Eric's Trip to Chicago

Wednesday, Sept 5

Today was muggy….so when it’s muggy, it’s best to be inside. We opted to go the Museum of Science and Industry. Now before you scream, “Dunstan is a nerd,” know that some of me and family are nerdy, but this is really worth the visit…and the A/C works really well in the buildings! This museum is much like the Smithsonian in Washington DC. As with all museums, it pays to get there early before the crowds show up at noon.

On display is a full size train engine and a complete miniature train model of Chicago and the surrounding farm lands. If you are an electric train nut, this place is for you. Hanging from the ceiling are three WWII fighter planes along with a full size 727 where there are exhibits regarding how a plane flies, how it’s controlled, etc. It’s really nerdy, hands on science nerd stuff.
On other floors there are Energy displays that include a complete mock up of a coal mine that simulates coal mining. Dad and I checked this out and were blown away. We were taken down a few levels into the museum in a simulated coal miner elevator shaft, taken in a train to a dig site (we road in actual miner cars) where mining techniques were shown. Way cool.
The most famous display in this museum is the full sized WWII German submarine, U-505. This submarine was captured by the US off the coast of Africa and was the only machine actually captured in tact. The entire submarine is on display along with film footage of the capture and narratives of the US forces and German forces who were involved. Even for people not into museums and science, this is amazing. See this exhibit..you won’t regret it for it’s a reminder of the sacrifices our soldiers made. This capture took guts.

That night we ventured to the Wicker Park area of Chicago to a restaurant called Smoke Daddy Rhythm and Bar B Que. This place is well known for it’s free jazz ever night. We were told to get there by 7:00pm for dinner for it gets packed. Unfortunately, the entertainment was NOT Blues music, which is typically played. On schedule that night was acoustic guitar rock music…yawn. However, apparently most nights are fairly hopping. Instead of sticking around for music, we walked around Wicker Park after dinner. Wicker is a cool area with a lot of restaurants and bars. I have a business trip to Chicago next year and I plan to take our team there. Wicker reminds me a lot of Harlem, NYC in that the area was built in the early 1900s, was neglected for a while, and is now being “remodeled.”

When in Chicago, it’s a MUST to see live Jazz and Blues. I insisted that we (Mom, Dad and I) go to Andy’s Jazz Club for one last listen of excellent jazz. Even on a Wednesday night, we were not disappointed. Even better, the club is really close to the Monaco where we stayed. The music typically starts at 9:00pm and the musicians play three sets. Get there at 10 min before 9:00pm to find a seat at the bar (2 drink min). Even if you are not a big jazz fan (and my Dad is not), it’s worth staying to listen to two sets. The musicians here are excellent and are great representatives of the current Jazz scene.

Not a bad way to spend the final night in Chicago.