I biked into Chicago today with the intention of going to the Art Institute. They are open until 9pm, and admission is free, every Tuesday this summer. I've wanted to go for weeks.

Only there was one problem. When I arrived at quarter to five, there was a man at the front door who informed me they were closed. Apparently, the free extended hours are on Thursdays, now.

Okay, great, so you played commercials on every major, ahem, public television station and had ads in several magazines. Only, some of us don't watch all that much TV and don't have any magazine subscriptions. So listen, if you tell me you're going to do something on a certain day all summer, is it too much to ask that you STICK TO YOUR &@$$%#$@**@@!!@!! PLAN?

Well, I learned this lesson, anyway. If I ever plan on going to the Art Institute again, I'll be checking their *^%^&$%#@@ website first. Idiots.

I decided to try to salvage the afternoon by visiting the new Millenium Park. While I was there, I find my camera has developed a little quirk. In order to actually take a picture, I have to press the shutter button down REALLY HARD. I mean I have to practically kill my finger in order for the shutter to open. Really, my finger almost developed blisters from the few pictures I took.

Then I found the new stage. There was a full orchestra there playing classical music. The lawn seating doubles as a park, well, a park with a net of speakers above it. So you had people lounging, reading, sleeping, eating, doing all sorts of park things, only to live classical music.



My bad mood was temporarily lifted. At least, it was, between convoluted attempts to try to take pictures of this utopic scene.

By the way, this is offically called "Cloud Gate," but everyone refers to it as "The Bean." One hundred years from now, it will still be known as "The Bean," and "Cloud Gate" will be a forgotten name.

Listening to: Star Trek TNG
In my sink: 1 plate and fork