I saw the signs in the window for The Purp ple Pig opening on Michigan Avenue months ago (and their giant Time Out Chicago Ad plastered in the window staring into my building’s offices) and all I could tell from across the street was that it looked new and trendy. I was curious about The Purple Pig’s  new restaurant downtown because we have few places to go on Michigan Avenue for lunch/dinner and we get soooo tired of the same thing all the time. The Purple Pig restaurant would be a welcome change with a gourmet twist for lunch.

I finally went to have lunch there a few weeks ago with one of my friends and was pleasantly surprised. We were not initially sure how to get to the restaurant location because it is not directly on Michigan Avenue, but down a walkway on the west side of Michigan Ave on the South side of a building next to a Bank of America branch somewhat over the intersection of Lower Michigan and Illinois Street. Lately they have left the walkway gate open so you can get there via this sidewalk that is above Illinois Street and off Michigan Avenue. They say the address is 500 N Michigan Avenue Chicago, IL 60611, ((312) 464-1744) but you would never know it from actually walking down Michigan Avenue.

So, after locating The Purple Pig (which can be tricky) we settled in to enjoy some lunch. The restaurant is small but the space is still large enough to accomodate 3 large groups and several small groups at the same time. The decor looks Swedish or Norwegian with a detailed tile motif around the kitchen/bar area balanced with a lot of natural wood. It bridges the gap between modern and rustic in a way.

We sat down and found they had the largest wine glasses we had ever seen on the table. We weren’t going to make it a drinking lunch, so those went away. We looked over the menu which is comprised of single items rather than a lunch or dinner planned out with several things together. They advised ordering two because they were both small. (?) We chose a beet dish and the gourmet grilled cheese. We waited a while and the beets came first with the cheese and pistachios giving them a rich contrasting flavor that I did not expect. The grilled cheese was larger than we were told, (2 medium size sandwiches on crusty bread grilled like a panini) and they were awesome. I don’t remember the three cheeses used in the sandwiches but they were the fancy gourmet cheese you would never think of putting on a grilled cheese and it was absolutely stunning. We ended up being more full than we expected but who is going to leave something that good on the plate?

One thing is clear, The Purple Pig is a restaurant built around a type of dining style where everything is very rich and flavorful (wine, cheese and select gourmet meats mostly) and somewhat pricey. You get your value in the intense flavors and quality of the foods, not in large quantities. If you are looking for a big dinner this is not the place for you. They were accommodating to our requests though, explaining a menu of items we weren’t sure about and when we asked for something to dip the grilled cheese sandwiches in they produced a very good red sauce. Again it worked wonderfully.

I don’t doubt that the food will always be excellent quality and have rich complicated flavors that you don’t expect at The Purple Pig, but most average (touristy) people are probably going to be a bit surprised if they wander in off Michigan Avenue looking for lunch or dinner. It is very yuppie and a place you go specifically to be different. That said if I’m looking for a more upscale lunch I will go back, provided I can get some more amazing Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. They are open until 11 pm on weekdays and until 2 am on Friday and Saturday nights.

Hello Kitty and some friends at a past parade

Thanksgiving is just around the corner and along with some turkey and stuffing, the yearly tradition is to watch or go see the Chicago Thanksgiving Day parade downtown. Not everyone can make it downtown to see the parade in person but if you can, dress warm and come early to get a good spot to see all the floats and performers. This year the parade is sponsored by McDonalds so expect to see a lot of McDonalds Thanksgiving Day parade mentions. Maybe they will be giving out some of their yummy coffee drinks at the parade? We can only hope!

The details for seeing the parade are:

McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade
Thursday November 26, 2009 from 8-11am CST
Downtown Chicago (along State Street from Congress to Randolph) 60611

This year’s McDonald’s® Thanksgiving Parade in downtown Chicago will include giant inflatable balloons, some of the nation’s top marching bands, and the best performances from cultures around the world. The parade takes place on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2009 from 8 to 11 am CST along State Street, from Congress to Randolph.

This holiday tradition kicks off with “Zing Zang Zoom,” a lively performance from Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

The parade will be led by Honorary Grand Marshal Ronald McDonald® and includes performances from the acrobatic USA Baton Twirling Team, the Jesse White Tumblers, the Mobile Azalea Trail Maids and Hromovystia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble.

This year’s parade also features marching bands from all over the country, including Castlewood High School (Castlewood, SD), Northwest Rankin Cougar Band (Flowood, MS) and Lancaster High School (Lancaster, OH). Chicagoland’s best high school bands will also be appearing at the parade, including the Marist High School Marching Redhawks and the Providence Catholic Marching Celtics.

The McDonald’s® Thanksgiving Parade also includes giant inflatable balloons, beautiful cultural performance groups and “Mr. Jolly Holiday” Santa Claus. Teddy Turkey, Chicago’s favorite turkey, will be there as well to spread smiles and holiday spirit to children of all ages.

The Thanksgiving Parade was originally called the Christmas Caravan in the 1930’s, and was created to help lift the spirits of residents suffering though the Great Depression. With today’s economic uncertainty, the McDonald’s® Thanksgiving Parade hopes to entertain and brighten the holidays for everyone watching.

For people wanting a closer look and seat to see the action, a limited number of VIP Experience packages are available at the parade’s website: chicagofestivals.org. These special packages include amenities including VIP Seats, a light continental breakfast and much more.

WGN Channel 9 in Chicago will air the parade on television live and in high definition from 8 to 11 a.m CST on Thursday, November. 26. WGN America will also broadcast the parade nationally, establishing it as one of only three parades in the country to be covered live, in its entirety, on a national television broadcast.

The jets are buzzing by the high rise office building I work in downtown and I am reminded that the Chicago Air and Water Show is this weekend! Every year the City of Chicago is generous in providing this entertaining weekend event free for everyone. But if you want good seats, get out early on the lakefront to see the best views of the Chicago Air and Water Show. (before 8 am) Take a picnic and an umbrella for some shade and spend your day outside enjoying the lakefront in Chicago and the show of amazing airplanes and talent.

If you are coming in from the suburbs for the Chicago Air and Water Show I recommend taking an early METRA train into the city and then taking a bus or cab to the beach rather than driving. The parking is expensive and hard to find. If you know someone who works in a high-rise building like me, you might get an even better view there than on the ground.

The vital stats are listed below as are the performers and airplanes featured in this year’s show. Have a great weekend!

Dates: Aug 15, 2009 – Aug 16, 2009
Hours: 10 am – 4 pm
This year the Air & Water portions are now combined into one continuous show.
Location: North Avenue Beach at 1600 North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, IL 60610
Admission: FREE!
Website: For additional information please visit, cityofchicago.org/specialevents
Accessibility: North Ave. Beach’s Lake Shore Dr. northbound entrance ramp
Accessible Beach Walk: The Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities tent is located approximately 50 meters northwest of the North Avenue Beach Boat House, along the bicycle path.

The Chicago Air & Water Show 2009 Performers are:
Air Show Headliners
• U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds
• U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights
• U.S. Navy Parachute Team Leap Frogs
Civilian Aircraft
• Aeroshell Aerobatic Team
• Lime Lima Flight Team (from Naperville!)
• Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue
• Sean D. Tucker & Team Oracle Red Bi-Plane
• The Firebirds Delta Team F-16s
• Ed Hamill – Air Force Reserve Bi-Plane
• Red Bull Mig 17 (Russian Cold War Era Jet)
• Red Bull Helicopter Pilot – Chuck Aaron
• P-51 Mustang (Vintage WWII Fighter)
• Chicago Fire Department Air/Sea Rescue
Military Aircraft
• C-130 cargo plane
• F-15 Fighter
• F-16 Fighter
• A-10 Demo
• B-1B Bomber
• Apache Helicopter
• BlackHawk Helicopter
• KC-135
• KC-10
• C-17
• U.S. Coast Guard Air/Sea Rescue

Announcer: Herb Hunter

Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruises and Toursare one of the top attractions I recommend for tourists and locals alike when visiting downtown Chicago in the summer.  It offers a chance to see Chicago from a different perspective and is relatively cheap for entertainment. It is a great stay-cation activity this summer, and it is a local activity that is fun, relatively cheap and kid/family friendly. I hope everyone is enjoying the mild weather and the time off from work. I will post more frequently in the coming weeks after the big day has passed this Saturday.

chicago architecture river tours

Here are my recommendations for summer fun in Chicago:

1. The Chicago Architecture Foundation River Cruise – This is a very popular Chicago River boat tour because Chicago is known for the great mid century and art deco architecture downtown. This Chicago River Cruise lasts about one and a half hours and costs $28 per person. The views of Chicago from the Chicago River are different than anywhere else in the city downtown. Looking up at the buildings that line the river is almost like walking back in history. The hosts of the Chicago Architecture Foundation River Tours always have the background, dates and interesting stories about these buildings you see.

They give you the background and history on why the buildings are as they are today and what companies and purposes they had back in the day that is entertaining even if you are a local tourist. A lot has changed in Chicago over the decades, but the architecture is one of the few things that stays the same. This tour tells you the history of why things are they way they are and who built this great city. Look to the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s web sitefor tickets, tour dates and times and what events are happening in conjunction with the tours coming up this month. architecture.org The starting point for the tour is on the corner of Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue downtown near the loop. Check out the tour this summer, they run until November when the boats stop running for the winter.

Chicago Blues Festival 2008 by lanet and phil via Flickr.

The Chicago Blues Festival showcases the music Chicago is known for. If you are a fan of the Blues Brothers or maybe have seen BB King on commercials you may think you know something about the Blues. The thing is there is an entire world of Blues Music in Chicago with an incredible depth of talent just waiting to be discovered. the Chicago Blues Festival is a way for the general public to come discover these musicians, singers and talented artists perform their work. This speing on June 12, 13 and 14th Grant Park will be alivewith the sound of Blues, Soul and Jazz intermixing and providing some great entertainment to the city of Chicago. It is a living art form that is not to be missed.

Black Blues Guitar by Mr Noded via Flickr

It’s no surprise that Chicago Blues Festival is the largest blues festival in the world since Chicago is the largest of the cities known for Blues Music. What you may not know if that the Chicago Blues Festival the largest of Chicago’s Music Festivals. The festival lasts three days and contains six stages of performers. It’s pretty incredible that the Mayor’s Office of Special Events says that more than 640,000 blues fans attend the event and prove that Chicago is the “Blues Capital of the World.”

And did we mention it is FREE to the public?

Crowd at the Chicago Blues Festival in 2008. By Lanet and Phil va Flickr

The Chicago Blues Festival attracts big name mainstream performers who like to collaborate with local Blues singers and musicians including Bonnie Raitt, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor.

This year if you are looking to attend the Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Parkit will have performers live on 6 stages from 12 noon to 9:30 pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. From the looks of teh schedule it should be a great weekend for music. (if the weather cooperates)

And did we mention it is FREE to the public?  (oh, we did)

Location: Grant Park at Jackson Blvd. & Columbus Dr. in Chicago, IL 60604  

Admission is FREE but, Food and Drinks tickets are sold in quantities of 12 for $8. (most food/drinks are a bit pricey, but the festival being free makes up for it)

There is also a city site with a lot of history about the Chicago Blues Festival available at explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/special_events/mose/chicago_blues_festival.html.

The stop motion photography of the Chicago River being Dyed Green on St Patrick’s Day 2009 is from of Anthony Stewart Photography and runs about 30 seconds and then will stop. Press replay to see it again.

The Downtown Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 12:00 noon, Saturday March 13th. This year like in many years the Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade is not held on the actual holiday in order to make it more convenient to attend. (it’s also a fun free thing to do for the holiday) The parade will be held starting at Balbo and Columbus and runs north on Columbus to Monroe. You can get more details at ChicagoStPatsParade.com.

Taking Public Transportation to the Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade is strongly encouraged since parking is scarce and expensive. Any of the EL loop lines are accessible, get off at the train at Randolph, Madison or Adams and walk east to Columbus. If you are coming in from a Metra line to Union Station, the walk is much further, and you will probably want to take a bus or cab from the station to Columbus. Plus it will most likely be cold, so walking 10 blocks or so isn’t fun when it is that cold. If you are lucky to be coming in to Millennium Station, exit on Lake Street and walk 2 blocks east to Columbus.

Dyeing the Chicago River also happens downtown at 10:45 am: Saturday March 13th. You can see the green river dyeing process from the East side of the Chicago River bridge at Columbus Drive or upper and lower Wacker Drive between Columbus and Lake Shore Drive. This is a new location due to construction taking place this year. There is all kinds of mystical folklore about leprechauns that surrounds the dyeing of the river but basically the local Journeymen Plumbers use 40 gallons of vegetable dye to change the color of the river for a few hours in celebration and spirit of St Patrick’s Day and Irish Traditions. It is enjoyed by everyone and quite a sight to see in person. Stay downtown for the Parade at Noon.

There is also a 2010 Naperville St Patrick’s Day parade on the same day in the SW suburbs. The west suburban residents will be able to celebrate their Irish heritage in the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 13. The 2010 Naperville St Patrick’s Day parade kicks off at 10 am from Naperville North High School, located at 899 N. Mill Street. The parade moves south on Mill Street, east on Jefferson Avenue, south on Main Street and west on Water Street to the Municipal Center. The annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is hosted by the West Suburban Irish group. All residents are encouraged to donate a non-perishable food item at the parade to benefit the Loaves and Fishes Community Food Pantry Charity.

And last but not least, there is the ever popular South Side Irish Parade is canceled for this year. They actually mention on their website at southsideirishparade.org that instead there is a South Side Irish Family Fest instead on Saturday March 13th. The family fest as well as the St Patrick’s Day Parade is a celebration of Irish heritage in the Beverly-Morgan Park community on the South Side of Chicago. The family fest will be much different than the Parade. It features a best Irish Sodabread contest and a Best Dresed Dog contest. Check out southsideirishparade.org for the full schedule. Many of us hope that things are calmer there this year and yet still festive.

The official parade route map downtown in Chicago – click to enlarge the image:

It is that time of year again, Tax Preparation Season in Chicago. (it can ruin many weekends before April 15th) You get through Christmas and the Super Bowl and very quietly your 1099’s sneak up on you when you aren’t looking. Tax Preparation in Chicago can be just as challenging as any other location in the US and it is a lot harder to make the trek out to an accountant when it is below zero here.

The tax season is a different process for everyone. Whether you use a paper form 1040 EZ, an online form, TurboTax, H&R Block TaxCut, go to a tax preparing service like Jackson Hewitt or H&R Block or have your own personal accountant, there are deductions your should know about.

Personally I got to use the energy credit for new energy star windows last year which was thrilling considering how much they cost up front. I also started using TurboTax a few years ago and have enjoyed doing my taxes online with their Q & A format. I actually don’t dread doing my taxes anymore thanks to TurboTax.

I actually think the ads that say an accountant will find you thousands of dollars in refunds is a bit misleading. The people who own businesses and have complicated situations may find more deductions with H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt, but someone single and uncomplicated like me does just fine with an online tax preparation program.

Here are some tips and resources to help you through the tax season in Chicago for 2008 in 2009. I do need to state that I am not a tax professional by any means, but through some research I was able to find these tips that I wanted to share.

This is a helpful list of green tax credits you can claim in 2009.

$150 for some Energy Star furnaces/boilers
$200 for all Energy Star windows
$300 for some Energy Star heat pumps and central AC
$500 for insulation and sealing that meets model building code
$3,150 for the purchase of a hybrid car or SUV

Also, the federal limit in tax credits for home improvements is $500. More information on state tax credits can be found at the Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency.

This is also a list of common income tax deductions that are often missed:

1. State sales taxes as a deductions.This only applies if you live in a state without income tax like Oregon but work in a state that does have it like Washington. Keep track of these expenses during the year by saving receipts or logging them in Excel.
2. Reinvested dividends. This is more of a tax break since those dividends never got taxed. Bonus!
3. Out-of-pocket deductible charitable contributions. This includes mileage driven for charity and cash donations.
4. Deductible Student loan interest paid by parents. Since the IRS treats student loan repayments by parents as a gift to their child, students that aren’t claimed as dependents can actually deduct up to $2,500 of the loan interest paid by their parents.
5. Moving expense to take your first job. As long as you move more than 50 miles, you can deduct the cost of getting yourself and your stuff to the new locale. You can even deduct mileage.
6. Military reservists travel expenses. Members of the National Guard or military reserve can deduct travel expenses related to drills or meetings as long as they travel over 100 miles and are away overnight. The deduction covers the cost of lodging plus half the cost of your meals. You can also deduct mileage, parking fees, and tolls.
7. Child-care credits. If you pay someone to take care of your kids such that you can work, you might qualify for a tax credit. Note that this is true even if you claim your childcare-related expenses through a tax-favored reimbursement account at work because such accounts are capped at $5,000 while expenses up to $6,000 can qualify for the credit.
8. Estate tax on income in respect of a decedent. You can get an income-tax deduction for the amount of estate tax paid on an IRA the you inherit from someone else.
9. Any State tax you paid last spring. If you owed state taxes when you filed your 2007 return, you can deduct that amount along with the state income taxes that were withheld during 2008.
10. Deductible Mortgage Refinancing points. Any points that you pay when you refinance can be deducted (on a monthly basis) over the life of the new loan. Moreover, all unamortized mortgage points left over from prior years are deducted all at once if you end up refinancing your mortgage in any particular year.
11. Jury pay paid to employer. Some employers continue to pay their employees’ full salary when they’re on jury duty, but require that the employees turn over their jury pay. Since the IRS views this as taxable income, you need to be sure to deduct it. If you don’t, you’ll end up paying double taxes on a portion of your income.
     

I realized about 7 years ago that bowling was enjoying a resurgence in popularity when all my friends were spending their weekends in rented shoes at bowling alleys in Chicago. I was surprised to see two bowling alleys packed this evening while driving home. I stopped by a store next to the Willowbrook Bowl on my way home and was surprised to see the parking lot packed. The place was jumpin!

Then just off 290 I saw that the Hillside Bowl was also full to the gills. You could see inside through the large windows and tons of people were bowling on a Saturday night. I remember the days when only the freaks and geeks went bowling at the Tivoli Bowl in Downers Grove on Friday night and the “typical” first date was at the Brunswick Zone  where bowling and pool tables provided many teenager groping opportunities. Things have changed. Bowling is Family Friendly, it doesn’t cost as much as most other social activities and there is “some” exercise involved. I am sure that for some people the retro style bowling shirts and shoes are also a plus. 

Many new bowling alleys have been added to the Chicago area over the last 10 years also. 10 Pin bowling Alley and Lucky Strike Bowling Alley combine bars and huge video screens for sports games all in one.

Here is a roundup of the fees and open bowling times for the local Chicago area bowling alleys that I have been to or heard alot about lately:

1. Hillside Bowl – 4545 HARRISON St in HILLSIDE, IL 60162 (708) 449-5350 See their web site at bowlbowlbowl.com. 36 Lanes.

2. Willowbrook Bowl -735 Plainfield Road in Willowbrook, IL 60527 Call (630) 325-1746 or check out their website at willowbrook-bowl.com. I am not sure how much this bowling alley has been updated over the years, but I remember it from when my Aunt and Uncle used to run the restaurant there. It seems popular again, look for the giant bowling pin on the SE corner of Plainfield Rd and Rt 83 in Willowbrook.

3. Tivoli Bowling Alley – 938 Warren Ave, Downers Grove, IL? phone: (630) 969-0660 Great for afternoon bowling, under the movie theater. Watch out for the HS Bowling Gym Classes though.

4. Brunswick Zone Bowl – 1555 W. 75th St in Woodridge, IL Phone: (630) 985-1115 has pool tables as well as many bowling lanes. Or check out 1515 Aurora Ave in Naperville, IL Phone: (630) 355-7622 or there is another at 558 E. North Ave in Glendale Heights, IL Phone: (630) 858-1300. There are other Brunswick Zone Bowling Alleys tucked in all over Chicago. These are the ones I have either been to recently or a long time ago. Less personal service from Brunswick, since this is a huge chain and it’s hard to be individual and unique that way.?

5. 10 Pin Bowling Alley & Bar at the House of Blues in Chicago -330 N State St, Chicago, IL Call: (312) 644-0300. Watch out for the drunk bowlers, but it is a swanky looking place.

6. Lucky Strike Bowling Alley and Bar in the East Illinois Movie Theater Building Complex -100 Yorktown Shopping Ctr, Lombard, IL – (630) 916-8681 and 322 E Illinois St, Chicago, IL. – (312) 245-8331. $10 – Open to 2 AM.

7. Fireside Bowling Lanes - 2648 W Fullerton Ave in Chicago, IL 60647 Phone: (773) 486-2700 See their website at: firesidebowl.com. A great retro bowling alley on the north side of the city.

Photo credits to RICCIO “il colore del ricordo inganna”, Hryck. and ehoyer on Flickr.
 

The Shamrock Shuffle is an 8K run or 5K walk race for charity in Chicago on March 29, 2009. The Chicago Shamrock Shuffle is usually a fun run without a lot of pressure that a marathon might have and it inspires us Midwesterners to get out and exercise again after the frigid winter. This year Bank of America is the main sponsor. Registration is open now and the only requirements are that you can run a 15 minute mile or walk the 5K and pay the $40 entry fee.

Update: the registration is closed now due to the 32,500 person limit being filled already!

I know that a lot of people enjoy this race as runners also, since the Chicago Marathon isn’t until October and this is a lot shorter. But mostly the Shamrock Shuffle is a race for people who live in the city and enjoy running for exercise or want a goal to get back in shape and like the idea of doing it while supporting a charity. Many runners like to run in green for St Patrick’s Day also.

Try it out this year you might just get hooked on running! Nike has a great training site for runners also. They have detailed plans to get yourself up to speed of running a race if you need help.  After you register you get assigned to a corral depending on your speed and that determines when and where you start.

There are a number of street closures that happen for the Shamrock Shuffle beware if you are near any of these on the morning of March 29th:

• Columbus Dr., from Randolph Dr. to Grand Ave., 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
• Grand Ave., from Columbus Dr. to Rush St., 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Rush St., from Grand Ave. to Hubbard St., 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• Hubbard St., from Rush St. to State St., 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
• State St., from Hubbard St. to Jackson Blvd., 9:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
• Jackson Blvd., from State St. to Jefferson St., 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Jefferson St., from Jackson Blvd. to Harrison St., 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• Harrison St., from Jefferson St. to Michigan Ave., 9:30 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
• Michigan Ave., from Harrison St. to Roosevelt Rd., 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.  
• Roosevelt Rd. (westbound lanes only), from Michigan Ave. to Columbus Dr., 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

And have a happy Shamrock Shuffle! 

Click here for a map of the entire shamrock shuffle course map.

See the official website for the sign up forms: shamrockshuffle.com/cms400min/

See the Nike Running Blogs and Training Info here: nikeplus.nike.com/nikeplus/?locale=en_us

So, you still want to go to the Chicago Auto Show even in the recession? A lot pf people do actually. There were a lot of people there even though people aren’t really buying cars right now.

Here is your guide to leaving your checkbook at home and still having an entertaining afternoon at the Chicago Auto Show 2009.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be in the market for a new car to go to the Chicago Auto Show and have a good time. The only requirement is that you like cars. Period.

The Chicago Auto Show has no salespeople pressuring you into buying anything so why not go learn about cars when you aren’t buying so you can be more informed when you need to buy a car later? Plus, it’s fun to sit in, and try out all the cars whether they are in your price range or not.

Learning the brands, models and options available on the cars now gives you some time to think about what you want in a car and why you would buy it. And it’s one of the most expensive things you will ever pay for (minus houses, college and possibly a wedding) so you might need a few years to really mull it over. (that is how I usually handle it)

If you can, go to the Chicago Auto Show with someone who knows a lot about cars. You can have a lively discussion about the engine cutaways and the performance stats of the cars if you’re there with someone that can explain it to you. If not, you’re reduced to “that one looks fast” and it is slightly less interesting.

Here are some tips for going to the Chicago Auto Show:

1. Arrive early in the day for several reasons: Better parking spots are available in the morning before the parking lots fill up and that matters a lot when it is -5 degrees outside and considering how far away the parking is from the building. Parking is usually $20. (tickets are only $10) Also, the Chicago Auto Show floor is less crowded in the AM so you won’t get cut off by a group of  14 year olds trying to sit in all the Lexus and BMW cars as often earlier in the day. Traffic, like parking also gets worse as the day goes on.

2. Wear something lightweight but still warm.That walk from the car may freeze your nose off but the Chicago Auto Show convention itself is actually very warm. There might be some key lockers you can buy access to for coats in McCormick Place, but I have not found them yet. A turtleneck or sweater with a light coat, and gloves might do the trick.  And wear walking shoes. The floor is an astounding amount of square footage, any-one’s feet would seriously hurt by the end of the show.

3. Don’t bring anything to carry. I know this is hard if you have kids, but carrying something (even a purse) for 3 hours is seriously annoying. Small cameras that fit in your pocket are also ok but not anything that requires a bag. If you have kids you may want to bring a stroller since this is more walking than they will want to do and you don’t want to end up carrying them either.

4. Look for brochures of cars you might buy or you just want to dream about. Most car companies give out free booklets with glossy photos of their new cars. Keep them in a file and when you need to buy one, you have your research done already. Most people know 2-3 brands that they like so this isn’t as much paperwork as you think. I personally keep a historical archive from all the years but that is just me. 

5. Stop for a snack if you need to. It won’t be cheap, but a pretzel and a soda go a long way for giving your feet a rest while you sit down and letting your recharge.

6. If you have limited time, just plan on stopping to see the cars you want to look at rather than everything. Sometimes you can discover something new you love but that is only if you have the energy and time to find it. I typically look at everything which can last 3-4 hours and is somewhat exhausting. You don’t have to know about all the cars, just the ones you really like. Keep track of the costs including options so you know what you want when the time comes to shop for a new car. Sit in the cars you like and see if it lives up to the hype. Maybe even rent one from a rental company to try it out first before buying.  

Got any other tips? Post them in the comments below.

Concept cars are usually on most people’s short list of things to see at the Chicago Auto Show . Some of the concept cars that will be at the Chicago Auto Show this year will be:

Cadillac Converj- A relative of the Evoq but with sharper sweeping triangular lines and a hardtop. It’s one of those kid pleasing concept cars that is just over the top.

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon- This isn’t really a dream concept car. It’s a station wagon all glitzed up. I guess they are testing the market for luxury sport wagons since BMW and Mercedes have them.

Chevrolet Orlando- This looks like a cross between the Honda Element and the Pontiac Aztec and the boxy shape of the Scion Xb. (seen at left: do you love it or hate it?) The front end works but the back end is oddly higher than the front. Basically a small SUV with a turbo diesel engine. The diesel is a mainstay in Europe and more will be coming to the US because of 50 mpg standards.

Chrysler 200c EV- This looks like an Audi from the preview photos and takes Chrysler design in a whole new direction. It also has an electric engine that has 40 miles on battery power possible much like GM’s Volt. After those 40 miles there is a gas motor that kicks in. I am not sure what the social networking component of this car is really good for, but they have it anyway.

Dodge Circuit EV- Where were all these EV’s 2 years ago? This car looks like a sport super car but runs on electricity only. Sports car fans will be happy to find that electric vehicles get awesome torque and have really great 0-60 times. Somehow this car reminds me of the Dodge Stealth and Viper combined.

The stingray concept used in the Transformers 2 movie.

Stingray Concept -

  Wow what a car. This is a great example of how GM can design an amazing fun supercar with cues from past cars but a very modern look. Too bad there are no plans to actually produce it for sale.

Kia Soulster- is an experimental micro SUV. This is somehow a throwback to the 80’s Geo Tracker but I am not sure how. Nobody really wants a convertible mini suv to drive on the beach like Baywatch. (in Yellow)  

Lincoln C – This is a very different direction for Lincoln. The C is a smaller Lincoln than I have seen i a while. It also takes the interior functions to a futuristic level. I like cars that really push boundaries like this.

And enjoy the Chicago Auto Show 2009!

Chicago got more snow today and has a forecast of snow every day this week along with below zero temperatures. All this is after getting a foot of snow on this past Saturday and snow on Thursday before that. (January 2009) The snowfall was above average last year in 2007-2008 also (with 60.3 inches of snow at O’Hare Airport!). 

Chicago got snow once or twice most weeks between November 2007 and April 2008. I can’t tell you how many times I had to shovel/dig a path out of the alley in order to drive to the store last winter. This above average snowfall has made travel difficult although being Chicagoans, we still try and drive through just about any weather conditions.

Since this has been such a constant trend for the last 2 winters I decided to  look up some statistics and find out how rare it is that we get this kind of snowfall in Chicago, because so many people have been talking about 1979 lately and tuning in to Tom Skilling on WGN Channel 9 for their nightly snow/blizzard/weather update.

I am also curious as to why the snowfall amount has increased so dramatically in Chicago the last two years. Is it climate change modifying how the weather patterns travel? Is it just a weird weather anomaly? I haven’t been able to find a comprehensive answer to that question yet, if I find one, I will update this page and let you know.

Some fun weather statistics:

The National Weather Service says that the most snow that has ever fallen on Chicago in a winter season is 89.7 inches in 1978-1979. They also mention that the average amount of snow that Chicago recieved between 1971 and the year 2000 was 38 inches. (the least was 9.8 inches in 1920-1921) This is interesting because as of tonight Chicago has received 38 inches of snowfall for the 2008-2009 season already and it is only January 13.

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This might be a bit geeky but, the graph above (from the site Graphical Climatology of Chicago) shows the average snowfall in a season with the line and the amount we have received to date in 2008-2009 in the filled in bar graph area.

This is interesting because it shows that we have passed the usual yearly average as of today. I wonder if we will beat the all time high for snowfall in Chicago by the end of the season in June?

At this rate I think the winter of 2008-2009 could have about 60 inches of snow like last year, but since there is no reliable way for anyone to estimate this, we will just have to wait and see and update this page as the year and winter continue. I wish you the best of luck with the snow! (plan ahead with cars, travel and groceries this winter to hopefully make this snow less of an issue)

The current Chicago temperature is  from Wunderground.com.

Current Chicago Radar GIF Image from Intellicast.com. Chicago can be difficult to see with all the counties outlined in black, but if you look for the tip of Lake Michigan you can see Chicago weather just to the left. The storm patterns are updated hourly so add a bookmark or link to us to check back here for updates.

Chicago has some of the richest museums and cultural attractions in the country and because of the generosity of some sponsors and the city of Chicago, you can visit and enjoy them for free on these days in 2009.This is a great opportunity for kids and families to enjoy these museums, cultural institutions and artwork the way they were intended: accessible for everyone, not just the privileged people.

If you have kids and don’t want to pay a lot of money for the whole family to go to Chicago Museums, this is the time to go. You still have parking costs and you may also have some costs for food and/or souvenirs but it is a lot cheaper and more affordable to visit Chicago Museums on a free sponsored day. And in this economy free things to do are better than sitting at home one more day with that TV and all those commercials.

The Art Institute of Chicago is Free on Thursday evenings from 5-8 pm after work. This is a great free date night for couples or anyone dating. Remember you can say that a painting or photograph means anything, it is whatever you want to interpret it as.  The Art Institute of Chicago has so many rare pieces of art that people come from all over the world to see our collection here. If you are a Chicago Tourist, you can enjoy the free evenings too. Special exhibits are usually not included in the free admission though.

The Adler Planetarium is Free and open to the public on these days in 2009. The planetarium does not have much parking and the Museum Campus in general has few parking spots available close to the buildings. Be prepared for a long walk and bundle up accordingly in the cold this winter. The y have some cool 3-D movies and space shows running now that the kids will be inspired by. Plus space is such an inspiring curious subject for kids and adults of all ages.

January 5,12-16, 20, & 27th
February 3, 9-13, 17, 24 & 26th
March 3, 10 & 17th
April 21 & 28th
May 5, 12, 19 & 26th
June 7-12th
September 1, 8, 14-18, 22, & 29th
October 6, 13, 20, & 27th
November 3, 10, 17, & 24th
December 1, 8, 15, & 22th 

See the adlerplanetarium.org for more details. 

Chicago Children’s Museum is open for Free every 1st Monday of the month. There is also free admission for children 15 and under every day. And Free Thursdays 5 to 8pm for everyone

Chicago History Museum is open for Free every Monday!

The Chicago Field Museum is open for Free on:  
The 2nd Monday of every month as well as:
January: 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29
February: 1 – 6, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26
September: 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30
October: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15
November: 11, 12, 18, 19
December: 2, 3, 9, 10 

The Museum of Science and Industry is open for Free on:

Jan. 5 – 31
Apr. 22 (Earth Day)
June 1 – 5
June 19 (MSI birthday)
Oct. 8 – 30 (Weekdays only)
Nov. 11 (Veteran’s Day) 

The Museum of Science and Industry is undergoing a large renovation in addition to the U-Boat Submarine that has already been renovated. This was a badly needed renovation, so you can go once now for free and once again when the revamp is done in a year or two. Feel free to skip the wildly out of date Internet exhibit and the automotive exhibit with all the cars covered. This used to be my favorite museum when I was a kid. I hope they can bring it back to it’s former splendor.