We ate lunch at Xoco on Saturday -- this sandwich, the Cubano, was the best thing I've eaten. OH MY. The first time Marnie had one, she dreamed about it the following night and had to go get another one. I had it with a Bitter Woman IPA, and it was delightfully magnificently amazingly wonderful.

When I'd occasionally lift my eyes off my sandwich, this is what I saw. So adorable, Marnie and Tom.

Chicago has *great* architecture. And the Trump Building.

Tom's favorite building, the Tribune Building. Magnificently magnificent, but the reason he likes it is seen in the next picture...

Embedded in the building are hundreds of pieces of stone from sites around the world -- Notre Dame here -- including Ta Prohm in Cambodia, the Wailing Wall in Israel, and even a moon rock. O THE ARROGANCE! We will take what we want, because we are so important!

Such great Deco design in the architecture too -- here, the Carbide and Carbon building.

The Chicago Cultural Center, which used to be the main library until they outgrew it and built a new one. This was the most awe-inspiring place, because it is entirely magnificent and built for the public. Marble and mosaics, just for people. The inside (you'll see) reminded me of the Hagia Sophia; Tom said it's a cathedral to learning.

it contains the world's largest Tiffany dome

That's Tom, to give you a sense of the scale

Lots of mosaic quotes by authors, about the importance of books and libraries. Here, Hugo. I love that guy.

mosaics that glittered

and gorgeous inlay everywhere

And Gehry out the window. SO CHICAGO.

Here's the new main library. Not as magnificent, until you look at the top.

That is a brilliant owl clutching an opened book in its talons.

This building isn't magnificent, but it's a good example of Oooops! in architecture. See how it looks like a slide? You know winters in Chicago? Yeah. Snow and ice come shooting down the side of the building and endanger people. Sheesh.

Of course Chicago is also known for its public sculptures, like this Calder.

And this Picasso

which Marnie and Tom slid down. They're so adorable.

The face of a happy mama (wearing a great little cardigan!)

This great piece was in the small museum at the Chicago Cultural Center. I just loved it.