04/10/12

Vacationing in Chicago

There are many attractions and places to visit while vacationing in Chicago. A person can visit local museums, theaters, and famous landmarks.

There are various museums to visit that offer culture and are a great learning experience. The Art Institute of Chicago is an art museum that has one of the largest art collections in the world. It features American Gothic paintings, a collection of Monet paintings, and Roman and Egyptian sculptures.

The Museum of Science and Industry is a museum that is fun for the whole family. It offers lots of interactive exhibits such as a real coal mine to explore, a train exhibit, and also has a replica of the Wright Brothers airplane. The museum also has the U-505 which is a German submarine that was captured at the end of WW2. The Museum of Science and Industry is so large that it can take a family the entire day if not more to see everything it has. It even offers a food court with hot dogs, pizza, drinks, and dessert.

The Millennium Park is a famous landmark and park. It is a highly visited tourist spot. It features popular sculptures such as the Cloud gate. The Cloud gate is a bean shaped sculpture that is located in the center of the park. It is made of steel which reflects and distorts the city and the sky. It is an amazing site to see.

The Sears Tower in Chicago is the tallest building in the Western hemisphere. It is 110 stories high and has an observation deck located on the 103rd floor. From the top of the Sears tower a person can see as far as 50 miles and if they walk around the skydeck can see four different states.

 

Sports fans may be interested in visiting the famous Wrigley Field. It is the home of the Chicago Cubs and the stadium where Babe Ruth made his famous home run. It is one of the most famous ball parks in baseball history.

Chicago features many unique attractions that a person can not see or experience anywhere else in the world.

04/2/12

Best Places to Eat in Chicago

Like New York, Chicago is often thought of first and foremost as a place with great pizza. But that is not the only kind of good food available in this large city. Residents and tourists alike can find hundreds of restaurants with dozens of different types of cuisine to suit any palate. With so many choices it can be hard to choose where to go and what to get, especially when you are in the mood for something above and beyond the normal. Luckily organizations such as Chicago Magazine and other food reviewers have taken the time to figure out what are the best places to eat in Chicago.

For steak, the Chicago Firehouse on South Michigan Avenue is one of the most highly rated eateries. Located within an authentic firehouse that is over 100 years old and has been named an official landmark building, this steakhouse is open seven days a week. Monday through Friday they serve both lunch and dinner, while on Saturday and Sunday they offer brunch and dinner menus. Their dinner menu options change with the season, but can include dry-aged striploin burgers, 18oz USDA Prime dry-aged bone-in ribeyes, and 22oz porterhouse steaks.

Hamburgers are an American tradition and Chicago is littered with both fast food as well as more traditional hamburger joints. One of the most interesting doesn’t even sound like they would have burgers on the menu. Mindy’s Hot Chocolate on North Damen Avenue is home to not only an extensive dessert menu, but also lunch and dinner menus that include organic, locally raised or grown, handmade entree items. They are open for lunch Wednesday through Friday, dinner and dessert Tuesday through Sunday, and for brunch on Saturday and Sunday. Their hamburgers consist of house-ground Heartland beef, Widmer four-year-aged Cheddar cheese, house made pickles, organic bacon, garlic toasted sesame buns, and an optional sunny side up farm egg. And you can’t leave without trying one of their decadent desserts such as chocolate souffle tarts, baked Alaska, creme brulee, apple strudel, or bread pudding.

Of course what would a mention of Chicago’s best places to eat be without a pizzeria thrown in? Great Lake, located on West Balmural, is a tiny storefront open Wednesday through Saturday evenings only. The menu is dependent on what ingredients the chef could get a hold of that day and what he is in the mood to make, and usually only consists of about three to four pizza options. Toppings may include tomatoes, Tropea onion, Dante, mushrooms, salami, pancetta, and herbs. The wait to sit down at a table may be long, and you have to BYOB, but according to local magazines and residents, it is worth it.

03/19/12

Famous Buildings in Chicago

There are many famous buildings in Chicago. Chicago is the largest city in Illinois and 2.7 million people live in this city. If you decide to visit the “Windy City,” take a tour and explore some of the best built structures in the world.

Willis Tower (Formerly Sears Tower) – This massive structure was built in 1974. It stands 1,353 feet tall and it has 108 floors. The eighth largest building in the world cost more than $150 million dollars to build.

John Hancock Center – Visit this center and you will find over 170,000 feet of retail shopping space. At, 1,128 feet high, visitors can go up to the 100th floor. It was designed by architect Bruce Graham and it was built in 1969.

Aon Center – (Formerly Amoco Building) – This 1,136 foot modern skyscraper was built in 1973. It has 83 floors and 50 elevators. The 14th tallest building in the world was designed to rent out office space to businesses. While you are in this area, you can visit the Chicago Theater or the Millennium Park.

Montgomery Ward Company Complex – Built in 1909, the MWCC is located north of the Chicago River. It was the home of the largest mail order company in the United States. Today, it is a National Historical Landmark.

The Fisher Building – This building is named after paper magnate Lucius Fisher. The 20-story apartment and commercial store building is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places and it is a Chicago Landmark.

Prudential Building – the 41-story skyscraper was one of the tallest building in Chicago for over ten years. It was designed by Naess & Murphy in 1955 and it is 600 feet tall.

Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company – Located in Chicago’s Loop Retail Historic District, the building was used to sell retail goods and services from 1899 to 2007. This is one of the most famous buildings in the Windy City.

Clearly, Chicago is the place where the architects rule and they are in charge. They build and design the buildings that people want to see. There are many more beautiful and famous buildings to see in Chicago.

02/18/12

History of Chicago Motion Pictures

Most of us like to reminisce about the “good ol’ days.” And often the “good ol’ days” included those early movies in those early movie theaters. In those early days of cinema Chicago probably had more motion picture theaters in the country than any other city of its size. Chicago was well known for its five-cent theaters, also known as nickelodeons. Every year saw more nickelodeon theater opening here. In many ways the film industry in Chicago from the time of the first world war until the beginning of the Great Depression helped with important commercial development at the time.

Not only was Chicago a great place to watch a movie if you lived there, but it was also a great place to send for a movie and watch it elsewhere. Chicago was the place where film rentals first saw a lot of activity. This was a great service to theaters in other cities who could not always afford to show new movies all that often. Through the Chicago film rental houses theaters across the nation could now show new movies more frequently. Not surprisingly with more than 15 film rental operations Chicago had an 80% control of the entire United States market for film distribution.

During this same time period there were several film companies that were producing films in the Chicago area. Among these companies there were some that were run almost entirely by African Americans and made films that especially catered to a black audience. This was the silent film era in Chicago and elsewhere.

Even when many of the film companies were re-locating to California, Chicago was still an extremely important market for distribution of films. Besides the films and theaters there was a lot of other businesses that were related to films, business like companies that produced and distributed film posters, manufactured theater seating and companies that were in charge of the concessions sold at the theaters.

Even to this day Illinois is ranked high in dollars spent on film productions. A good portion of this money is spent in Chicago. In the 1980’s several popular films were produced in Chicago. Some of these films were Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Color of Money, The Untouchables and When Harry Met Sally.

When you think of movies, think of Chicago. When you can recall those bygone days of nickelodeons and juju bees, think of Chicago. From the early days of motion pictures to these modern times Chicago continues to play an important part in the role of the motion picture industry.

01/13/12

Souvenirs to Buy in Chicago

When planning a vacation, Chicago is a great place to add to the top of your list. As you can imagine, there is much to do in the third largest city in the United States. Whether you are planning to spend a family day at the beach or spend a night on the town taking in the famous nightlife and eating at some of the most popular restaurants in the country, the Windy City is one place everyone should visit in their lifetime.

Of course, you can’t visit Chicago without bringing back a few souvenirs. Whether you want a few fun items to help you remember your trip or you want to take something back to family members and friends who were not lucky enough to tag along, here is a look at some great souvenirs to buy in Chicago.

For the sports fan, Chicago is loaded with souvenirs that represent the city’s popular sports teams. For baseball buffs, a Chicago White Sox t-shirt or a Chicago Cubs cap is a great idea. If football is your preference, you might want to pick up a Chicago Bears jersey. Of course, basketball fans know the Chicago Bulls as one of the most popular teams in the nation, so Bulls souvenirs are plentiful.

Chicago also offers a number of traditional souvenirs for travelers. The city is home to numerous vendors and gift shops that carry items such as t-shirts, snowglobes, keychains, picture frames, hats, mugs and much more.

Because Chicago is such a beautiful city, pictures and postcards are another great idea. There are so many historic and popular landmarks throughout the area. Don’t forget to pick up a poster with some beautiful Chicago architecture. From beautiful Wrigley Field to the old Willis Tower (previously the Sears Tower), there is no shortage of sights to capture. Don’t forget to get a picture of the city lights at night or the natural beauty of Lake Michigan.

01/4/12

Things to do When Moving to Chicago

Chicago is a city that is filled with fun activities, attractions, and events than can not be experienced anywhere else in the world. Chicago is a popular tourist destination, and it seems as if there are an endless amount of things to be done there. There are many things to do when moving to Chicago, such as ice-skating at the Millennium Park. Millennium Park is a very popular attraction in Chicago as it is open only certain times during the year, and ice-skating is an experience you can share with your friends and loved ones. The park features an affordable price on rentals for skates, and attracts over a hundred thousand skaters every year. Millennium Park also features some of Chicago’s most intricate and unique architecture, and has often been the desired location for many other popular events that take place in Chicago. Millennium Park is located in the center of the city of Chicago, and there have been many artistic displays. During the night time the city’s lights reflect off of the ground and windows of the uniquely crafted buildings, and creates a natural light show for anyone to enjoy.

There are many other things you can do in the city of Chicago, such as visiting landmarks. Chicago is home to some of the United States most popular attractions. One very popular attractions among the citizens of Chicago and tourists is the Chicago Skydeck. This was previously known as the Sears Tower Skydeck, if you visit here you are allowed to go roughly 1,300 feet above street level and enjoy a view of over 50 miles, spanning over four different states! Another popular thing to do in Chicago is visit the Navy Pier. The Navy Pier has over 50 acres of different types of promenades and attractions, including an old fashion themed carnival. The carnival features tons of flashing lights, games, prizes, and of course a Ferris Wheel. The Navy Pier also offers museums, theaters, boat cruises, as well as various tours. Here you can learn about some of the history of Chicago in some of the museums, and you can take a boat tour around the Chicago coast line to see some of the scenery and architecture that the city has to offer. As you can see there are many things you can do in Chicago, all of which can be a once in a lifetime experience.

12/8/11

Art Museums in Chicago

One of the art museums in Chicago is their Museum of Contemporary Art. It’s a very nice place even the structure of the building itself is artful. There are colorful steps leading up to the entrance and several exhibitions for your view. Their hours are posted on the website. To take a tour it costs $12 admission or $7 if you are a student or senior citizen. There are several different memberships you can buy for one year. You can also follow them on most online social networks.

Then there’s the Art Institute of Chicago. Which seems to be their art center. No book bags or cameras or food or flowers allowed in. $18/visit they have they have dance and orchestral performances. It looks like a fun place to go and get creative.

The Smart Museum of Art was named after the famous publishers David and Alfred Smart and officially open in 1974. This place is very nice. There are free conferences, writing and art making workshops, tours, concerts and more. There are also family and children’s programs. You can check out their online calender and see what hey have going on. They have something called pathfinder on their website. This is basically a map of which art is in which rooms.

The arts club of Chicago seems cool. They have an online collection you can look at, a calendar an a list of exhibitions. They also have a dining room and you can book events tours and programs. They have different beautiful rooms and you can invite anywhere from five to three hundred guests. Open Monday through Friday nine AM to five PM.

There is a lady artist, Marta Sytniewski, who lives in Chicago who I found very interesting. She explains her inspiration and her art process on her website. She thinks of a topic which is relevant to current sociology and psychology and reads all about it. Then she sketches it out in order to attempt to communicate what she has learned into a picture on the canvas. Her art is very detailed and creative. I especially like her “Forgiveness in lack of Repent”. She does exhibitions around the Chicago area. All in all Chicago is a great place for the arts. There is so much to learn and so many opportunities to grow.