The Purdue North Central Women's Association will take its fall bus trip to Chicago on Saturday, Nov.13 to enjoy the city's world-class sculptures, its legendary architecture and meet two sculptors who will share their insights with the group. There will be time for lunch and shopping, too. 
Cost for transportation and a full day of activities is $75 for PNCWA members and $80 for non PNCWA members. The bus will return to campus at about 6 p.m.
Participants will start the day at 7 a.m. with a continental breakfast on the PNC campus in the Schwarz Hall Vending Room. The group will leave for Chicago at 8 a.m. and travel via luxury motor coach. The first stop will be at Trader Joe's.
After that, it's on to the penthouse Cliff-Dwellers Club, located 22 stories above Millennium Park. This private club has for many decades been the casual meeting place and dining club for architects, artists and writers. On display are interesting "artifacts" of the work of such luminaries as Louis Sullivan. Sculptors Christine Rojek and Carol Hammerman, founders of SculpTours and curators of the club's current exhibit, will greet the group, answer questions about the club, point out sights of interest from its deck and guide their guests group through the exhibit.
The group members will take a break for a three-course chicken piccata lunch at the Cliff Dwellers Club Dessert will be the 100-year-old recipe of an assortment of the club's signature "Burnham fruit pie" à la mode.
They will also present the customized visual program, "Chicago Sculpture: From Site to Environment" a brief overview of Chicago history including the formation of the lakefront from the fire rubble and how the parks and features developed through the years.
With selected images from the Chicago collection of public sculpture they'll discuss process, collaborations and the idea of blurring the boundaries between sculpture and architecture.
Next, Rojek and Hammerman have organized a private tour of Vector Custom Fabricating by its sculptor-owner Barry Hehemann. Guests will see how a piece of sculpture goes from conception to completion.
There will be time for 90 minutes of shopping at Water Tower Place or area shops and boutiques.
Seating is limited. To make a reservation, send a check payable to "PNCWA" to Liz Bernel, Purdue North Central, Schwarz Room 154, 1401 U.S. Highway 421, Westville, Ind., 46391-9542. Men and young adults are welcome. To join PNCWA, please include payment for $15 for the year. That amount is tax deductible. Further information may be obtained by contacting Bernel at 219.785.5200 ext. 5719 Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Bernel.
PNCWA membership is open to all women in the local communities for a $15 annual membership fee. PNCWA offers a variety of social and educational activities, educational and social programming and interest groups that offer members unique opportunities for friendship, sharing and learning. Further information about PNCWA may be obtained by visiting www.pnc.edu/pncwa.