AAAS: A pyrotechnic display

I was in my hotel room at 6:30 this evening, going over my notes from an interview a half hour earlier, when I heard a racket outside. I went to the window and stood transfixed. A steady stream of fireworks was shooting up from the banks of the Chicago River, just beneath my window.

Loving this part of scenic downtown, I had asked for a river view when I checked in. And I got a gorgeous vista — initially of the riveting ice-clogged river below. Straight ahead, the Tribune Tower. On the left, the famed Wrigley Building. Between the two architectural landmarks, a steady stream of lights from traffic crossing the river on the Michigan Ave. bridge.

As blue, green, and curly white fireworks flashed in front of me, I reached for my camera and caught shots of a mist of glowing golden snowflakes. And more of those blinding white splashed of light, each followed a half-second later by explosive canon sounds.

So what was going on? My first thought: Maybe they’re celebrating the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting, headquartered in this hotel.

Then I caught a glimpse of the bouquet of fringed tulips, snapdragons, lilies, and other spring flowers on the table sitting next to the window. Oh yeah . . . today’s my anniversary. So they must be celebrating St. Valentine out there. At just about that point, the pyrotechnics turned red, shot especially high into the sky, and formed the outline of a heart.

Yep. It was for Valentine’s Day. And I, for one, loved every minute of the glorious show.