Chicago 3 days with MeiFeng

I really like the motto, "plan less, explore more." We had a list of things to do in Chicago, but we didn't really plan out what we are going to do each day. We ended up accomplished everything on our list plus more. We went to most of the places via uber. Here are some of the places we saw in Chicago.
Day 1
View from the airplane of the City of Lake Michigan. (oh, and a little plane).

O'Hara Airport, see the one point perspective?

Try Chicago deep dish pizza as soon as we exit the airplane, probably not a smart move, but we were hungry, so that's our excuse, the butter crust was delish, wish there were more sauce in this pizza though

 CTA (Chicago Transit Authority)- cheap and efficient way to get to the city from airport

Saw Trump Tower on the way to Hotel.

Interior of historic Congress Hotel (apparently many presidents has stayed here, but now the hotel is in need of upgrade.) note: we later found out the hotel is haunted.... be aware.

Millennium Park. First thing we saw is the famous Bean aka the Cloud Gate; beautiful artwork that reflect the skyline of the city.

Behind the gate is Pavillion designed by Frank Gehry

Lurie Garden- hidden gem in millennium park

Then we walked to Willis Tower , purchased to ticket to go to the top (Skydeck Ledge). We were there in time for sunset. 

Afterwards we ate at Ara On - a fusion restaurant near downtown.

The we walked by the river; it's beautiful at night.

We walked by the flamingo statue in front of Federal Building

And the end of route 66

Crown Fountain at night (currently under construction.) in Millennium Park

Day 2

Breakfast at Intelligentsia Coffee, just because I heard of this coffee shop from LA

Took Uber to University of Chicago

Rockefeller Chapel

Bus Tours- Chicago Detours Bus tour of U Chicago (founded in 1890 with money from Rockefeller, architecture is gothic, medieval), Hyde Park, Washington Park and its surroundings. It was fun and informative. We even saw President's Obama's house

That's Obama's house on the left.

Then I did a self tour of Oriental Institute museum while MF is shopping with her daughter- one of America's oldest and most respected search for the study of the ancient Middle East.

And tour of the Smart Museum- a photography exhibit was going on which made it worth while.

Then I walked to A10 to meet MeiFeng, Rebecca, and Eric for dinner.

Dinner at A10 

http://a10hydepark.com

That night we went to see Chicago water tower vis Michigan Ave.

The only building left after the Great Chicago fire, 1871

Then we had Wow Bao at the water tower place across the street.

Took uber to Navy Pier (river cruises starts here.)-just because it's on our list; walk along the water

Day 3

Buckingham Fountain is where the opening credit of "Married with Children" 

 River walk on Lake Michigan- ducks migrate from here to south.

Jumping in front of Buckingham Fountain on MF's  birthday :)

The L line - where else can you see train running above the city?

Took uber to University of Chicago again.
Had breakfast here for parents weekend.

We were 15 minutes late for class...

Somehow we barely made to Carillon concert tour- it was one of the best tour I had, located in Rockefeller Chapel, we climbed 271 steps up the tower- got to go up the spiral stone staircase to a catwalk to the attic above the Chapel's ceiling, mechanical room, housing the original carillon regulator clocked the driven mechanism of the hour chimes, pass the largest bell, we watch university carillonneur play the mighty instrument, after recital, we were escorted up the stairs to the very top of tower, where magnificent view of Chicago, Lake Michigan, northern Indiana, University itself. It reminds me of Notre Dame in Paris :)

Cobb Gate. Check out University's gothic style.
Gargoyles is there to protect the university

Love the juxtaposition of the old and new library in the University.

Took Uber to Chinatown and had lunch at little sheep hot pot for MF's birthday , then CTA back to O'Hara and home.

It was a fun trip!

List of things we could do next time or if we have more time.
- Take Chicago architecture river cruise
- Go to a game at Wrigley Field
- Visit Art Institute of Chicago