Archive for
October, 2007
October 31st, 2007 by susan j
A few weeks ago, we blogged about Halloween happenings in the Chicago area (click here if you missed it), but today I’d like to share a few other Halloween-themed items from around the blogosphere:
In case you still need a costume, the shares some inexpensive (but highly original) costume ideas . Matt B. over at recommends , which he calls “an outlandish boutique in the heart of Boystown.”
The homegrown Chicago site offers more suggestions with its “” But if you’d prefer to have a quiet, low-key night (after all, it IS a Wednesday), then listen to Chicago Public Radio’s . Whatever you choose to do, I hope you have a safe and happy Halloween!
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October 30th, 2007 by susan j
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Right now I’m reading Devil in the White City, which chronicles the architects and other personalities behind the Chicago World’s Fair (highly recommended read, by the way). Back in 1893, visitors flocked to Jackson Park to marvel at the impressive, classically-inspired buildings designed by Daniel Burnham and his team of architects.
Nowadays, visitors go to the Chicago ArchiCenter (also designed by Daniel Burnham) to learn about Chicago’s world-class buildings. The ArchiCenter offers walking tours and also has several notable events coming up, so click here to view their program calendar.
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October 29th, 2007 by susan j
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The drinks just got a bit more interesting at the with the launch of a new beverage initiative at Hilton Hotels in Austin, Chicago, New York, New Orleans, New York, and San Francisco.
Tony Abou-Ganim, aka , has created 20 new cocktails inspired by his jet-setting travels across Thailand, Mexico, France, Brazil, and more. Some of Tony’s most famous drinks include the Sao Paolo Samba and Road to Hana, but his signature cocktail is the Cable Car, which he created for the Starlight Room in San Francisco. Now when you’re hitting the hotel bar after a full day of sightseeing, you’ll have more exciting options than a G & T or the house red. Cheers!
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October 26th, 2007 by jamie a
Chicago’s Field Museum
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From Sue, the largest and most complete fossil of a T-Rex (pictured above), to the culture of Sweden, Chicago has a stop for every type of museum-goer. This guide highlights only a few, as Chicago is brimming with museums!
The Field Museum is home to not only Sue, but the renowned “Underground Adventure,” where visitors can explore a magnified subterranean world, “Inside Ancient Egypt,” and the new “Ancient Americas” exhibits. Through January 1, 2008, you can also explore the exhibit entitled “Darwin,” which delves into his theory that changed the world.
At the Art Institute of Chicago, visitors can come face to face with Grant Wood’s iconic painting “American Gothic” and Georges Seurat’s “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” This museum also houses one of the world’s most beloved collections of French Impressionism, as well as the 68 Thorne Miniature Rooms.
The Notebaert Nature Museum is perfect for outdoorsy types! If you love butterflies, be sure to check out the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, which has over 75 species! You can also learn about ecosystems, marshes, riverworks, and take a wilderness walk, where you can experience a savannah, prairie, and a dune.
At the Swedish American Museum, learn about the plight of immigration with the permanent exhibit, Dream of America: Swedish Immigration to Chicago. There’s also interactive exhibits for children, where they can churn butter, milk a cow, gather eggs, and learn how to pack a steamer trunk to set off for the new world.
While in Chicago, be sure to also check out The Chicago Children’s Museum, The Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Museum of Science and Industry.
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October 25th, 2007 by jamie a
Friday, October 26 - Saturday, October 27 (7- 9 pm)
Get ready for some of the most talented storytellers in the country weaving tales of terror at . Held in Millenium Park in a large (heated!) Halloween tent, this event is free to all.
Saturday, October 27 (2:00 pm)
At the Headless Horseman Bicycle Scavenger Hunt, come on your bicycle in your costume (helmets encouraged!) and set off to discover the scariest sites in Chicago.
October 27th - November 11th
The 18th Annual Chicago Humanities Festival is ongoing this weekend with topics entitled “The Climate of Concern” for adults and “When I Grow Up” for children. You can also check out the Benefit Gala with performer Brian Stokes Mitchell.
Saturday, October 27th - Sunday, October 28th (11 am - 5 pm)
Enjoy one of Chicago’s best kept secrets with the last weekend of the . From unique jewelry and textiles to hot cider, spiced wine, and pumpkin pie, this is a perfect event to celebrate fall.
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October 24th, 2007 by susan j
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If you’re a frequent flyer, then you’ve probably encountered your share of cramped or lavatory-adjacent airplane seats. Enter SeatGuru. This super-cool travel site was purchased by TripAdvisor earlier this year and features detailed seating charts and inflight amenities for dozens of airplanes and airplane models so that travelers can make more informed decisions about choosing their flight or seat assignment. Now that’s what I call flying the friendly skies!
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October 23rd, 2007 by susan j
Brunch at North Pond Restaurant
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If you’re preparing for a busy day of sightseeing, you’ll want a hearty breakfast to give you plenty of energy for the day ahead. Here are some of our picks arranged by neighborhood:
Andersonville: Pauline’s motto is “where quality meets quantity,” and locals flock to this family-owned diner for its generous portions and friendly atmosphere. Start your day off right with a 5 egg omelet (they have over a dozen different variations) or their trifecta of pancakes: one banana, one blueberry, and one strawberry. Then start burning off that breakfast with a short walk to the Swedish American Museum Center.
Lincoln Park: North Pond Restaurant offers a more formal breakfast option with its three course brunch including French toast topped with peaches and cognac, goat cheese frittata, and other mouthwatering menu items. Since the restaurant sits right in Lincoln Park, it’s an easy walk to the Notebaert Nature Museum or the Lincoln Park Zoo afterwards.
The Loop: 312 Chicago offers an upscale brunch option with delicious menu items like the Grilled Ribeye Sandwich or the Brioche French Toast with warm banana and walnut compote. After brunch, set off for a Grayline sightseeing tour or visit the Sears Tower Sky Deck.
Magnificent Mile: Bistro 110 is a Chicago favorite. Begin with a Bistro Bellini, a juicy combination of French white peach purée and champagne, then choose from a delicious selection of frittatas, French toast, and more. Or choose the 30-course prix fixe brunch for $22.95. The Hancock Observatory and the Museum of Contemporary Art are both nearby.
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October 22nd, 2007 by susan j
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Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry (pictured above) has some exciting new exhibits coming up. Here’s an overview:
Now through January 6, 2008, MSI presents Star Wars: Where Science, which includes more than 80 movie artifacts, an engineering design lab, and more. Visitors can also watch interviews with filmmakers, scientists, and engineers.
Starting November 16 and running through January 6, 2008, the MSI presents two other exhibits that will be included in museum admission. National Geographic Maps: Tools for Adventure will cover the world of maps and explorers. Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light will include more than 50 dazzling trees decorated by members of Chicago’s ethnic communities!
While in the neighborhood, you might also check out the Frederick C. Robie House.
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October 19th, 2007 by susan j
Wolfy’s Hot Dog Stand on Peterson Avenue
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As part of their series “America’s Favorite Cities,” Travel + Leisure published a list of where to get the best hot dogs in Chicago. Read it here.
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October 18th, 2007 by jamie a
October 12- October 31
Halloween takes over Chicago this month with the 10th Annual Chicagoween 2007! Check out Daley Park, which is transformed into Pumpkin Plaza where you can get a tour of the Haunted Village. There’s pumpkin decorating and scary storytellers, as well as daily performances by the aerial entertainers Midnight Circus.
On October 20th, kids can march in the State Street Halloween Happening Parade complete with trick-or-treating and face painting for your little ghouls.
Thursday, October 18- November 10
Catch the world premiere of The Light of Love at City Lit Theater presented by the Promethean Theatre Ensemble. This is a comedic story of a bumbling servant on the search for a night-light for his lady-love (so she can read her guilty-pleasure books in bed). He must travel through his own town, Mount Olympus and even the Underworld to complete his quest. This is sure to have audiences laughing as well as tugging at their heart-strings.
Saturday, October 20 (10 am- 4 pm)
Discover everything from new memoir and sports writing to fiction and business strategies at the Illinois Woman’s Press Association Book Fair. Held at the Chicago Cultural Center, there’s over 25 authors scheduled to attend. Support the up-and-comers in the Illinois writing community by picking up some new reads and then have them autographed by the authors themselves!
Wednesday, October 17 - Sunday, October 21 (noon, 1, and 2 pm)
Explore Chicago’s oldest house with a tour of the Clarke House. The house, built in 1836, a survivor of two moves and fires, continues to give visitors a glimpse of Chicago before the Civil War in the heart of the Prairie Avenue Historical District.
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