One lost but two gained

no shuttle but we got a simulator and some jellies

04/17/2011 1:24 PM

By Bonnie McGrath

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(Photo by Bonnie McGrath)

I was pretty bummed about the Adler Planetarium losing the space shuttle last week. And when a Channel 9 reporter cornered me the morning after--to ask me whether I thought Chicago was living up to it's "Second City" moniker--just as I was leaving Starbucks, definitely not looking my best, ready to meet gardeners at my house for a massive Spring clean-up in my yard before 8 AM, I barely knew what I was saying. "I'm profoundly disappointed," I do remember telling reporter Nancy Loo. One of my former legal journalism graduate students from Columbia saw me on the TV--and wrote me immediately on Facebook. To put my mind at ease about how I looked, she said she knew it was me because of my voice!


In any case, instead of a shuttle, we are getting a three-story flight simulator that was used for training astronauts in Houston. Apparently, it's a great substitute; you can enter a replicated cabin, launch, orbit, dock and return to earth--all through window (and other) simulation Who can ask for anything more? And it will be here by year's end. And will probably require a new structure to hold it.

Speaking of which, I was also a little perturbed with the very cold temperatures, the miserable wind and snow-shower drizzle and the cloudy sky last night. Because I had been looking forward to a three-hour Saturn watching party at the Adler, beginning at 7:30 PM. Needless to say, the night was not right for such an endeavor.

However, when I woke up this morning, I did find the day somewhat perfect for a run over to Shedd Aquarium for an early morning viewing of their newest exhibit: a full panoply of jellies--formerly known as jelly fish--or as I always called them, men of war. (Albeit not a true jellie, but who would know?) The exhibit is just wonderful; it has tons of easy to understand information about these creatures, which are made up of 95 percent water and which are lacking in bones, blood and brains. (They do have a nerve-net, though.). They sting, they eat, they reproduce and they burgeon. And all of this is explained while viewing tank after tank of lovely and swirling, mesmerizing, lilting jellies of all sizes and patterns. Do see the jellies--and have some coffee overlooking the harbor, the skyline or the lake as far as the horizon and you will be happy in the South Loop.

Trust me, you'll love it. And everything else at the Shedd, as well.


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