“Mother,” I addressed her some years ago.  “I’m going to hear the Chicago Symphony Orchestra,” I  told her – slightly tongue in cheek.  “That’s nice, David dear,” she replied, unbelieving and disinterested.  She did query, “Where?”  “Where do you think, Mother?” She looked at me slightly more curiously.  “Why, Chicago, of course!”  She pulled a face and told me not to be so stupid!

This is my fourth trip to Chicago, and I still haven’t seen the C.S.O. even if its one-time conductor is the Solti of the Earth!  I suspect the time to catch the C.S.O. is like in the U.K., between autumn and late spring.  I did come across the “home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and had a look around the foyer.

After a leisurely late breakfast today, I purchased a two day ticket for the Big Bus hop-on hop-off 11 stop 2 hour circuit of downtown Chicago.  Despite “paranoid preparations,” I was desperate for the bathroom in less than an hour.  I bailed out at the Museum campus and got myself “sorted” in The Field Museum.  The “Big Buses” operate in most major cities, at least in the Western world. I have ridden them, e.g., in Singapore and probably elsewhere. However, in the States, I find the commentary through the headphones excruciatingly irritating – both in Washington and here in Chicago. Unlike a live tour guide who may irritate, one can dispense with the headphones.  Nevertheless, a full circuit did provide a convenient overview of the city and, at times, the opportunity to take photographs.

Chicago is far noiser than usual today.  Somewhere close by, I understand that all the fighter jets and vintage planes at different levels were a rehearsal for a forthcoming Air and Water show, which I am told is tomorrow.  The noise is deafening but is  exhilarating as well. 

After the bus tour, whose route I will cover in more detail tomorrow, I found a riverside café popular with locals, seemingly.  I had allowed myself to become feeling hungry and needed something substantial to last me to the late evening. My intention is to be at the concert tonight in Grant Park. I’m not sure what to expect, but I have been advised to be there around 5 pm. to guarantee a seat.  I’m back in the lobby of my hotel and already it’s 17.05 hrs.  I shall dump my bag and head for whatever is taking place.

I arrived at Millennium Park in good time. There was a huge choice of seats. 

For some reason, there were no programmes or listings.  I haven’t a clue who the superstars were, but this jazz/rock concert was out of this world.  Something strange occurred while I was filming at 19.16 hrs.  Unknown to me, my phone dialled a much valued friend back home. How that happened will remain a mystery; I was filming a jazz concert at the time and had no thoughts whatsoever of ‘phoning home. 

I know absolutely nothing about the genre of music I was enjoying tonight.  The venue is known as the Jay Prtizker Pavilion.  It was explained to me that Jay Prtizker, whose family had made their fortune with, among other things, Hyatt Hotels, is a philanthropist who built the fabulous Jay Prtizker Pavilion in Millennium Park, which I now understand is a section of the huge Grant Park over which my 19th floor hotel room looks.

Almost every night, there is top-notch musical entertainment, free except for a few rows near the stage and under cover.

I remain very impressed indeed with this no-expense-spared venue.  Filming tonight’s concert was acceptable (everybody else was!), and although not a big fan of soul/jazx/rock, I have plenty of footage of what might well be the best four hours of my life!   At 75. I remain surprised at how high my spirits can be lifted. (I am writing this the following morning over a disgustingly late brekkie.)  In the U.K. it is almost a quarter past five in the afternoon.  Here in Chicago, it will be noon in 45 minutes.  Some things don’t change!

Walking back to my hotel.  The building featured is the Raddison Blu directly opposite the Fairmont Millennium Park, where I am staying for a second time.

It is now 27 minutes to noon.  I have locked myself out of my room and need to retrieve some stuff for this afternoon’s exploring.  As ever, I don’t have a plan!

Many thanks for reading, David, 11.35 Central Time. Fairmont Hotel,  just having finished breakfast!  9th August 2024.