Marissa's Photos

Summer Walk

2006-09-13T22:52:00.000-04:00

Canal Street, Chinatown, New York (August 12, 2006)

Fruit

2006-09-11T22:57:00.000-04:00

Fruit stand at Stanley Market, Hong Kong (August 12, 2005)

Vacation

2006-09-04T15:13:00.000-04:00

Bellagio Hotel, Las Vegas (April 22, 2006)

Towering

2006-09-03T15:45:00.000-04:00

Hong Kong Skyline in Summer, View from Kowloon (August 14, 2005)

I'm on Special

2006-09-02T23:33:00.000-04:00

Park n Shop, Tung Chung, Hong Kong (August 13, 2005)

Chicago Sightseeing, 15-16 June 2006

2006-06-19T23:26:00.000-04:00

Reception at Swissotel, 17 June 2006

2006-06-19T22:45:00.000-04:00

PRE-RECEPTION PHOTOS

CAKE

ENTRANCES

CUTTING THE CAKE

FOOD

DANCING

SPEECHES

RANDOM PHOTOS

FAMILY DANCING

POSED GROUP PHOTOS

Swissotel Screen, 16 June 2006

2006-06-19T22:06:00.000-04:00

Silver Seafood Dinner, 16 June 2006

2006-06-19T21:58:00.000-04:00

Silver Seafood Candids, 16 June 2006

2006-06-18T17:25:00.000-04:00

Eggstravaganza

2006-04-18T23:02:00.000-04:00

15.Apr.2006
Central Park, New York City

Caution

2006-04-18T00:24:00.000-04:00

04.15.06

Mini-Reunion

2005-11-12T14:35:00.000-05:00

Hong Kong VI: Macau

2005-08-21T23:50:00.000-04:00

Day 5 was a day trip to Macau and dessert at Hui Lau Shan.

This morning, saw a cruise ship coming into HK harbor

And this morning, it also rained... again...

From HK Island, we took TurboJet to Macau... it was fast and smooth like a regular plane even though it was on the water

TurboJet had comfy seats

We were able to see lots of islands on the way to Macau

Welcome to Macau

First glimpses of the casinos... what everyone seems to go there for

Not a very clear picture, but can you explain to me what "tampon mode" is?

Preferred method of transportation around Macau (it seems)

Temple of A-Ma in the Inner Harbour

Carving at the temple

Near the top of the temple which is built into the rock

If you didn't know where you were going in Macau, you might have a hard time... it seemed like all the street signs were like this.. posted on the buildings

Lunch at O Porto Interior near the Inner Harbour

Appetizer: basket of fried Macanese snacks

African chicken and minchi, Macanese dishes

Had a lot of trouble getting a taxi, but when we finally did, we went to Senado Square

Cute phone ad

More of Senado Square

Some of the old architecture houses stuff like McDonalds and Starbucks

Haagen-Dazs has ice cream mooncakes

Old European architecture + neon Chinese signs = interesting

Macau at night

Back in HK... an ad from the MTR station

Went for dessert at Hui Lau Shan

Post-dessert drink

Helpful directions on some streets in TST

Stores stores everywhere

Hong Kong V: Shopping

2005-08-21T00:58:00.000-04:00

Spent the afternoon with my relatives... a sign from in the taxi... what kind of "offence" is it?

Taxi fares... they charge for animals and birds explicitly

The craziness that is shopping in Mong Kok during the afternoon

With my relative (cousin? I don't know exactly)

Shopping hosts for the afternoon (since they actually know where they're going!)

Went shopping later on, view from the terrace of one of the malls (where everyone went to smoke)

Skyline

Star Ferry Terminal

Apparently TCBY makes "Yog-A-Mooncake"

So tired and full from dim sum and snack that we skipped dinner... instead went to the whirpool on the roof and watched the light & fireworks show in the harbor

Hong Kong IV: Lantau & Food Expo

2005-08-21T00:33:00.000-04:00

Spent the second full day going to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha and to the Food Expo

Signs in the hotel... I thought it was rather amusing, until I found out that "Someplace Else" was the name of a bar/restaurant in the mall arcade downstairs

Typhoon Warning! But isn't the guy so cute?

Inside of a car on the MTR on the way to Tung Chung (Lantau Island)... even packed with people, Alvin can see from end to end above everyone's heads... and it goes a long way!

After taking the MTR to Lantau Island, we grabbed the bus to Ngong Ping

Long and winding roads through the mountains

At the foot of the Big Buddha by the bus depot

Looking toward the mountains

Big Buddha!

From the stairs going up to the Buddha, a look at the mountains and the monastery

With the mountains and clouds

View from up in the mountains... look at all the nature... not what you think of when you think of HK!

Statues in a ring around the Buddha platform

In front of the Buddha

We had lunch at the vegetarian restaurant in the monastery... there was soup & 4 courses

Mushrooms and green vegetables

I don't know what these were, but this was my favorite dish

Spring rolls

Asparagus and other veggies

But even in a monastery restaurant, there's Coca-Cola

Po Lin Monastery

Bus ride back to Tung Chung... back through the mountains

Went to a mega-grocery store in Tung Chung

Alvin found the fruit he's been looking for - red rose apples!

Fish balls

We were perplexed by the "crunchy aloe vera bits"... we had a sample later at the Food Expo and they did not seem so crunchy

Fish fillet mini pizzas

Our purchases

The land of plenty... aka Aji Ichiban

Took Star Ferry to Wanchai for the Food Expo... looks like a storm

Lots of clouds... it poured as soon as we got off the boat

Food Expo at the Convention Centre... lots of people pushing and shoving

Tortellini gelato

A really good drink... green tea + scotch and whiskey

After getting exhausted by the Expo, took MTR back from Wan Chai

Dinner at the same restaurant as the first night... I got some chicken noodle dish, it was okay, I liked the noodles the night before better

Alvin's noodles

Hong Kong III: Touring

2005-08-20T01:17:00.000-04:00

View from the window when I woke up

While I ate breakfast, this was my view... I got to watch tons of doubledecker buses go by

The tour met at the Peninsula

Some skyscrapers from the bus window

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory ad that I like

Peak Tram track... yeah, it gets pretty steep

Hazy view from the Peak

Another Peak view

There are some amazing artists up on top of the Peak (at least, people selling some amazing art)... if it were feasible to buy and bring back at some point, I might think about something like this... it's gorgeous (and kind of affordable!)

At the top of the Peak

Many of the vendors on top of the Peak have these umbrellas... can we get them here?

Second stop on the tour: Stanley

Lots of small shops

Haagen-Dazs in HK not only has ice cream mooncakes, but also this!

This section of Stanley Market was surprisingly empty when I took this shot

Third stop: Aberdeen for a sampan ride

We passed by Jumbo Floating Restaurant

Boats in the harbor

After the tour was over, passing back into Kowloon... McDonalds advertises over the tunnel - they've got different stuff here: flatbread sandwiches, cups of corn...

Went for a quick lunch after the tour... lots of places here seem to have "tea time" or menus for between lunch and dinner

My fish soup

Alvin's soup noodles, I guess beef

Lane Crawford (dept store) window

Dinner at Hing Fat... chow fun! Yay!

Singapore noodles... yay! (I'd been craving both of those noodles)

Check out the toilet paper dispensers for napkins... nice idea! (That night, we also saw the light show over the harbor, but it was near impossible to get good pictures of that)

Hong Kong II: First Night

2005-08-19T02:05:00.000-04:00

The HK airport is pretty new and very spacious. The last time I was in HK, they were still building this one. This is nearby the train platform.

Waiting for the Airport Express trains... they come every 12 minutes to whisk you into the city, and you can get a free shuttle bus to your hotel - so convenient

There are little TV screens on the back of each headrest on the Airport Express trains where you can watch promotional stuff for HK, news and weather headlines

The train lets you know how far along on your journey you are, and how far it is until the next stop by a crawling blue bar... we thought this was wonderful, considering how much better it is than taking the train to/from the airport in other cities

The view from our room in the Sheraton... not complete harbor view, but partial.. and it's beautiful. Also the Space Museum and the neighboring Peninsula Hotel

Nathan Road, our first walking on HK streets

Dinner at New World Centre

Alvin's pork noodles... the sauce was really good

My fish ball noodle soup

Walking on the harbor promenade after dinner... there are no pictures of both of us or of just Alvin because it's very hard to take clear pictures at night without flash!

The skyline, one of the most beautiful in the world (if only I could have taken a panorama!)

The first night was pretty short, since we got in about 2 hours after we were supposed to because of air conditioning problems. But we still got to have a good dinner and experience some of HK at night!

Hong Kong I: Flight

2005-08-19T01:47:00.000-04:00

Gate area at O'Hare (I just noticed the popcorn thing today - seems a little out of place)

Chicken lunch

Window view around the time we were at the North Pole

Our location map and the orange kid that stood up for almost the whole flight, blocking my view of the movies despite the fact that I was sitting on the hard armrest... I mean, seriously, stand if you want, but don't block the movie!

They had some turkey or ham sandwiches during the flight, but this was the official snack box. Truly junk food.

The lunch they serve just before landing... lasagna. The chicken lunch was better.

Colorful skies

My favorite in-flight shot

After over 15 hours, finally we can see HK! On the descent, lots of islands and mountains and water.

We landed at sunset. It was beautiful. :)

Blackened

2005-08-09T23:27:00.000-04:00

Some sort of herbal soup with black chicken, Golden Bridge Restaurant, New York (08.06.05)

Chopsticks

2005-08-08T23:02:00.000-04:00

Golden Bridge Restaurant, New York (08.06.05)

Scallops

2005-08-07T23:55:00.000-04:00

Golden Bridge Restaurant in Chinatown, New York (08.06.05)

Spectrum

2005-08-06T13:10:00.000-04:00

Chicago River (September 2004)

Meadows

2005-08-04T23:10:00.000-04:00

Street level outside Buckingham Fountain, Chicago (September 2004)

Glass City

2005-08-03T10:02:00.000-04:00

South Upper Wacker Drive and the Sears Tower, Chicago (7.17.05)

Stretch

2005-08-02T18:25:00.000-04:00

7th Inning Stretch, Wrigley Field, Chicago (07.14.05)

Fandom

2005-05-29T16:55:00.000-04:00

2005 NACBA National Tournament, UIC, Chicago (05.29.05)

Curious

2005-05-23T16:18:00.000-04:00

East Illinois Street, Chicago (05.23.05)

Asparagus

2005-05-12T10:03:00.000-04:00

Chicken with Asparagus, Wing Shing Restaurant (05.06.05)

Dynamite

2005-05-09T23:32:00.000-04:00

Mothers Day dinner at AKA Sushi (05.08.05)

Pictured center: Tuna Lover Roll, Dynamite Roll.
Clockwise around the edges starting from the bottom: Volcano Roll, Spicy Whitefish Tempura Roll, Mexican Roll, Eel & Avocado Roll, Dallas Roll, Phoenix Roll, Salmon & Avocado Roll.

Fields of Green

2005-04-24T23:23:00.000-04:00

Millennium Park, Chicago (09.02.04)

Southward Bound

2005-04-23T00:20:00.000-04:00

Looking south over Lake Michigan toward Hyde Park (09.08.04)

[Are you kidding me? Has it really been almost a month since I posted here? That's really sad! I thought it was about 2 weeks! So much for a daily photoblog...]

Belle of the Balls

2005-03-29T23:09:00.000-05:00

Marshall Fields on State Street (10.29.04)

Fighting Illini

2005-03-28T16:16:00.000-05:00

The BCBS building in downtown Chicago frequently makes lighting designs for drivers on Lake Shore Drive - the Cubs logo during the playoffs, Y-ME for the cancer walk. We found this design on the drive back from the grocery store yesterday. Go Illini!

Carve-outs

2005-03-27T14:30:00.000-05:00

Carving the turkey at my grandfather's house on Thanksgiving (11.25.04)

Toast and Bananas

2005-03-26T18:32:00.000-05:00

French toast at Corner Grille in Andersonville, Chicago (01.29.05)

Boat Envy

2005-03-25T11:20:00.000-05:00

Royal Caribbean's Jewel of the Seas floating in crystal blue water at a neighboring dock in Nassau, Bahamas. What a shiny new ship... (3.19.05)

Anniversary Dinner at Vermilion, 9 January 2005

2005-01-09T23:13:00.000-05:00

For our anniversary dinner, Alvin took me to Vermilion in River North:

Another scene from Vermilion

Alvin's mojito

My "Vermilion Orchid" - vodka, grenadine, Peach Schnapps, OJ, and cranberry

"Amuse"... a teaser you get before the meal comes... crusted grape plus spiced mango

First appetizer... "Five spice scallops served on a spicy jalfrezi sauce"

Close-up of the yummy scallops

Second appetizer: tandoori tilapia filets

Close-up of the tilapia

Entree #1: Lobster Portuguese stewed in a coconut curry leaf gravy

Entree #2: Chicken in yogurt curry in a recipe from Rajanastan (sp?)

Awww... cute :)

Alvin's dessert: orange bread pudding.... it looks really pretty

"Vermilion hedonism"... special molten chocolate cake with a beautiful fruit salad... yum yum yum :)

We totally cleaned up with dessert ;-) The dinner was so so yummy!! Excellent restaurant, I highly recommend it!

Week in Review, 13 December - 19 December, 2004 (Dinners, Lunches, Free Museum Tuesday)

2004-12-21T00:38:00.000-05:00

College friends came to visit from 12/13 - 12/15, so lots of pictures!

13 December: CAFE IBERICO DINNER

Amy and Perry at dinner

Beef skewers and "special" potatoes

Patatas bravas, "special" potatoes, mushrooms, tortilla espanola

Alvin and Marissa

14 December: WEST EGG LUNCH

My turkey burger - the only lunch entree in the bunch :)

14 December: MUSEUM CAMPUS SIGHTSEEING

First stop: Adler Planetarium

Chicago skyline, north of the Loop

In front of the skyline

Amy, Marissa and Perry - yay for free Tuesdays at the museums!

Second stop: Shedd Aquarium

Aww, so cute.

I love clownfish...

... even if they're all funny colored!

Cute seasons' greetings animals.

Nighttime skyline

14 December: NIGHTTIME SIGHTSEEING

Jellybean at night

Can you see the ice skaters?

Pretty colors. :)

14 December: KAMEHACHI DINNER

Our table

Sushi bar

Alvin and my sushi plate

Amy, Sam and Perry

15 December: WINTER WONDERFEST

Every year, LaSalle Bank puts on Winter Wonderfest at Navy Pier. Here's some pictures of the way the festival hall was transformed:

From the entrance

From the Santas Around the World exhibit

Another Santa with a ferris wheel behind him

Free ice rink

A lot of Consulates put together country-themed trees with cute ornaments.

Carolers while Santa was on break

Navy Pier decorated for winter

16 December: HOLIDAY WALK

Went for a little walk on the Magnificent Mile to soak in the holidays.

The street was lit in late November during the Festival of Lights parade - it's really pretty.

Inside North Bridge (a mall)

Christmas tree lights

Oh Victoria's Secret... what's with the display?!

Outside the Hancock Building

17 December: JOY YEE'S LUNCH

Seaweed salad

Peach bubble tea

Lychee bubble tea

Thai basil chicken fried rice

18 December: FLIGHT

View of O'Hare from the plane

19 December: CHEESECAKE FACTORY DINNER

Enjoying Fall, 25 October 2004

2004-10-28T02:39:00.000-04:00

Pumpkin pumpkin pumpkin

East 60th Street, Hyde Park, Chicago

Aon Center, Columbus & Randolph, Downtown Chicago

"Invitation"

Jellybean

From summer outdoor gathering place to ice rink... the transition!

I think this looks like 2 male sparrows looking straight ahead watching for stray eyes while the female sparrow does something privately... my initial thought was changing her clothes, but they don't wear clothes

I told a story on the regular blog about them giving off a vibe of being so in love.... I hope they're not brother and sister

Spiky

Columbus just north of Monroe

Outside the Art Institute

"Growing up Green"

I was fascinated by these red berry trees... and some woman went by taking branches off as I was taking pictures of berry branches (not the same ones, but right next to me)

One minute the trees on Butler Field were glowing yellow, the next they were dingy... all because the sun was hiding behind these clouds

Berries and birds' nests

In my delusional mind, the clouds were forming the Target symbol and looked like my blue sky Target gift card

The boats have gone into hibernation :(

Berry trees!

Playgrounds under the shadow of the city

Parks as far as the eye can see as the sun goes down :)

Dinner at Sai Cafe, 15 October 2004

2004-10-17T06:14:00.000-04:00

I've uploaded a lot of photos all at once for a bunch of reasons - (a) I'm behind in uploading to the photoblog; (b) I'm lazy and it's easier to do it all at once, and (c) I am currently worrying for the future health of my computer and need to upload them "just in case" said computer's cold gets worse.

So here's pictures from our dinner out at Sai Cafe, a Japanese restaurant in Lincoln Park.

Some of the sushi rolls... Halloween Roll and Spider Roll

I think my favorite rolls were the yellowtail + scallion roll (I developed a fondness for that one over the summer), and the spicy white tuna crunch roll (always our favorite at Sai).

Here comes the rolls!
(Besides the plate shown in the first picture, the second plate on the table has our spicy white tuna crunch rolls.)

With our selection of colorful and delicious rolls at Sai Cafe

Colors of Fall, 14 October 2004

2004-10-17T06:12:00.000-04:00

Some pictures from my drive to and from school:

60th Street in Hyde Park - leaves are falling and the trees are yellow ... it's been a very dark and gray week

University Avenue, heading toward the law lot

Looking into the parking lot, look at all the cars already there!

After school - along the Midway

Fallen leaves by the curb

Cornell Drive

Outside the Museum of Science and Industry there are some beautiful trees with leaves changing color

This is probably my favorite picture of the whole bunch - a close-up of the trees outside the Museum of Science and Industry

Monroe and Lake Shore

Close-up on the yellow trees

Monroe Harbor, yellow trees, and a gray sky

Around the Apartment, 11 October 2004

2004-10-17T06:09:00.000-04:00

Why do I keep writing September instead of October in all the title lines? Agh!

Ooh, pretty .. my caption writing ability (whatever there was to begin with) has deteriorated, and I'll let the photo speak for itself

Traffic's moving pretty well on the highway for this time of day

Dinner... chicken ravioli and string beans

Harbor and Lalo's, 9 October 2004

2004-10-17T06:07:00.000-04:00

LAKE SHOTS

I don't know what that type of ship is called out in the harbor, but it looks really cool

Pretty day

Closer shot at the ship

DINNER AT LALO'S

My entree at Lalo's... enchiladas with zucchini salad and green rice

Alvin with his mole chicken

Lalo's has a mariachi band that plays songs for different special occasions... their anniversary selections were hilarious

I'm so used to Mexican restaurants where happy birthday is sung by the servers with musical accompaniment of clapping... a mariachi band was a real treat!

Downtown Walk, 8 October 2004

2004-10-17T06:03:00.000-04:00

When i first saw this sculpture on the side of the Chicago River, I thought it was supposed to be Swiss cheese. It's not, but I can't remember what it is, only what I thought it was. Oops.

Looking east down the Chicago River

It's a very gray day today.... looking toward the Loop

Corncob buildings (Marina City)

The parking portion of Marina City next to Smith & Wollensky's... people always wonder if the cars can fall out...

IBM Plaza... I just thought it added a splash of color to an otherwise very gray day

More of the colorful trees... this is on my walk back from errands and getting a flu shot, after it had already rained (if you're wondering or if you care... haha)

Looking south down State Street... those little orange things on the street lights are pumpkins... this year, armed with digicam, I WILL get a picture of the pumpkins, lit and unlit!

Chicago Sun-Times building... I was looking for Bill Rancic, didn't find him. ;-)

Trees in the plaza by WGN... I was listening to them talk about "Desperate Housewives" on the air.

More of the trees in the plaza

School, 7 October 2004

2004-10-17T05:58:00.000-04:00

Multicolored trees on 61st Street behind the Law School parking lot

Our parking lot

Lake Shore Stoplights, 29 September 2004

2004-10-17T05:57:00.000-04:00

Bright sunshiny day!

Looking south down Lake Shore Drive at the Field Museum and Sue!

Puffy Cloud Driving, 28 September 2004

2004-10-17T05:55:00.000-04:00

Look at the cute puffy clouds!

The clouds (a little grayer) over the sailboats in the harbor

Buckingham Fountain

DuSable Harbor with the wind whipping around.... it was so windy that the lake was covered with whitecaps

Ogden Plaza showing signs of autumn... lots of color in the trees

APALSA BBQ at Promontory Point Park, 25 September 2004

2004-10-17T05:52:00.000-04:00

Gazing out over Lake Michigan

The lake reminds me of a calmer ocean

The waterfront of Promontory Point Park

Danger! Submerged rock!

The trees are starting to change color... autumn is coming!

Kind of slanted, but looking north from Hyde Park

Fallen leaves

Sunset

Sunset looking east

Over the lake, pinks and purples

Splash!

Some of us at the BBQ (Dave's picture).... we're so cold but trying not to show it! :)

Dinner at Thai Avenue, 24 September 2004

2004-10-17T05:46:00.000-04:00

Maybe I'm sheltered, but I've never seen green boba before!

Alvin with his yummy looking drink

Chicken curry noodles

Curry fried rice... mmmm.

Resident Sightseeing, 17 September 2004

2004-09-17T21:35:00.000-04:00

Michigan Avenue in the Loop

MILLENNIUM PARK

The face fountain pool thing at Millennium Park (I don't know the name of it)

Hehe, he's spitting!

After the spitting and the fountain being flooded, the face changed!

The end of the jellybean.... it looks like an orb

Jellybean!!

Rehearsing in the theater on the lawn... I guess it's for Celtic Fest.

Millennium Park dedication sign

Celtic Fest welcome sign... it's this weekend in Chicago and they were setting up as I walked around today

BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN

Buckingham Fountain on a bright very sunny day

And the fountain goes sky high! :)

Evening Walk, 10 September 2004

2004-09-11T00:09:00.000-04:00

Wrigley Building

Michigan Avenue in motion

Looking west

Chicago River with a view of the UofC's business school. Why can't the law school be downtown?

:)

Michigan Ave bridge

One of the sightseeing boats - is this the one involved in the excretion controversy?

Michigan Ave bridge from farther east

Hyatt Regency hotel - where I stayed on my first move-in.

Chicago River - that riverwalk leads to my apartment building. :)

One of the windows at the River East Art Center down the block.

Indian Garden Dinner, 10 September 2004

2004-09-11T00:04:00.000-04:00

Tandoori Chicken, Gosht Rogan Josh, and Chana Masala

Tandoori chicken

Chana masala and gosht rogan josh

With garlic nan!

Night and Day, 8 September 2004

2004-09-11T00:01:00.000-04:00

Day View, 7 September 2004

2004-09-10T23:57:00.000-04:00

Sunset View, 6 September 2004

2004-09-10T23:56:00.000-04:00

Chicago Sightseeing Part II, 2 September 2004

2004-09-10T23:25:00.000-04:00

Sightseeing, continued.

The jellybean :)

Clowning around

Reflections are fun!

Taking pictures of ourselves inside the jellybean

Do you see me?

Inside the jellybean is really fun - you should come see it :)

The Park Grill - reminds me of Rockefeller Center in the summer (ice rink turns into restaurant)

The other side of the jellybean with a view of the Loop

Yay for the jellybean!

Millennium Park

Fountain over the Chicago River

Looking toward the lake

Ducks by Navy Pier

Heading toward the pier

Okay, this big Trojan pig was not there the last time I was here...

Close-up on the front of Navy Pier... I've never been to the Children's Museum. I think you have to pay to get in.

In the Crystal Garden

Ferris wheel!

Yes, McDonalds sponsored the Ferris Wheel.

View from the ferris wheel

Northern skyline

Looking north... the lake is gorgeous

More skyline

More :)

My cousins on the swings

More swings

End of the swings ride.

It was a hot, exhausting sightseeing day. But it was fun! Yoga and Greektown followed that night. It was a fun day. :)

Chicago Sightseeing Part I, 2 September 2004

2004-09-10T23:16:00.000-04:00

My parents were in town, and more family was visiting from Massachusetts, so we spent the day sightseeing in Chicago. I love playing tourist in cities where I live.

This is what happens when sailboats decide they want to ride down the Chicago River.

Merchandise Mart

Mom's brunch at Wishbone - the cheese grits that it came with were yummy!

My brunch at Wishbone - andouille chicken sausage hash

Mom outside Harpo Studios

I like the way the buildings look in the windows. Stupid curse.

North Lake Shore Drive. My apartment building is in that direction. The little green sign on the right is where I exit.

The harbor

So many pretty sailboats in the harbor

Walking on the lakeshore path

Me and Dad by the harbor

Entrance to Buckingham Fountain

Buckingham Fountain - recognize it from movies? That's the Sears Tower in the background.

Family in front of the fountain

The fountain felt really good on such a hot day!

Close-up on the fountain

After Buckingham Fountain, we walked through Grant Park to Millennium Park. This is crossing the bridge over Columbus Drive.

It's empty because they were redoing the turf... This is like the Great Lawn or something (or I'm confusing it with names from Central Park, I dunno).

Toward the Sears Tower

The jellybean! (formally, the Cloud Gate Sculpture)

Oops! I didn't queue it and pressed enter by mistake. Oh well, I guess the jellybean will just have to start off Part II of the sightseeing pictures.

Moving In, 1 September 2004

2004-09-10T23:05:00.000-04:00

In their advertisement, the condo developers are looking to name our area the "Platinum Coast." Nice. :)

Hancock Building

Westin is celebrating the anniversary of their Heavenly Bed with white chocolate bars.

Hanging out in the to-be bedroom of the new apartment and looking at the beautiful lake view

Toledo to Chicago Drive, 1 September 2004

2004-09-10T23:02:00.000-04:00

The Residence Inn building we stayed in in Toledo

The hotel was around the corner from this

The hotel was next door to the Texas Roadhouse

Welcome to Indiana!

Welcome to the Midwest. Haha.

I love this billboard! (If you haven't enlarged it, it says, "Mayor McCheese welcomes you to Chicagoland.") It's cute. :)

NYC to Toledo Drive, 31 August 2004

2004-09-01T00:46:00.000-04:00

I was awake from the time we left the house until we got gas nearby in Jersey.... and when I woke up a couple of hours later (and hundreds of miles later), here we were in cloudy PA.

Driving through the hills of PA

Susquehanna River under the clouds

More green hills in PA

This is what it looks like to drive on I-80 in PA... all trees... and at night, deer.

After lunch somewhere in PA (Millsburg?)... fun sign

We were making such good time until we got stuck in traffic here in PA! Only 7 miles from Ohio!

Welcome to Ohio! Woohoo! I'm always much happier once the PA part of the journey is done.

Pretty rays of sunlight

More rays

This is what it looks like to drive through Ohio.

Don't know if you can read the sign but here we are in Maumee/Toledo!

Sunset as viewed from the parking lot of the hotel (and over the Texas Roadhouse)

Dinner at Don Pablo's... spending the night in Toledo and then it's off to Chicago!

Atlantic City, 26-27 August 2004

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Welcome to Atlantic City!

Heading toward the Boardwalk

Trump Plaza

Where we stayed... Trump Taj Mahal (All I could think of was the Apprentice!)

Good luck and have fun! Fun, yes... but I lost money... boo!

A room at the Taj

The Taj, from the Boardwalk

On the Boardwalk

Looking down the Boardwalk

From the beach

Amusement park!

The beach... nice, but it's not Florida or the Caribbean

Me on the Boardwalk

In front of the beach

Hmm... they look a little scary!

Yes, feed the seagulls and keep them away from my head!

The Taj towers over the small stores on the Boardwalk

Salt water taffy... AC has lots of it ;)

Kinda close to the Big Apple

More of the Boardwalk

More salt water taffy

Cute little stand

More Taj pictures

A little blurry, but this gives you an idea of the long line we had to wait on to get into the Sultan's Feast buffet at the Taj... We waited for about an hour and I was so hungry!

The Taj's decor

Driving around AC... The Borgata actually looks like Vegas!

More Borgata... They have nice "Red Label" cards... very pretty.

Buona Fortuna!

Welcome to Borgata... this place looks so much nicer than some other AC hotels.

I loved this ceiling piece... so cute!

One of those painted statue actors, a pretty fireworks (to me) sculpture, and my parents taking pictures with the casino in the background

Goodbye Borgata! I'm coming here to play next time! ;-)

Last Day of Summer Program, 6 August 2004

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Post-Cocktail Party at Opal, 5 August 2004

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Pre-Cocktail Party, 5 August 2004

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Cheesecake Party, 2 August 2004

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'Round the Office, 30 July 2004

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Cooking By the Book, 29 July 2004

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Bowling Night, 20 July 2004

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Karaoke, 7 July 2004

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Firm Outing, 28 June 2004

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Unfortunately not the clearest picture... I think Marc's is better.

Yankees Game Rain-Out, 25 June 2004

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MoMA Hard Hat Tour, 16 June 2004

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