Photos

The photos from the Museum of Science and Industry are at http://mononapark.blogspot.com/

Chicago Trip - Getting There and Getting Around

Took a weekend trip to Chicago and re-learned two things: never ever drive your car to Chicago and take lots of cash and credit cards with ample room under the credit limit. Actually, the main thing I re-learned was that Chicago is a great place to visit and only a few hours away.

Getting there and getting around. First, the ugly. Traffic Man Dan (Help Dan, Save Traffic) would have loved the trip down. Zipping along until we passed and O'Hare and then it was a crawl all the way to the Loop (The Loop, a Chicago Neighborhood Visit from Chicago Traveler). In recent years, I have only made day trips and always rode the Metra - Welcome to Metra on the Metra Union Pacific Northwest Line. This time I decided to take the car because we would have luggage and other reasons that don't make much sense in retrospect. Never again.

In the past I have taken the Metra from Harvard or Crystal Lake. Next time, I am going to drive to Arlington Heights and take the train from there. The total time appears to be about a half hour better with that option. Metra ends at the Ogilvie Transportation Center Station.

On weekends you can ride the Metra for five bucks - all weekend.

Once you get there it is handy having a car and Chicago is actually fairly easy to drive, but Holy Richard J. Daley, the parking fees are murderous. We paid $49 at the hotel for overnite, $14 at the Museum of Science and Industry, $10 in Greektown, and another $18 in the River North area (River NorthChicago, IL). On the other hand, we cabbed from the South Loop to River North for $10, tip included. And there is always the CTA trains (http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/rail/rail.html or for Downtown only: http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/maps/200806D.html). The Red Line will take you most places you want to go.

Milwaukee Museums - Feed Your Brain

It goes without saying that Chicago has great museums (or I guess not since I just said it), but Milwaukee has a few worth visiting too. Summaries are from the museum web sites.

Milwaukee Public Museum

The exhibit Bodyworlds is only there through June 1.

"The Milwaukee Public Museum, a not-for-profit organization operated by Milwaukee Public Museum, Inc., is an institution of human and natural history providing a dynamic and stimulating environment for learning.

The Museum interprets the world's cultural and natural heritage through the integration of exhibits, education, collections and research. MPM holds its collections as a public trust and is dedicated to their preservation for the enrichment of present and future generations."

Milwaukee Art Museum Art Lives Here

"The Milwaukee Art Museum collects and preserves art, presenting it to the community as a vital source of inspiration and education.

20,000 works of art. 300,000+ visitors a year. 120 years of collecting art. From its roots in Milwaukee’s first art gallery in 1888, the Museum has grown today to be an icon for Milwaukee and a resource for the entire state.

The 341,000-square-foot Museum includes the War Memorial Center (1957) designed by Finnish-American architect Eero Saarinen, the Kahler Building (1975) by David Kahler, and the Quadracci Pavilion (2001) created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Central to the Museum’s mission is its role as a premier educational resource, with educational programs that are among the largest in the nation, involving classes, tours, and a full calendar of events for all ages.
Collection"


America's Black Holocaust Museum Inc I've never been here. Anyone else?

"America's Black Holocaust Museum was founded to educate the general public of the injustices suffered by people of African Heritage in America,and to provide visitors with an opportunity to rethink their assumptions about race and racism.

We are America's only memorial to the victims of the Black Holocaust. Visitors leave with a deeper understanding of history as it relates to racial injustice and the African American experience"

Discovery World Museum There's just too much going on at this relatively new attraction for them to summarize it on their web page.

Betty Brinn Children's Museum

"The Betty Brinn Children's Museum is dedicated to providing interactive exhibits and educational resources that promote the healthy development of children in their formative years—from birth through age ten. The Museum experience encourages hands-on learning and the development of fundamental skills, self-esteem, and the ability to work with others. Caregivers use the Museum as a resource that provides information on early childhood brain development, learning styles, and effective parenting skills. The Museum maintains a strong commitment to providing access to all children and families in the community, including low-income and special needs families."

Photo credits: Milwaukee Art Museum (night) and Discovery World - Wisconsin Department of Tourism

Milwaukee Art Museum by MARINA GOLUBOVA - USA from http://www.thespiderawards.com/