Dr. Dua also recommends the following activities: “Walk around Millennium Park, visit the bean, and/or check out the Art Institute.”
Yes, you read that right—the bean. Dr. Richardson explains, “Cloud Gate, located in Millennium Park, is a giant, bean-shaped, burnished steel sculpture. It’s underwhelming on paper, but it’s breathtaking in person. It reflects the people and structures around it, so it changes with the weather and the crowds. It’s a surprisingly entertaining place to take a photo or people watch.”
The Art Institute, open daily until 5 p.m. (8 p.m. on Thursdays), features an impressive collection of impressionists and post-impressionists—including Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte.
Other suggestions from Dr. Dua: “Visit Navy Pier (navypier.org), which offers shopping, rides and games, public art, Chicago tours and more. Shop on the Magnificent Mile.”
Another Chicago local (and frequent contributor to The Rheumatologist), Lara C. Pullen, PhD, says, “For an evening out, consider booking tickets at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, and plan to spend an evening at Navy Pier. The renowned theater will be presenting the North American premier of Nell Gwynn, the 2016 Olivier Award Win-ner for Best New Comedy. The romantic comedy is set in 17th century London and should set the stage for a fine Chicago evening.”
And lest we forget, Chicago is home to not just one Major League Baseball team, but two. Dr. Richardson says, “I was raised a Sox fan, but wish the Cubs well.” As this issue goes to press, the Cubs are in first place in the NL Central, so the playoffs are a possibility, and Chicago could be in the midst of pennant fever during the Annual Meeting.
What to See
“Take in a great view for (kind of ) free,” says Dr. Richardson. “Skip the lines and fees at the Sears Tower and head to Chicago’s most underrated skyscraper, the John Hancock Center (‘The Hancock’). It’s not quite as tall as the Sears Tower, but you can head up to the 96th floor for free, and have a drink or an appetizer while you enjoy the view.”
Dr. Dua says the best view of the city with good (but slightly pricey) cocktails can be had at Cindy’s (12 S. Michigan Ave.).
What to Eat
Dr. Dua and Dr. Richardson agree that there’s one place to get the ultimate Chicago-style, deep dish pizza: Pequods (2207 N. Clybourn Ave.). It’s “my favorite deep dish,”says Dr. Dua.
