This Windy City is for the Birds

Earlier this month, my friend Bolo Chicken-Salad flew to Chicago.  There are very few brave souls who travel to Chicago in the winter, Bolo in his bermudas is just one of those odd ducks…err. I mean chickens.

On a particular yucky Chicago winter day, Bolo hit the streets to see the sites of the big Windy City. The locals insisted it was a nice day because it was warm, albeit windy and rainy. Funny, were Bolo lives that’s considered a cold rainy, miserable day. Well when in Rome (or Chicago)….

Chicagoans are generally nice people. Bolo had an enjoyable time meeting new friends, Jake and Elwood. He also met Ms. “S” who introduced him to a fun store on Michigan Avenue called the Chicago Architecture Foundation. (Sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bird…~”splat”~. Thanks, Ms. “S”).

If you’ve ever been to Chicago, you know how important the architecture is to this fine city. Even the new can look old, as is seen by the ornate neo-classical styling of the Chicago Public Library’s Harold Washington Library Center on State Street. This library, completed in 1991, looks like it has been part of the Chicago landscape since Mrs. O’Leary. Bolo loved the larger than life roof corner detail of the owl, which represents the Greek symbol for knowledge.

Another famous architectural landmark of Chicago is the Art Institute’s bronze lions which stand facing Michigan Ave. The lions were made for the Art Institute’s current location as a gift by Mrs. Henry Field (no not the cookie lady). Henry Field was the younger brother of the Chicago department store mogul, Marshall Field. Henry was an avid art collector and was one of the first Board of Trustees for the Chicago Art Institute. The lions have proudly stood on guard since 1893. The “north” lion, pictured here, is “on the prowl,” so Bolo quickly finished the photo op and was on his way. A tiny fiber chicken, is a mere snack to these massive animals.

Bolo enjoyed his first trip to Chi-town. However, he learned quickly that the South-Side of Chicago is the baddest part of town. That if you go down there you better just beware of a man named Elwood Blues.  Bolo was quickly singing the blues and heading out on the next flight.