Weekend Coffee Share is a time for us to take a break out of our lives and enjoy some timely catching up with friends (old and new)!
To participate, just create a post and link it to Natalie the Explorer’s post.
If we were having coffee, I’d tell you about the amazing tour I took yesterday of Chicago’s Auditorium Theater. Built in 1889, it was designed to be a people’s theater and hosted operas, plays, ballets, indoor baseball games (yes, that was a thing in at the turn of the century), political conventions, lectures, and in time rock concerts. The guide was amazing. He has attended over 1,500 performances at the Auditorium and when he was 10 he read about the restoration of the Auditorium and donated $20 of his savings to it. Now he’s retired and works at the theater. More on that soon.
This was the first time I’d gone downtown since March 2020. It was rather deserted. There were some boarded up buildings and on Jewelry Row, the shops no longer display their wares.
I’d tell you that I won a $50 restaurant from my village. They’re sponsoring a weekly drawing. If you go to a restaurant and spend $25 or more, you get entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate. Whoopie! I won.
I didn’t have to tutor this Sunday so I went to church in the city at St. Stanislaus Kostka. I’d visited at Christmastime and was blown away with its majestic beauty.
Also my walking pal and I took advantage of the spring conditions and returned to walking around the lake park near us.
I started reading Longshoreman Philosopher Eric Hoffer’s True Believer. Wow! Known as the offers a potent framework for looking at history and current events.
Wednesday I attended an online book discussion of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. I read the play and watched the 2010 film. I’m not much of a Zoom fan for these events. The moderator didn’t notice many people’s raised hands and he talks so much about himself. I’m taking a breather for next month, though I’ll read the book.
All in all, it’s been a good week.
smkelly8
No Fixed Plans 
My hubby and youngest daughter visited Chicago quite a few years ago for a soccer tournament. I’ve never been, unless you count the airport..lol.Visiting from Weeekend Coffee Share
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe I’ll convince you to visit again and see some sights. The time to come, if we get back to normal, is in October when Open House Chicago is held.
LikeLike
I truly loved reading your tale about the auditorium. I can imagine the tour was great indeed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You could tell the guide loved, really loved this theater that went through ups and downs in his lifetime and before.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love visiting old theatres… they’re so beautiful. the newer ones are…let’s face it… ugly and utilitarian. In the old days, theatres were about more than just what happened on the stage. It was about the whole experience. It is a sad loss for our society, I do believe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wholeheartedly agree. Even factories were more attractive in the 19th century and early 20th. Not safer, but prettier. Then there’s the big box store vs. the grand old department stores. Beauty is important.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, it is. I remember when a trip to Woolworths was a grand day excursion complete with lunch, afternoon tea, and even a hair salon. I was only a little girl at the time when Granny would take me… But they always made you feel like royalty. Now, it’s all about greed and cheap.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those were the days. I’m glad I was a child when I was. I would probably been happy in earlier times too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve had many ask me if I thought that maybe I had lived in colonial times as I seem so much at ease when doing living history. No, I say, I just love living the simple life is all. I didn’t grow up with electric or running water (unless the creek is considered running water. LOL!) So living without them is almost natural for me. Winter is about the only time I really use electric, and that’s because I hate to be cold.
LikeLike
Glad you had a good week. And lucky you to win something. Take care.
LikeLike
Hi SMK, I don’t think I’ve ever seen the altar of St. Stanislaus Kostka. That is amazing! Thanks for sharing.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They graciously allowed me to go up on to the altar as long as I was reverent.
LikeLike