God bless the weather

After the coldest January in 25 years and a frigid first week of February, we would have been crazy not to take advantage of the sudden respite today. So when we realized the temperature was approaching 60 degrees, we hopped in the car and drove downtown for an afternoon stroll in the sun.

Ironically, the Frozen Fun Fest had just started at Millenium Park, and that's where we headed.

First we stopped for lunch.


The fest actually wasn't much fun. The big attraction - an ice maze for kids - wasn't open because the warm air had made the blocks too brittle. But, in honor of Abraham Lincoln's upcoming birthday, there was a contest: How many pennies are in this ice sculpture? Mom guessed 2,000. Dad guessed 4,754. The winner will be notified on Monday.


The best sights were the river...


... and the new sculpture outside Tribune Tower, this 25-foot ode to Grant Wood's "American Gothic" titled "God Bless America" by J. Seward Johnson. It replaced the King Lear sculpture. That's Levynn, stepping on the farmer's foot.


The kids liked the moose, too.

We're expecting more mild weather early in the week. Maybe we'll find more to do out in it.