Dining in Chicago

At last we get to the food.

And there was a lot of food

to be had in Chi-town.

And it was expensive,

at least in downtown.

For our first meal in the Windy City

(named for the politicians, not the weather),

we decided to go to Shula's at the Sheraton Towers

where we were staying.

Make no mistake;

this would be our most expensive meal of the trip.

We both opted for ice water and I asked 

for lemon on the side.

I got four lemon wedges.

This almost passes Rosie Hawthorne's test

as she judges a restaurant on whether 

they will actually give her the five lemon slices

that she requests to go with her iced tea.

After ordering,

our waiter brought out a basket of bread.

Both of us ordered the special of the night;

two 5 ounce petite filets with peppercorn sauce.

I ordered mine rare while my husband

ordered his medium rare.

These were, as usual,

cooked one scale up,

meaning that mine was medium rare

and my husband's was medium.

Remember that when you order a meat dish

at a restaurant.

However, they were delicious and tender.

Prime meat, indeed.

I will have to replicate this sauce at home.

I chose a side of lobster mashed potatoes 

to go with my petite filets.

The flavor of lobster permeated every bite

and there were bits of lobster throughout.

Sublime.

My husband ordered the twice baked potato.

You cannot tell from this picture, 

but this thing was huge.

It was at least eight inches long.

That was a potato on steroids.

This was a delicious meal,

but with tip, it set us back $137.67.

The next morning we headed out to the Navy Pier.

We found out that we were too late to eat breakfast,

and thus began our "tradition" of only eating two meals

a day while in Chicago.

Thus also began our tradition of eating outside

whenever possible as the weather was

absolutely gorgeous while we were there.

We decided to eat lunch at Harry Caray's Tavern.

The Menu

My husband ordered the Holy Cow! Burger

which is their signature 10 ounce sirloin burger

topped with cheddar cheese,

sauteed onions and sauteed mushrooms

on an egg bun.  This came with fries.

All for $13.95.

I ordered the Hawaiian burger.

This was a 10 ounce sirloin burger topped with

thinly sliced Canadian bacon and grilled sliced

pineapple with a side of teriyaki aioli on a brioche bun.

With fries this cost $14.95.

Two beers each, at $5 a glass set us back even more.

The food, it ain't cheap here.

And it is big.

It's a good thing we are doing a lot of walking.

Still feeling the effects of lunch,

we decided on a lighter dinner.

Next to the hotel is an place called

Lizzie McNeill's Irish Pub.

It is right on the river walk and we decided 

to sit outside and enjoy the views.

The menu

My husband ordered the corned beef sandwich

with chips.

I ordered the Burgundy. 

They were out of ciabatta rolls

so they put this on Texas toast.

I also opted for chips as a side.

I ordered a Guinness since I was at an Irish pub.

I was on my own on Monday morning 

and I decided to try the LB Bistro & Patisserie

in the hotel.

It is the first restaurant by renowned pastry chef

Laurent Branlard.

The blown glass sculpture outside the restaurant.

The floor of the restaurant is made of glass mosaics.

After perusing the menu and the prices,

I opted for the full breakfast buffet.

I chose an apple turnover,

an omelet (I got to chose the filling ingredients

and a chef made the omelet for me),

bacon, sausage links

and sauteed potatoes.

The apple turnover was very good

as was the omelet.

But the potatoes were swimming in oil,

which contaminated the bacon, making them greasy.

The absolute worst thing on the plate

was the sausage.

They looked plump and when I cut into them,

they looked juicy.

However, that "juice" was grease

and I couldn't eat much more than a bite or two

of them.

Which is a shame.

Chef?

You NEED my sausage recipe.

You really do.

Have your people call my people and 

we'll work out a deal.

So I'd have to say that this has 

to be my most disappointing meal of the trip.

From that,

let's go on to one of our most pleasant meals.

For our Class Reunion,

one of our class members set up

a dinner at Francesca's.

This restaurant was next to 

the John Hancock Center.

It turned out to be a good thing that I had

checked out where the restaurant was

earlier in the day when I was out because 

our taxi driver

(check off another bucket list item - ride in a taxi!)

missed the turn and we had to walk a block 

back to the place.

The menu changes regularly 

and this was the menu of the day.

While we waited for our orders to be taken

plates of fresh bread and freshly grated parmesan cheese

and small pitchers of herb infused olive oil were

set out for us to enjoy.

These were refreshed several times

before our dinners arrived.

The couple who had chosen the restaurant

ordered an appetizer of calamari fritti,

or fried calamari.

They couldn't eat it all and encouraged us to try some.

I had never had calamari, or squid, before,

so I timidly tried some.

First I tried a ring, or a bit of the body of the squid.

It wasn't bad.

Then they convinced me to try the tentacles.

I have to admit that the tentacles are my favorite part.

They are meatier and more flavorful.

I like calamari now.

And I am so proud of the Foodie Husband.

He also tried the calamari.

Our food arrives!

My husband ordered Spada Escada,

which is pan roasted swordfish with marinated 

red, orange and yellow tomatoes, basil, croutons

and honey balsamico.

$24.99

I ordered the Vitello alla Disperata,

which is roasted veal medallions with peppers,

red onions, wild mushrooms, garlic,

white wine and olive oil.

$29.99.

Our hosts were kind enough to remember my

infamous chicken allergy in not only choosing

this restaurant, 

but also in reminding me 

to not order anything on the menu with "pollo".

Our hosts outdid themselves in picking this restaurant.

The food was wonderful and of course,

the company was delightful.

On Tuesday morning my husband and I headed

down the block and across the river to the 

Corner Bakery Cafe.

The menu.

After ordering,

we found seats outside along Upper Wacker Dr.

Oops, I almost forgot to take pictures.

The Foodie Husband ordered 

the All American Scrambler

with Applewood smoked bacon,

toast and home fries.

I ordered the Farmer's Scrambler with peppers,

mushrooms and onions, toast and home fries.

After going back to the Navy Pier,

I stopped by a corner market and picked up some

food to nosh on before heading back to the room.

This looks like a lovely setting for lunch.

I purchased a honey sausage stick,

a smoked sausage stick a croissant and a

bottle of water.

I decided that I liked the honey sausage very much

and saved the smoked sausage for my husband.

I also decided that we would be stopping at that 

market before heading home.

And for the piece de resistance:

hotel banquet food!

In fact, it was so memorable - not -

that had I not photographed it, 

I would not have remembered it the next day.

That's not to say that it was bad;

just that it wasn't great.

After all the pomp and circumstance that comes

along with these events,

our salads arrive.

Pretty and probably the best part of the meal.

Then came the entree.

Beef, carrots and beans 

and a potato concoction that was rather uninspiring.

Again, not bad as these things go,

but about what you'd expect from these sort of things.

There was dessert in there somewhere

but I didn't care by then.

I said we'd stop by that market and we did.

Just don't ask how we got from here to there.

I got more honey sausage, 

some smoked sausage,

a half pound of mortadella

and a loaf of brioche bread.

We had a wonderful time in Chicago 

and learned that Chicagoans love their food.

It doesn't hurt if you can walk it off, though!

The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows

"The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows is the only museum in the United States dedicated exclusively to stained glass windows.

The Museum is a Millennium gift to the people of Chicago from Maureen and Edward Byron Smith, Jr., and their sons Edward and Peter Smith.  The Smith family has been collecting stained glass windows since 1970.  Their interest in Chicago history is represented by both  secular and religious windows from Chicago.  The family was dedicated to saving these important works of art at a time that stained glass fell out of fashion during the 1960s to 1990s and was in danger of being discarded and destroyed.

Mission and Goal

The Museum's mission is to become a world-class museum that collects, exhibits and interprets stained glass windows, more than half of which originally had been installed in Chicago.

The goal is to use the beauty of stained glass to educate more than 3000,00 people annually about art history in general and Chicago history in particular.

Art History and Chicago History

Stained glass was integral to many art and architectural movements in the United States and Europe.  Museum visitors will learn about diverse artistic styles such as Victorian, Prairie, Modern and Contemporary.

Stained glass also is a window to the history of Chicago neighborhoods.  Chicago has been a world center of stained glass windows from 1870 to the present.  Religious windows reveal ethnic diversity in Chicago churches and synagogues, while residential and commercial windows show development of a wide variety of artistic styles.

Among the reasons 19th century Chicago became a world center of stained glass windows was that many of the finest European designed windows were installed in Chicago.  Late 19th century Chicago experienced a period of tremendous construction.  Chicago needed to rebuild after the Great Fire of 1871.  In addition, the Industrial Revolution swept through Chicago at about the same time, creating prosperity for many people and encouraging numerous Europeans to move to Chicago. to participate in that opportunity.

European immigrants brought with them a desire for stained glass windows in the new residential, commercial and religious buildings being constructed.  The city became such a good market for stained glass that many of Europe's most talented stained glass designers moved to Chicago and opened 50 stained glass studios.  As a result, Chicago installed some of the finest stained glass windows in the United States.

Initially an importer of cutting-edge European styles, Chicago soon began to innovate and export artistic designs.  Art Nouveau, for example was stimulated by the Chap Book of Stone and Kimball Press in Chicago and by Louis Sullivan's architectural ornamentation.  Twentieth century modern architecture had its main root in the Chicago Prairie School originated by Frank Lloyd Wright.  Today, Chicago art and architecture continue their global influence.

The Smith family is please to share these beautiful windows with you and invites you to experience a unique journey through artistic and cultural history."

Thus reads the plaque that welcomes 

the visitor to the 

Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows

at the Navy Pier.

This museum is free and 

the windows are beautiful.

"Chicago: A World Center of Stained Glass Artistry

Chicago's stained glass companies worked directly with acclaimed architects to produce windows of International Importance.  Firms such as Healy and Millet helped Chicago architect Louis Sullivan realized his window designs for the Auditorium Building and the Stock Exchange Ceiling.

Both the Chicago firms of Giannini & Hilgart and the Linden Glass Company manufactured many of the early Prairie School style windows designed b Frank Lloyd Wright.

The linden Glass Company of Chicago also supplied fashionably designed and beautifully crafted stained glass windows for Pullman railroad cars, a Chicago firm that produced the most luxurious railroad cars in the world in the late 19th century.

During the Great Depression, Chicago's Drehobl Bros. Art Glass Co. saved the careers of several European trained craftsmen and thus assured that their traditions and skills would not die our.

Windows made in Chicago continue to be installed throughout the United States.  And Chicago-area firms such as Drehbol Bros. and Botti Studio of Architectural Arts are also active nationally in restoring stained glass windows."

Let's go look at some stained glass now.

I'm not going to bore you too much with
explanations of the different styles
and such.

Sometimes you just need to enjoy.

I will stop here, though.

In my humble opinion,

the Tiffany windows are the stars of the museum.

"Louis Comfort Tiffany pioneered the first

major revolution in leaded-glass technique

since the Middle Ages and the Renaissance.

He thought of it as painting with glass, not on glass."

Evening Landscape, c1910

Landscape with Yellow Sky, c1915

Autumn Landscape, c1890s

This is my favorite window in the museum,
but it was a bear to photograph
as there was a small stained glass window
directly opposite that gave off a glare on this one.

I had to have my husband block out the offending
light source so I could get a good picture of this one.

Landscape with Waterfall, early 1920s

Field of Lillies, c 1910

Pair of Poppies

Autumn, c1890

Spring, c1890

Christ and the Apostles, c1890

Jonquil Fire Screen, c1890

Guiding Angel, c 1890

Underhill Memorial, c1880

The Annunciation, c 1895

Ecclesiastical Angels, c1890

Rapelye Memorial, c1880

And we now return you to the rest of the tour.

"Victorian Religious

Until the mid-1800s stenciled geometric patterned windows dominated sacred spaces in Chicago.  With the influx of Catholic immigrants, beautifully painted German and Austrian-made religious windows that told a biblical story became very popular.  Until the 1920s, English and American made windows followed this trend as well.

Munich style windows became extraordinarily popular among Chicago's Catholic European immigrants in the 1800s to the 1910s and remain to the day the most common windows in Chicago's sacred spaces.

The great popularity of the Munich style among Catholic European immigrants throughout the United States spurred Tiffany's interest in making stained glass windows related in subject matter, but distinctly different in technique to the imported ones.  To many Catholic immigrants Tiffany windows represented Protestant decorative arts, and were therefore not acceptable within a Catholic sacred place.

Artisans, craftsmen and contractors usually had religious, language and cultural associations with the congregations that hired them.  Devotional bonds bind."

"The Munich Style of religious stained glass is named after a city of its origin, Munich, Germany.

The thickly applied, bright colors and elaborate detail, found on all Munich Style windows were suited to immigrant German-American tastes.  The style quickly found worldwide favor."

I hope you enjoyed this tour.

There were many more windows to be seen,

but light conditions were not conducive 

to photographing some of them.

I urge you to visit this wonderful museum

if you are ever in Chicago

and I promise you that these

photos do not do these magnificent

stained glass windows justice.

And for my next and final post on Chicago:

The Food!