that's the Wabash Street bridge and the cool pair of cylinder building to the left that were apparently designed to contain everything from apartments and parking to shopping and a roller rink.

Friday

today was a cultural day! the culture of lazy. not really, but wow I didn't get up until nearly 1pm I haven't slept in the late since the summers of high school. I had spent a minute at about 9.20am collecting some of the desirable free breakfast components and went back to bed. seriously, I love free food.

I left the hostel to go straight to the Federal Reserve of Chicago. This was very cool - the history and culture I've been wanting, plus a bit of education. I now feel as though I can sustain a short conversation on the economy!

it took me about 45 minutes or more to get from there, the loop, to garfield park where I intended to see the conservatory. this is where my laziness came to my attention because I hadn't even bothered to look up their hours, which were 10am-5pm. rawr!

I almost hung around, sunbathed, and toured the perimeter of the property, until I remembered that I was actually in another sort-of-bad neighborhood and it'd be better if my bike and I got outta town. I was even hollered at, though I think it was only because I was traveling faster than their ghetto-mobile.

my next stop was Willis Tower, formerly known as Sears Tower. I learned during my tour that it was renamed only last year as part of a contract deal with the largest occupant. I learned at the empire state building with Annette in '07 that the smartest time to tour a tall building is about an hour before sunset - that way you can take in the views during sunlight, check out the gift shop while you kill time, then see the same views after sunset. not to mention the power of seeing the sunset from 1,000 feet up in the air.

when I was finally satisfied with my stay 103 floors above ground, I sensed that it was dinner time. again without calling ahead or doing any kind of research, I headed to the Chicago pizza place that woman from the Clarke House Museum had recommended to me, Lou Malnati's. as I consulted the map I got sold on the idea because I had already hoped tonight would be the night I check out The Second City and the famous bar across the way, and there is a Lou's
location on the way!

so here I am, sitting at the bar because the wait for a table is like a million years. I love a good bar that offers full menu service. I've ordered a personal size Lou's classic. thank god there's a personal size! I was envisioning waiting in line outside of The Second City with pizza odors wafting from my bag. awkward. my bartender told me it's 40 minutes for pizza, but mine's small and I'm really nice so I'm hoping I won't have to wait that long. I do remember consulting the website for the second city and seeing that they have very few inexpensive nights - so who knows if I'll even bother paying to go inside? it'll be good enough just to say I've been there.

Thursday

today was the first time I felt lonely since leaving Sacramento. I slept in, 9.15am, and wasn't ready for breakfast. hung around and tried to decide on a plan for the day. after about two hours I found myself in the tv room (24 hours of topnotch AC) and realized the tour de France is on! luckily I was only 20 minutes into 2 hours worth of coverage. by the end I was re-encouraged to do lots of bike riding, very quickly.

still found myself aimless though by the time I got downtown. indulged in a soda and remembered that I still hadn't yet called to put in the claim for the accident last month. that phone call went well - I think I'll definitely recoup my losses, though there is still plenty more to wait and see about.

I wish I could bike a bike shop that was also a cafe, like Mojo Cafe in the city. or just other some such establishment where I could hang out and be near likeminded people - maybe even all watch the Tour together! imagine. I guess there's a place or two in ny like that, we'll see.

tried to see the sight of the Transformers 3 filming but only saw rubble - no cameras, actors, or special events. now that I know where it's all at, though, we'll see if I can watch something unfold.

shortly after 5p I went to the Art Institute because Thursday evening is their free time. There was a line around the block! you'd think I'd know better - I guess I don't. so I cruised up the lakeview trail and found myself at the Navy Pier. I was told it was a must see. I think I was expecting a military base or at least some old stuff but no, it's just a boardwalk. though it's INCREDIBLY windy at the end.

once I got back on the trail I owned the fact that I would feel kind of sad if I went straight back to the hostel and just pissed my evening away. so I rode all the way to the northern end of the trail - I've now ridden on every inch of it! I figured I could figure out my way home on the surface streets where the trail spit me out. I went as long as I could without consulting the map. frankly, because I was so worn out, I possibly could have done just as well if not better had I not confused my little brain with that map. needless to say, it took me way longer or get home than I'd anticipated and I circled around and backtracked a lot. boy do I hate backtracking!

the rest of the evening was chill ( literally, I spent a lot of it in the tv room with the ac). it's surprisingly late now and my eyeballs are surprisingly heavy. oh and my feet hurt. I guess all that means it's bedtime. tomorrow will be a cultural day, dammit!

the graffiti artist is Mike "Mr. Kaves" McLeer

I'll track down his name...

art