Urban poetry

I love this: a new art installation that was being assembled in Millennium Park in Chicago when I was there in June.

More beanery

Underneath the Bean, the curves converge into a navel that collects and distorts all of the reflections. The figures almost look like cuneiform, or hieroglyphs -- or would, if they weren't being reflected in 21st century seamless stainless steel.

Plus a Bean selfie of the birthday girl.

Saturday reflections

Obviously, I would have to pick this for my reflection shot from Chicago: the skyline as reflected in Cloud Gate, aka "The Bean," yesterday in Millennium Park.

The Jay Pritzker Pavilion

The Gehry bandshell in the park.

Millennium Park

I didn't see much of the city beyond this park today. After checking in to my hotel, I treated myself to afternoon tea for my birthday, then went for a walk.

It was the kind of perfectly beautiful day, warm but not humid, that's best spent in a park or on a boat, and if Millennium Park turns out to be typical of this city then I am already truly, madly, deeply in love with Chicago.

There's the famous Cloud Gate sculpture, for one thing. And the bandshell designed by Frank Gehry. And shady paths, comfortable benches, and redwing blackbirds swooping over the lawns.

And these wonderful fountains, 50-foot tall towers of LED's that display video faces of 1000 Chicagoans. Every few minutes, the lips pucker and spray water over the reflecting pool between the two towers.