Lunch with a View

Today Im having lunch alone at the Signature Room on the 95th floor of the John Hancock Center. Im seated at a table for two near the window wall on the north side of the building, with a view that goes on and on. Its slightly hazy, but I can see the lake, the ant-sized cars moving along Lake Shore Drive, the Chicago River, Lincoln Park, and probably my own condo building on Wells Street. The latter will take some searching, though-the building is only eight stories tall, so its hard to identify beyond the high-rises.

I can see the Chicago Historical Society, the Moody Church, Pipers Alley, and to the south, the Dominicks store on Division Street where I often shop. As I look north again, yes, theres my building, with Stanley Pauls penthouse terrace at the top. I can even see my own small, south-facing balcony three floors below. That makes sense: I can see the upper floors of the Hancock Center from my balcony.

Looking back into the Signature Room, I appreciate the pristine white tablecloths and the small purple flowers(real flowers) in small vases on the tables. The recorded music is soothing and unobtrusive. A colorful mural lines the top of the interior walls, depicting waves and swimmers and classic cars and airplanes and nightclub scenes with musicians and dancers. There are other scenes I cant see from my table. This mural seems to create a cheerful atmosphere. It also provides a pleasant preview of summer in Chicago.

This side of the Signature Room is not crowded at this unfashionably early hour. Perhaps there are more diners seated at the larger tables on the south side of the room, where Ive eaten several times, but anyway, I prefer to eat undisturbed by crowds of noisy diners. I imagine the room will be more crowded by the time I leave.

The house Chardonnay and the poached salmon salad are delicious! Soon my waiter, Pat, will bring me my white and dark chocolate mousse cake, something I shouldnt eat, but have enjoyed here before, plus a cup of coffee. After all, I need to stay awake through a 2:00 p.m. performance of Rigoletto at the opera house.

The Signature Room is one of my favorite places in Chicago. This is my first time alone, but Ive dined here with my husband and with friends at various times. One of my favorite memories is Thanksgiving dinner here with my husband some years ago. It was very expensive, or so we thought at the time, but we enjoyed the massive buffet and a small turkey just for the two of us. My husband was delighted to be allowed to take the remains of the turkey home to make turkey sandwiches and turkey soup. Cooking Thanksgiving dinner had been one of his joys in the past, but wed run out of guests, who had fled to the suburbs to raise families. We had no family. Now that Jules is gone, I often spend Thanksgiving Day at home alone, dining on a frozen turkey dinner, but its pleasant to remember those earlier dinners, both at home and here.

My eyes and my thoughts turn back to the view. Ive never had this vantage point before. Now I can recognize Clark Street and Clybourn Avenue and Lincoln Avenue, all angling toward the northwest. Even in winter, with a dusting of snow and no greenery, Chicago is a beautiful place. Although the sun is partially obscured by clouds, there is enough blue sky visible to add to the beauty of the scene. If I were on the west side of the building, I would be able to see the nearby construction site of The Clare, the senior lifetime care high-rise where I expect to live in two or three years.

To me, the Signature Room is a wonderful place to dine and enjoy Chicago and write in my journal, even when I am, by necessity, alone.








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