~ Kommentary by Kritter ~

With my back to Buckingham and my Face to the City

I parked in the Grant North Garage and started walking south on Michigan past the art museum. I didn't get far, just kitty corner steps away before the magnatism drew me in. I love art museums. And Tuesdays are free. I didn't think I would go because it's the place I have been most recently. But I love it. Just couldn't walk by. I love going to art museums and wandering alone, often with the little audio guides you can rent. Here though, the audio guide gives only an overview of each gallery you walk into. In St. Louis and at the Met, you can type in the number on a specific painting. So I passed. Instead I listened to myPod. It was like walking in a movie.

I attempted to follow the map to places I was interested in, but quickly gave in to an uncalculated perusal. I like to get up close to paintings I like and study the brush strokes. Imagine what the painter and the painted were thinking. Feel as though I am walking in that era. It's really an extension of my fascination with history. I spent more time than usual in the late medeival and renaissance, trying to get a feel for the eras I read about, but there wasn't much early medieval. I was quite disappointed in the arms and armory as it didn't go much before 1400. I guess you have to go to Europe for the old stuff.

I spent the longest time at "The Old Guitarist" by Picasso. It's one of my favorite paintings. I've had a framed copy in my bedroom for years. I know it's a popular one. I don't know why others love it, but to me it speaks of a meloncholy passion. A place to turn when the body is frail, the mind is weakening and the pain is too real to siphon in any other way. Or something like that. I stood there long enough for people to think I was weird. I'd have pulled up a chair if I could.

From the museum I headed to Buckingham Fountain, which I honestly think was turned off like that day. I had just seen it on when I went to Navy Pier, so I think it may have been a Nov. 1 thing. I had a fabulous lunch in a corner cafe in the Santa Fe building. Then up to Millenium Park, which was cool but not as impressive as I'd been led to believe. So you know what IS impressive? The trees! I thought the peak had passed, but the beauty is still so intense.

Jumped on the Red Line and hopped off at Belmont for a couple good hours of second-hand clothes shopping.

Had a fabulous sushi dinner at Kamehachi with my friend Joe. Ended with a sinful chocolate cake and the bottom of a fancy, strong rasberry lemonade drink in a martini class. Bliss.

It was a really good day.

Posted by kristen at November 3, 2005 10:56 AM