"By the way, there will be varied and colorful events in Downtown on the meeting day, July 14, Saturday. To provide a little convenience for friends who live in the Suburb and want to have a Downtown vacation as well as the meeting, I have ordered the party room of my building opened from 12:00 noon, so that you guys could have an interior place to have a rest in the afternoon when you feel tired.There are many parking garages to choose in this area. You may search on, like, Google Maps to get them and make a choice. The Millennium Park Garage, which is giant and thought cheaper, is around 10 minutes walking to my building. I know many are interested in shopping on North Michigan, where is 10 minutes walking distance to my home. There are other activities also you can do, here are some I select for your reference.

The day is, counting backwards, the second day of Taste of Chicago.

http://tasteofchicago2012.eventbrite.com/

The Year of the Dragon: Cirque Shanghai, in Navy Pier which is around 15minutes walking to my building.

http://chicago.eventguide.com/events/e504569.htm

Perfectly Frank: From Broadway to Hollywood, free symphony performance at 6:30 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, celebrating the music of Frank Loesser, led by returning guest conductor Kevin Stites (July 13 and 14) http://www.chicagonow.com/2012/06/grant-park-music-festival-in-chicago-2012-see-the-highlights-and-special-events-to-help-plan-your-summer/

Navy Pier Fireworks Show regularly starts at 10:15pm every Saturday and lasts 10 minutes. The best location to watch is in Navy Pier, where not only closer but accompanied with music. Out of my building, however, is not too bad. The strait distance to the fireworks boat is about 1 mile and the sight is open and you can see the whole vision.

In addition, I want to mention that the house market in downtown area is going up and many Chinese have bought or are thinking to buy a home here. So, having an estate tour is an idea not bad, too.”

( 在以上英文段落中，热心的董先生还为大家介绍了他家附近停车场和娱乐购物等去处，晚上还可以在他们住宅区的高层小广场观看海军码头的周末烟火。提醒大家听讲座前后可以在城里游览，一举两得。）

 

 

 

 

一处“空中”餐厅：看上去宾客盈门~~~~~

 

白鹤昨儿个的这身穿戴是不是有点像女民兵捏

我们就餐的餐馆到了：

店堂内的装饰颇具泰国土风，这是一幅有趣的壁画：

别致的壁挂：

店内中心的一圈座位——好像咱们中国一些农家乐餐馆的大炕耶，不过餐桌周围是空的，

客人不用盘腿而坐， 可以把双腿摆放进桌子下面的空档处 ：

我们点的部分吃食：

泰国炒米粉                                    腰果炝牛肉

我点的咖喱牛肉

美丽的芝加哥河，泊泊清波穿流过都市的钢筋水泥丛林，仿佛一袭绿绸为都市拂去每日里的鼓噪与繁重，不倦地哼唱着一首温婉的船歌：

同行的仨女友在路过的电视台门口合了张影儿：

 

继续前行——

 

（此张广角照片借自网络）
芝加哥是一座美丽的城市，各种年代、各样风格的摩天建筑林次栉比、浑然大气、各领风骚又协调共处，形成一道独特的风景线——skyline，令人百观不厌，感受常看常新。

举办活动的东家董晨空先生住所楼群中的绿地：

讲座活动开始，董先生致欢迎词：

文化村村长郭进讲话：

右二为当晚的主讲人陆致极博士：

听众十分踊跃：

 

讲座结束后，我们在公寓楼群的高台上，隔岸观看海军码头每周六例行的、五彩缤纷的放烟花节目：

散会后，住宅小区里亮彻万家灯火，灿若天上银河飘落在迷人的芝加哥——



著名的波浪造型的大酒店；                      我给同行的几位捏了张夜景合影

 

我爱不夜的芝加哥。虽然天色已晚，我们路过之处仍然霓虹璀璨、衣香鬓影，

多少佳人熙来攘往、回眸在灯火阑珊处——

 

 

http://www.aviewoncities.com/img/chicago/kveus3404s.jpg
芝加哥夜景（此张广角照片借自网络）