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FutureCat's Visit
Apr. 25th, 2008 08:08 pmSometimes it's good you don't know about something. If I'd known about this, I'd probably have gone to NYC this week to relive my misspent youth, and missed ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
futurecatnz's visit!
We had a wonderful time! I picked FutureCat up at O'Hare Wednesday evening. As usual, I got there well ahead of schedule, so I had a drink at the bar and then hung out in the arrivals area people watching. Of course, I recognized her immediately, if only because no one else was wearing a BookCrossing t-shirt! We headed home, with a brief stop at the produce market, and I introduced her to my cats. Lilith, as usual, was happy to have another cat person in the house to admire her. Marissa, also as usual, performed a disappearing act. I passed on to FC the bookstexaswren had sent on, and also this book, which was on hand at the Evanston Meet-Up earlier in the week, and which I immediately knew I had to grab for her. We sampled some Spanish pastries, she had brought me, and then it was (relatively) early to bed because FC was pretty tired after her long flight.
After breakfast the next day, we went out and our first mission was to purchase a prepaid phone, as the one FC bought in Singapore did not work here, contrary to what she had been told. I blushed for my fellow Americans as the sales woman at Radio Shack said, as she was registering the phone, "Where did you say you were from? New England?" Their computer system was completely unable to deal with non-U.S. postal codes or telephone country codes, so we ended up giving her my address instead. After settling that, I showed FutureCat the University of Chicago campus, including a brief visit to the Oriental Institute, an exterior tour of Robie House (docented by me), and a few other notable spots, the Seminary Co-op Bookstore among them. Sadly, when we went into Rockefeller Chapel, we found that the glorious rose window was hiding behind construction barriers. (This will be a theme.)
After a brief rest back at my place, we gathered books and selves together. Before heading downtown, we went to the Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop for lunch, and I think Cajun cooking has another fan from the Antipodes (Skyring is another after his visit last year!). Our first stop was the Cultural Center, as I think it is one of the most beautiful buildings we have here, particularly Preston Bradley Hall's stunning stained glass dome - which was in restauro and therefore not visible! Next stop, Macy's on State Street. Yes,mojosmom went into Macy's, but only because FC had a Levenger's gift card burning a hole in her pocket, and I know better than to stand between a book lover and Levenger's! We then headed to Millennium Park, and FC released a couple of books on the way (not in Millennium Park - security doesn't like that!):
After seeing the Gehry and the Bean and the Lurie Gardens and and and, we went to the Art Institute (which is right across the street). We visited the French Impressionists
and a number of other galleries, and after a bit our feet were a tired, so we had a respite and a cup of tea in the Member's Lounge. (This is another excellent reason for Chicagoans to become members of the AIOC!) FutureCat wondered if there was any Native American art at the AIOC, so we checked the floor plan, found that we needed to go to Gallery 50, and headed that way, only to discover that it was "closed for reinstallation"! (I told you this would be a theme!)
It was, in any case, about time to head to CosÃ's, where we hoped to meet up with some other Chicago Bookcrossers. They also have free WiFi, but, for some reason, FutureCat's laptop didn't cooperate. In the event, only one other person came, Koolmotor, but we had a good deal of fun nonetheless.
We traded off a bunch of books (surprise!) and FutureCat showed us New Zealand's Convention presentation. I really, really want to go, and I'm hoping (without too much optimism) that the dollar will be stronger this time next year, and that I can manage sufficient time off to make it worth the (very long) trip.
This morning, we got up very early, as FutureCat had a 9:00 flight to Ottawa and, as that's an international flight, had to be at O'Hare two hours ahead of time (probably not really necessary, but better to be early at the airport than to be worrying about missing the plane). I left a bit of extra time as there is a variety of road construction going on, but traffic wasn't too bad at all. I was sorry that FutureCat's visit wasn't longer, it was such fun having her and learning much I didn't know about her country. I advise everyone that if the opportunity arises to host a fellow BookCrosser, do it!
futurecatnz's visit! We had a wonderful time! I picked FutureCat up at O'Hare Wednesday evening. As usual, I got there well ahead of schedule, so I had a drink at the bar and then hung out in the arrivals area people watching. Of course, I recognized her immediately, if only because no one else was wearing a BookCrossing t-shirt! We headed home, with a brief stop at the produce market, and I introduced her to my cats. Lilith, as usual, was happy to have another cat person in the house to admire her. Marissa, also as usual, performed a disappearing act. I passed on to FC the books
texaswren had sent on, and also this book, which was on hand at the Evanston Meet-Up earlier in the week, and which I immediately knew I had to grab for her. We sampled some Spanish pastries, she had brought me, and then it was (relatively) early to bed because FC was pretty tired after her long flight.After breakfast the next day, we went out and our first mission was to purchase a prepaid phone, as the one FC bought in Singapore did not work here, contrary to what she had been told. I blushed for my fellow Americans as the sales woman at Radio Shack said, as she was registering the phone, "Where did you say you were from? New England?" Their computer system was completely unable to deal with non-U.S. postal codes or telephone country codes, so we ended up giving her my address instead. After settling that, I showed FutureCat the University of Chicago campus, including a brief visit to the Oriental Institute, an exterior tour of Robie House (docented by me), and a few other notable spots, the Seminary Co-op Bookstore among them. Sadly, when we went into Rockefeller Chapel, we found that the glorious rose window was hiding behind construction barriers. (This will be a theme.)
After a brief rest back at my place, we gathered books and selves together. Before heading downtown, we went to the Dixie Kitchen and Bait Shop for lunch, and I think Cajun cooking has another fan from the Antipodes (Skyring is another after his visit last year!). Our first stop was the Cultural Center, as I think it is one of the most beautiful buildings we have here, particularly Preston Bradley Hall's stunning stained glass dome - which was in restauro and therefore not visible! Next stop, Macy's on State Street. Yes,
mojosmom went into Macy's, but only because FC had a Levenger's gift card burning a hole in her pocket, and I know better than to stand between a book lover and Levenger's! We then headed to Millennium Park, and FC released a couple of books on the way (not in Millennium Park - security doesn't like that!):After seeing the Gehry and the Bean and the Lurie Gardens and and and, we went to the Art Institute (which is right across the street). We visited the French Impressionists
and a number of other galleries, and after a bit our feet were a tired, so we had a respite and a cup of tea in the Member's Lounge. (This is another excellent reason for Chicagoans to become members of the AIOC!) FutureCat wondered if there was any Native American art at the AIOC, so we checked the floor plan, found that we needed to go to Gallery 50, and headed that way, only to discover that it was "closed for reinstallation"! (I told you this would be a theme!)
It was, in any case, about time to head to CosÃ's, where we hoped to meet up with some other Chicago Bookcrossers. They also have free WiFi, but, for some reason, FutureCat's laptop didn't cooperate. In the event, only one other person came, Koolmotor, but we had a good deal of fun nonetheless.
We traded off a bunch of books (surprise!) and FutureCat showed us New Zealand's Convention presentation. I really, really want to go, and I'm hoping (without too much optimism) that the dollar will be stronger this time next year, and that I can manage sufficient time off to make it worth the (very long) trip.
This morning, we got up very early, as FutureCat had a 9:00 flight to Ottawa and, as that's an international flight, had to be at O'Hare two hours ahead of time (probably not really necessary, but better to be early at the airport than to be worrying about missing the plane). I left a bit of extra time as there is a variety of road construction going on, but traffic wasn't too bad at all. I was sorry that FutureCat's visit wasn't longer, it was such fun having her and learning much I didn't know about her country. I advise everyone that if the opportunity arises to host a fellow BookCrosser, do it!
