Places I Want To Visit II
A follow-up to a previous post.
The next time I'm in New York, this will be at the top of my "to do" list. And unlike my previous foray to the top of a tall building, which was so enjoyable precisely because I had the whole place to myself, I think this one would be depressing if I couldn't share it with someone. Being up there all alone would be a bit of a downer.
When I was growing up in the American midwest, I spent a lot of time visiting Chicago, which was only a few hours' drive from my home. It has long been one of my favorite cities. Unlike New York, whose sheer size and in-your-face muscularity generally made me feel insignificant, I always felt totally at home walking down Michigan Avenue, spending an afternoon with a few of my favorites at the Art Institute, or just strolling along the shore of the lake.
Toward the end of high school, I used to daydream a lot, mostly about leaving home and going off into the world and all the ways my life was about to change. I also had my first semi-serious girlfriend around that time, and I would occasionally catch myself thinking about romance and dating and other exceedingly mushy stuff I'm not going to discuss any further here for fear of inducing projectile vomiting or epileptic seizures in my beloved readership. Anyway, at some point I hatched this idea in my head about what one version of my dream romantic evening would look like.
If I'd had enough strings to pull, I would havebribed arranged my plan with the management of the observation deck atop the John Hancock Center. (Compared to the Skydeck of its more famous neighbor, the Sears Tower, it is open later and its floor-to-ceiling windows afford a better view.) I'd park a table for two in the southeast corner—which has the best view of the city—plus a couple of candles, dinner, and maybe a bottle of wine (OK, so that last detail got added to the plan after high school). I'd make sure my date and I had the place to ourselves for the night once the observatory closed. If you've ever looked out over the city from up there, you know how breathtaking it is. If not, well... do yourself a favor and check it out if you happen to be in Chicago and have a free evening. (And if all of this is starting to sound like the climactic* scene in Sleepless In Seattle, well, I suppose it's fair to say there is a vague resemblance. But I had hatched this idea years before that movie came out. So there.)
Anyway, none of that is obviously going to happen in this lifetime, and the chances of my date and me having the observation deck all to ourselves are zilch in either place. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.
* Not to be confused with the climactic scene that other Meg Ryan movie. Same actress, different climax.
The next time I'm in New York, this will be at the top of my "to do" list. And unlike my previous foray to the top of a tall building, which was so enjoyable precisely because I had the whole place to myself, I think this one would be depressing if I couldn't share it with someone. Being up there all alone would be a bit of a downer.
When I was growing up in the American midwest, I spent a lot of time visiting Chicago, which was only a few hours' drive from my home. It has long been one of my favorite cities. Unlike New York, whose sheer size and in-your-face muscularity generally made me feel insignificant, I always felt totally at home walking down Michigan Avenue, spending an afternoon with a few of my favorites at the Art Institute, or just strolling along the shore of the lake.
Toward the end of high school, I used to daydream a lot, mostly about leaving home and going off into the world and all the ways my life was about to change. I also had my first semi-serious girlfriend around that time, and I would occasionally catch myself thinking about romance and dating and other exceedingly mushy stuff I'm not going to discuss any further here for fear of inducing projectile vomiting or epileptic seizures in my beloved readership. Anyway, at some point I hatched this idea in my head about what one version of my dream romantic evening would look like.
If I'd had enough strings to pull, I would have
Anyway, none of that is obviously going to happen in this lifetime, and the chances of my date and me having the observation deck all to ourselves are zilch in either place. But it seemed like a good idea at the time.
* Not to be confused with the climactic scene that other Meg Ryan movie. Same actress, different climax.
posted by Biff at 08:49
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