Sadly, my ritual Intelligentsia coffee shoppe in the Monadock building was closed on the weekends. Luckily, I found another nearby location. Granted the décor is more industrial in theme, I do prefer the marble, art deco stylings of the Monadock location. However, the coffee is fantastic, the croissant yummie, free WiFi and the atmosphere is conducive to writing. What more could a girl want? Also worth noting, Carl, another NEH participant from my work table, is equally
enthralled with good coffee, as am I. He has been visiting the same Intelligentsia coffee shops, and we often chat as we pass each others’ table. To my chagrin, they sell a blend of coffee ( sold out at the time of my visit) aptly named Librarian’s blend. However, it is a decaf blend. It is marketed as
This blend is representative of the soul of the librarian: steady, reassuring, and always there with that slight edge of eccentricity. It has a bold base with a bit of sparkle.
Obviously, they do know us very well…….
As a group, we discussed what we have learned this week and how we will be applying it to our classrooms in our hometowns. This sharing of ideas has lit a spark with me. I have a number of ideas for my final project. Each participant is expected to produce (within one month of our departure) a plan for a final lesson with our students, geared to the age we teach. Many of my fellow participants have turned in their lesson plans today. I have elected to mull it over more and will email my plans in within the week. I have a number of ideas, but need to sift through and clarify it on paper.
Today is a day of great sadness. It is the final day of our National Endowment for the Humanities, Landmarks in American History program. I would like to thank Dr. Mark Newman, Dr. Costas Spirou, Dr. Larry Bennett for organizing this program to inspire teachers (and those of us who work with school children) to inject a different perspective into our lessons. All three lecturers were extremely knowledgeable of their subject field, all three were engaging. My particular favorite lecturer was Dr. Larry Bennett. His 
humor and light personality was injected into each lecture and tour he gave. I am truly honored to have been selected for this program and am leaving with a refreshed outlook as well as rejuvenated approach to my library program. Participants were treated like professionals, yet it has been an enriching week as that the group got along so well. I can feel like I am leaving the NEH Chicago program with something in my hand (a practical lesson plan), something in my head (I have a new outlook on public spaces) as well as something in my belly (the hospitality was incredible!). Finally, I would like to thank the National Endowment for the Humanities for offering the Landmarks in American History program. While numerous government programs are being scrutinized during budget cutbacks, this program’s offerings are invaluable and should not be slashed.
I would also like to thank the University Center staff for accommodating our group of 40 teachers. The University Center, during summer months, operates as a downtown hotel. At a very reasonable rate, they offer clean modern dorm rooms, with a private or semi private bath, in a prime location of downtown Chicago, in the education corridor. The Loop, CTA lines, as well as many historic sites and museums are well within walking distance of the University Center.
Upon the noon time, final dismissal of our program, many participants dashed back to the Uni Center to collect their luggage and depart for the airport. A number of us stayed for a final afternoon, to depart on Sunday. I felt a sense of bittersweet sadness. I have so very much enjoyed this week, learning, travelling, meeting new people from across the country and exchanging fresh ideas.
After walking back with my roommate, Rebecca, we said goodbye in our room. One of the major reasons I enjoyed this week was that I had found myself rooming with another teacher who was very much like me, personality wise. We had a ball; sharing some of the activities together and laughing constantly.
After bidding Rebecca adieu, I decided the afternoon should be spent at the Robbie House in Hyde Park. I have been itching to take the Wright 3 tour, given by school aged, docent trained children of the Frank Lloyd Wright house. The beauty of this tour is that it is given from the perspective of the Wright 3 book (a children’s book) by Blue Bailliet. I toured the house, witnessing the patio were the workman in the story fell, were Tommy found the oriental fish talisman in the children’s play yard, the windows which ‘sighed’, and the Invisible man embedded in the stain glass window, Tommy’s neighboring apartment complex where he lived. After being in the house in person, it did not feel as haunted as the book implied, though it certainly had a ‘presence’; its own breathing ‘life’. I was ecstatic to finally take in this historic home.
After the tour, I walked about Hyde Park, a very gentrified neighborhood, which boasts some fabulous architecture, bookshoppes (to support the University of Chicago) and is home to many prestigious families…including the First Family, the Obamas. I stopped to grab a cold soda pop at Medici’s bakery, which turns out to be the Obama’s favorite neighborhood bakery. I was able to take the #6 bus back to the downtown Loop, to return to my room to rest…..a half empty room, as that Rebecca and her belongings are now off to their next adventure.
I ate a quick supper at the University Center. From there, I also took a trip up to the Hancock building, up to the 96th floor lounge to enjoy the view. At twilight the city is being to twinkle with lamination. This was an interesting experience to compare with my trip to the top of Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) two years ago. While that was 180 floors up, the Hancock view was not as high, though I felt much more prettier and accessible view of the skyline, somehow. I still do not like heights……..Adjacent to the Hancock Center is the Watertower Plaza. A second stop at the Lego store has 
provided me with another prezzie to tuck away for Christmas. (Ironically, the sales clerk remembered me from my visit on Monday. He greeted me by name! How impressive!) I was then able to sit in the Millennium Park to enjoy an outdoor concert. One of the many benefits of Chicago’s public places during the summer months are the many free, quality concerts in the parks.
Western University Architecture Professor, delivered a lecture entitled Why is there a city here? . His lecture outlined six stages of Chicago’s history, emphasising 1830 to 1914. In 1848-1871, Chicago rose to prominence as a Midwest center. Between 1871 to the beginning of World War One, was a period of great industrial growth with meat packing jobs, European immigrants seeking jobs. He also addressed various obstacles to building Chicago in this location and how these obstacles where over come. Obstacles such as water borne issues, Niagara falls cuts off much of the transport in the Great Lakes, until the 1825 Eric Canal. The tall grasses of the prairies had deep roots, thus making farming and plowing difficult, until the Mccormick invention of the steel edge plow. This ability to ‘sod-bust’ allowed for farmers to work large plots of land, growing grains. (eventually the steel edge plow was manufactured here in Chicago, thus adding to the local demands for employees.) Also, a grass prairie plains created an absence of trees and timber…timber to build homes and fuel during the winter months. The final important obstacle was that there were people already here. With the 1823 Black Hawk Treaty, many Native peoples were displaced to reservations elsewhere.
By mid afternoon, we broke into groups to write and draw our observations of Harold Washington Library. Named after the city’s first black mayor, he sadly died of a heart attack shortly after his second re-election. Know as a ferocious reader, the new building subsequently honors him. Many green patina owls adore the roof line, both barn and great horned owls, symbols of knowledge; the wise old owl grasping a book in his talons. A number of medallions in the brick word contain the letters C-P-L- Y. These stands for the Chicago Public Library and the Y is a reference to the Chicago Canals, a letter to be found elsewhere in the city, sucha s on man hole covers. 
Ribbons of grain are chiseled into the brick, as a tribute to Chicago’s status as a trade center of grains. Cherubic faces are also found on the facade. Ceres, the goddess of grain, as well as faces with puffed out cheeks, as if blowing air to you. While one could claim that they are blowing kisses, in fact it is another tribute to the ‘windy city’, whimsical faces as if blowing air to the passersby. The building is 15 years old, and is typical of post modernism. It ‘borrows’ elements from other styles and neighbouring buildings. A Greek pediment echos the Chicago Art Institute, the wall structure from the neighbouring Montack building. The building directly across the street , housing the Robert Morris College is over one hundred years old and was built to look new, yet the library across the street is a new building trying to look old. It is a skeletal frame building, not load bearing, a veneer of granite materials clad a portion of the building. I am looking forward to visiting inside later this week as that the children’s room is on the second floor.
We discussed a few archietcuture terms to create a better understanding of how these skyscrapers are build: post and beam, load bearing, skeletal construction, curtain wall, truss. We also toured an upper floor of the Santa Fe building to better understand the construction of a light tube, thus maximizing light for workers on the inside of the building. With a few modern modifications, the building now is enclosed, hallways are on the interior, all offices face the exterior of a building.
Finally, all participants walked across the street to the Millennium park for a group photo in front of the mirrored jelly bean, entitled Cloud Gate by British artist Anish Kapoor. It is a sculpture which was assembled on site, a steel frame with a series of mirrored panels attached to the form, then the seams were buffed out, resulting in a smooth mirror like surface.
From there, I dashed back to my room to change and head off to the Magnificent Mile. Beside the John Hancock building, the American Girl Cafe waited for me. granted, every table was taken up by at least one young girl and here doll. While I had neither a dolls not a young person to enhance the experience, I still enjoyed myself. I felt rather sorry for fathers and brother who looked glum and had obviously been dragged into this estrogen filled space. A pink and black and white decor was fun. I enjoyed seeing the many dolls. While I do not personally own one of these dolls, I do like Molly and Mia.
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