfy flip flops that don’t have the fabric that goes between the toes (still hate that).

The weather was really nice both days which is an automatic mood-lifter. I love weekends where we spend some time outdoors doing fun things. I wish every day was like that.

Oak Park Conservatory @ Perfect Pixels

Indoor Football & CreamSlush Goodness

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A few weeks ago I decided we should do something different, so I purchased tickets on Goldstar to see the Chicago Slaughter, an indoor football team who plays at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates.

After a busy work week we were rather dreading that decision since we were both tired and didn’t know what to expect having never been to the arena before. I’m glad we didn’t stay home, though, because we had a great time.

Parking was reasonable at $10 (it varies depending on the event). Our spot wasn’t a far walk from the arena, but we arrived an hour before the event so I’m sure that was a contributing factor besides the fact that the arena ended up only being about 1/5th full. It was a breeze getting out of the lot because we took off during the 4th quarter right before they finally caught up and ended up winning by one point.

We picked up our tickets at Will Call which was easy to find. I like that the Box Office is inside the arena so you don’t freeze your butt off unlike Allstate Arena where it’s across the street. All the staff we encountered were friendly too.

The food was overpriced, as is all food at events like these, which is why we had dinner at the nearby Panera beforehand. We’re just too cheap to drop $4 for a hot dog.

Chicago Slaughter at Sears Centre Arena

Our seats (Section 118, Row 7) were pretty damn good for the price. The seats themselves are cushioned for maximum booty comfort. The view is even better at a higher level which we learned as we were leaving. In fact, I think I’d rather sit a little further back the next time because it offers a better vantage point.

It was a little cold inside, but not unbearable; I just kept my jacket on. You should have seen the family sitting in front of us. Talk about a stereo-typical Italian family – the dad had the slicked back hair and the mom had the teased hair and reeked of perfume. They were nice people, but it would have been better if I wasn’t breathing in the woman’s nasty perfume all night. It wasn’t at all pleasant.

The game was interesting, but I’m not a football fan, and in fact this is the first time I’ve ever seen a football game live. I found the entertainment between plays much more alluring. They really do make a lot of effort for everyone to have a good time and I appreciate that. I’d even go see another game, that’s how much I enjoyed it.

After we left we stopped at Sonic for a hot dog and what they call a CreamSlush. I tried the lemon-berry flavor and fell in love. I actually made Joe drive us back there the next day to get another one. Lord help us if they ever build one closer to home.

Looking Glass Girl

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There’s nothing better than having something to look forward to, and we’ve got some fun things planned for the next two months, including two sporting events and a roadtrip South to Atlanta, Georgia. Just having a whole week off work is going to be awesome, so traveling to someplace new is an added bonus. I really need to start looking into accommodations and putting together an itinerary. Sometimes planning the vacation is just as fun as taking it!

I’m looking forward to warmer weather and being more active – biking, roller-blading, playing frisbee, swimming, and going for walks after work. I’m actually anticipating all the shows I watch going on hiatus so I can do better things with my time. I’m a TV addict – I watch over 30 shows on a regular basis. It’s sad how I spend my free time, but when it’s cold outside I just don’t care. I want to eat, sit on the couch, and lay in bed. No wonder I’ve put on a few pounds!

A Chorus of Frogs

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We finally made it to Milwaukee Public Museum on Sunday. We didn’t go on Saturday because there was an IMAX movie, Bugs, playing at 10:30 am on Sunday I wanted to see. If we had gone on Saturday we’d have had to wait until 3:30 pm to see it, and as much as I like the museum, there’s not enough there to keep us there that late. Ironically enough, the movie broke down just as it was starting so we didn’t end up getting to see it anyway. C’est la vie.

The main reason for going was the special exhibit, A Chorus of Frogs, so we checked that out first. It wasn’t as big or impressive as I was hoping, but this one Waxy Monkey Frog was the highlight of the trip. I’m not sure whether he was cute or creepy, though. Be the judge for yourself and check out the video.

My, what big eyes he has! Here’s one more video of a butterfly from their live butterfly wing. Don’t get me started on the idiots trying to touch all the butterflies.

Exciting stuff! I live life on the edge; don’t hate.

Milwaukee Public Museum photos – On Flickr | On Perfect Pixels