Got back yesterday after about a week away. A brief recap:

Drove down to Washington DC last Thursday. Saw DC United defeat Colorado Rapids 4 to 1 at RFK. It was 2 to 1 and then there was a lightning delay, after which DC scored their other 2 goals.

On Friday went on a long tour of the Library of Congress. Advertised as a 1 hour tour, it lasted about 2 hours. It wasn't longer because we saw more--it was longer because the guide had more to say. I enjoyed it, but I think that even the "general public" tours given by LOC staff could be a bit more specialized. Perhaps an architecture tour, perhaps a "quick tour for families/kids" could be offered rather than the one-size-fits all generic tour.

Friday night, Saturday and Sunday were taken up by wedding weekend festivities. It seems not so unusual for wedding events to now takeover three days. Just noting the trend.

After the Sunday post-wedding brunch in Maryland, we drove to the Jersey Shore beach. I had never been before. Interesting enough experience. Monday I read most of Petropolis (quite good) on the sand, burning the tops of my feet unintentionally (not good). This despite a lot of sun preparedness on my part, but I always seem to forget something. Played a round of mini-golf (always enjoyable).

Tuesday we drove higher up in New Jersey. Saw Sicko Tuesday night. Pretty good; I think M. Moore actually dialed it back a bit this time. He is still as appealingly cheap as ever with his gimmickry, but maybe it will make some people think, if they go see it.

[Sicko official site]
[Metacritic Sicko]

Last day of Chicago, for me

In the morning I went to the Field Museum. They have a bizarre and troublesome fee structure, but ultimately I got a teacher's discount and saw the exhibits. I enjoyed the temporary Forbiden City exhibition (I expect it's better than the upcoming one of Jackie Kennedy) and also the Spirits of the Pacific sections.

In the afternoon I went to the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, where you could see what academics pillaged back when pillaging was acceptable.

Then, I saw the FLW house in Hyde Park, the Robie House. I learned that the tenants of this house all seemed to suffer various misfortunes but it seemed like a nice enough house.

I got my flight back to NYC in the evening. It was a nice few days. I enjoyed listening to the 10+ minutes of Spiders (Kidsmoke) by Wilco on busrides. How Chicago tourist, I'm sure.

Chicago Day 4

On Day 4 I took the bus into the loop and saw the Museum of Contemporary Art. the things there were mixed. I saw a really neat recycled objects installation by a fellow named Dan Peterman. and a 10 minute video of some northwestern professor woman sucking her toe. Also there was a neat exhibit made out of tea bags and video projections.

I wanted to see the Jewish museum of Chicago, the Spertus Institue but I'm a bit miffed at them. When I visited, the main floor of the museum was closed for installations(and not announced on the webpage when I checked in the morning) but i saw the second floor for free.

I went on a long walk on Chicago Ave and passed ritzy things, the Moody Bible Institute and some industrial train track type things. I stopped and ate lunch at a greasy plate indian-pakistani restaurant that seemed to be the fave of the taxi driver set, Baba Palace.

After dinner I enjoyed a Bud Light and bowled a game at a bowling alley/restaurant place.

Chicago Day 2

On Day 2 I went to the ritzy Oak Park neighborhood which is well west of downtown and requires an interesting "El" train ride from the loop through several "not so great" neighorhoods until you meet the rich folks.

In Oak Park I saw Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio and Ernest Hemingway's birthplace home. The FLW house I found interesting. He had his children's bedrooms underneath a barn style roof with a dividing wall that didn't reach the ceiling. Apparently the boys and girls used pillowcases to throw and catch their cat and other things over this wall. Also interesting was FLW's passport, which lied about his height by at least 2 1/2 inches and listed his physical features (such as a "sloping" forehead) in what I assume to be the "race-science"-influenced manner of the times.

I am apparently the only person who is interested in the Hemingway stuff; I was on a tour of one for the home and then when I walked several blocks to the museum in his
honor i was the only visitor. Still, my tour guide, Connie, enthusiastically gave me a tour as if I was a group of 17 excited Japanese tourists.

I found a very good bookstore with nice prices and selection and purchased a book by Paul Auster about typewriters.

That evening we watched a terrible movie called "Uncle Saddam" that couldn't decide whether it wanted to be funny or insightful. Terrible production values and the box lied about its style and approach to the subject. I hate it when that happens.

Chicago, USA

I went to visit my friend M. in Chicago and escape the Republicans in New York.

I stayed in Hyde Park, where the University of Chicago is located. It is a nice neighborhood. According to some travel guides (and indeed, reality) you have to take a bus to get to the center city area known as "the loop."

On day 1, we took the bus to the Millenium Park area. This is a park with some neat things about it. You could download this guide from Time Out that details the things. There is a nice Frank Gehry pavillion for concerts. There are fountains that show video images. There is a shiny bridge.

We also played mini golf by the park, so it was a good time.