Cloud Gate

Cloud Gate, located in Millennium Park, Chicago, is an amazing sculpture designed by artist Anish Kapoor. Eighty percent of the surface reflects the sky, thus the name. Because of its shape, it has been dubbed The Bean, much to the apparent chagrin of the artist. This is a huge piece of art measuring 33 feet high, 42 feet wide and 66 feet long...which makes the fact that it was completely created in California and then taken apart to be shipped to Chicago quite remarkable.

If you get a chance to go to Chicago, do stop by Millennium Park to take a look, stand beneath, walk around, see the warped reflections of the buildings...and yourself in Cloud Gate. It is interesting, amazing, interactive and fun. Oh, and bring your camera.

Interesting fact: Cloud Gate is washed twice a year in 40 gallons of liquid Tide.

Water Play

While in Chicago I visited Millennium Park. It was raining that day but this mattered not to the children playing in the Crown Fountain. Adult onlookers huddled under umbrellas while their kids freely played and splashed. Like the rain after a hot and muggy spell, the freedom to splash and carry on without a care in the world was refreshing to watch. Had I not had my camera safely shielded beneath my own umbrella, I wonder if I would have joined them.