Jim Tastes Chicago

June 30, 2003

I hop on a Metra train downtown this morning, around 7 AM. I haven’t ridden the Metra in ages, although I used to take it daily when I commuted into Barrington for work. Today, I took it downtown, and it was a pretty nostalgic sort of thing, to be on that train once again after all this time.

I showed up at Union Station, looking to meet Jim and his train (slated to arrive at 7:45 AM). The building is huge, and from the outside… daunting and magnificent.

The interior feels enormous. Add to the high ceilings the skylights, and the room just widens. Most everyone in the seats were sleeping, and there was a very still, peaceful calm to things. In about 10 minutes from now, the hustle and bustle of things began to take over.

One of the stairs. I don’t know for sure if this is the exact place where they filmed that scene from The Untouchables. But it’s sorta close.

Of particular interest, take a close gander at the steps. Over time, the constant flow of traffic and feet have generated depressions in the stone. Pretty friggin’ cool.

Reader.

Check out the columns. I wanted them in this shot for reference. The earlier picture doesn’t seem to give this atrium area the size it deserves.

I don’t know who he was waiting for, but I’m happy I caught him waiting.

Alright. Here’s the kicker. I went to an information stand, and asked about Jim’s train. I was told that it was delayed an hour. After tracking down MaryAnn (who also was going to meet up with Jim and have breakfast), we both decided that we’d grab some food and try to stick around until Jim arrived.

Ten minutes into some of the worst scrambled eggs I’ve ever tasted (read: drank), we call up Jim. We find out that he’s out on the street, and looking for us. Doh!

Both MaryAnn and I had learned, from different sources, that the train was delayed. But lo and behold, Jim had been looking for us the whole time.

We tracked him down and led him back to MaryAnn’s work. On the bus ride, we made tentative plans to meet up for lunch, and to hang out a bit before Jim had to catch his train out of town (around 2:30 PM).

This pic (above) was taken after we met up again, around 11:30 AM for lunch. We’re right in front of the Art Museum, and on our way to Grant Park for the Taste of Chicago.

A big guy with a big umbrella giving out teeny tiny samples of sunscreen.

A bit of the crowd, as we walked in. This doesn’t really do it justice, as there were tons of folks around. In fact, I was amazed that so many people were here on a weekday.

C’mon, people. Doesn’t anyone WORK at all?

All three of us bought some tickets, wandered around a while, and got some grub. We made our way to Buckingham Fountain, looking for a nice spot to sit down and eat our food. The day was incredibly warm, and a bit hazy/blurry from the heat.

I want this guy’s job.

I’m guessing here. But his job is to sit next to the fountain, where it’s nice and cool, and make sure that no one else sits next to the fountain where it’s nice a cool.

Bastage!

Another shot of the fountain.

My lunch. A boneless rib sandwich (which wasn’t all that hot, to be honest), and a soda. We found a nice spot under a tree, and were able to spend a few moments relaxing and talking.

But before long though, MaryAnn and I had to head back to work, and Jim had to head towards the train station.