I don’t normally like new words very much. I didn’t even use normal slang like “dude” or “awesome” until 2004 when I lived with a SoCal girl in Athens. But the word <em>staycation</em> has captured my heart, probably because it came into vogue around the time I and everybody else was unemployed.
Anyway, I’ve been trying to make the most of having free time during the day and living in a fantastic city to go out and see museums. Some of my recent forays have included the International Museum of Surgical Science, and the McCormick Freedom Museum. Yesterday I finally managed to visit the Chicago Cultural Center. This wasn’t something I planned, which is actually the same way I went to the Freedom Museum. Sometimes you get to Michigan Avenue and these things happen.
The Chicago Cultural Center used to be the Chicago Public Library a long time ago, and is incredibly ornate in the way that public buildings used to be. They have recently finished restoring the Tiffany glass dome, which is, as you can imagine, spectacular. The building now holds a variety of cultural events and art galleries, all of which are free. That’s pretty much how I found myself in there, since when spending money I like to think about it a lot first. My dentist’s office is right across the street, and I had an hour to kill before my appointment.
I saw most of the art exhibits, but the two big ones on right now are “William Conger: Paintings 1958 – 2008″ and “Collaborative Vision: The Poetic Dialogue Project”. The first was a retrospective of an important abstract artist, and the second was collaborative pieces between a visual artist and a poet. I’m kind of a philistine when it comes to modern art, but those two exhibits were definitely a fun surprise.
I’m sure the Staycation will continue, and I’ll keep you posted.