One day after the announcement that Navy Pier is closing indefinitely, I’m completing my Navy Pier jigsaw puzzle from Dowdle.
Chicago Navy Pier
Manufacturer: Dowdle
Pieces: 500
I appreciate Dowdle’s commitment to portraying significant Americana in puzzle form. Christina and I assembled one previously depicting Plymouth, Massachusetts. I also had to grab one I saw at a game store depicting Lake Estes in Colorado, featuring the Stanley Hotel, which Christina and I spent some time exploring a few months ago.
When I saw two Chicago-themed Dowdle puzzles at the local Salvation Army, I had to snag them and cross my fingers they had all the pieces. So far, so good!
I appreciate how the puzzle seems to authentically capture details of the place, not just the landmark itself but some of the finer details, like framing the image to contain both the Sears Tower to the south and the John Hancock Building to the north. I also appreciate the inclusion of that cruise ship in the foreground- it’s a favorite for corporate events for Chicago-area businesses, and I’ve completed many 2-3 hour journeys on that vessel (I’m pretty sure every employer I’ve ever worked for has had an outing on it at least once).
On the downside, this copy of the puzzle seemed to be a little defective, with the die missing its mark by a little bit. I’ve got a black border on the bottom that’s not supposed to be there, and the bottom row of pieces is exceptionally narrow, while the top row is quite elongated. The top row works fine, but the bottom row is flimsy as a result and I was regularly concerned a few of the borders held together by a thread of cardboard were going to tear or fall off.
Thankfully it held together and I’ve got a nice image adorning my living room table. I’m happy to have two more Dowdle puzzles in my backlog- at 500 pieces they’re quick and easy solves for a relaxing day or two of puzzling.
Piece total since 3/20/2020: 17545
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