Touring Chicago - Bronzville

P: Now I'm going to take you to an area called Bronzeville...oh---but before I do, maybe we'll swing by the building of The Chicago Defender newspaper.
T: Okay.


P: Hmmmm...this is embarrassing! I could swear this is where the offices of The Chicago Defender were.
T: (laughs)


T: Well, I don't think this is a newspaper. There's a car on the top of the building.
P: A car? Wait a minute. What is that about?

T: Look at that banner. It says Motor Row. Do you know what that means?

P: Yea, this is the area where car dealers set up shop---kind of like for a one-stop car shopping experience.

They return to the car and continue on their way.

They arrive on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive where they find a sign about the Boulevards in Chicago. They continue down the block until...

P: Well here we are in Bronzville!

T: What is Bronzville?

P: Around 1910, Bronzville was known as the Black Metropolis, one of the nation's most significant landmarks of Black urban history. It was an area where alot of Black who had migrated North ended up.
T: This map is very cool. Look at all of the things that Bronzville is known for.

After the girls checked out this in-ground map and the area, they continue driving down Martin Luther King, Jr Drive.

Pixxa glances over and sees what she'd been looking for earlier.

P: There's the Defender!

T: So you were off a little bit remembering where it was?

P: Heck no! They definitely were not in this building before. I wonder when they moved. But I'm glad we found it.

T: So what's so big about the Defender.

P: Well, it's just that it was founded in 1905 for the Black community. By the beginning of World War I, The Defender's readership had grown into a national base and it became one of the nation's most influential Black newspapers, with over 2/3 of the readers being from outside of the Chicago area. The paper was a great part of "The Great Migration" of Blacks from the South to the North.

T: Now that's interesting!

P: And in 1923, they started the Bud Biliken Day Parade and Picnic, which showcased children. And all these years later, the parade and picnic continue. Now it's a tradition that signals it's time for back-to-school.

T: I've heard about that. No wonder why you wanted me to see this.

P: On to our next stop.

T: I really enjoy the DuSable Museum of African American History.

P: Yes, it's a great little museum, full of so much Black History.

T: (yawn) We had a long day!

P: Yes we did. And I hope that you enjoyed museum day!

T: I did...I definitely did!

Touring Chicago Sites Part 2

P: Next, you ask? The Field Museum
T: Is that the museum that has Sue, the dinosaur?
P: Yep, that's it...and they've also got an exhibit on "a girl's best frind".


Trichelle and Pixxa pose on the front lawn of the Museum.


T: Bring on the diamonds!!


As the girls are walking up the museum steps, Trichelle turns around...


T: Wow...what a view!!
P: You are looking down Lake Shore Drive.

After visiting the museum, the girls relax in front of the museum and enjoy the view.
P: Okay, let's go. We have one more stop in Museum Campus.

T: What's left to see?
P: Right behind you---Soldier Field...home of the Chicago Bears!!

T: That's HUGE!! And what an "interesting" architectural combination. It looks like a modern building plucked in the middle of an ancient collusem.

P: You should see it from the other side. It looks like a space ship sitting on top of the old part. Very weird!!

P: Okay...that's it for Museum Campus. Now we'll take a quick drive and we'll be at our next stop.

Touring Chicago Sites

When we left off, Pixxa was entertaining a visitor, Trichelle. They have already done a bunch of things...zoo, Chicago style pizza, theatre and of course shopping, but what's a trip to Chicago without taking in some of the sites and culture? So Pixxa and Trichelle spent a day visiting some sites in Chicago.
P: This area is called Museum Campus because it has three museums of sorts right together. And it's right on the lake...Lake Michigan.

P: First let's visit Adler Planetaium.
T: Okay!

T: Wow, I'd love to have a boat docked here. I'd go out on it every day.

P: (laughing) That's what Michael says.

P: Here we are at the Planetarium.

T: Oooooo...It's all about the stars!!

T: And it's gorgeous right here! The lake is so beautiful!

T: And the skyline along the lakefront---Chicago is such a pretty city!

A panoramic view of the lake and the skyline.

They left the Planetarium and headed toward the Aquarium.

P: There's the back of the Aquarium, the round building. That's where the whales live.

P: Let's sit and soak up a few rays.

T: "Hi!" as she waves as people passing by.

T: Hey...it's this way. It's the John G. Shedd Aquarium

P: Yes, there's fish and all things aquatic inside. We saw the stars now we're seeing under the sea.

T: What's that?

P: I have no idea. Here's a plaque...it's called Man with Fish..

They both laugh.

T: Wow...that was great...what's next?

Happy Autumn!

Wow...Summer has come and gone without a post from me. Sorry that it's been so long!! Well, I'd like to think it's because I was so busy this summer that I didn't have the time or energy to post. But I did take photos of what I did all summer long and I will make sure that I post pix of all the really fun and exciting things that I did this summer. Hopefully you'll enjoy the re-visit of the summer as much as I will enjoy telling you all about it. Well---I guess I should get to it!!

Luv Ya!!
Pixxa

Chicago Style Pizza Anyone?

Editorial Note: Sorry for the long sabbatical...sometimes life just gets in the way. But Pixxa is back and has a few photostories for you. Enjoy!

T: Is this where we're going? Ed Debevics?
T: Oh...I see it now, across the street.
Mila, Trichelle and Pixxa are on their way to Pixxa's favorite pizza place, Gino's East.

The ladies get inside and Trichelle checks out the ambiance.

T: So what's with the names carved into the wood?
P: That's one of the features of the Gino's East brand.
M: Yes, it's quite the trademark!

T: I like it! It's kinda cool!

P: Maybe you should carve your name Trichelle.
T: Yea, right!

The ladies look up and notice a plane "flying" overhead.

T: This place is just sooooo cute!!


A few minutes later, they are seated.

T: check out the menu...what should I try?
M: Definitely the deep dish pizza
P: With sausage...the slab o' meat!
T: What's slab o' meat?
P: You'll just have to wait and see!

After they place their order, Trichelle decides to become a part of the tradition.

Trichelle grabs a pen and carves her name on the wall of the booth.

T: Now it's officially...I've been to Gino's East!

They all laugh.

T: Which way to the rest room?

On her way to the restroom, Trichelle notices that she's not the only "doll" to visit Gino's East when she spies a picture of Chuckie and his date on the wall.


The pizza arrives!

They ordered spinach and mushrooms...

...and the sausage...slab o' meat. The restaurant refers to this as a sausage patty.

They decided that the slices are so big that they will share.

M: So Trichelle, what do you think?

T: OMG! This is THE BEST thing that I have EVER tasted!!!

Pixxa and Mila laugh.

P: Now you know why this is my fav!

T: I am STUFFED! I can't eat another bite!
P: So we'll take home the rest for later.

M: Hey...check out the stretch Hummer. Think they'll give us a ride?
P: I'd rather walk...walk off some of this pizza.
T: Good idea!

P: This is the Rock 'n Roll McDonalds.
M: It's one of the few freestanding, two story stores they have.

T: Neat:
P: And there's a museum in the back with lots of rock 'n roll stuff.

M: And here's the Rainforest Cafe.
T: Ewwww...check out that frog on top!

T: And of course you have a Hard Rock Cafe
P: Yes, this is one little area that it would be hard to be hungry in!

M: Oh well ladies...I'd better call it a night! It was nice hanging out with you all. Trichelle, maybe I'll get to see you again before you leave.
T: I hope so...you're really fun!
P: Bye Mila!