One Short Day in the Windy City

[Ritterskoop]

That's what Mom's T-shirt says that she bought after we saw Wicked in Chicago today. We flew out at 7:30 am and returned at midnight. It was a surprise, though she knew whatever we were doing would take the whole day, and to dress for cold.

Until I handed her the boarding pass she did not know what city we were visiting.

We arrived at 8:45 am and took the blue line downtown. We had a few hours free until our first appointment, so we walked over to Millennium Park and took several pictures of the Bean with snow on top (photos tomorrow). We spent a few minutes in the Art Institute's gift shop getting warm, and purchased note cards as we are always needing more. I got a set of Georgia O'Keeffe's petunias, and some chakra patterns, and a set of Monet cards for PAF Boy, who went to Paris and the Monet house with me several years ago.

We met my former coworker for lunch at Rosebud Prime at 11:30, which was very nice. She took a buyout from my paper in September, and just interviewed with the Tribune (they called her).

Then Mom and I walked to Randolph Street so she could finally find out what was the Main Event. She had not guessed Wicked, even once she knew we were going to Chicago. In Charlotte, mostly tour shows, we get matinees only on weekends. In NYC and Chicago they do them on Wednesdays because there's a much larger population base to support them.

She and I saw Wicked in Charlotte on the national tour, and became obsessed with the soundtrack and the original actors. We will each play "For Good" at the other's memorial service. "I don't know if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

I got to see it again in Atlanta in October, and Mom was a little envious. We are going to L.A. and Vegas in April, and I thought we could go to the standing show then, but it's closing this month to move to San Francisco.

So then I thought, "Doh, they play every day in NYC." But I needed a matinee today so we could fly in, see it, and fly home, without the expense of a hotel. A CLT-NYC flight is only a little over an hour, so that would've been easy. But there was no matinee today.

And then I went, "Doh, they play every day in Chicago also," and checked on that, and there it was. That show is also closing soon, and that group will become the second national tour.

I did tons of research on whether we could see OK with specific limited view seats, and it was just fine. They have a tier between the orchestra and the balcony called Dress Circle, and from the sides, you can see everything just fine except the dragon clock, which is fraught with meaning in the book but no big deal in the show. We could see Elphaba at the top of "Defying Gravity" just fine. I would not recommend it for a first-time viewer because there are a few visuals you miss, but for a $45 tickets instead of three times that much, and a 4-seat row with my leg sticking into the aisle, I was very pleased.

I booked all this six weeks ago, and never told Mom what the adventure was. That was much of the fun, for both of us.

After the show we ate dinner at the Atwood Cafe nearby, which I highly recommend. It is pricey but well worth it. We had butternut squash soup that tasted like liquid Snicker bars. They are accustomed to theater diners, so they can get you in and out of there reasonably quickly if you need to. There was a vanilla bean creme brulee as well, though we did not photograph it. We did photograph their Wicked Witch Martinee, or whatever they called it. It is the appropriate shade of green: pineapple juice, vodka, and blue midori. Yum.

Then we got on the blue line to O'Hare and came home.

The header is from a song in the show, and Mom realized it applied to us, so she had to buy the shirt.

I got maybe three hours of sleep last night, and 3-4 during the day on the plane and trains, so I am going to sleep well tonight. I always tell roomie not to worry about these things - I have the rest of my life to sleep. This was a way cool day.

[a1mamacat]

you are a blessing to you Mom.


and the scourge of a lot of us kids LOL

[Catfish]

What a glorious day! You are a fabu daughter. I so admire the relationship you have with your mom. Thanks for sharing the story.

[Beebs52]

Skoop, this is just one of the best things I've read in awhile. You really are a great daughter. What a wonderful surprise.

[SportsFan68]

And you got a blue drink! Er, green. But made with blue midori!

What a great day! Thanks for the report.

[peacock2121]

I cried a little.

How awesome.


I just added a new intention for myself this year. I intend to have dozens of people about whom I will say:

"I don't know if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

and equally as many people who will say that about me.

[tlynn78]

Awesome, Skoopy.



t.

[Ritterskoop]

I cried a little.

How awesome.


I just added a new intention for myself this year. I intend to have dozens of people about whom I will say:

"I don't know if I've been changed for the better, but because I knew you, I have been changed for good."

and equally as many people who will say that about me.

You would like the story . A lot. See it in NY if you get a chance. Make a chance.

[christie1111]

What a great surprise for your mom!

And what a good daughter you are!

[Tocqueville3]

Wonderful. Especially the liquid Snickers part.

When Olivia gets a little older and isn't so high maintinence I want to take my mom to NY and make it a surprise. I may need your advice.

[tlynn78]

Great pic, Tocq


t.

[mellytu74]

What an exciting adventure!

[Snaxx]

Nice adventure Skoop!

Chicago is a great town to visit, I haven't been there since... October '07 (when I met Lily, Uly, and Nancy). At least once in the past, as part of a long Amtrak trip, I've arrived by train in the morning, left my stuff in the luggage storage for Amtrak sleeping car passengers, toured for the day, went to a ball game (Sox or Cubs depend on who was home), then boarded the train east for NY.

[Snaxx]

Nice avatar Tocque!

I was going to ask how the three became five, but I looked back and saw it was answered elsewhere.

[secondchance]

I've never had the inclination to see the show, but seeing how much it means to you and mom, i believe I'll just have to attempt to hit a performance before they leave town.

Of course I'll be thinking of you during those songs. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Ritterskoop]

I've never had the inclination to see the show, but seeing how much it means to you and mom, i believe I'll just have to attempt to hit a performance before they leave town.

Of course I'll be thinking of you during those songs. Thanks for the inspiration.

They sell it as the story of how the bad witch got her reputation, but it is much more about how we become good. I hope you can go before they close, but if not, they are only moving up the coast a few hours.

[Ritterskoop]

I hope you can go before they close, but if not, they are only moving up the coast a few hours.

All theatres are different, but I have seen this show from the balcony all three times and thought it was better than if I'd been in the orchestra. Front few rows of the balcony is my recommendation for your first time.

I would avoid up close orchestra if your neck will be craned at all. There are a few up-high things that would be uncomfortable, and up close could be kind of loud a few times.

[Ritterskoop]

The camera has been lost, so there will be no photos.



Here is a shot similar to ours that would have been the centerpiece of the collage Mom was planning:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/214 ... d2.jpg?v=0

[smilergrogan]

We will each play "For Good" at the other's memorial service.

The second performance sounds like it should be pretty interesting!

[T_Bone0806]

Sounds like a terrific time!

I want to see this show. I'm hoping that a touring (read: cheaper) company comes to the area soon. The local tour bus company (the same one that my son and I used to see "Phantom" a couple of years ago on Broadway..fully accessible) is actually going to NYC on 7/11 for "Wicked", but the price for tix and transportation is $180 a pop, and for the 4 of us, $720 plus dining is waaaaay more than I can afford right now (financially we are in a bit of a down period). Too bad, because the pickup spot for the trips is two doors down from us. They're also going to "Lion King" on a separate excursion the same day. My wife and granddaughter say they'd rather see that (forget that as well...it's $185 a pop for THAT one!!), but I think that's because they're familiar with L.K. I'm betting they'd love "Wicked". Not that I'd mind seeing L.K. either, mind you.

We've had many touring companies of Broadway shows come through (next one is "Avenue Q"), but thus far, no "Wicked". Soon, I hope.

[christie1111]

The camera has been lost, so there will be no photos.



Here is a shot similar to ours that would have been the centerpiece of the collage Mom was planning:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/214 ... d2.jpg?v=0

Oh no!

What happened?

Do you need to go back and do a repeat for the photo ops?

[Ritterskoop]

We are reconstructing them. It has become its own adventure.

The manager of the Atwood sent me photos of the marquee lit up, and will send me a photo of the Wicked Witches' Brew soon.

Mom asked my friend who met us for lunch to get us a shot of the Bean with the snow on top. I had a picture of the pigeons from two summers ago, and a friend who is good with PhotoShop will repopulate it to show 40 pigeons instead of 12.

We got a free poster with the T-shirt Mom bought, and we will pose with it in our parks and hats. Close enough to the poster in front of the theater.

Mom's friend swill make a witches brew martini for us, and we will get toasted on that..

I am going to get some singing lessons and we will record "For Good" now, instead of waiting for a memorial service. That could take years.

The lessons could also, but I can get started anyway. A karaoke machine can lower the key 3-4 steps for us and we'll be fine.

[Ritterskoop]

Our own Lilyvonschtupp is going to help us out with some photos. She's the best.

[lilyvonschtupp26]

I got an e-mail from Mom telling me how much fun she had with you Ellyn. It sounds like a perfect trip!

Sorry about the camera, though.

Didn't you get goosebumps at the song right b/4 the intermission?

I saw the show 3 times and each time I liked it more.

I understand they making a movie out of it. I'm skeptical about what Hollywood will do with this. . .

[lilyvonschtupp26]

Any body want to plan a quick trip to Chicago and see this one with me?

http://www.milliondollarquartetlive.com/#//

I really want to see it and hubby doesn't. . .