Blue Man Group - Briar Street Theater - Chicago

"It was back to Chicago for a ladies trip to the Big City.  Joyce and a few of her high school friends plan a get-together at least once a month, and this month they all got tickets to see Blue Man Group.  Joyce ask me if I would like to join them but I would have to get a ticket.  ......No problem..... I have connections.

So, Janet, Joyce and I head out to Chicago on the South Shore Line train.  The other ladies were getting there by vehicle driven by Al (Joyce's husband) and Glenn. 

Joyce and Janet getting their train tickets. 

Here comes the train. It doesn't stop long. Hurry and get aboard!!

Once we got to the city, we got tickets for the tour double decker bus. It's the only way to see Chicago.   The "bean" was closed to visitors, but I had seen it before.  There was filming going on for Terminator 4.   Saw Kelsey Grammer. I don't know....is that how you spell his name??

This is inside the Marshall Fields building. Now Macy's.  it is a beautiful building!!

Many floors in Macy's. 

The water fountain inside the store. 

I love the tall buildings. 

Then it was on to see Blue Man Group.  My handsome younger brother's show. I told you I had inside connections!  

Waiting for the rest of the group. 

We all enjoyed the show!!

Me and Janet. 

I told a Blue Man that Phil was my brother.  His eyes got big and wanted to say something but of course was still in character.  He was cute. 

After the show we all ate at Ed's D... (Can't spell the last name). All the waiters  are rude in a fun sort of way. .  Never been to a place like this. They won't serve you unless you wear their hat. 

Our drivers.  

We all had a great time.

Special thanks to my brother.  I don't know how he did it, but our tickets were right with the others in our group that had purchased their tickets long before the show.

When you purchase a tour ticket, it is good for three days, so Glenn and I went back to Chicago. 

We rode all of the tours except one that went out to Hyde Park, but we weren't really interested in that tour. 

We toured the city again on the double decker that is called the Signature Tour.  It is a two hour tour but you can get off and on.  Each driver or tour guide has a little different presentation of the city.  Each is enjoyable .  We got off one of the trolleys at Lincoln Park Zoo.  It is a free zoo. Really enjoyable to see, even though our time was limited.  You just can't see all in one day.

This tour took us to Briar Street Theater where Blue Man Group has been for many years. 

Then we went by Wriggly Field. Notice the "cheap seats" across the road and on top of some buildings. 

Harry Cary statue.  He was a long time and beloved baseball announcer. This is in front of Wriggly Field

What would it be if one didn't visit American Girl for a grandma with granddaughters?!

This is in Water Tower Mall. I could have spent hours in this mall. 

 

And a visit to the Lego Land store. 

Wall of Legos. 

You cram as much as you can in the containers.  

A great time in Chicago. The city is beautiful from downtown to Navy Pier. 

Chicago

We took a trip to Chicago with our friends Al and Joyce and had a great time. Chicago is a beautiful city. I loved the old buildings as well as the new skyscrapers. First we got out tickets at Millennium Park for the double decker bus, then we visited the "Bean".  

Al. 

After the "Bean" we hopped on the bus and away we went to view the city. 

Trump Tower

Apartments on top and garage on the bottom. Looks like buildings from the cartoon,  the Jetsons. 

Soldier Field

Water Tower Castle

Loved the old clock on the Marshall Fields building. Now houses Macy's. 

On the bus. 

We got tickets for the Skydeck. The Skydeck is in the old Sears Tower now call the Willis Tower. Views were amazing. 

We even witnessed a couple get engaged in "The Ledge", a 1.5 inch thick glass balcony that is 1,353 feet over Chicago.  I stepped out into "The Ledge". What a feeling and view!  

We hopped back on the bus and headed over to Navy Pier. 

We got tickets for the Dragons Thunder, a Chinese circus show. The highlight was five motorcycles in a huge caged ball going around each other. I kept thinking that one little mistake.......!  

They do have great skill and one was a girl. 

We then ate at Bubba Gumps at Navy Pier.   We had a fun full day. There is no way we could see Chicago in one day. I think another trip is in my future. Loved Chicago!!

Fair Week

The church (Calvary Assembly of God, DeMotte, IN) has a food booth at the county fair and Al had signed us up to help him and Joyce along with Arlen and Ginger (all new friends we met in FL with Maps RV ).  We were the breakfast crew.  So.... We head over to another small town with our campers.  There were many, many campers and horse trailers parked on the fairgrounds. 

We had a nice setup under a shady area. 

The dogs had there area too. 

Al and Joyce's grandsons were in several events and games with their horses. We enjoyed watching the young riders. 

Here is Brice with Winston. 

Here is Brice and Brock.  Brock is the youngest with his horse Beauty.  Beauty is a rescued horse and more gentle than Winston.  Both great horses.

We were fortunate to have the breakfast hours to man the food booth; the cooler part of the day.

Then we were able to enjoy the other events of the fair, or just go back to the camper and enjoy visiting or napping. Our camper was close to the horse arena so that is what I enjoyed watching. 

 Following are pictures of the food booth and our crew. Al and Joyce, Arlen and Ginger , and Glenn and myself.  We also had Al and Joyce's grandson helping us and another young boy from the church.

Ginger

Al and Joyce

Glenn and Al  serving biscuits and gravy and Glenn at the grill as a short order cook.

Arlen the pancake man. 

The Fair Queens paid a visit and Al wanted a picture.  

All of us....minus me of course. 

I took orders while Joyce took their money.. sometime I did both because Joyce is a real estate agent and she is a busy busy woman, which is good.  Sell those houses Joyce.  

I took a few pictures of the more artsy events. There are farm scenes and Lego creations.  The young 4Hers did some amazing work.

Lego piano. It was a WOW winner. 

Aircraft

Lego Factory

Farm scene. 

Al and Joyce's granddaughter's boyfriend showing his cow..  He came in second but judge said there was no difference in the first place cow and his cow. 

First place cow.  Not only is the cow judged but also handler.  

We had a fun time. We got back to the church in our RV spot Saturday afternoon.  Glen will be helping Al in the construction at the church probably through August. 

On Sunday evening, a Convoy of Hope truck was scheduled to drop off supplies for rural pastors.  Rural Compassion joined Convoy of Hope this year.  Helping rural communities. 

We helped unload the truck and passed out the supplies. 

Joyce, Al, Glenn, and me

So we have had a busy, but rewarding week!