Chicago’s iconic ‘Bean’ sculpture reopens to tourists after nearly a year of construction

CHICAGO (AP) — One of Chicago’s most popular tourist attractions known as “The Bean” has reopened to the public after nearly a year of construction. City officials say the work included new stairs, accessible ramps, a waterproofing system and a total rebuild of the podium around the sculpture.  The bean-shaped sculpture by artist Anish Kapoor is formally known as “Cloud Gate” and weighs 110 tons (99.8 metric tons). It’s a busy tourist hub near Michigan Avenue, particularly for photos and selfies with its reflective surface inspired by liquid mercury. Different sections of the sculpture feature views of city skyscrapers.