For a week I am living in a one bedroom in the west tower of Marina City pictured here. My first stay in this building was about 50 years ago also at Christmas time in the apartment of my aunt and uncle who were among the first tenants in this very unique contemporary mixed use complex. Located on the Chicago River the views are fabulous. Today I made the most of my location, the apartment of my son in laws parents, and an unusually bright sunny and not too cold day. I walked up Michigan Avenue to 4th Presbyterian Church, a magnificent Gothic building surrounded by modern high rises. Les was inducted as a Fellow in the American Institute of Architects at a service held here in 1993. Today I enjoyed the Sunday church service with beautiful Christmas music complete with brass and organ and including the Gloria cantata written by John Rutter in 1974. That contemporary piece was beautiful and a contrast to Handel's Messiah I attended in the afternoon It was the most outstanding performance of that piece that I can remember hearing. I had chills during the final Amen. The Harris Theatre was also very impressive mostly underground structure part of Millinium Park. 2 music performance for my soul and a dinner picked up at the Kris Kringle market--bratwurst and sauerkraut and apple strudel eaten here in my room with a view complete a very special day.
