Some things to do when visiting Chicago....

Boilerpro

Figured some of you Wetstock II---Chicago attendees may want to look around a bit while there. Been ten years since I lived there, but here are some ideas.

Since Chicago is one of the major architectural centers of the world, there is alot to see in this category. The city was laid out by Mr. Burnham (not boilers!) with continuous green boulevards connecting large parks throughout the city. Grant Park, on the lakefront, built over landfill from the Chicago fire is a great place for walks against the back drop of downtown and watching boats etc. Concerts are often planned in the bandshell, even though March is a little early, I believe, for them to be scheduled. Downtown is full of buildings by some of the world's greatest architectural firms, including Adler and Sullivan (Frank Lloyd Wright's mentors), Burnham and Root, and Mies Van der Rohe. Of special interest is the Auditorium Theatre on Michigan Avenue, a 4,500 seat theatre built around 1890, that was fully air conditioned, had the largest electric plant in the country at the time, a stage nearly the size of half a football field operated with water powered hydraulics. It is considered one of the top seven theatres in the world accoustically because a whisper on the stage can be heard throughout the theatre without amplication equipment... Tis the place to take in a good show. Throughout the rest of the city there is also significant architecture. Oak Park contains Frank Lloyd Wright's home and studio and many, many homes he designed for the wealthy. Beverly Hills, on the south side, also has some of his homes, as well as the largest concentration of Prarie School architecture with a group of homes for working families designed by Walter Burley Griffin.

There is also the great assortment of Museums, Including the Field Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Science and Industry. There are many, many smaller museums located throughout the city, many are related to teh various ethnic groups in thier areas.

Art is also represented at the world reknown Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Modern Art, and the gallery district on the near north side (mainly west of Michigan avenue and north of downtown).

Sports fans have got Soldier's Field on the Lakefront(Bears), Ivy covered Wrigley field on the north side (Cubs), New Comisky park on the south (35th st and I94 ...Dan Ryan Expressway), and the Bulls/ Blackhawks/Sting at the new stadium (not sure where this is at).

Nature lovers have the Morton Arboretum, Garfield Park Conservatory, Lincoln Park Zoo, Broodfield Zoo, and may other attractions.

Of heating interest, Bell and Gossett is headquartered in Morton Grove, a suburb near O'Hare.

Hope this provides some ideas. If some of you current Chicago inhabitants have more up to date and expanded info,
it would be great if you added it here.

Looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Boilerpro

DanHolohan

And

the Zoo and the top of the John Hancock building at dusk. And the blues.

Anonymous

Tuesdays free museums and zoos

Chicago supports culture for all and the zoos and museums have free admission on Tuesdays.

Craig_2

Allow some time for travel

You guys will be pretty far north-west of most of the attractions mentioned. Most of the stuff (Art Institute, Hancock, Water Tower, Sear's Tower, Field Musean, Museum of Science and Industry) is downtown which will be anywhere from 30-45 minutes away. Brookfield Zoo is south of where you'll be proabbly a good 30 minutes but easy to find. They have some spectactular winter season activities.

If you're headed downtown, you should consider taking the light rail which will have a stop nearby. In Chi-town, the light rail system is called the "El" which is short for "Elevated". The tracks are all elevated downtown, hence the name. It's the El that defines the famous Chicago Loop area. About this time of year, it's customary to stand at the El station and sing Noel (No-El) as you wait for the next train. :-)

-cf

Boilerpro

Hee Hee Hee...Ha Ha Ha....

Especially when the trains breakdown!



Boilerpro

Boilerpro

Oh, and don't forget China town ...

> You guys will be pretty far north-west of most of

> the attractions mentioned. Most of the stuff

> (Art Institute, Hancock, Water Tower, Sear's

> Tower, Field Musean, Museum of Science and

> Industry) is downtown which will be anywhere from

> 30-45 minutes away. Brookfield Zoo is south of

> where you'll be proabbly a good 30 minutes but

> easy to find. They have some spectactular winter

> season activities.

>

> If you're headed downtown,

> you should consider taking the light rail which

> will have a stop nearby. In Chi-town, the light

> rail system is called the "El" which is short for

> "Elevated". The tracks are all elevated

> downtown, hence the name. It's the El that

> defines the famous Chicago Loop area. About this

> time of year, it's customary to stand at the El

> station and sing Noel (No-El) as you wait for the

> next train. :-)

>

> -cf

Boilerpro

Oh, and don't forget China town ...

First El stop south of downtown, I believe.

Boilerpro

[Deleted User]

i grew up there

for the best hot dogs on earth, NICKY'S at the corner of archer & austin avenues...still there, and i still go there when in town. they still got the line out the door too. darn, i'm hungry now...isn't a good hot dog joint around in cleveland...why am i here...oh yah, the plumbing.

Boilerpro

A little Known fact about hotdogs in Chicago...

I heard, read? that Chicago consumes 40% of our nations hot peppers.....They go on those Chicago redhots. MMM....MMM!


Boilerpro

bb

the blues

Kingston Mines (world famous) in Lincoln Park, Buddy Guy's Legends, just south of the loop, and of course, The House of Blues.

Don't forget the restaurants, there are so many that are so good the list would too long.

Dale

Medici exibit

Now at the art institute, no extra charge. This family was richer than Holohan and employed guys like Michangelo and Cellini and Da Vinchi, whose stuff is shown.believed art made for political power, sort of an old political commercial.

jeff_25

you can come north to milwaukee and vist the breweries