We just got back from a quick trip to Chicago, prompted by the world premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry.
The exhibition is crammed full of props and costumes from the first six movies (yes, there are even a few from he-who-has-not-been-released). The Museum of Science and Industry got the bid to premiere it because it was one of the few museums willing to build an entire wing to house all those goodies (actually in a ginormous tent attached to the main museum, but once inside you would never know it), and they really did a fantastic job recreating the feel of Hogwarts, including a Hagrid's hut you can actually go inside.
For someone who thinks she knows how to sew, it was quite humbling to see how much exquisite craftsmanship went into everything, even costumes that appear onscreen for only a few minutes at best. My absolute favorite was Professor Sprout's cape, with dyed and rouched velvet made to look like leaves, and her dragon skin gloves crafted from...um...dragon skin? (Darn it all--they wouldn't let us touch anything!)
Oh, and the Buckminster Fuller exhibit at the MCA? Couldn't compete with with HP, but very cool. Live taping of NPR's Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me in Millennium Park? Hilarious, and Carl Kasell is the coolest 75 year old I know. Dinner at Frontera Grill? Yup, still one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at.
Whew! We crammed about a zillion other things into two and a half days, so the kids are sleeping in. But I can't stop thinking about Professor Sprout's cape, and my fingers are itching to sew...