How low can you go?

If I heard Chip Brady right, he suggested that DBQs (or at least components of them) can be taught to students as young as the third grade. We’ve got elementary school teachers on this trip. Do you agree with him? If so, why? If not, why not?

More details for Wednedsay.

We meet Alex and his ex-Obama bus at 8:15AM in front of the dorm. From there we go to a 9AM tour of the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park, IL (a Chicago suburb) which will end at 1030AM. Chances are we will arrive at the Museum of Science and Industry around 11AM. Our show (honestly, I don’t even understand what kind of show it is) starts at 1:30PM. That gives you two and a half hours to eat and play on the South Side.

Here are some suggestions to fill the time. [Hit "View Larger Map" to get the directions from the museum to the other site as my Google Map embedding skills are less than perfect. All of them are around the University of Chicago, away from the lake to the west of the museum.]

1) Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House:

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2) The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago:

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3) The Chicago Theological Seminary Co-op Bookstore [Really! It's better than it sounds.]:

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After the museum presentation is done at 1:30PM, you are free to wander around the largest science museum in North America or go back to any of the above sites you missed. Before we see the show, we’ll agree on an afternoon time and place for Alex to pick up anyone who wants to go back to the dorm. However, at least a few of us (including Matt, Scott and I) won’t be on that ride as we’ll be going to Comiskey Park to see the White Sox, which starts at 7:11PM.

This one’s for you, Sarah.

What infamous historical event happened about 500 feet from our dorm rooms?

Masterpiece.

Today looks like it might be my first day of a week of blogging from the Panera Bread Company (home of free wi-fi) as I can’t get my Mac laptop to sync with the University Center’s ethernet connection.  Hopefully, you’re reading this before you go to the Art Institute of Chicago, so that I can tell you about my favorite painting in the world.

When I was young, my parents dragged me to some of the greatest cultural institutions in the world long before I was old enough to fully appreciate them.  I have been to the Louvre in Paris, for example, but not since I was nine.  The one thing I do remember about that visit, however, was the French Impressionist who painted entirely with dots.  Later I learned (or at least continued to remember) that his name was Georges Seurat.  While I was born in Chicago, my family left for New Jersey when I was six years old and I didn’t come back until I was applying for college and had an interview at the University of Chicago on the South Side.  While I was here, Dad took me to the Art Institute and I was absolutely hooked by the painting above.

It’s called A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Seurat, and, of course, I loved it because I remembered the dots. Seurat died of some unknown disease at just age 31, so there aren’t many of these paintings to look at, anywhere. But I also love this particular painting because it’s absolutely huge. Seriously, the dang thing takes up more area than most people’s kitchens, and it’s all done in unique, individual dots. I visit it every time I’m in Chicago and just sit and stare at it for at least 15 minutes. As soon as we’re done with our tour at 2PM, that’s where you’ll find me.

PS It’s also the subject of a Stephen Sondheim musical which is much, much better than a musical about a painting has any right to be.

Gino’s East.

On Sunday night, everyone should be going to get Chicago deep Dish Pizza at Gino’s East.  As I’ve just spent an enormous amount of time booking the restaurant in Madison for 34 people, let’s just go in groups of 3 or 4 around 6PM.  Seriously, one pizza can feed 3 or 4 people there easily.  They are that deep.

Here’s a little bit about the pizza from their web site:

The Gino’s East story began in 1966 when two taxi drivers and a friend, frustrated with rush hour traffic, decided to open a pizzeria just off Michigan Ave. and Superior St. in Chicago. The Original Gino’s East became an instant legend with local Chicagoans, national celebrities and visitors from around the world.

Our famous deep-dish pizza tastes the same as it did back then. Each pizza is made by hand and features its own unique look. Each legendary pizza is created with a secret, golden crust, fresh vine-ripened tomatoes, and loaded with your choice of fresh ingredients. Once baked to perfection these enormous pies are brought to your table in our well-seasoned pans.

Below is the Google Map for Gino’s East:

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It is maybe a mile up Michigan Avenue from the Art Institute, but that mile is filled with souvenir shops and other interesting sites so I encourage you to walk it.  Besides, you’ll need the exercise after you finish your pizza.

The “L.”

On Monday and Tuesday, we will be taking the “L,” which is short for “elevated,” (you’d probably call it a subway except it’s mostly above ground) from our dorm to the Chicago History Museum.  Last night, Chicago native Cody Festerling and I worked out the logistics.  Basically, you’ll walk one block south from the dorms on State Street to the Harrison stop, which is on the Red Line.  You don’t even have to change trains!  You’ll take the train north to the Clark and Division stop.  Get out and go up the stairs and walk a short distance east (towards the lake) on Division. The museum is on the corner near there and you can’t miss it.

Don’t worry.  We’ll be doing it together, but I wanted to be sure everybody knows the stops in case we get separated.  We worked out the system for subway trips last year.  Walk from the dorm together.  Headcount before we go down.  Everyone buys their ticket individually (it will be about $2) and puts it on their expense account.  Travel separately (since there’s no way we can all get the same car during rush hour).  Head count when we come up?  Does that sound OK, or do we have to use a buddy system again?

PS  The museum opens at 9:15AM, so lets try assembling at 8:30AM on Monday and Tuesday morning for the trip over.

Lincoln the writer

My post tonight is very simple: A. Lincoln had a greater command of the English language than any president we’ve ever had. He could write prose that sings. The Second Inaugural Address, the Cooper Union Speech, and the Gettysburg Address—all documents we read today in the Museum–prove this. What if Jefferson Davis had some of Lincoln’s rhetorical abilities? What if he could use imagery and metaphor the way Lincoln could? What if he had Lincoln’s talent for detail and description? How would the War have been different? I stand in awe at Lincoln’s ability for the written word, and I consider myself fortunate to have read such beautiful language today.

Stray thoughts.

1.  The detailed version of the schedule is almost complete missing only half a day).  As the online version is more complete than the one Scott handed out the other day, you may wish to consult it again on this very blog.

2.  The Chicago Blues Festival will be going on next weekend on four stages just a few blocks from your dorm room.  It is completely free, and you will have time to attend Saturday night.  You can find details about the festival here.

3.  We have made one of our periodic arbitrary decisions that rather than e-mail us about your lesson plan topics, you should describe them a blog post for everyone to see and comment upon.

4.  Coming soon…My post about the Art Institute of Chicago.

“Ghosts in the Library”

Did you see the “Ghosts in the Library” presentation at the museum today?  If so, what did you think about it?  More importantly, why do you think what you think?