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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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

This wonderful attraction sits within the campus that also houses the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium at 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. We’d taken the # 146 bus from Downtown which deposited us within 100 yards of the main entrance. The planetarium juts out…Read More

This wonderful attraction sits within the campus that also houses the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium at 1300 S. Lake Shore Drive. We’d taken the # 146 bus from Downtown which deposited us within 100 yards of the main entrance. The planetarium juts out into Lake Michigan and has recently undergone a substantial face lift which included the addition of more technologically advanced systems as well as an expansion due to ever-growing numbers of visitors.

There was a reasonably long queue to get in but the ticket kiosk seemed pretty capable and within a few minutes we’d paid our fee and in we went. The main exhibition area is quite staggering in its portrayal of space exploration, our solar system and the universe in general with many interactive models and static displays such as the Mars Rover vehicle and chunks of Moon rock as brought back by the various Apollo missions in the early 1970s. As someone who fervently followed America’s space program at this time, I was delighted to see the collection of personal memorabilia such as mission badges, baseball caps, and documents that were permanently donated to the planetarium by James Lovell, one of the astronauts who successfully brought Apollo 13 back to Earth after a catastrophic on-board explosion virtually destroyed the life support systems back in 1970.

Something that many folk fail to appreciate is the scale of the objects that make up our galaxy and this is addressed by way of several displays depicting our Earth compared to Jupiter, then the Sun, then some of the solar giants that inhabit the Milky Way galaxy. It is quite thought provoking and somewhat awe-inspiring to say the least and I found myself lingering at these exhibits for quite some time.

The planetarium also features regularly changing special exhibits and the one we had come to see was "The Ancient Egyptians", a wonderfully executed and highly accurate dark-room presentation of how the Egyptians mapped the sky, used it to plan their calendar for crop growing and the like, and in particular, how they noticed the movements of certain "stars" which they later attributed to the fact that the sun was centre of the solar system rather than the Earth.

The presentation involves the use of a hugely complex Zeiss projector which "throws" the night sky onto the inside of the blackened dome as you relax in the very comfortable reclined chairs whilst listening to the narrative.

Other popular exhibits include the "Shoot for the Moon" display that chronicles the story of lunar exploration and "Mission Moon" where youngsters can experience the dangers and exhilaration of actually walking on the Moon via interactive displays.

On site is a busy restaurant selling reasonably priced rolls and wraps as well as soft drinks and coffee, with a good view across the lake and also as far as the Downtown skyline.

There is a hugely varied range of entry fees according to the number of special shows you want to take in but the dearest ticket to see everything is around $28 which I thought to be good value, given the range and quality of the exhibits. This is a great half-day’s entertainment and one where it was plain to see that the adults were as spell-bound as the younger visitors

Tel. (312) 922-7827 www.adlerplanetarium.org.

Get here by bus services #146, 127 and 12 from Downtown, nearest El stop is at Roosevelt/Wabash on the Brown and Green lines.   Close

This was another taste of local flavour that time hadn’t permitted back last Autumn so on yet another sizzling morning, we set off across town to experience this open-air cornucopia of sounds, smells and flavours from one of the city’s largest ethnic markets.The original market…Read More

This was another taste of local flavour that time hadn’t permitted back last Autumn so on yet another sizzling morning, we set off across town to experience this open-air cornucopia of sounds, smells and flavours from one of the city’s largest ethnic markets.

The original market did indeed occupy Maxwell St but the city authorities forced it to relocate to its present location on Canal St. back in 1994. The street is blocked off between W. Roosevelt Rd and W. 18th Street every Sunday from 7am onwards, allowing hundreds of vendors to set up stall selling a diverse array of goods such as tapes and CD’s, clothes and shoes, musical instruments, electrical goods, DVD’s and videos, firearms, military memorabilia, tools, housewares, automotive parts and spares, foodstuffs, and downright junk, judging by some of the stuff I saw on sale. Add to this a huge variety of food vendors selling everything from hot-dogs to quesadillas, and a selection of buskers providing Hispanic tunes on battered accordions, and it becomes easy to appreciate the experience here.

As a final addition to what was already a slightly less-than-peaceful Sunday morning, the railroad tracks to the east were busy with clanking goods wagons as they were shunted into order, there was a highly audible hum of traffic from the Dan Ryan Expressway, a couple of blocks to the west, and to cap it all, aircraft were roaring overhead on approach to Midway airport. Whatever happened to church bells and the gentle mooing of cows in the pasture?

The stalls stretch out over four blocks so we decided to stroll along at an easy pace and try to see all that was on offer. You would certainly see many similar goods on sale at any market in the UK but I was surprised to see the guns; one in particular caught my eye, a huge machine gun complete with tripod stand and reams of ammunition although it certainly looked like it could do with some oiling and maintenance. I tried to imagine what would happen if I’d bought it and attempted to get it back through UK customs... I think a spell “at Her Majesty’s Pleasure” would be on offer… Next door to him was another stall with a vast array of knives on display and no, they weren’t of the “kitchen” variety. Everything from Special Forces daggers to massive machetes were up for grabs, along with huge bladed knives that you could easily butcher a Brontosaurus with. The stall-owner also offered a sharpening service with a huge whetstone on the table on which he was fine tuning what looked remarkably like a Samurai sword. My God, if this were in the UK, most of these guys would have nothing left to sell if the local police happened to stroll by! The term “mass confiscation” springs to mind…

The smells from the various food sellers was mouth-watering and, having had no breakfast, was really making my stomach growl. We stopped and bought a snack, its Spanish name escapes me but it was essentially a tube of doughnut-type pastry filled with fruit preserve and jolly tasty it was too, all for the princely sum of $1.

The various stalls selling tapes and CD’s were all trying to outdo each other on the volume stakes, resulting in an awful mish-mash of hip-hop, rock, traditional and gangsta rap. They all however, appeared to be doing a roaring trade. As we strolled on, we came across a Hispanic chap, at least 75 years old, who was seated on a rickety stool, wailing to such a degree that although I couldn’t understand him, seemed to indicate that all was not well in his life, no doubt, a Spanish version of the Blues.

I have to say there were some pretty “shady” looking characters around and several took lingering glances at the trusty Nikon dangling from my neck so, deciding that discretion was the better part of valour, I placed it in it’s bag “just in case.”

Well, what can I say about Maxwell St Market? A true experience if ever there was one, and just the place to go if you need a second-hand steering column for a ‘79 Ford, a “new” sink for your kitchen, an electric hedge-trimmer that will probably blow the household fuses as soon as you plug it in, a pair of well-worn pyjamas that someone’s grandad probably died in, a razor sharp machete to murder your noisy neighbour with, or a replacement copy of “Saturday Night Fever” for your worn out video. If you want it, someone here will have it…   Close

As a kid, I never knew what was ‘magnificent’ about this mile of Michigan Avenue. Our family expeditions to Chicago always revolved around visiting museums, and not shopping. Plus, the similar alliteration of ‘Merchandise Mart’ always had me confusing the two. As we talked through…Read More

As a kid, I never knew what was ‘magnificent’ about this mile of Michigan Avenue. Our family expeditions to Chicago always revolved around visiting museums, and not shopping. Plus, the similar alliteration of ‘Merchandise Mart’ always had me confusing the two. As we talked through options about how to spend Sunday morning during our recent visit, we eventually settled on walking over to Michigan Avenue and just strolling down to Water Tower Place. Since we left at 9, we knew none of the stores would be open on our walk north—and that nothing at Water Tower Place was likely to be open—but the weather was mild, we needed the exercise, and the promise of hot chocolate along the way was enough to get everyone’s assent.

Emerging onto the Magnificent Mile
It’s an odd but enjoyable feeling to walk a major urban thoroughfare and have it mostly empty. I realized it’s an experience you have at night, but isn’t so typical during daylight hours. The Magnificent Mile is largely a celebration of consumerism, but there’s still something that suggests that this is at least part of the heart of the city. A few other folks were out walking, too, some apparently for exercise, some on their way to a destination, and others just exploring like us.

Nearly every brand is represented here, and the buildings are a mix of older and newer construction. We passed plenty of places we’d never think to enter, but window shopping, enjoying the decorations, and looking at the architecture still made it worthwhile. The Water Tower stands in the Middle of Michigan Avenue, one of the few structures remaining from pre-fire Chicago. Just east and north of it is Water Tower Place, a mall distributed vertically over seven floors. Here the Christmas decorations were everywhere, along with the notice that a Vince Vaughn holiday themed film would be shot here next week. We enjoyed the fountains that line the escalators, and wished that foodlife, the foodcourt extraordinaire on level 2, was open.

As we looked for a place to make good on our promise of hot chocolate, we spied both Ghiradelli and Hershey’s stores across the street. Hershey’s actually has a long-time connection to Chicago: it was here, at the Columbian Exposition, that Milton Hershey saw state-of-the-art equipment from Germany on display, and purchased and shipped it back to Hershey, PA. The hot chocolate was truly hot, and quickly melted the ample topping of whipped cream (but still left a delightful sludge of not-quite-dissolved Hershey Kisses in the bottom).

Also at Water Tower Square is the American Girl Store, where we popped in for a reminder of days gone by. None of my kids are in that demographic anymore, but they enjoyed remembering during a 40-minute visit, and eventually we had to shoo them out and move on.

On the return trip, we stopped at the Apple Store and Gap, where we considered plans for a new home laptop, heard a helpful presentation on iCal, ogled the iPods and large Cinema Displays, and walked off with a turtleneck for $5.99. More stores were open now, and it was surprising to see a fair number of people shopping (like us) on Sunday morning. As we reached Ohio Street, we descended the stairs to the street below, stopping at the Dominick’s right across from our hotel for lunch stuff (a good, large center-city grocery store! What I wouldn’t have given for that in Philadelphia). Then it was off to the theatre.   Close