Chicago trip - post 5: Shopping a.k.a. I can't stop taking pics in Anthropologie

When the sun goes down and all the little twinkle lights come on in downtown Chcago, it's magical!

 The buildings with all their fabulous lighting and architectural details are simply breathtaking

It wasn't hard to get into the Christmas spirit here at all! Or the shopping spirit!

And the next day, that's exactly what we did: SHOPPED! 

The window display here at ALLSAINTS (one of 2 huge displays) blew my mind!

 And then Taylor and I walked into the winter wonderland which is Anthropologie............

WOW

 Everywhere you turned (on all 2 vast floors) it was winter vignette heaven!

 I literally could have stayed there HOURS longer, such was the visual feast - LOVED IT! 

 But after a long day of shopping it was time to say goodbye and head back to California.

We had a terrific late lunch at the Hard Rock Chicago, and headed out to the airport........

 It was really hard to leave, but it had been such a *WONDERFUL* time!

It couldn't have been more perfect! I was SO grateful Taylor and I were able to go!

And SO grateful to the boys for all the fun we had :)

At the Hyatt right before leaving........ I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!

And I loved Chicago too - we will definitely be back!

xoxoxoxoxo

Chicago trip - post 4: the Museum of Contemporary Art and the day Daniel tried to take my camera away

 The exhibits at the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art were SO. SO. AMAZING.

 After SUUUCH a wonderful night's sleep, Daniel ordered a surprise room service breakfast 

of White Chocolate French Toast and it was sooooooooooooooooooooooooo good!!!

 Another GORGEOUS day! We hit the streets and walked to the Museum of Contemporary Art!

 This spinning "MOTHERS" sign was the first thing we saw and I know it was made just for ME!

Okay..... it is the MCA Plaza Project by Martin Creed, and will remain there through May 2013

(thanks to Tay for shooting these pics for me! xo)

Me probably saying something dorky to make Daniel laugh, and Davy looking so chic in his pea coat.

The main exhibit featured the works of brothers Rowan and Erwan Bouroullec -

IT WAS STUNNING!

huge, textural, colorful, touchable, integrative, creative, expansive, simple, brilliant....... I could go on!

Truly a visual treat of all their work, their creative process, their inspiration, their applications.

(I actually recognized some of their later pieces!)

The semi-sheer "screen" above is made from thousands of plastic clamps used as a room divider.

The tiny model..... the chair.

 The tiny model atop their simply textured ceramic floor tile.

Another example of their creative room dividers - decorative on both sides

 This tightly woven chair is strikingly simple - 

it reminded me of one of my all time favorite chairs: the Womb chair by Aero Saarinan

 More pieces of their integrative works, with concept drawings covering the wall in behind.

 Anything can be an inspiration :)

Concepts turned into reality - the small green, stackable container table is still produced.

The back side of the room divider seen above 

Another room divider with a different type of connector, this time "tabs" are used -

I really like how one color becomes two, then on down the line flows into several more colors. 

Yet another room of the Bouroullec exhibit, taken through their quirky white, transparent divider 

 A "honeycomb" type divider that was so immense, it reached beyond the second floor!

 Some people I know and know and love looking out the expansive 2ond story window :)

 And now through another of their screens, this time black

 The "MOTHERS" sign is down there spinning around

 Look at these awesome buildings! I love how old is against new. 

If I wasn't so annoyed with the word 'juxtaposition' I would use it here.....

 Right about now is when Daniel had finally had enough and asked to "see" my camera. 

I've been around the block enough to know what he was trying. I created him. 

So I kept taking pics :)

Of course there were MANY more amazing exhibits we thoroughly enjoyed!

I particularly liked Color Bind: the MCA Collection in Black and White

 I encourage you to check it out in person or online!

~

Next up: we shopped AND we dropped!

Chicago trip - post 3

 So what started out as a well-planned trip to Chicago by bus/train/rail turned out to be 

hours of waiting in a crowded and stinky Amtrak station (this pic was before it got packed!)

 When we heard the train had derailed, we decided to rethink our plan and take Daniel's truck!

 Most of the scenery along the way was really lovely! Lots & lots of farmland :)

 These two crammed in the back didn't see much scenery :D

 I was not used to seeing a rail running down the middle of the freeway! (& train tracks crossing over!)

 First view of the city and the traffic was nearly stopped. Are we back in L.A.???

 Yep - approaching the big city :)

 Finally here! Thank you Daniel!

We stayed at the Hyatt right on the Magnificent Mile and it was wonderful!

 We could see all kinds of buildings from our window - this is the view straight down

 Our first walk downtown - ARCHITECTURE! :D

 MORE ARCHITECTURE! :D

 Of course we went down under the street into the belly of streets below too, hehe -

this pic was for John (it's a Saturday Night Live thing)

 YUM! Eating deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati's - we were sooo hungry! It was awesome!

After dinner we walked to one of Daniel's fave jazz clubs - Andy's Chicago Jazz

We had amazing dessert and listened to an AMAZING jazz trio - what a great first night!

~

Next post: the Modern Art Museum!