Actually, NOT a bean, this is called the CLOUD GATE-by British artist Anish Kapoor.

It's size and beauty says it all, with its interaction bending and warping the space and light surrounding you. I could spend hours encircling this piece, in which 80 percent of its surface reflects the sky. When walking through, you become a Where's Waldo in which location can fold within the reflection.

The Pavilion, designed by Frank Gehry, will equally leave you breathless. I'm not one for modern design, but futurism always makes me look twice and give appreciation to space and form.

Amongst other food related findings in Chicago, (these actually being edible), are all the amazing places there are to eat in this wonderful city=) First up, AVEC, which-yes-I would fly back to Chicago just to eat here.....and yes-the 1.5 hour wait was well worth it! Very clean and minimal wood decor, the scene was younger, hip, and trendy. Here's what we ate...

chorizo-stuffed medjool dates with bacon and piquillo pepper-tomato sauce

chicken liver crostini with fall fruit mostarda, parsley, mint and red onion

butcher’s steak with squash romesco, raddichio,saba and pepitas

slow roasted pork shoulder with vadouvan curried lentils, roasted brussels sprouts, apricots and apples

wood oven paella with confit chicken,snail boudin, clams and tangerine aioli

parmesan pound cake with roasted apples and candied pine nuts

Next up, was North Pond for brunch, located in Lincoln Park. A more classier side to Chicago, with highly prepped plates of beautiful presentation. I had the following...

Duck, Arugula: Cinnamon-Braised Duck, Warm Pita, Red Beets, Herbed Yogurt, Baby Arugula, Mint, Green Olive, Pignolis

Beef, Broccoli: Charred Flatiron Steak, Baby Parsnips, Broccoli-Pomegranate “Salad”, Gingerbread-Stout Cake, Beef Jus

Apple, Cranberry : Caramel Apple Tart, Rosemary-Pumpkin Seed Streusel, Cranberry Sorbet, Toasted Marshmallow

(also pictured)

Pear, Gingerbread: Brown-Butter Sage Financier, Roasted Pear Mousse, Cinnamon, Gingerbread Ice Cream, Sauteed Pears