Before I go on with this post though, here is one of my favorite scenes from the late John Hughes' 80's classic teensploitation flick, - the Museum scene in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". And because I know you all just love musical trivia (oh wait, that's just me!), the song playing in the background is a cover of The Smiths' "Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want" (instrumental version) by The Dream Academy. Of course, I prefer the Smith's much more anguished version, which is also featured in the soundtrack another one of Hughes' films, one of my favorites (it's the partial namesake of my blog), "Pretty in Pink)". Okay, I'll STFU now!!!" Two Sisters (aka On the Terrace)" (1881) by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. If you don't already know it, the Art Institute has a large collection of Impressionist paintings. It's amazing seeing these paintings in person instead of in a book (or in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"!)
Calf's Head and Ox Tongue (1882) by Gustave Caillebotte (the same artist who painted "Paris Street, Rainy Day")
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat - One of the best examples of Pointillism.
"The Captive Slave" by British painter John Philip Simpson (1782-1847). I thought this painting was quite moving, given its history.
Here's a nice cheerful little painting everyone should have in their living room - "Head of a Guillotined Man" by Jean Louis Andre Theodore Gericault. TC ran up to me while I was looking at another painting and told me to come look at this really "gross" one...I had to explain to her what a guillotine was and after describing the contraption to her, she made a "connection" to an older Spongebob episode where Spongebob travels back in time. That's the way to do it...relate something historical to a cartoon! I know I did (example - political references in old episodes of "Popeye" and "Bugs Bunny", plus think of all of the classical music featured in the old Warner Bros cartoons)!
Another one of Gustave Caillebotte's larger and well known works, "Paris Street, Rainy Day". Very cool this was.
"Bedroom in Arles" (1888) by Vincent van Gogh. TC was excited because she recognized the painting since there was a framed poster of this in our hotel room. Plus, if you mention "Van Gogh cut off his ear" to a curious child who is fast developing her mother's taste of the morbid, well then, there you have it. Instant audience.
"At the Moulin Rouge" by Henri_de Toulouse-Lautrec (he depicted himself in the crowd - see bearded man in the middle). The Moulin Rouge was a French cabaret and the birthplace of the "Can Can" dance. Loved the garish use of color especially in the woman's face (popular dancer May Milton) in the right corner.
"At the Moulin Rouge" by Henri_de Toulouse-Lautrec (he depicted himself in the crowd - see bearded man in the middle). The Moulin Rouge was a French cabaret and the birthplace of the "Can Can" dance. Loved the garish use of color especially in the woman's face (popular dancer May Milton) in the right corner.
The iconic Nighthawks by Edward Hopper. Often spoofed but never imitated.
Now instead of looking at Night Hawks, you should do an about face and take a longass look-see at this beauty! (click to enlarge)
(image courtesy of RasMarley's flckr photos).
This lovely and lurid painting is "The Picture of Dorian Gray" (1943-1944) by Ivan Albright...based on the story by Oscar Wilde, this painting was commissioned for the 1943 adaptation of the story. More on the painting here .
Next is the vibrant and dynamic Nightlife (1943) by African American artist
Next is the vibrant and dynamic Nightlife (1943) by African American artist
Archibald J. Motley, Jr.. - "Nightlife" is considered by some to be the "black version" of "Night Hawks.".
American Gothic by Grant Wood - Later on during our trip, we would see a "tribute" of sorts to this in the women's bathroom at Hot Doug's. By the way, the chick in this painting is not the man's wife. It's his daughter. Old maid anyone?
We took the "El" to get to the Sears Tower...
We took the Pink Line...
American Gothic by Grant Wood - Later on during our trip, we would see a "tribute" of sorts to this in the women's bathroom at Hot Doug's. By the way, the chick in this painting is not the man's wife. It's his daughter. Old maid anyone?
We took the "El" to get to the Sears Tower...
We took the Pink Line... 
Before heading over to the Sears Tower, we had lunch nearby at Giordano's - the Jackson Street location (see company site here and yelp reviews of this location here).
Although we've had Chicago style deep dish pizza before at Pizzeria Uno's in Chula Vista (when they used to have it at the Chula Vista mall), we felt compelled to have one of Chicago's signature dishes at a Chicago chain, Giordano's
Tacky sign.
The soup of the day was Clam Chowder...
Bert's entree came with salad which we shared...per my request, the dressing came on the side. A good thing too because it was Italian dressing which I really don't like (not a fan of vinegary dressings).
Our so very healthy and heart friendly appetizer - Fried Mozzarella cheese sticks with marinara dipping sauce.
TC and I shared a personal size deep dish pizza. The standard is cheese then you add toppings for extra. Our extra toppigs were black olives while the mushrooms were embedded within the pizza.
Bert's Hot Italian Beef Sandwich (served with au jus) and pickled peppers on the side. When I hear the words "Hot Beef", I don't think of sandwich...ha ha.
My thoughts on Giordano's? Nothing out of the ordinary. It's a chain that reminds me of Pizzeria Uno or even TGIFriday's. Pizza is just pizza to me. I prefer the thinner New York style crust. While it does taste good, the deep dish style is a bit too heavy for me. There was also more crust than I liked. As for Bert's lunch, he found his beef sandwich pretty tasty. There was quite a bit of thinly sliced beef in there and the au jus made it even better.
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