Lakefront Parks and Navy Pier

(Hancock Building and skyline through the trees.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

I spent today walking around the lakefront and at Navy Pier.  That wasn’t my original plan but the day got away from me as I ambled along, snapping photos.

(150:  Milton L. Olive III Park.  Chicago, IL.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

It was another gorgeous blue sky day.  It warmed up some, but the wind kicked up some too, blasting at about 25 mph at times.  Autumn is beautiful here in the city, something that’s surprising to me at times.

(Skyline from Milton L. Olive III Park.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

After wandering around the parks for a while, I made my way over to Navy Pier.  It sure has changed since the 1980’s when M and I lived here, now filled with shops, theaters, stages, and amusement rides.

(Navy Pier, from the front.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

I took my time strolling from one end of the pier to the other.  At the end of the pier, out on the lake, the wind was really whipping.

(Photo © 2009 by Robin)

At the end of the pier is a huge anchor which I meant to read about while I was there, but M called and wondered what I was doing for lunch and that distracted me from finding out what the anchor was all about.

(Anchor and lighthouse.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

I’m sure I could probably find something online about it.  I don’t have time to look it up right now.  M will be here soon and we’ll be meeting friends for dinner.  This has been quite a social trip.

M joined me at Navy Pier for lunch.  I forget the name of the place where we ate (the Dockside Cafe, I think).  We sat outside since it was such a beautiful, albeit windy, day.  I had an Italian beef, something I’ve been craving since we got here.  The Italian beef is, in my opinion, Chicago’s answer to the Philly cheesesteak.  It’s not the same thing at all, but it’s almost as good.

(Sampling of stained glass.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

After lunch we decided to visit the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows (located on Navy Pier).  They have an amazing collection of stained glass windows.  You can read about it here.

(Another sampling.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

M went back to his conference after that and I wandered around for a little while longer, taking photos of this, that, and the other thing.

(Ferris wheel on Navy Pier.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)

I have to wrap this up and get ready for dinner.  We’re dining at The Berghoff tonight, a favorite of ours.  I’ll leave you with one last view of the skyline from Navy Pier taken as I was leaving.

(Skyline view from Navy Pier.  Photo © 2009 by Robin)