image by Flipped Out

This was the first time I visited Chicago and I loved it. We performed in front of a sculpture called Cloud Gate which was created by British artist Anish Kapoor in Millennium Park. It is affectionately called the bean by locals.



Our act made the front page of the Chicago Tribune!



I also did a whacky T.V. interview, check it out here.

Had some time to do some site seeing and the architecture tour on the river was really fun. Got to learn all about the designs of various buildings and the stories behind their construction. This is one of my favourite.



It’s official name is Marina City but it is also called the corn on the cob, I don’t see why. There are no right angles in the building and it was designed by architect Bertrand Goldberg. It’s combined residential and commercial use. The bottom section is a car park.

Another great feature this city has to offer are the public spaces. This fountain in Millennium Park is beautiful and functional.



It is called the Crown Fountain and it features two tall towers that sprinkle water down onto the crowd below. The faces, made up of LED lights, look at each other from opposing ends and the expressions changed as they watched Chicagoans cooling off below. It also has the function to spit out water like it was coming from the mouths of the faces.



I managed to visit the Field Museum and said hello to Sue, the best example of a whole T-Rex skeleton existing in the world. She looked a little on the thin side.





I have to say the tour guide was a bit rough, not like me when I give a tour at Melbourne Museum.







Ohh, is that the time! Better get to L.A. That week just flew by.



Last time I was in Los Angeles, for longer than an airport stop over, was in 1989. My experience then was not a pleasant one, seeing that I was here just before the Rodney King incident and the ensuing L.A. riots. Let’s just say the air wasn’t just thick with smog. This time around I have had a fun time and got to see a lot more of the City of Angels. Love their state flag with the bear.



I visited the Walt Disney Concert Hall that was designed by Frank Gehry and it was stunning. Apparently Mrs Disney said the design should reflect a stone church with vines growing over it. I guess Frank took some artistic licence. Actually he had to change the design after the Bilbao Guggenheim was so popular. He in fact designed this 5 years prior and it was meant to be in stone but he was happy with it in the end and when you get inside it does have a warm feel to it.







Like Madonna sings in one of her songs, everybody goes to Hollywood, so that’s what I did.



I visited the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and went on a tour.





Had a look at the hand prints in the cement out the front and here are some favourites.









That Joan, what a kidder, may this cement our friendship, she cracks me up!!!



To have your hand prints in the cement you have to have been in the movie business for at least 5 years and be famous enough to be remembered long after you die. You also have to be personally asked by the owners. Julia Roberts has been asked 3 times and has refused on all three occasions. I reckon she should reconsider if she is asked a fourth time seeing that she hasn’t done much lately.
I also visited the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are held.





And checked out the stars in the pavement. It’s funny how many foreigners spend their day walking around looking at the ground. There are so many famous peoples names all along the side walks.



Some more infamous than others. I guess they give stars on Hollywood Boulevard to just about anyone these days.



And I know we were in the Los Angeles Times but this is ridiculous. I was shocked when I came across it. Amazing how fame has a way of jumping out at you. Good thing I had my sunglasses on and wasn’t recognised by the paparazzi.



Well the next stop is Bethesda in Maryland. It will be interesting to see how we are received there. The press have been very favourable so far. That scrap book is going to get filled up with this gig. I am having a lot of fun on this tour. Got a great crew and we are being looked after really well.

Tags: Strange Fruit