Ignite Day 1 - The Backstage Issue
“Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world."
Frank Lloyd Wright”
Ignite has landed in the Windy City.
So what happens if a seasoned technical evangelist (Nick Trogh) and a veteran audience marketer (Sigrid Sangeeta Vandenweghe) arrive in Chicago one day before the conference starts?
We were able to enter the US quite swiftly. The border control features a self-service Homeland Security kiosk, you simply scan, get a receipt an off you go. This is how you make people welcome! That is progress! Even Sigrid was able to enter the US without any questions.
Chicago is a suberb city. Nice weather too, this time of the year, so we decided to go for a walk to the much praised Navy Pier. Admitted, great view of Chicago’s unrivalled skyline, but the Navy Pier is one big strip of fast food tents and fairground attractions. Noisy kids and loud music “all in. Tip from the trippers: avoid it if you can. So we walked back and found a good Japanese hangout where Nick had tasty Takaki beef and Sigrid the hottest soup she’d ever had – unidentified flying vegs included. The rolls were simply unspeakably dramatically tasty J. Check it out if you’re looking for fresh, honest, fab.
After a typical ‘wake up at 3 AM and feel like a “worn out towel” jet lag night, we both went our own way in the AM (early) morning .
Nick strolled around the downtown area and headed for the Millennium Park. The park is located near the waterfront and a popular place for running and the typical outdoor group workouts. Apparently on Saturday it was home for the NFL 2015 Draft event, of which the remains could still be witnessed. The park features several art sculptures but the most popular attraction of the park is definitely Cloud Gate, which is also known as ‘The Bean’. It’s a giant steel sculpture in the shape of a … bean.
After some contemplating by the waterfront, it was time for more urban exploration. Some people take this to the extreme and walk down a building from the outside using ropes. Great initiative for raising money for charity, but we prefer using the elevator.
Sigrid is a Kundalini Yoga teacher and tries to follow as many classes as possible wherever she goes. So off to the Full Moon yoga class at 10 AM with live Gong meditation and a warm group of people asking how on earth a Belgian ends up downtown Chicago on a Sunday morning. Not all things need explaining. I was ‘ready for the world’ and fully energized after class.
Spotting Ignite-ees everywhere in the streets.
Excitement building up
Microsoft welcome boards everywhere.
We gathered back for a visit to the Chicago Art Institute, rated best museum in the Word by Trip Advisor. We split up, because art is best experienced alone, then shared after.
Unbelievable collection indeed. Hopper, Pollack, our Belgian Magritte and Delvaux, Miro, Dali, Liechtenstein, a huge Picasso selection, Paul Klee, Gauguin, Kandinsky, Max Ernst and so much more and that was only one part of the huge experience the museum has to offer (huge Impressionist collection, too). If you have the chance, visit, you will not regret it!
Experiencing art is a solitary thing, but it is best shared afterwards with a good glass of wine and some great veal and pasta.
Check out Acanto restaurant where we tasted the most extraordinary cheese
Yes, it can rain in the windy city. Especially after a hot day! Off to unwind in the hotel to write blogs and catch up on email, pick up the conference badge -amazed again by the smooth execution of Ignite-, a hot shower and dreams of the conference and the sparks of innovation.
Stay tuned for the real stuff tomorrow.
Your humble reporters at Ignite,
Nick & Sigrid