Last week my 12 year old niece was on Spring Break, so she and my sister Nicki decided to take a trip up to Chicago for a visit and a vacation. I love it when people come to visit because it gives me a chance to be a tourist in my own city.
We wore each other out shopping, sight-seeing and museum hopping. We went to H&M and all of the discount clothing stores on State Street, visited Millennium Park, saw an IMAX movie, went to the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum.
We also went to the Chicago Cultural Center, one of my very favorite buildings in the city. If you're ever here in Chicago you will not be disappointed if you carve out an hour or so of time to explore the building. There is no entrance fee, and there are tours of the buidling, but you're also welcome to just wander around and discover the building's treasures for yourself.
It was completed in 1897 and functioned as the Chicago Public Library for many years. It is an amazing example of the importance that this young city put on its municipal buildings and also on encouraging and educated public. The north side of the building is ornamented in a simpler fashion. The materials are common, things like wood, brass and stone, and yet the details and craftsmanship are still top-notch. There is much to be inspired by here.
If you only have ten or fifteen minutes to pop in, I suggest entering on the south side of the building.
From the south entry you can make your way up the grand (Italian marble) staircase which is embellished with many medallions and mosaics of green marble, semi-precious stone, mother of pearl and Tiffany glass.
Continue up several flights of stairs following the intricate mosaics all the way up.
The crowning glory at the top of the staircase is a mosaic-clad grand room topped with a breathtaking Tiffany Dome.
Photos and words can not do this place justice. I wish I could take each and every one of you to the Cultural Center so you could take it all in for yourselves...these are the things that overwhelm and inspire me.
And a side note on inspiration...here are a couple of photos I shot later that day.
Spring is finally coming:
I'll be back soon with another update.
-c
