STARTING THEM YOUNGI had not really thought about it but apparently Frank Lloyd Wright’s mother was of Welsh origin and throughout the house there were small elements that paid homage to his heritage. A quote above the fireplace as you entered the house was one…Read More

STARTING THEM YOUNG

I had not really thought about it but apparently Frank Lloyd Wright’s mother was of Welsh origin and throughout the house there were small elements that paid homage to his heritage. A quote above the fireplace as you entered the house was one of these.
We were also told that his mother had been quite determined that he would be an architect and so encouraged him to play with construction toys and build things. I think she was also lucky because my children were also encouraged to play with Lego and constriction toys but my influence in this didn’t create two budding architects! I obviously was not determined enough in my encouragement!

THE MAN HIMSELF
I didn’t know anything about him prior to our visit and I learned a lot visiting the various sites we did but I also learned even more by watching the excellent TV series about the man which aired late last year (2012)

He actually was not a very nice person. He borrowed the money from his boss to build the house here and it was on the condition that he didn’t design anything other than within their company. FLW ignored this and designed quite a few houses in Oak Park and they were pretty darned obvious as the style was unique . Needless to say the boss was not thrilled and I believe he parted company with Wright.

He wasn’t much of a father either and spent very little time with his children and they were brought up by his wife it seems. He was also a pretty poor husband having affairs and he wanted a divorce for years but his wife refused. Eventually she gave in and he married his mistress of many years and built the house of his dreams called ‘Falling Water’ but that is another story.

THE PRAIRIE STYLE
I have already reviewed the house his designed in Springfield known as the Dana Thomas house in this Prairie style which was Wright’s style his was most famous for and this house is very similar but it is smaller as it was not created for a socialite but as a family home.

His inspiration for this style comes from the flat expansive prairie landscape which was where he grew up. He says of this landscape;
"The prairie has a beauty of its own and we should recognize and accentuate this natural beauty, its quiet level. Hence, gently sloping roofs, low proportions, quiet sky lines, suppressed heavy-set chimneys and sheltering overhangs, low terraces and out-reaching walls sequestering private gardens."

These are many of the elements he tried to create in his designs. He was the inspiration but in his studio he had a number of draftsmen following his instructions. I think what makes these so very different is that at the time many homes in America were designed as versions of houses in Europe and these were uniquely American inspired.

They combined simple lines with features that were not only functional and inspired by nature but were also quite beautiful too. From the outside the houses look a bit functional and there is not a lot to attract you but once you start looking more closely there are so many clever features. I particularly like the way he manages to capture outside light inside the houses.


This is a typical Prairie style house with an obvious low horizontal line created by low-pitched hipped roof, long bands of windows, wide overhanging eaves and brick courses or wood bands. It looks as though it would be very private and the windows look dark from the outside. There are often a series of layers all low with flat or low pitched roofs.
However once you are inside somehow the rooms give the impression of open spaces and the windows as well as the under roof windows let in plenty of natural light. The floor plans are quite open plan and the rooms radiates outward from a central fireplace.

FLW didn’t just design a house or building then let the owner buy furniture as they chose. The furnishing and fittings were all part and parcel of the creation. Many units are built in and integral to the building and others were designed for a specific space. They fit in the house and belong with designs on the chairs and tables to echo those in the room on the walls and light fittings.

All the construction materials and finishes are natural. He uses a lot of native wood and glass. The windows and room dividers are usually glass but with elements of stained glass designs which reflect the natural prairie with sumac ( looks like wheat grass) as one of his main ornamentation designs.

HIS FIRST HOME

The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio: The house was built between 1889 and 1898 and it was both his home and studio until 1909. He was only 22 when he designed and had this place built and the loan from his boss was for $5,000 a lot of money at the time I would imagine. He added the separate studio next door in 1898 and it is from this studio that his unique ‘Prairie style’ of architectures developed. Wright designed about 125 buildings in this famous style.

Wright was married and had six children who were born and raised in this house. This first wife was Catherine Tobin.

The house and studio is now restored and it is this house combined with studio within the house that visitors can visit. The house has been restored as was appeared in 1909, which was the last year that Wright lived in the Home and worked in the Studio.
This place was his "‘architectural laboratory, experimenting with design concepts that contain the seeds of his architectural philosophy". The studio was described by a fellow-architect as a workplace with "inspiration everywhere."

The house and studio were put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and then declared a National Historic Landmark four years later.

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FUNKS GROVEFunks Grove Pure Maple Sirup. We tried to find this for about half an hour and gave up so i have no idea what is there but if you do want to visit then be prepared to hunt as neither our satnav nor the…Read More

FUNKS GROVE
Funks Grove Pure Maple Sirup. We tried to find this for about half an hour and gave up so i have no idea what is there but if you do want to visit then be prepared to hunt as neither our satnav nor the instructions on our Route 66 guide took us there. The Funk's Grove Maple Sirup business was established in 1891. Sirup is correctly spelled this way to distinguish it from sugar-based syrup. This was and continues to be a major stopping point along Route 66. Anyway we failed to get to this magical place!

Funks Grove I-55 Rest Area; this we did manage to find and it was worth the stop because apart from the water fountains, drinks machines and toilets, which we made good use of, there were some unusual metal silhouette statues outside tell the story of travelling in automobiles, picnicking, and the beginnings of Route 66.
Inside the building are some historical exhibits about Abraham Lincoln and Route 66., not a lot but enough to be of passing interest as you stop for the toilets.

Mc LEAN
Dixie Truck Stop; this was an original truck stop for Route 66 since the 1930s and originally had a restaurant, cabins and even cattle pens. No problems parking here as the parking lot is huge. The Dixie was owned and operated by the Geske family from 1928-2003 and was only closed one day after a fire in1965. The truck stop has now got new owners but still serves travellers along Route 66 for 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The original Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame was here from 1990-2004, then it moved to Pontiac which we visited but there is still quite a lot of Route 66 memorabilia around the place and even a mini section specifically with Route 66 artefacts

ATLANTA
No not that one in Georgia but a small town in Illinois which seems to have a few places of interest to see. None of them is individually that exciting but it is certainly worth a slight detour to visit this town.
Atlanta Public Library was built in 1908 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is an octagonal and has a domed rotunda. A Seth Thomas clock tower beside the library has to be hand cranked every 8 days.

Just across the road in Route 66 park is a lovely mural which celebrates the fact that Atlanta is approximately 150 miles from both Chicago and St. Louis.

Palms Grill Cafe was closed when we passed through Atlanta so if you visit on a Sunday you will miss out too. The cafe is famous for its neon sign which could be switched on to tell the greyhound bus to stop there. There is another big mural across the road from here.

Bunyon's Statue Giant was the most entertaining thing we found in Atlanta as the place was deserted. This fibreglass giant was made in the 1960s apparently about 150 of these giants were made and put into service to advertise auto service. They became known as "Muffler Men." In 1965, this ex-Muffler Man was bought and the muffler (silencer to us Brits) was replaced by a hotdog and the statue was placed in front of "Bunyon's" the restaurant on Route 66 in Cicero, Illinois. For 38 years, "Bunyon's Statue" was a Route 66 landmark. In January 2003, the restaurant closed and the staue was brought to be enjoyed in Atlanta, so that it could stay on historic Route 66.

Smiley Water Tower can be seen from some way away and makes you smile as the bright yellow water tower has a smiley face painted on it .

LINCOLN
This is the only town named after Lincoln in his lifetime and you can visit the site where he christened the town with a watermelon! I was expecting something large but in fact the water melon is not a lot bigger than a real one and took some tracking down. This is called the Lincoln Christening Site and the event took place on August 27, 1853. There is a bit of an explanation panel next to the watermelon.

Logan County Courthouse is another interesting historical building from 1905 and its claim to fame apart from the fact that Lincoln worked as a lawyer here, is that it is considered the second most architecturally spectacular historic courthouse in Illinois' 102 Counties (after Carlinville in Macoupin County, another Historic Route 66 town). It houses a statue of Lincoln, murals, plus historical display cases.

The City Hall is a pretty ordinary solid looking building but what we found really strange was to see a telephone booth on the roof which was not just a practical joke which we originally thought, it was
.
Railsplitter Covered Wagon; we had to ask directions to this from someone in a charity shop which the only place we found open. This huge covered wagon being driven by an equally huge Lincoln is slightly out of town and near a hotel This has been officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the "World's Largest Covered Wagon." It has to be seen to appreciate the size of this and can be seen from some way off but apart from this there is nothing else around it so it os a case of parking the car having a walk around, taking photos and driving on.

SPRINGFIELD
This is the capital city of Illinois but is a very sleepy city. I have written a separate review of sights to see in Springfield but will mention a couple of specifically route 66 places to see. Springfield is of course the place to visit to find our out Lincoln as the museum, his home, his tomb and so much more are within this city.
Yet another of the ‘Muffler giants’ is here , the Lauterbach Giant who used to hold a tyre, but now is more patriotic with a U.S. flag. In 2006, he lost his head during a twister, but it has been repaired.

Shea’ Gas station which is a private collection of gas station and Route 66 memorabilia of a lifetime local Texaco dealer Bill Shea who proudly overseas his museum. It was closed when we visited but to me it looked a bit like a junk shop but to those into Route 66 memorabilia and old signs, petrol pumps and the like might be interested in visiting and talking to Bill himself. It cost. $2 to visit and is open Wed-Fri & until Noon on Sat.

The Cozy Dog drive in claims to be the place where the corn dog on a stick is claimed to have been invented and was called a "Cozy Dog." I am not sure that this would be something I would be proud of and when we went to see the ‘Cozy Dog’ we decided we didn’t fancy it and drove on and not in!

While on this holiday we drive two major famous roads in the area, the Great Mississippi River Road and this section of Route 66, we have driven other sections from LA on previous holidays so it was interesting to see how much had to renovated and re opened at this end. It was a fun drive and we didn’t stop at every site only those i have mentioned. If you really wanted to look at everything closely then this section could take up to a week. We visited some places on our way to Springfield from Chicago, some while we were in Chicago and then others when we drove from Springfield back towards Chicago and then across to St Joseph in Michigan.

There was no site that was unforgettable but they were many and varied and on the whole fun to see. There was a lot of social history as well as historical buildings to learn about on the way. I would certainly recommend this drive and it made our drive between Chicago to Springfield and back up very entertaining.
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We decided to drive the section of this famous road from Chicago to Springfield and then back again a few days later. This meant that the excitements we missed on the way to Springfield we tried to call in and see on the way back…Read More

We decided to drive the section of this famous road from Chicago to Springfield and then back again a few days later. This meant that the excitements we missed on the way to Springfield we tried to call in and see on the way back up towards Chicago. I will review these in geographical order from Chicago to Springfield as it will be more logical.

CHICAGO
This is the start of this famous road and it is said to begin at BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN. This rather beautiful fountain is in Grant Park in 1927 and is said to be modelled on a Versailles Palace fountain. According to information received in Chicago this is one of the largest fountains in the world. This fountain was built just one year after Route 66 opened and is considered by all to be both the nostalgic and symbolic starting point of Route 66.

The next place in Chicago that we visited is also considered to be the start of Route 66 and that is LOU MITCHELL'S RESTAURANT which was opened in 1923 and has become a real part of Route 66 legend and history. It was inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in 2002 and even today they carry on with traditions of giving all ladies a packet of milk duds and as you wait to be taken to your table you are offered fresh warm donut holes to whet your appetite. The food is good and we enjoyed a very hearty breakfast in the diner style restaurant.

Other sites in Chicago need a separate review as there are so many but these two are a very real part of Route 66 history.


WILMINGTON
AUNCHING PAD DRIVE IN and GEMINI GIANT statue
American and indeed Australians seem to like these giant strange statues and some of these roadside ‘attractions’ have been restored back to their hey day beauty when route 66 was THE only road that went from Chicago to Los Angeles.

This cafe called the Launching Pad opened in 1960 and initially at first sold only hot dogs and ice cream, but now has a full service menu. Outside this rather basic looking cafe is the rather odd looking ‘Gemini Giant’ which is made of fibreglass. He is a garage mechanic wearing a space helmet and holding a rocket. No idea what it means but we saw it and took photos.

We didn’t eat in the Launching Pad as we had just stopped at the Polka Dot diner in Braidwood on our way back from Springwood to Chicago.

BRAIDWOOD

POLKA DOT DRIVE IN is actually an old fashioned diner on N Front Street, Braidwood . Way back in 1956, Chester "Chet" Fife began serving fast food from an school bus painted in rainbow Polk-a-Dots. In 1962 he opened the present restaurant. Outside are models of 50/60s icons such as Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Betty Boop, James Dean, and the Blues Brothers . Inside There are so many wonderfully quirky photos and adverts as well as models again that you spend all the time looking around while seated on old fashioned plastic diner type seats. I ordered a coke float while my husband had a coffee. The toilets were brilliant. Indie the men’s my husband informs me are photos of Marilyn Monroe and he thought he’d gone in the wrong one. The ladies had Elvis posters with a life size one of the back of the door watching you while you perform! Outside was model of Elvis sitting playing his guitar.

It was really fun and somewhere different to stop for a bite to eat. It is open daily 11am - 8 pm, Memorial Day - Labor Day 11am - 9 pm.

Braidwood Historic Service Station is a 1939 Art Deco service station but is now a car repair shop. It wasn’t that exciting so don’t worry if you miss it

DWIGHT
The town was founded in 1854. During the heyday of Route 66, Dwight had the honour of having the first traffic light on the road after Chicago.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF DWIGHT: We wanted to find this as we were on a mission to seek out all the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings we could along our trip . This bank was indeed designed by FLW and built in 1905 however it has been re modelled since but they did use his original designs so it looks pretty much as it did and certainly has some of his signature features. This is one of only three banks designed by FLW so is pretty rare as an example of his work.

While you are admiring the bank you walked passed the old 1891 railway station and this as well as the Gas station are is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Ambler-Becker Texaco Gas Station is a little out of the centre of town but worth a quick detour as this 1933 gas station is supposed to be the longest operating gas station along Route 66. It dispensed fuel for 66 continuous years until 1999. It has been renovated and today it is a Route 66 visitor center and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.

You can see it from outside any time but the actual building does have restricted opening times if you want to go inside. We didn’t go inside as we were pushed for time.

ODELL
ODELL GAS STATION
This gas station is also on the National Register of Historic Places. This one was built in 1932 and sold gas until 1975. It was restored with the help of the Illinois Route 66 Association's Preservation Committee when Route 66 was made a historic byway and you can visit this daily from 11 am to 3 pm. It is a typical small town looking old fashioned gas station.

PONTIAC

ROUTE 66 HALL OF FAME and Museum was the main reason was called into Pontiac. It isn’t a huge museum but covers several floors. The bottom floor has lots of artefacts and mementos as well as special people’s memories , those who have been inducted into the Route66 Hall of Fame all in display cases
Upstairs has lots of amazing Route 66 photos taken by Michael Campanelli that capture much of the true spirit of Route 66. It is free but donations are welcomed Times of openeing: April - October: Monday - Friday 9 am - 5 pm, Saturday - Sun 10 am to 4 pm. November - March: Monday - Friday 11 am - 3 pm, Saturday - Sunday 10 am - 4pm

Just outside and around the museum are the shops and the old bus home belonging to an old Route 66 character. It was very cosy and full of memorabilia but I felt it was intrusive to go in even though we were told we could.

All around the town were beautiful murals most relating to Route 66 but often they were other subjects. One looked just like a shop front and we almost went towards it to go in!

Livingston County Courthouse in Pontiac is a lovely old historic building from 1875 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Beside this building is a statue of Abraham Lincoln as a reminder of the many visits Lincoln made to Pontiac between 1810 and 1860.

PONTIAC SWINGING BRIDGES.
I thought these would be the kind of bridges that swung around to let boats pass along the river but in fact they were bridges that sort of swung as you walked on them. Pontiac is famous for being the only city in Central Illinois with three swinging bridges. The bridges span the Vermilion River and were originally built so residents could get to work. An bridge built in 1828 of iron connects Riverview Drive and Play Park., today this bridge is wooden.. the second bridge built in 1926 connects Play Park and Chautaqua Park while the third built in 1978 connects the south side of the city with Humiston-Riverside Park.

We parked beside the park and walked across to the bridges but we had an extra bonus as there was a huge vintage car rally/show; the sort where they park their shiny beasts with sparkling engines and then sit beside them for you to admire.
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SPRINGFIELD , ILLINOISThis has to be the sleepiest state capital city I have visited. We couldn’t believe how quite the city was except for the hotel we had booked in to where there were two weddings and the guests staying so just as well we…Read More

SPRINGFIELD , ILLINOIS
This has to be the sleepiest state capital city I have visited. We couldn’t believe how quite the city was except for the hotel we had booked in to where there were two weddings and the guests staying so just as well we booked in advance as the hotel was perfect, really central and you could walk to most sites of interest from there.
Springfield is just full of places to experience where Lincoln lived, worked or is buried as well as the Capitol building and the Lincoln presidential museum and Library which is a must see place while in the city.
LINCOLN SITES
The Lincoln Presidential Museum and library is essential. This is in two huge modern buildings across the road from each other. The museum has inter active displays, dramatic recreations ,films and live performances as well as fabulous displays. You are taken from Lincoln as a boy through to a very moving funeral lying in state. I have written a review on this separately.

The Lincoln Home which is set up to recreate the time when the Lincoln family actually owned and lived in the house is free to tour but you must go on the escorted tour and they get busy to get there early. The house is set in a four block neighbourhood which has been taken back to look at it would have done in the Lincoln’s time with gravel roads and wooden pavements. Also see my review on this site.

The Old State Capitol Building is open to visitors and this is where Lincoln gave his famous ‘House Divided’ speech and this is restored to the time when Lincoln would have been a member here. You can see where he would have sat and his hat is there on one of the desks. This is also free to enter and there are guides that will explain the different rooms and exhibits to you if you ask.

The law office where Lincoln was a partner is on the corner of Sixth and Adams streets. This is really just a look from the outside as it is still in use as a business. All around the city are signs giving snippets of information about the great man and as you walk around you learn a lot about him and his achievements. You can also visit the church he used to go to and if you get into your car you can also visit his tomb which is just a little way out of the city and well worth the drive as it is spectacular as tombs go.

Also needing a short drive is the rustic 1830s village of New Salem where Lincoln lived before his days in the legislature.

The Lincoln Memorial Garden is a great place to escape the city and enjoy some green. The gardens have been designed by Jens Jensen and they are on Lake Springfield just out of the city again.

The great Western Railroad depot is where Lincoln gave his farewell address to the city of Springfield when he left to go to Washington. It took him 12 days by train to get to Washington which was some journey.

OTHER INTERESTING HOUSES
The Dana-Thomas House is a very interesting and free visit (they do ask for a donation though) to this pretty fabulous house designed by frank Lloyd Wright. This is one of the best preserved houses created by FLW and is well worth a visit. Once again you can only go into the house with a guide and they are at specific times so plan your visit and get there in plenty of time. I have written a separate review on this house tour as well.

Elijah Iles House is believed to be Springfield’s oldest house and was built in the 1830s. It is supposed to have been designed by the same architect as designed the Old State Capitol Building. It is in the Greek revival style of architecture for those in the know. Lincoln is said to have visited the house when he lived in Springfield as a guest of the owner Robert Irwin and is supposed to have played cards there. The house is on the National Register of historic Places and was registered in 1978. The house was moved to this present location in 2004 which must have been a fairly tricky procedure.

Edwards Place is the oldest house in Springfield that is still in its original location. This mansion was built in 1833. In its heyday it was the centre of the social and political life in the city but today it houses several art collections.

MUSEUMS
Apart from the Lincoln Presidential Museum there are others that you can visit if you have the time or specific interest. These include, The Grand Army of the Republic Memorial Museum, The Illinois Fire Museum, The Illinois State Military Museum, Abraham Lincoln’s National Museum of Surveying, The Pearson Museum and the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War Museum. So you could spend a few days just visiting museums in the city.

ROUTE 66
Yes this famous road once passed straight through the city and one of the sites celebrating this is Shea’s Gas Station Museum. This is a rather eccentric collection of the owner Bill Shea. He owned and operated this as a gas station until 1982 and the collection was born from the fact that he threw nothing away in his sixty years there. To us it looked a bit like a junk yard but he has thousands of oil cans, old fuel pumps, a 1952 trailer (caravan thing), a restored 1984 school bus and so much more, signs and other paraphernalia from the Route 66 heyday. He likes nothing better than to chat about the good old days and his collection.

You can also visit the Cosy Dog restaurant along Route 66 but we called by and were not tempted.

We walked all around the city and passed the new Capitol building back to our hotel which had a view of this building. It is an easy city to get around on foot and there is very little traffic to speak of.

This is not a city that you would head to for shopping as many of them seemed to be closed when we were there.

On Saturday night we headed into the city to get a meal and we struggled to find a restaurant that was open. We eventually found a sports bar and had a traditional Springfield dish called a ‘Horse shoe’ which was extremely filling and not really a dish I would rush to enjoy a second time but was interesting to try. It consisted of a pile of chips (fries) and chicken or mixed meat on a bread roll covered in a cheesy sauce. When I had finished eating I could still have fed another two people with mine!

If you are interested in history and Lincoln particularly then Springfield must be on your list of places to visit in the USA. Two days will allow you to see most of the Lincoln sights which is what we concentrated on .
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One of the Southern traditions for New Year ’s Day is to have black-eyed peas for good luck in the new year. On those rare New Years Day when I am actually at home, always it is hoppin johns (seasoned black-eyed peas and rice…Read More

One of the Southern traditions for New Year ’s Day is to have black-eyed peas for good luck in the new year. On those rare New Years Day when I am actually at home, always it is hoppin johns (seasoned black-eyed peas and rice with bacon) and pork barbeque that are the lunch to night time feast while watching the college bowl games. Having been talked into going to the Windy City by a friend there to join in on the New Years Eve parties, this year would have to forgo the traditional feast since the traditions in the Midwest are far from the same.
After checking into my hotel and having lunch with friends, I headed out to see about getting some food for a early breakfast after we returned from the NYE party and a few Chicago souvenirs to bring back to Virginia. It was a good day for it, since though it was raining off and on, it was not too cold.
Down the hill from the Sheraton front entrance is a big Walgreen, which I found had a lot of Chicago souvenirs. It is a great place to go to get some Bears, Cubs, and White Sox items as well as different t-shirts and scarves and hats from Chicago. Nothing says Chicago like a Bears souvenir. But what is key to know about this Walgreens is that they have hats and scarves and umbrellas in here at a low price– and if you did not bring them with you – this needs to be your first stop to get some of those items to deal with Chicago’s weather.
Heading east down the other side of the street is a European style Grocery Store called Fox and Obel. I was not really sure from the outside what the place was, but it did look interesting and had alot of people going in and out. This really turned out to be my lucky find of the afternoon. As soon as you walk in you are hit with the smells of the bakery goods. They have a great selection of breads, and I picked up several different types to take back to the room. As I was wondering by the deli, I made a great find -they had hoppin johns! New Years tradition was indeed saved!
With a quick purchase of the hoppin johns – my luck for the New Year was just pretty much insured. The actual real find though was that the hoppin johns there were the best that I have ever had, and the slight difference in preparation is likely to be how I make them from now on. Its not easy to make a black-eyed pea taste outstanding – but this is the place to go if your looking to try to see that for yourself. My friends in Chicago did go there after I left and all agreed that I was right in proclaiming this as a lucky discovery of a fantastic side dish.
And so – if you find yourself in Chicago on New Year’s Eve, now you know where to go to get your hoppin johns.
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Chicago is not only a great place for humans in the summer, it’s also a pretty good place for dogs. There’s nothing better than getting outdoors when the weather is nice and spending a little time with your pooch. In Chicago, there are plenty of…Read More

Chicago is not only a great place for humans in the summer, it’s also a pretty good place for dogs. There’s nothing better than getting outdoors when the weather is nice and spending a little time with your pooch. In Chicago, there are plenty of options, from dog beaches to cruising to outdoor dining with dogs.


Pooch Parks
Chicago’s canines can enjoy a romp in the park (with permit) at no less than 9 urban doggie parks and at least 3 in the suburbs of Evanston, Crystal Lake, and Des Plaines. In the city, dogs rule at Noethling (Grace) Playlot Park, also known to the 4-leggeds as "Wiggly Field." Playlots on Irving Park and Damen also make good gathering spots for dogs and humans alike.


Dog Beaches
Montrose Beach in the city of Chicago and Evanston Dog Beach are two popular summertime spots when the weather gets steamy, and all that fur just gets to be too much. A little Frisbee in the sand and a dip in Lake Michigan helps a dog keep cool.


PAWS Annual Beach Party
Usually held in July and emceed by US 99.5’s Lisa Dent, this event, sponsored by PAWS (Pets Are Worth Saving), helps raise money to continue to fund care and adoption of local pets.

Each year, the PAWS Beach Party hosts some 500 guests, including more than 100 pooches dressed up in their best beachwear, at the Castaways at North Beach. The event features cocktails and a beach dinner for animals and humans alike, as well as a silent auction, and live music (with dancing) by a great local band.


Outdoor Doggie Dining
In 2008, the city of Chicago passed its own "Dog Friendly Dining" ordinance to allow dogs access to outdoor dining throughout the city. Three great restaurants that feature special doggie menus and welcome your pooch are Brasserie Joe on West Hubbard, Scoozie on West Huron, and Common Ground on North Clark. (Note that your dog must have proper license and shots, and servers are not allowed to pet animals, no matter how cute.)


Dog-Friendly Summer Festivals
Anyone living in the Chicago area knows that the best thing about summer in the city are its neighborhood events. Festivals (often more than one) seem to occur every weekend. Which ones welcome your pooch along? Dog-friendly events include the Wells Street Art Festival, Andersonville Midsommarfest, Custer’s Last Stand (in Evanston), and the Long Grove Strawberry Festival.


Canine Cruising
If you and your dog just need to chill, what better way to do it than sailing out on Lake Michigan? Mercury Skyline Cruise Company features weekly canine cruises (complete with dog biscuits) every Sunday morning during the summer. Humans pay $22, while dogs sail at the reduced rate of $7. This makes for some great photo opportunities, not only of the Chicago skyline, but your sea-legged dog as well.


No matter how you and your pet decide to spend the summer, there’s something great to share in Chicago. Whether you attend the annual beach blow-out or just another walk around the block, remember that summer is a favorite time for your pet as well!   Close

Illinois has long been known as the "Land of Lincoln," but with the new president in town, making a journey to Chicago can take on new meaning. When Barack Obama was elected November 4, 2008, he was serving as the junior Senator from Illinois.Neighborhood HangoutsWith…Read More

Illinois has long been known as the "Land of Lincoln," but with the new president in town, making a journey to Chicago can take on new meaning. When Barack Obama was elected November 4, 2008, he was serving as the junior Senator from Illinois.

Neighborhood Hangouts
With the crush of new interest in all things Obama, getting a peak at his Hyde Park home in Chicago will be nearly impossible. Police have blocked the immediate area off, prohibiting tourists from getting close to his personal residence. However, there are lots of great things to see and do both in this University of Chicago neighborhood, as well as in other parts of the city.

Where does the Obama family like to hang out in Hyde Park? Medici Restaurant on 57th Street is one place, and for tourists who want to prove it, they can buy "Obama Eats Here" t-shirts for souvenirs. Another great stop in the neighborhood is 57th Street Books, a shop frequented by the Obama family. Clerks at the store can point to some of Obama’s favorite books. "The variety of titles, the programs for kids and the neighborhood feel make it a wonderful place to take a walk to and browse around," Michelle Obama noted in the Chicago Sun-Times. What’s the president-elect been reading lately? According to Obama at a recent press conference, the writings of President Abraham Lincoln.

The South Side that the Obamas call home is the location of a number of great attractions for tourists of all ages. There is the Museum Campus, which includes the Museum of Science & Industry, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, and Shedd Aquarium. Located at the University of Chicago, where Obama once taught Constitutional Law, is the famed Oriental Museum, which has rare treasures from Egypt.

While Obama is known to play hoops at the outdoor courts on Hayes Drive and South Lake Shore Drive, the neighborhood is also famous for US Cellular Field, home to the Chicago White Sox, the favorite baseball team of Obama.


Other Chicago Hot Spots
With so many great restaurants in the city (some say rivaling New York for great choices), the Obamas have a couple of spots they like to frequent beyond their own neighborhood. These include RJ Grunts in Lincoln Park for more casual dining and Macarthur’s, a great soul food restaurant with a family feel. Michelle Obama likes the new American cuisine at Sepia, which is housed in a print shop dating from the 1800s, and for a romantic night out, the Obamas are said to favor Chef Rick Bayless’s restaurant, Topolobampo, which is world famous for its Mexican cuisine.

Downtown Chicago is the site of many great activities for tourists, whether it’s the Art Institute, the Magnificent Mile for shopping, or Sears Tower for a great overview of the city. While in the Loop, don’t miss Grant Park, the location made famous by Obama’s speech on election night. During the warmer months, Grant Park plays host to a number of outdoor activities, including Jazz Fest, Blues Fest, Taste of Chicago, and movies under the stars. With a new band shell designed by architect Frank Gehry, tourists can’t miss it.


Chicago has long been a great place to vacation. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the third largest city in the US still offers great dining, shopping, and world class museums, a lively music scene, and miles of parks and zoos. Whether or not tourists come to share in the places and events that make the city great for the First Family, they are certain to find plenty to enjoy in the "Land of Obama."   Close

I have now seen elegant and ornate furnishings. I've seen a bright green shimmering sari. I've heard a Georgian accent. I've smelled the perfumes of 500 women mingled together in one room. I've been told numerous times I look younger than I am. I've seen…Read More

I have now seen elegant and ornate furnishings. I've seen a bright green shimmering sari. I've heard a Georgian accent. I've smelled the perfumes of 500 women mingled together in one room. I've been told numerous times I look younger than I am. I've seen hundreds of women networking and stuffing their faces with food.
I've seen a lot of big buildings (much like the ones back home). I've taken a picture with a woman from Wyoming. I've sipped tomato bisque while speaking with a judge from Alaska. I have paid $5 for a glass of Coke. I've heard long acceptance speeches that should have been cut shorter. I've participated in discussions that weren't quite long enough. I've seen black suit jackets, and black slacks, and name tag after name tag. I've never been surrounded by so many women before, and I went to an all-girls high school. I now know about Athena International and their mission to advance women's leadership.

The Journey Begins: Courageous Acts
I had never traveled alone before. So when the Poughkeepsie Chamber of Commerce asked me to go to Chicago by myself to attend the ATHENA International conference, I was slightly nervous. What was this conference for? What would it be like? The first question could be answered with some research, but the second I'd only be able to find out by going. I knew it was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. So all 4 feet 10 inches of me, with suitcase, laptop bag, and purse in tow left my dorm at 6:00 a.m. to catch my 8:00 flight from Stewart Airport to....Atlanta, Georgia. Of course I had a layover.
This wasn't my first time on a plane and the two hour flight to Atlanta went by fairly uneventfully (with the exception of some nausea and stomach pain during our landing.) I had two hours to kill in the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport until my flight to Midway, Chicago. After a quick bite to eat at Wendy's, I decided it was a good time to read all the materials the Chamber gave me.
I'd read the schedule of events a hundred times. I'd done some research on the Athena Web site. That was about it. I figured the most important thing to read would be the biography of Colette Lafuente—after all I would be spending three days with her. Local chambers of commerce present the Athena award to a woman who has been an outstanding leader, shown initiative in her profession, and who has improved the quality of life for her community. As the former mayor of Poughkeepsie, high school teacher for 20 years, and Duchess County Clerk, Collette was the award recipient for the county. I wondered what sharing a room with her would be like. And I wished I could have been as lucky as she, getting a direct flight from Stewart to O'Hare.
My next plane ride from Atlanta to Chicago was also uneventful. After an hour long cab ride, I finally arrived at the hotel. As I walked into the Palmer House Hilton, I couldn't anticipate what the next three days would have in store.

Odyssey Dinner Cruise: Celebration and Joy
Colette had arrived before me and was already laying in bed, knitting and watching the news. One of the first things she said to me upon our introduction was, "I'm 65, I'm finally retired. So my new job is watching TV." I knew I was going to like her.
The first night, I immediately noticed two things. One was the sheer number of women. I asked one of the few men, Todd Popham, an Athena board member, how it felt to be one of the only males surrounded by so many females."Oh, am I," he responded cheekily, " I hadn't noticed." The second was that I was the youngest person in attendance.
Being the only 20 year old in a crowd ranging from their 30s to 60s is a little odd, but everyone made me feel welcome. Many people had attended these conferences before and seemed excited to see new faces. A dinner cruise was my first Athena experience. Colette and I joined a random table and everyone I spoke to was interested to hear why I was there. The delicious meal, friendly atmosphere, laughter, and beautiful nighttime skyline was a great introduction to Athena and Chicago.

I've Never Heard the Word Network So Much: Collaboration
The next day was the official start of the conference. Colette and I walked into the ballroom early in the morning, for the first event. This session was meant to engage us in discussion—we were given a list of the qualities Athena stands for and told to discuss which we thought were the most important to have in the workplace. Indeed, every workshop, session and activity during the conference was dedicated to networking and stimulating conversation. All the women I spoke with seemed especially interested to hear the opinion of someone younger. It felt strangely empowering to be surrounded by so many successful women, all for the cause of sharing ideas and opinions that really mattered to us.

Are You A Business Owner?: Relationships
One of my favorite ideas was the networking lunch, designed to make sure we met new people. The buffet-style food, tiny sandwich plates, and stand up tables forced us to keep moving around, leaving our comfort zone. When arriving at a new table the line we were asked to open with was "Are you a business owner?" and this was supposed to facilitate dialog. Everyone I happened upon knew I wasn't a business owner, but a few people asked me anyway, jokingly. It was strange being forced to talk to new people, but as the session went on I felt more at ease and really got to understand the scope of Athena's mission.

Breakout Sessions: Learning
The next two days had scheduled breakout sessions on a variety of topics. I was signed up for "Have We Come A Long Way, Baby? Statistically Speaking: Where Women Are Today."
The woman facilitating the session began by giving us a quiz of "firsts" for women– first woman in the U.S. with a medical degree, first woman lawyer, first female presidential candidate. We had to guess what year these "firsts" happened and the answers ended up being earlier than many had thought. We then went on to the "good news" and "bad news" of the statistics for women in education, the work force, and government. Listening to all the statistics made me realize women really have come a long way, but still have a long way to go to reach parity with men. It made me value the importance of organizations such as Athena that award women and support their endeavors.

Fierce Advocacy
It wasn't until the Gala that evening that I learned the history of Athena. Their mission: "Supporting, developing and honoring women leaders, inspiring women to achieve their full potential, creating balance in leadership worldwide." Each year, an international award is also given out, and it was given to the founder of Athena, Martha Mertz. When presenting Mertz with the award, the speaker joked that they were tired of hearing her say "Not me." After 25 years, they felt like it was about time she received the award.
Mertz started the organization in 1982 when she was working for the Lansing, Michighan Chamber of Commerce. She had discovered that in the whole history of the Chamber, only one woman had ever been honored, and she felt the boardroom didn't accurately reflect the real world. This motivated her to create the organization that continues to inspire, mentor, and award women around the world. When the award was created, it was named after Athena, the Greek goddess known for her courage, strength, and wisdom. And the women I was surrounded by—the ones who had won this award—really did embody Athena's spirit.

The Authentic Self and Giving Back
Returning home from a trip seems almost surreal and as the conference came to an end, the demands of the real world set back in (did I really have homework due the next day?) And I had a story to write for the Chamber.That story took me longer to write than I thought it would. I just hope I did the women of Athena justice.
A year after the conference I don't recall every person's name that I encountered, but I remember the Athena leadership model, eight tenets that reflect women today: the authentic self, celebration and joy, collaboration, courageous acts, fierce advocacy, giving back, learning, and relationships. That's what stuck with me.
At the end of the discussion of women's "firsts," the speaker asked us to reflect what the next "first" would be in our lives. Since then, I've still been trying to figure that out. But traveling by yourself to Chicago to be inspired by women leaders? I would say that's a pretty good first.    Close

In 1871, Chicago's Great Fire burned most of Chicago's existing buildings, and the rebuilding of the city resulted in some architectural masterpieces. We had heard about the art scattered between the buildings, too, and were anxious to find it. Here's the route we took for…Read More

In 1871, Chicago's Great Fire burned most of Chicago's existing buildings, and the rebuilding of the city resulted in some architectural masterpieces. We had heard about the art scattered between the buildings, too, and were anxious to find it. Here's the route we took for our pilgrimage.

We started at our hotel, the Chicago Renaissance, at State and Wacker. Heading south down State, we passed the Chicago Theatre sign - now a well-known symbol of the city, the 1921 theater narrowly escaped demolition in 1980. Across the street from the Chicago sign, note the local ABC station making the news behind a big glass wall.

Taking a right on Randolph headed us west, and passed us by the Corner Bakery for a quick morning coffee (and maybe a pastry - we needed our strength, after all!). Continuing a block further, we reached the James R. Thompson Center. This is a huge building, built in 1985, and different enough from the surrounding buildings to stand out. Here's where we encountered our first artistic outcropping - don't walk past without realizing this one's art! The Monument with Standing Beast, by Jean Debuffet, is a big white and black fiberglass sculpture. Call me unsophisticated, but I was unmoved. I did think the building was pretty cool; a peek inside (it was still closed) showed an incredible 17 story open atrium. I would have liked to ride the elevator to the top and look down - the view

must be great!

Only about half a block south down Clark is the Daley Civic Center. The plaza here is home to one of the city's more famous bits of outdoor art - an unnamed sculpture by Picasso. Enjoy it - when else are you going to get a chance to touch a Picasso? I've never really thought of him as a sculptor, and I wonder how much of this one he did himself?

Picasso's fellow won't get lonely, since Jean Miro's Chicago is located almost directly across Washington Street, nestled in beside a stained glass display in the side wall of the Chicago Temple. Our visit with these large sculptures over, we continued east along Washington to the intersection with State Street

Across the street on the northeast corner is the old Marshall Fields department store. This used to be a Chicago tradition, but today has been bought by Macy's. It's still worth a stop in, if only to see the wonderful Tiffany Dome in the atrium. On the southwest corner of the same intersection is the Reliance building, considered the "precursor of the modern skyscraper". We didn't go in, but the outside is what you want to look at anyway - a bit of history standing there next to the sidewalk.

Walking a block south on State brought us face-to-face with the Carson Pirie Scott building - we recognized the ornamental metal facade from our guidebooks. It takes up the whole southeast corner, and is home to the oldest department store in Chicago. This intersection is also important because it's the center of the city grid; this is the dividing point between north/south and east/west designations on the streets.

We continued south down (now) South State and walked a block west on Madison to the First National Bank Plaza and the Four Seasons. This is a huge mosaic, decorated on four sides with scenes representing the seasons in Chicago. The artist was Marc Chagall, and the piece contains thousands of tiles. Out in front was one of the many "globes" decorating Chicago - it seems like every city has something like this now. These seemed to all have an environmentally-friendly/green theme to them.

About three blocks further south on Dearborn, we detoured into the Federal Center courtyard to visit Alexander Calder's Flamingo. This guy is huge, bright pink-orange, and kind of goofy. This is my kind of art. It was refreshing and bright against the black glass of the surrounding buildings and the day's drizzly skies.

For us, this was the end of our walking tour - we decided to catch several of the other important buildings at a later point in our weekend. After an hour and a half of walking, we had worked up an appetite, and headed east to the Van Buren station and the Artist's Cafe right across the street. Mmm...art and eggs. My kind of morning.    Close

A stroll down State St. in the Loop reveals many interesting and striking buildings, several of which were the forerunners of the glass and steel giants that now grace the Downtown area. The first on the list for today’s sightseeing is the Carson, Pirie &…Read More

A stroll down State St. in the Loop reveals many interesting and striking buildings, several of which were the forerunners of the glass and steel giants that now grace the Downtown area. The first on the list for today’s sightseeing is the Carson, Pirie & Scott Building at 1 S. State St. This remarkable structure was built in several phases, the first of which commenced in 1898. Further additions were made in 1902-1904, then in 1905-1906 when the 12-storey south extension was added, followed by another southern addition of 8-storeys in 1960-1961. The principal architect was Louis H. Sullivan with the extensions designed by D. H Burnham Co (1905) and Holabird & Root (1960).

The building was originally the home of the Schlesinger & Mayer department store and was revolutionary in its time for its modular construction. The first two storeys are decorated in cast iron giving the building an ethereal and almost whimsical appearance. These sections were attributed to George Grant Elmslie who was Sullivan’s head draughtsman after the departure of Frank Lloyd Wright. The basic structure is of steel, its strength allowing far more window areas and the accompanying additional light to the interior. The lack of huge masonry columns permitted larger displays of goods, made the store easier to navigate and allowed freedom of movement for it’s all-important customers.

The building was sold to Carson, Pirie & Scott in 1904 after the first round of architectural additions had been completed. They ran a successful business here until the 2006 Christmas season, after which C, P & S announced that it was to cease trading with the store closing for the last time in early 2007.

Next building of interest is the Reliance Building at 32 N. State St. The base was built in 1895 with the upper floors being added between 1894 –1895. This is generally regarded as the grandfather of all the steel and glass skyscrapers in the Loop today. It was designed by Burnham & Root and when it had been finished, at 202 feet tall, it was the highest building in the city. It has been said that the steelwork for the top ten floors was erected in just 15 days. The exterior is almost totally encased in glass, courtesy of this exceptionally strong and rigid steel frame. The “Chicago Window” was a feature of the building, this essentially consisting of a wide, flat front-facing fixed sheet of glass with two opening sash windows to either side. This emphasised the height and uniformity of the structure.

Strangely enough, the building was built for Carson, Pirie & Scott who only used the structure for a few years before relocating to the building described in the first part of this entry. More peculiar is the fact that the original building to occupy the site here was the 5-storey First National Bank of Chicago. Due to varying expiration of leases to office tenants, the FNB of C could not fully vacate the old building until after the intended commencement of work on the Reliance Building. The solution was simple – the remaining occupied three floors were jacked up on huge rams, permitting work to commence on the new structure with a temporary staircase being built to afford access to the remaining tenants.

The final building on the list, albeit not the last one worthy of a viewing, is the truly huge Macy’s department store at 111 N. State St. The building was originally built for the Marshall Field Company, with the initial structure being completed in 1892. Again, the principal design was by D. H. Burnham although its original size was nothing compared to today. As the business grew, Marshall Fields bought and extended into neighbouring buildings, both upwards and outwards until the building acquired its mammoth size that visitors are familiar with today, replete with its huge external columns and ornate verdigris-covered clocks at each external end of the store, high above the sidewalks. The interior is no less fascinating and impressive with Corinthian columns that lead the way to the huge atrium. The north side of the atrium is decorated with a spectacular Tiffany Dome. Tiffany didn’t build it himself but employed 50 artisans for eighteen months to realise his vision whilst he directed proceedings. The dimensions of the Dome are staggering; 6,000 square feet comprising an estimated 1.6 million pieces, the largest Tiffany Dome in the world. After asking one of the store’s employees “where to go for the best view”, he directed us to the fifth floor from where the splendour and sheer opulence of the Dome can be appreciated. I snapped away for maybe 10 minutes from every possible angle and no-one cared a bit. Truth-be-known, I bet more people come in to view the Dome than come in here to be relieved of their cash.

Although the name “Marshall Fields” graced the outside of the store until late 2006, differing companies had actually acquired the building prior to its sale to Macy’s, who were the first owners to actually change the name, much to the fury of many local Chicagoans.

There are other equally impressive structures on State St, not least of all the Washington Memorial Library but I decided to save it for my next trip to this wonderful haven of rich and historic architecture.   Close