A Fabulous Time in the Windy (& COLD) City!

Hubby spent last week in Chicago, subbing with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He played a total of 8 concerts over 4 days; kids and family concerts with music written for Shakespeare plays, with actors from the Chicago Shakespeare Theater Company involved. Here’s what Orchestra Hall looks like from the 2nd trombone stand:

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My broken tooth turned out to be too broken, I need an implant, UGH!!! Luckily, they had time last Wednesday to remove the tooth and get the implant process started on Wednesday afternoon. I was a bit out of sorts on Thursday, but on a plane really early morning Friday!

Hotels.com got us a great deal at a cool hotel right on Michigan avenue called the Chicago Athletic Club:

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The room was small, but really cool:

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Here’s the view out the window – that’s the Sear’s tower:

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Right out the front door was the Art Museum, Millenium Park, all sorts of iconic Chicago Skyline!

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Unfortunately, it was REALLY COLD!!!!! So I didn’t do bunch walking around just to see the sites!!!

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Hubby and I both have Winter coats from back when lived in places that HAD Winter, but somewhere along the way, I’ve lost the hood. “No problem, I thought, I’ve got a big knitted scarf/shawl thing, that will work for a hat!” Boy, was I WRONG! Oh my goodness, with the wind it was terribly cold in Chicago all weekend! As we were walking to dinner Friday night, my forehead was freezing; as I walked by a 7-11 I could see hats through the window, I  couldn’t buy one fast enough! We stopped for a drink at Harry Carry’s bar, here we are with his bust!

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We had some lovely dinner at Catch 35:

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And an awesome breakfast the next morning at Goddess and the Baker:

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Finally, it was time for Andrew’s last 2 matinee concerts. Gene Pokorny’s wife (Gene is the Tubist of the Chicago Symphony) and I went to the second. Here’s a picture I sneaked as they were warming up before an usher told me not to take any more!

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The played splendidly! The first trombone part for the Mendelssohn “Mid-Summer’s Night Dream” is for the Alto Trombone, which blends in with the Trumpets, so when the 2nd trombone, bass trombone and tuba play, I could totally hear him loud and clear.

Here are Andrew and Gene after the concert:

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Because it was a matinee concert, there was another concert that night. There was no low brass at all in it, so the four of us went out to dinner! Here are the 2 of us all spiffed up:

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Gene’s wife Beth, Andrew and Gene:

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We had some great food! Yummy desserts:

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Another sneaky picture in Orchestra Hall. The concert was great!

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And then, we had to leave the land of windy cold, and head back to Redlands, where it’s been HOT! Ah, reality!