By Edward M. Bury, APR, MA (aka The PRDude)
Over the past week, the weather across metropolitan Chicago and much of the Midwest has been bleak. Cloudy skies, below-freezing temperatures, stiff winds, and some snow at times. Yes, it’s late December. Therefore, ideal conditions to hunker down and read, write, visit social media platforms, think about the year that’s passed and project on the year ahead.
But after a few days of shutting down and just hanging around, I felt it was time for an adventure of sorts. Well, certainly nothing hazardous, yet a definitive change from reading the novel I started a few weeks ago or viewing holiday messages and images on Facebook.
So, yesterday, on the Eve of New Year’s Eve, I hiked to the Logan Square Blue Line station and caught the arriving L train headed downtown. My goal: Walk around the Loop, observe people, take note of changes to retail outlets and the overall streetscape, visit Millennium Park, stop by the Chicago Cultural Center, hike up Michigan Avenue, enjoy a sandwich, then catch the CTA Sheridan 151 bus headed north. It was rather cold and blustery, but I was well dressed for the weather.
Certainly, this was a relatively pedestrian and unstructured plan. Yet, the five or so hours I spent proved memorable, inspiring, and quite invigorating.
Upon exiting the L at the Clark and Lake station, a fellow passenger inquired on which direction to take to get to City Hall. I welcomed the opportunity to walk a block west with the man to LaSalle Street, directing him to head south. “Thanks,” he said, shaking my hand. “I remember being able to get to City Hall from an underground route.” That’s from the Washington L station I noted.
Ah, time for a sandwich. Perhaps a visit to the McDonald’s in the Chase Bank Plaza at Monroe and Clark.! Upon arrival at the Plaza, once home to the now-gone First National Bank of Chicago, I learned the restaurant space was being converted to another retail use. Okay, maybe I’ll find a place for a sandwich on LaSalle Street one block west.
Strolling this once-vibrant and bustling center of finance and commerce, I noted the conversion of some office towers to hotels and apartment buildings, part of a city initiative to reclaim LaSalle Street as a pocket Loop neighborhood and provide vitality, bring in tax revenue, and offer affordable housing. LaSalle Street will be back, I thought.
At Madison Street, I stood in front of the One North LaSalle Street tower, where I worked for a year back in 1981 for a small financial advertising firm. (Learn more from this 2014 post.) The entrance still looks grand and definitive of business. I then ventured back east and came upon St. Peter’s Church. After entering, I realized a mass was underway; the church was relatively crowded for an early afternoon, so I stayed for a while to take in the eucharist prayer, the consecration, the Lord’s Prayer, the collection, the sign of peace, and the communion. I felt calm and warm (remember, it was cold outside) as I left the church and strolled west to Michigan Avenue.
Walking north, I encountered many visitors and locals taking in the grandeur of the avenue, with its iconic curtain wall on the west and Millennium Park to the east. I enjoyed watching people ice stake on the outdoor rink, pose for photos in front of the city’s official Christmas tree, and become enraptured by the Cloud Gate sculpture. (NOTE: I refuse to cite the silly nickname for the brilliant chrome work of art.)
At the Cultural Center, I intended to just find a seat and rest, but decided to explore the entire building. What a wise decision! Over its four floors, I took in various exhibits that centered on design and marveled at the overall splendor of the domes, staircases, and grand rooms. Plus, visitors get a terrific view of Millennium Park when looking east.
Walking north, I crossed over the Chicago River and entered what’s better known as Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, the stretch of North Michigan Avenue that embodies all that’s great about the city’s retail, dining, hospitality, and entertainment offerings. I shared the route with large groups of shoppers navigating the sidewalks, many toting purchases from nearby stores. People clearly were out to enjoy and celebrate and spend. There were at least 50 people waiting to enter the famous Starbucks Reserve Roastery, and nearly as many lined up outside the Harry Potter Shop.
Reaching Chicago Avenue, I marveled at the old Chicago Water Tower, a symbol of the city’s rebirth following the Great Fire. There’s a McDonald’s at State Street I remembered; now I’ll get that sandwich. But enroute, at Rush Street, I saw a Devil Dawgs shop, went inside and ordered a classic Chicago hot dog. Yes, no ketchup. As I stood in the window and enjoyed my delicious dog and a can of Pepsi, I immediately knew I made the right decision.
In front of Water Tower Place, which looked festive and busy, I waited for the Sheridan 151 bus. Here, crowds of visitors and shoppers emanated the holiday spirit; people were happy and engaging. The bus arrived in a few minutes and made its journey north along Michigan Avenue, to inner Lake Shore Drive, onto Stockton Drive and into Lincoln Park.
From my window, I could see traffic on Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan to the east and to the west historic and modern apartment buildings, parkland, and even some monuments. All are testimony to part of what makes Chicago a truly great city. At Diversey Avenue, I exited the bus and thanked the driver, who wished me a Happy New Year.
Before boarding the Diversey 76 bus west toward home, I walked to the edge of Diversey Harbor and gazed south for a few minutes, reveling in the Chicago skyline on that late winter afternoon. In summer, this part of the park would be bustling with people at the nearby driving range, at the tennis courts, at the small restaurant where I sometimes visit, and of course in boats moored in the harbor. But that day, I had it all to myself.
The end of my adventure, the 20-minute bus ride home, was uneventful. But I felt awakened, and I look forward to my next adventure, to another exploration of places that make Chicago, my home, a truly great world city.
Wishing all a Happy New Year.
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