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 Downtown Chicago St Patrick’s Day Parade begins at 12:00 noon, Saturday March 14th. 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.

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 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 10:45am: Saturday March 14th. 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 a2009 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 14. The 2009 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 at noon on Sunday March 15th. This is the parade where people get the most drunk and rowdy although I hear it is a lot tamer than it used to be. If you would like to attend the South Side Irish Parade also, wear your green and go hang out between 103rd-115th Streets and Western Ave. & 103rd St in Chicago, IL 60643. The parade is free and it usually lasts about 2 hours. They actually mention on their website at southsideirishparade.org that this St Patrick’s Day Parade is a celebration of Irish heritage in the Beverly-Morgan Park community on the South Side of Chicago and in order to be respectful of it, please refrain from public drinking in areas where it is not permitted.

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.

Five Guys Burgers in Oak Park is a restaurant that originates from DC and has brought their brand of big juicy burgers to do the Chicagoland area. I went to Five Guys Burger Restaurant on a Friday night around 9pm and found a packed restaurant full of a mixture of both families having a late dinner and young people on date night. I was excited that a new restaurant was finally moving into the space that Five Guys has on Lake Street in Oak Park. That space seemed vacant all 7 years that I have lived there. The downtown area of Oak Park is always in constant renewal so this new restaurant is a fitting addition to the scene.

Five Guys has a small menu of basic items but they are made with high quality fresh ingredients. The menu consists of Hamburgers (Regular and Junior size with or without cheese or bacon (or both) and a whole list of toppings), fresh cut potatoes french fries (with or without spicy seasoning) Hot Dogs (with or without bacon and cheese), Grilled cheese sandwiches, Veggie burgers (not as popular) and fountain drinks. I have listed the Five Guys menu items, prices and nutrition calories below for easy reference. (Chicago / Oak Park Prices)

Hamburger $4.39 (700 calories)

Cheeseburger $4.99 (840 calories)

Bacon Burger $5.19 (780 calories)

Bacon Cheeseburger $5.79 (920 calories)

Little Hamburger $3.29 (480 calories)

Little Cheeseburger $3.59 (550 calories)

Little Bacon Burger $3.99 (560 calories)

Little Bacon Cheeseburger $4.29 (630 calories)

Kosher Hot Dog $2.99 (545 calories) (not really Chicago style)

Cheese Dog or Bacon Dog $3.69 (625 calories)

Bacon Cheese Dog $3.99 (695 calories)

Veggie or Grilled Cheese $2.29 (440/430 calories)

Reg Fries $2.59 (620 calories)

Large Fries $4.19 (1464 calories)

Reg Drinks $1.59

Large Drinks $1.79

Five Guys Address: 1115 Lake Street, Oak Park, IL

Phone (708) 358-0856 Fax (708) 358-0906

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the stacks of potato sacks in the lobby were not only for show when one of the employees came out and got one to go make into the fresh cut fries. I was also very happy with the burgers and the beef was very good. A burger here is much better than any fast food place and you don’t have to pay a lot more for the extra quality. They do distract you from all the calories by saying that all the potatoes are fresh cut from Idaho and they don’t use frozen processed meats. So, beware of the calories when you enjoy their food in moderation. (but it is good!)

The Five Guys restaurant decor is simple. They have a red and white checkerboard theme to the restaurant and the walls are dominated by their Zagat reviews and quotes from restaurant reviewers over the years. The place to get in line to order is a bit confusing because of where the door is, but most people figure it out within a minute or two.

I found out that a regular hamburger from Five Guys is really a double burger and in my case a double cheeseburger. The Jr is a regular hamburger, I would order that next time. The fresh cut fries are very good and I would go order fries there as a meal alone since they give you so many. I ended up not able to finish either the double cheeseburger or the fries but luckily I brought my fiance along and he did.

If you are on a diet or watching your fat and cholesterol intake this is not the place for you to go. The menu at Five Guys is fresh and made from great real ingredients without preservatives but the portions are large and the calorie quantity is huge. If you go to Five Guys Burger Restaurant and want to watch the calories I recommend thee small little hamburger and splitting a fri with someone you are with. Then you would end up with a total of 790 calories, which is a lot but far less than I consumed that day during my visit. If you don’t have to watch calories this is a great place to go enjoy fresh juicy burgers in Chicago.  

Every winter the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago has a Zoolights festival to celebrate the season. The Lincoln Park Zoo is a free admission zoo in the center of Chicago located on the north side of the city. When you get all those zoo lights up for the holiday and a free admission Zoo to see the animals, why not take the family to the zoo for the day? (parking us usually not free though)

The Lincoln park Zoo’s Zoo lights winter festival runs from December 5th 2008 through January 4th 2009 from 5-9 pm. (closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day) The sun goes down at about 4:30  pm in Chicago in the winter so there is more time to view all the beautiful tiny colored lights and decorations. I hope the animals enjoy the festivities too. Every evening there is a musical lights show extravaganza on the south lawn.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is located at 2001 North Clark Street in Lincoln park in Chicago, IL 60614. Phone number 312-742-2000.

The Zoo Lights festival at Lincoln Park Zoo also has a number of activities and food available at the park. Crafts, gifts and holiday foods will all be for sale at the event. On December 5th and 6th visit the starbucks there for a free hot cocoa drink to celebrate the season. And as always the Lincoln Park Zoo has a large collection of animals living there from all around the globe.

The different animal sections of the zoo that you can visit are: Reptiles & Amphibians, Birds and Mammals. The Regenstein African Journey, McCormick Bear Habitat, McCormick Bird House, Regenstein Birds of Prey Exhibit, Kovler Penguin and Seabird House, Helen Brach Primate House, Kovler Lion House, Kovler Sea Lion Pool, Pritzker Family Children’s Zoo, Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House, Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond, Flamingo Habitat, Regenstein Center for African Apes, Antelope & Zebra Area, Farm-in-the-Zoo Presented by John Deere and The Nature Boardwalk at Lincoln Park Zoo. 

You may love winter for the holidays, but most of us hate winter because of the snow and it’s complications with Chicago’s winter parking bans in the city between November 25 and April 1. (yes winter lasts till April!) If you are lucky enough to have a car while living in the city of Chicago (and can afford to insure and park it somewhere) you most likely play this roulette game with parking on city streets. After you get your city sticker and whatever local street permits you need there is always the challenge of dealing with winter parking bans for street cleaning, snow removal and just overnight parking in general.

What are these Chicago Winter Parking Bans about anyway? And when do they apply?

1. From November 25 through April 1st you can not park on any arterial streets (any main streets, not the residential areas, but still look for signs) overnight between 3am and 7am any day of the week. Ignoring this ban will cost you a $50 ticket and a $150 towing fee to get your car back plus anything else the impound wants from you. ($10 per day your car sits taking up space in their lot) So, seriously it’s like $250 to get your car back. (that is why the parking department is called the Department of REVENUE)

2. Also, there are another set of snow route signs to watch out for that say that parking is illegal there only if there are 2 inches of snow or more on the ground. These are the trickier ones since if it has snowed everywhere, where else can you park? And if you had somewhere else to park you would have been there to begin with. These signs are more functional though because they have to do with snow plows actually clearing the streets and this is important.

3. Apparently there are some unfortunate areas that have both signs and both parking restrictions. Just don’t live in this neighborhood if you see these when you are apartment shopping.

What is the most frustrating thing about this situation? That the city of Chicago doesn’t even know what laws and regulations they have for parking on all the streets in Chicago. There is no map or guide as to where you can not park or what rules there are on streets listed anywhere on the internet a map here you can look up your area to see what parking restrictions you may have this winter. They don’t provide you with any guide to avoid paying these fines because they really want the revenue. How frustrating that our own city sets traps on purpose.

I have a feeling that these winter parking bans are lost on the rich people who can afford their own posh garage and on suburbanites that don’t venture into the city at all. A lot of people have learned their lesson after hundreds of dollars of parking tickets and they just sell the car and rely on public transportation. My guess is that 1/4 of the people in the office I work in don’t own a car while living in the city. It is true that most of them are under 30 also. I think walking to a bus in 20 below zero gets exponentially harder as you get older. So, stay warm this winter and keep your car off the streets and be very careful of any parking signs visible where you park in Chicago. Good luck!

The Art Institute of Chicago is hosting a new free exhibit called 360 Degrees: Art Beyond Borders for the next 10 months: September 27, 2008 through June 16, 2009. 360 Degrees Art Beyond Borders is unlike most exhibits at the Art Institute of Chicago because it combines efforts and exhibits with the other major cultural institutions in Chicago. The institutions participating are Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Poetry Foundation, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. It is really a 360 degree view of the arts in Chicago. And what is even more amazing about this artistic creative smorgasborg is that it is FREE to the public. How amazing is that?

The schedule consists of lectures, performances, readings, talks, discussions and exhibits full of all forms of artwork and commenting on a wide variety of creative subjects.

The full schedule of Art Institue of Chicago 360 Degrees: Art Beyond Borders Exhibit Events:

• Lecture: Season Preview—The Promise of Encyclopedic Museums
  9/25, 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall. James Cuno, president and director.
• 360 Degrees: Art beyond Borders Opening Day 9/27, 10am -3:30 pm the Art Institute of Chicago
  Free admission Preview the globe-spanning scope of our new season!
• Lecture: Chicago and Globalization—Caught in the Middle on September 27, 2008 at 10:30-11:30 am in Fullerton Hall Free Admission Richard Longworth, Senior Fellow, The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and author.
• Reading: Reading and Commentary—Art and Literature September 27, 2008 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall. Free. C. K. Williams, poet.
• Reading: Poetry—Always a Home September 27, 2008 2-3 pm in Fullerton Hall Free admission. Marilyn Nelson, poet
• Conversation: Bizet’s Pearl Fishers October 2, 2008 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall Free to the public
• Performance: Henri Duparc—Composer Crossing into Modernism October 7, 2008 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall Free with admission to the Art Institute of Chicago. Jean-Baptiste de Boissiere, voice; George Lepauw, piano
• Reading: Adam Zagajewski October 9, 2008 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall Free
• Lecture: Religion, Ethics, and Globalization—New Dilemmas Local and Global October 16, 2008 at 6-7 pm Fullerton Hall Free to the public. Diana Eck, Harvard University.
• Symposium: From the Natural to the Fantastic—Italian Drawings, 1500–1650 (Print and Drawing Club)
  October 17, 2008 at 10:30am-5 pm in Fullerton Hall Space is limited; to reserve a seat, call (312) 443-3756.
• Performance: Italian Masterworks—Schubert and Vivaldi October 19, 2008, 2-3 pm Fullerton Hall For ticket information, call (312) 294-3000
• Lecture: Genius of Sport—Baron Pierre de Couberin and the Enduring Values of the Olympic Ideal
  October 23, 2008 6-7 pm Fullerton Hall Free. George Hirthler from the Chicago 2016 Olympic Campaign.
• Performance: Joel Spears, Lute Virtuoso October 30, 2008, 6-6:45 pm Fullerton Hall Free.
• Symposium: The Divine Art—Four Centuries of European Tapestries October 31, 2008, 10:30am – 5 pm
  Fullerton Hall Space is limited; to reserve a seat, call (312) 857-7138. Free.
• Lecture: God’s Crucible—Islam and the Making of Europe, 570–1215 (Leadership Advisory Committee)
  November 1, 2008, 6-7 pm in the Rubloff Auditorium For tickets, call (312) 494-9509. David Levering Lewis, New York University.
• Performance: Enescu, Bartok, and Brancusi November 4, 2008, 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall Free with admission to the Art Institute of Chicago.
• 360 Annual President’s Lecture: A World Connected—Why Do We Leave Home? November 7, 2008 7:30 -8:30 pm in Fullerton Hall. For tickets, call (312) 494-9509. Nayan Chanda, Yale Center for the Study of Globalization.
• Lecture: Global Debates on Islam in the 21st Century November 13, 2008 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall. Free. Muhammed Sani Umar, Director of Northwestern University’s Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa.
• Lecture: Encyclopedic Museums—Cabinets of Curiosity November 15, 2008 at 11am – 12 pm in Fullerton Hall. Bruce Boucher, Curator of Sculpture
• Performance: Sound Weavers—A Concert of Music Pictured in Tapestry November 16, 2008 at 2-3 pm in Fullerton Hall Cost: $20; $15 for members
• Reading: Paul Muldoon November 20, 2008 at 6-7 pm Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Lecture: Encyclopedic Museums—Medieval Treasuries on November 22, 2008 at 11am-12 pm Fullerton Hall. Free with admission to the Art Institute of Chicago. Christina Nielsen, Assistant Curator for Medieval Art.
• Performance: Messiaen at 100—Takemitsu Remembers 12/2/08, 12-1 pm Fullerton Hall, Free with admission to the Art Institute of Chicago.
• Lecture: Challenging the Encyclopedic Museum—Berlin’s Museum Island December 4, 2008 at 6-7 pm in
  Fullerton Hall $10; Free for members (ticket required) Dr. Thomas Gaehtgens, Getty Research Institute.
• Lecture: Crossing the Ocean—Foreign Visitors and Foreign Influence in Japanese Art on December 6, 2008 at 11am -12 pm in Fullerton Hall. Free with admission to the art institute. Janice Katz, Associate Curator of Japanese Art.
• Performance: German Masterworks on December 7, 2008 at 2-3 pm in Fullerton Hall. For ticket information, call (312) 294-3000.
• Lecture: Mediterranean Crossings—The Quest of ‘Leo Africanus’ on December 11, 2008 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall Free. Natalie Zemon Davis, University of Toronto
• Performance: All in a Garden Green December 18, 2008 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall. Cost: $20; $15 for members.
• Performance: Honorable Pledge Fulfilled January 10, 2009 1-2 pm in Fullerton Hall. Cost: $15; $10 for members. Damine Kabuki Troupe.
• Reading: Eamon Grennan on January 15, 2009 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall. Free.
• Performance: French Masterworks—Roussel and Mozart January 18, 2009 at 2-3 pm in Fullerton Hall
  For ticket information, call (312) 294-3000.
• Performance: Debussy and Impressions of the Sea January 22, 2009 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall $15; $10 for members; Free for CSO subscribers.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Austria February 2, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall
  Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Korea February 3, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—France on February 4, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall and is Free.
• Reading: Robert Pinsky on February 5, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Poland February 9, 2009 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Reflections of the Chinese Poets with Yang Wei on Pipa February 10, 2009 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall.
• Reading: For Czeslaw Milosz February 11, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall.
• Reading: For Octavio Paz February 12, 2009 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall.
• Lecture: The Mysteries of Munch’s Working Methods—Recent Research on The Scream and Madonna
  February 12, 2009 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall. $10; Free for members. Ingebjørg Ydstie, Director, Munch Museum.
• Reading: Tomaz Salamun on February 13, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall.
• Lecture: The Lincoln Image on February 15, 2009 1-2 pm in Fullerton Hall.
• Performance: John Work Chorale on February 15, 2009 at 2-3 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Switzerland on February 16, 2009 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Thailand on February 17, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—China on February 19, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Lecture: Sibling Rivalries and Global Monotheisms—Judaism, Christianity, Islam February 19, 2009 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free. David Nirenberg, University of Chicago.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Spain February 20, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Lecture: Mapping the Globe on February 21, 2009 at 11am -12 pm in Fullerton Hall – Free. Ruth Watson, artist.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Germany on February 23, 2009 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Croatia February 24, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Mexico on February 25, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Consuls General Concert Series—Japan on February 26, 2009 at 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Ives and the New England Landscape on February 26, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall. $15; $10 for members; Free for CSO subscribers.
• Performance: Masterworks by Dvorak March 1, 2009 2-3 pm in Fullerton Hall. For ticket information, call (312) 294-3000.
• Performance: Stravinsky, Picasso, and the Ballets Russes on March 5, 2009 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall. $15; $10 for members; Free for CSO subscribers
• Lecture: Between the Covers—The Art Institute as Publisher on March 14, 2009 at 11am -12 pm in
  Fullerton Hall. Free with admission Susan Rossen, Director of Publications.
• Performance: Across Seasons March 15, 2009 at 1-2 pm in Fullerton Hall, $25; $20 for members
• Performance: Across Seasons on March 15, 2009 3-4 pm in Fullerton Hall. $25; $20 for members
• Lecture: The Encyclopedic Museum—Enlightened or Entitled? on March 19, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall $10; Free for members (ticket required) Philippe de Montebello, Metropolitan Museum of Art.
• Reading: Insights into Ibsen March 26, 2009 at 6-7 pm Fullerton Hall Free.
• Performance: Essence of Japan March 29, 2009 at 2-3 pm in Fullerton Hall $20; $15 for members.
• Lecture: Global Collections for Global Cities April 2, 2009, 6-7 pm Fullerton Hall, $10; Free for members (ticket required) Neil MacGregor, The British Museum.
• Lecture: Technicolor in the Ancient World April 4, 2009 11a.m.-12 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free with admission. Mary Greuel, assistant curator of Ancient Art.
• Performance: Respighi’s Inspiration—Painter Botticelli April 9, 2009 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, $15; $10 for members; Free for CSO subscribers.
• Lecture: The Roman Triumph on April 16, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free. Mary Beard, University of Cambridge.
• Performance: World Tour with the Kronos Quartet April 22, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, $40; $35 for members.
• Lecture: Edvard Munch’s Anxiety of Influence on April 23, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free. Jay A. Clarke, Associate Curator of Prints and Drawings.
• Reading: Philip Levine April 30, 2009 at 6-7 pm Fullerton Hall, Free
• Conversation: Reading from Art May 7, 2008 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Conversation: Listening to the Message…Benjamin Britten’s Owen Wingrave on May 21, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free
• Reading: Ilya Kaminsky May 28, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free.
• Performance: Dvorak and Painter Hassam June 4, 2009 at 6-7 pm in Fullerton Hall $15; $10 for members; Free for CSO subscribers.
• Performance: Illuminating Dvorak June 16, 2009 12-1 pm in Fullerton Hall, Free (ticket required)

Boutique Hotels are gaining popularity in Chicago and across the country. You would think that all the Hotels in Downtown Chicago are huge skyscraper complexes that have thousands of rooms and no individuality. The truth is that in addition to the large chain hotels many small luxury boutique hotels have popped up in Chicago and provide a unique experience for less money than the large chains.

One of the best Boutique Hotels in Chicago is Hotel Monaco. They are owned by the Kimpton Hotels group and I have stayed at their hotels in other cities. Most recently in San Francisco. The staff of the Hotel Monaco in Chicago is very friendly and goes out of their way to serve the needs of guests traveling. I walk past the hotel every day on my way to work and see the doormen greeting new visitors and giving directions and tips to tourists about the city of Chicago.

Chicago Boutique Hotels are also known for their luxury. In SanFrancisco the Kimpton Hotel I was at left no need unmet. I had a large jacuzzi tub (almost too large to be useful) a full shower, wireless free high speed internet, a full entertainment center and a desk work area in addition to a very comfortable well appointed bed. The staff there was also very helpful in giving me directions around town and the room service was happy to prepare dinner for me really late when I got in from the events I was attending. Truly four star service.

Many Boutique Hotels are built around a theme and the Chicago Hotel Monaco tries to be tropical and creative in a city of cement, wind and snow. The doormen even keep with the Monaco theme and wear purple velour suits in the winter and lavender Hawaiian shirts in the summer with fedora hats. No detail has been left out.

I am also always excited to see that Chicago Boutique Hotels offer more originality in their designs and decor. There are only so many beige walls you can look at in your life. Many of the Chicago Boutique Hotels have colorful themes like the Hotel Monaco in Chicago which features a stylish and vivid pallet of greens, plum and burgundy throughout the hotel. The Hotel Monaco Chicago is also one where you get a great view of the Chicago River and are within a short walk to many top Chicago steakhouses, the House of Blues, The Art Institute, Michigan Avenue and the great Broadway shows in Chicago too. Sometimes the locations of the small boutique hotels is far better than the big chains also.

So, the next time you are visiting Chicago, check out the Hotel Monaco from Kimpton Hotels or another Chicago Boutique Hotel and see if that is someplace that might make your stay even better. Room Rates range from $200 to $600 per night depending on the season and how booked they are. Some discounts are available. Book rooms or make reservations at Hotel Monaco at their website monaco-chicago.com or by calling 1-866-610-0081. Hotel Monaco Chicago is located at 225 North Wabash in Chicago, IL  60601. There are also Boutique Hotels by Kimpton under the Hotel Monaco name in Washington DC, Seattle and Denver.

The Chicago Celtic Festival is another free festival in Grant Park from the Mayor’s office of Special Events in Chicago. (they are so generous there) The Celtic Festival originated to celebrate the 7 original Celtic Nations. The original Celtic Nations were: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, The Isle of Man, Cornwall, Spain, Brittany France and Galicia. For the purpose of the festival they celebrate Celtic music, dance, golf sports, food, tartan kilts and more fun activities for the whole family. It is Free to the public and runs from 11 am to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday. Come out to explore your Irish, Scott, Celtic or Welsh heublritage as well as learn more abut the history, music, culture and food from that green region of the world.

The Schedule of events at the Celtic Fest include many musical acts, dance,

At the Petrillo Music Shell the bands will be:

Saturday, September 13, 2008
6:00pm The Elders
7:15pm Great Big Sea

Sunday, September 14, 2008
6:00pm Old Blind Dogs

At the Celtic Crossroads Stage the Musical performers will be:

Saturday, September 13, 2008

11:30am Cara
12:50pm Beoga
2:10pm Old Blind Dogs
3:30pm Larkin & Moran Brothers
4:50pm Men In Kilts Leg Contest

Sunday, September 14, 2008

11:30am Errigal
12:50pm Mary Jane Lamond
2:10pm The Willis Clan
3:30pm The Muck Brothers
4:50pm Bodega

The Celtic Voice Tent has all kinds of interesting speakers with a wide variety of Celtic, Irish, Welsh and cultural topics. I have heard about the shapeshifters from listening to Glen Hansard talk in concerts I have listened to online. It sounds like an interesting folklore and history.

Celtic Voice Tent

Saturday, September 13, 2008
Noon Finding Your Chicago Irish – with Sharon Shea Bossard
1:15pm Kevin Henry and Maggie Healy
2:30pm Tim O’Sullivan
3:45pm Learn to Speak Welsh
5pm Mary Jane Lamond
6:15pm Irish Heritage Singers

Sunday, September 14, 2008
Noon The Old Town School Women’s Choir
1:15pm Jim Wearne
2:30pm From Celts to Christians, Ireland in Late Antiquity and Early Middle Ages – with Sean Doyle
3:45pm David Llewellyn
5pm The Shapeshifters and Fairy
6:15pm Navan

Learn to dance at the Céilí Dance Tent!! I have always wanted to learn more about the Riverdance style of Irish Dance, here is my chance.

Saturday, September 13, 2008
12:00-1pm Emma O’Sullivan & Sean Nos performance and instruction
1pm-3pm Broken Pledge Ceili Band & Ed Heffernan, dance instructors
3pm-4:30pm Glen Ayre & Ken Chau, dance instructors
4:30pm-6pm Broken Pledge Ceili Band & Ed Heffernan, dance instructors

Sunday, September 14, 2008
12:00-1pm – Emma O’Sullivan & Sean Nos performance and instruction
1pm-3pm – Ceoltoiri Chicago & Brendan Houlihan, dance instructor
3pm-4:30pm – Glen Ayre & Barbara Cool, dance instructor
4:30pm-6pm – Ceoltoiri Chicago & Brigid Sutton, dance instructor

And finally all the Irish Dance Companies that will be performing this weekend!

Saturday, September 13, 2008
12:00pm Sets of Erin
12:30pm Evanston Scottish Country Dancers
1:00pm McNulty School of Irish Dance
1:30pm Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers
2:00pm Trinity School of Irish Dance
2:30pm Teresa y Los Preferidos Spanish Dance Co.
2:45pm World Academy of Irish Dancers
3:15pm Gillan School of Highland Dance
4:00pm Dennehy Irish Dancers
4:45pm Sheila Tully School of Irish Dance
5:15pm Teresa y Los Preferidos Spanish Dance Co.
5:30pm Cas Dannsa
6:15pm Lavin-Cassidy School of Irish Dance

Sunday, September 14, 2008
12:00pm Gaelic Park Set Dancers
12:30pm Royal Scottish Country Dance Society
1:00pm Spriorad Damhsa
1:30pm -illan School of Highland Dance
2:15pm Cross-Keys School of Irish Dance
2:45pm Teresa y Los Preferidos Spanish Dance Co.
3:00pm Mullane Healy O’Brien Academy
3:45pm Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers
4:15pm The McDance Company
4:45pm Teresa y Los Preferidos Spanish Dance Co.
5:00pm Anam Mor
5:30pm Cas Dannsa
6:15pm Dillon-Gavin School of Irish Dance

If you do decide to go to the Celtic Fest, remember that street parking is impossible to find and parking underground is the only option and it is expensive at ~$30.00. The best way to get there is by public transportation. Buses and EL trains are convieniently in the area and the Metra is also an option from the suburbs with a cab from the station to the fest if needed.

The Chicago Celtic Festival is free to the public and open from 11:00 am to 9:30 pm both Saturday and Sunday this weekend. The only rules are no dogs of course for saftey purposes. For a map of the Chicago celtic fest click here.

I went to the WIRED Nextfest the last time it was in Chicago on Navy Pier and I was very impressed. The exhibits and technology on display were engaging and the people representing the work were great to talk to and ask questions. This year’s Wired Next Fest is happening in Chicago again but scheduled to be at at Millennium Park this time and for a few more days, from Saturday September 27th to Sunday October 21th. There are two whole weeks and weekends of technology and exploration happening at the 2008 WIRED NextFest on the calendar.

A bonus is that the admission is FREE for the event, so bring your friends and family because it really is a lot of fun and you do learn some cool new things when you go to the WIRED Nextfest. The schedule of events includes:

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• Wednesday, September 23 – Musician Andrew Bird kicks things off with his violin in a FREE concert in Millennium Park at 6:30 pm at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion
• Thursday, September 25 Opening Event at 6:30 PM in Millennium Park Invitation Only (boo)
• Friday, September 26 Chris Anderson the WIRED Magazine Editor in Chief, Author of The Long Tail, Breakfast Presentation at WIRED NextFest at 8:30 am in Millennium Park – invitations required (boo)
• Innovate Now presents: Creating a Culture of Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Creativity 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM at Millennium Park (pre-registration required $200.00 quite pricey)
• Saturday, September 27 through Sunday, October 12 WIRED NextFest is Open to the general public in Millennium Park Chicago (yay)
• Wednesday, October 1 Alinea Event 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM in Millennium Park – Invitation Only (boo)
• Tuesday, October 8WIRED Nextfest Brain Bowl Competition 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM at Millennium Park this event is FREE and Open to the Public. (yay)

Here are some of the exhibits and displays on the schedule you can see, touch and interact with at the WIRED Nextfest this year.

Bio Fuel Micro Algae – how does it work?
BrainBall from the Interactive Institute – play the game
The C-Leg system – how prosthetics are advancing in technology and use
Cell Phone Disco – have a blast
ckBot – the toughest small robot you have ever seen
Climate Time Machine – from NASA
d3o- A supersuit with super powers
Dynamic Arm and Elbow – 12K100 More advancing use of joints in prosthetics
Eraseable paper – what if we didn’t need to recycle it? and could just re-use it?
Everyblock – a local app
Flower- a game from the gamecompany
GigaPan – helps you take awesome panoramic shots without being a pro
GuiaBot – your personal butler robot style
Hoops Kiosk featuring Dwayne Wade – play some hoops show em who’s horse
Hoverit Lounger – not sure what this is yet…
Imagine ps – the human car made from all recycled plastics and uses no fossil fuels
Immersadome – Virtual reality is still being innovated
iPoint Presenter – the no-touch touch-screen, just point
Keepon- beatbots love to dance, but do they beatbox also?
MARCbot – like an RC Car but a robot for space…from NASA
Modular snake robots- aaaaaaaaaahhhh! [runs away]
MOWER – a sheep looking robot to slowly mow (moo) your lawn. Lawn ornament properties are a bonus

PIER – the network to watch your carbon footprint on
Plainilum Light- even better than compact flourescents and LEDs! Bulbs last 20 years!
Watch plastic appear from CO2- amazing caatlysts
PM – from Toyota – your personal mobility vehicle
PRIUS plug in vehicle from Toyota – more green for your mean
Robokind – robot kids?
Security Printing – XEROX makes ink that can’t be photocopied
Solid Ink from Xerox – looks like crayons really
Spiral water filtration – filter water efficiently in smaller spaces
Suitcase Pavillion – something big built from a suitcase of parts
The Toyota 1/x – the future of green vehicles and recycled parts
Toyota iReal and iSwing – they ripped off Apple’s naming conventions for more of their personal mobility vehicles
Extreme Photovoltaics- honk if you {heart} photovoltaics and want some super powered efficient energy generating ones like I do
X-48B Blended Wing from Boeing – the flying wing is no new concept but they have updated the technology so it is safer to fly

 See you at the WIRED NextFest!

This year the Chicago Windy City Wine Festival is being held on September 5th and 6th at Daley Plaza downtown in Chicago. The Wine Festival starts on Friday evening at 4pm and goes until 10 pm. It continues on Saturday afternoon at 3 pm and is open until 10 pm again. Tickets are available to purchase for the Windy City Wine Festival Online at windycitywinefestival.com/buy.html or call 847-382-1480 to purchase them by phone.

Tickets are $25.00 for the wine tasting in advance and $30.00 each at the door. Additional tasting coupons can be purchased for more tasting at the festival for $5.00. There is even a designated driver ticket available for $10.00 which gets you 2 non-alcoholic drinks and food as well as access to cooking demonstrations and a copy of the festival program.  

They have also included live bands performing at the event to add to the relaxed atmosphere and they have brought in several local wine experts and Sommeliers to present information about choosing, buying and pairing wines with food as well as information about the wine making process.

It is interesting that even though the economy has slowed down people have certainly not stopped drinking wine. People have decided that buying cheaper food and clothing as well as saving energy were all bearable changes but the Chicagoans are not giving up their wine drinking. Wine sales have increased an enormous amount in the last decade thanks to movies like Sideways that made it a cool, independent, social and cultural hobby to have.

Chicago may not have any vineyards or be written about much in Wine Spectator but we have a lot of wine drinkers and buyers in the Chicagoland area. They have been a fan of the Chicago Wine Festival and the Naperville Wine festival the last few years. Also a few stores like Armanetti’s, Sam’s Wines and Spirits and Binny’s have made buying from huge selections of wine from all over the world possible under one roof for very affordable prices. Also, hundreds of small wind boutiques have popped up like Wine Expressions and Wine Styles in all the small shopping centers in the suburbs.

Yuppies and baby boomers liked taking a bottle of wine to dinner at a friend’s house or serving a new wine guests had never tried before at parties. This novelty as well as great taste has kept wine popular while other luxury items have trailed off in popularity since the economy has slowed down. Click here for a map of the wine festival grounds and plan your trip today.

The entertainment and educational presentation schedule for the fest:

Friday, September 5 – 4-10pm

5:00-5:25pm – Tim Laird, Mixology, The Art of the Wine Cocktail.
5:30-6:00 pm – “Cutting Edge White Wines” Serafin Alvarado, Master Sommelier Director of Wine Education, Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois
6:05-6:35 pm – Sheri Sauter Moran, Wines of France
6:40-7:10 pm – Colleen Stewart, The Bonterra Vineyards Organic Road Show
7:15-7:45 pm – THE HEARTY BOYS
8:00-9:45 pm – KIM MASSIE

Saturday, September 6 – 3-10pm

3:30-4:05 pm – Sheri Sauter Moran, Wines of France
4:10-4:40 pm – Steve Ciappette Viand
4:45- 5:15pm – Fetzer Eco Tour “Growing Green”
5:30-6:40 pm – DAYNA MALOW
6:50-7:20 pm – Tim Laird, Mixology, The Art of the Wine Cocktail.
7:25-7:55 pm – THE HEARTY BOYS
8:15-9:45 pm – MICHAEL HEATON BAND

Have you ever needed a zip code to find out an address or mail a letter to someone and needed their zip code? I run into this problem a lot so here are the zip codes I have been able to compile from a few different places on the web. There are Chicago neighborhood zip codes from the north, south and west side of the city and some near Chicago suburban zip codes too. The zip codes are all listed aphabetically for easy reference. Hopefully this list will be helpful and if you bookmark it you can come back again to look the zip codes up as soon as you need them. No more hunting for old letters or christmas card envelopes with return addresses on them!

Albany Park zip codes- 60625, 60630
Andersonville zip code - 60640
Belmont Cragin zip codes – 60639, 60634, 60641, 60707
Berwyn & Forest Park, IL zip codes - 60402, 60130, 60398
Beverly zip code - 60643
Bridgeport, IL zip codes – 60608, 60616, 60609
Bronzeville - 60653
Bucktown zip codes - 60622, 60647
Chatham zip codes - 60620, 60619
Chinatown zip code - 60608
Dearborn Park & Printer’s Row - 60605
DePaul zip code - 60614
Downers Grove, IL - 60515, 60516
Edgewater - 60640, 60660
Edison Park & Jefferson Park - 60630, 60631, 60646
Englewood - 60636
Evanston, IL - 60201, 60202, 60203
Gold Coast & Streeterville - 60610, 60611
Greektown - 60607
Highland Park, IL - 60035
Horner Park - 60618
Humboldt Park - 60647, 60651, 60624
Hyde Park & Kenwood - 60615, 60637, 60653
Irving Park - 60641, 60618
Lakeview - 60657, 60613
Lincoln Park - 60614
Lincoln Square - 60625, 60659
Logan Square - 60647, 60641, 60639
Loop - 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60605, 60606
Marquette Park - 60629
Naperville, IL - 60540, 60563, 60564, 60565
Near North Chicago- 60610, 60611, 60654, 60606
Near South Chicago - 60605, 60607
Near West Chicago - 60606, 60607, 60610, 60612, 60622, 60661, 60608, 60616
North Center & St. Ben’s - 60613, 60618, 60657
North Park & Budlong Woods – 60625, 60659, 60646, 60630 Old Town: 60610, 60614
Oak Lawn, IL - 60453, 60454, 60456, 60457, 60458, 60459
Oak Park & River Forest, IL - 60301, 60302, 60303, 60304, 60305
Pilsen & Little Village - 60608, 60616
Portage Park - 60641
Ravenswood – 60625, 60640
River North - 60610, 60611
River West - 60606, 60622, 60610, 60661
Rogers Park – 60626 Roscoe Village: 60618, 60657
Schaumburg, IL - 60173, 60179, 60192, 60193, 60194, 60195, 60196
Skokie, IL - 60076, 60077
South Shore - 60649, 60617, 60619, 60637
St Charles, IL – 60174
Tri-Taylor & UIC University Village – 60607
Ukrainian Village - 60622, 60612, 60607
Uptown & Buena Park - 60640, 60660, 60613
Washington Park - 60615, 60637, 60609, 60621
West Ridge & Warren Park - 60659, 60645
West Town - 60612, 60622, 60647, 60610
Wicker Park - 60622, 60647, 60614
Wilmette, IL - 60091
Winnetka, IL - 60093
Wrigleyville Chicago - 60613, 60657

The Labor Day Weekend and Holiday Monday are so jam packed with events you won’t be able to stay home for long. Both in the City of Chicago and in the suburbs there are large events and parades happening in addition to all the shopping sales all over Chicagoland. The Chicago Jazz Festival is this weekend, the JayCees Naperville Last Fling and the Labor Day Parades are all day Monday. I know the weather will also be good this Labor Day Weekend, it should be in the upper 80’s and no rain is in the forecast.

First, on Friday at 5pm there is the monthly Critical Mass Bike ride through downtown and the streets of Chicago. Join up wiht them at Daley Plaza at 5pm if you want to ride along. There is a police escort at the front of the pack and bike riding helmets may be required….

The Chicago Jazz Festival is also this weekend in Grant Park. The 30th Annual Jazz Festival runs Thursday through Sunday.  In the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park they will be celebrating 30 years of jazz with two time Grammy Award winner Sonny Rollins. The admission to the Chicago Jazz Festival in Grant Park is Free! The Jazz Festival will run August 29-31 for three days of free music on three stages from 10:00 am-9:30 pm per day. No Dogs or Alcoholic beverages will be allowed in the festival. The Grant Park Petrillo Band shell Schedule is as follows:

Friday, August 29, 2008
5:00-5:50 T.S. Galloway’s Tribute to Capt. Walter Dyett featuring Julian Priester, Ken Chaney, Mwata Bowden, Edwin Daugherty, Ari Brown and Von Freeman
6:00-6:55 AACM Roscoe Mitchell, Wadada Leo Smith, Amina Claudine Myers, Michael Logan and Thurman Barker
7:10-8:10 Dee Dee Bridgewater’s Tribute to Betty Carter
8:30-9:30 Eddie Palmieri’s Latin Jazz Band

Saturday, August 30, 2008
4:30-4:45 – Remembering Franz Jackson
5:00-5:50 – Pharez Whitted Sextet
6:00-6:55 – Vijay Iyer Quintet
7:10-8:10 – Dave Douglas Brass Ecstasy
8:30-9:30 – Gerald Wilson Orchestra with a special guest Kenny Burrell

Sunday, August 31, 2008
5:00-5:50 – Ron Dewar Quintet
6:00-6:55 – From the Netherlands: The Instant Composers Pool
7:10-8:10 – 8 Bold Souls with a Special Guest Dee Alexander
8:30-9:30 – Ornette Coleman

Naperville is also hosting it’s Jaycee’s Last Fling Concert Event in the downtown area. This is the traditional last event of the summer to celebrate and socialize before the official fall season and back to school craziness takes off and fills the calendar. Click here to see the full last fling booklet with the map, directions, schedule and more info you may need.

The Naperville JayCee’s Last Fling 2008 features a Carnival, Main Stage Performances featuring Nationally known Artists, Free performances on the Entertainment Stage daily, a Beer Garden and Dozens of Great Food Vendors and Business Expo Booths From local Naperville Businesses. It is a great place to take the family for a fun night out. Tickets are $10.00 per person on Friday night and $12.00 per person on Saturday and Sunday night. Tickets can be purchased at Oswald’s Pharmacy at 88 Gartner Road in Naperville, 60540 (in the Naperville Plaza Shopping Center) or at Dean’s Clothing at 226 South Main Street in Naperville, 60540 (in Downtown Naperville). The actual location of the Last Fling is: The Naperville Riverwalk, 100 West Jackson Avenue Naperville, IL 60540 phone: 630-961-4143

Naperville Last Fling Dates and Times:

• Friday August 29 @ 5 pm – 11 pm
• Saturday  August 30 @ 10 am – 11 pm
• Sunday  August 31 @ 10 am – 11 pm
• Monday September 1 @ 10 am – 6 pm

Music Concert Schedule
Friday August 29th
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Dennis DeYoung
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm The Music of Styx – Hi Infidelity

Saturday August 30th
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm The Doobie Brothers
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Painkiller Hotel
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Josh Holmes

Sunday August 31st
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm Gavin DeGraw
6:00 pm to 8:00 pm Absentstar
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Kimi Hayes

Monday September 1st
4:00 pm to 6:00 pm The Hat Guys
2:00 pm to 4:00 pm Stellar Road 

Enjoy the Labor Day Holiday and have a great weekend!

Michigan Avenue has been a shopping, vacation and hotel stay destination in the midwest for more than 100 years and features some of the most exclusive stores, luxurious hotels and hip fashion boutiques.Michigan Avenue holds the Chicago Water Tower, the Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, and north of the Chicago River is known as the Magnificent Mile. Chicago has long been the largest city in the MidWest so the retail stores set up flagship stores downtown (on Michigan Avenue and State Street) in Chicago to cater to the wealthy gold coast neighborhood residents and be a destination for all the Midwestern townspeople when they really needed to shop for something special.

Over time shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago has evolved from a street of mostly large department stores to many different speciality stores as shopper’s tastes and attitudes have changed. The three department stores still located on Michigan Avenue today are Macy’s (formerly Marshall Field’s), Nieman Marcus and Nordstrom. Other large flagship retail stores are Crate and Barrel, Ann Taylor, Forever 21, The Gap, The Nike Store, H&M, an Apple Store and Eddie Bauer. Smaller Boutique stores include Kenneth Cole, Hugo Boss, Cartier, Tiffany & Co., Banana Republic, Coach, Garmin, Levi’s, Aldo shoe store, the Hershey Chocolate Store, Fannie May Candies, Talbot’s women’s clothing, Express, and Victoria’s Secret. Many Staycations are happening in Chicago this summer and Michigan Avenue has everything to offer that fancy shopping in NYC or LA would have.

Hotels on Michigan Avenue in Chicago

The most popular hotels to stay at on Michigan avenue are the Hotel Intercontinental, The Drake Hotel and the Peninsula Hotel. All of these hotels are historic places where the wealthy have stayed while visiting Chicago for generations. All three hotels have ample accommodations, well appointed rooms and beautiful views of the city. When they were built they were some of the tallest buildings in Chicago, now they aren’t anymore with skyscrapers near by, but they still offer great views of Michigan Avenue and the Lake. The Drake Hotel and The Hotel Intercontinental also have very posh restaurants. The Peninsula Hotel Restaurants are even more regal, and I haven’t had a chance to stay there yet. Expect large marble entry ways and columns and bell hops that help you manage everything. Also expect high room rates for these hotels in season. In the summer the hotels on Michigan Avenue can be $200-$600.00 a night.  (depending on the room and the view) Off Season they might drop to $150 – 300.00 but the top penthouse floors are always over $1,000.00.

Historic Landmarks on Michigan Avenue in Chicago

The most well known historical landmark on Michigan Avenue in Chicago is the Water Tower that survived the great Chicago fire in 1871. The limestone that the Water Tower and the Pumping Station across the street are made from is a local Illinois quarry stone that saved those buildings from going up in flames. After the Chicago Fire Limestone and brick became very popular building materials.

Restaurants on Michigan Avenue in Chicago

There are so many restaurants to choose from when shopping on Michigan Avenue in Chicago. Here are some listings for the restaurants located on Michigan Avenue’s Magnificent Mile or within a block or two of the street. The food choices range from family friendly restaurants to elegant steakhouses and chop houses. The prices range from $10.00 to $100.00 depending on how fancy a meal you are looking for.

410 Club and Conference Center
410 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)944-7600

Bandera Restaurant ** Chicago Weekend Fun Recommends**
535 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)644-3524

The Cheesecake Factory
875 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)337-1101
thecheesecakefactory.com

Cafe Spiaggia
980 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)280-2750

California Pizza Kitchen
835 N. Michigan Avenue – 7th Floor, 60611
phone: (312)787-7300
cpk.com

Chicago Chop House
60 W. Ontario Street, 60610
phone: (312)787-7100
chicagochophouse.com

Cielo Restaurant and Bar
676 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)944-7676

The Dining Room At the Ritz Carlton Chicago
160 E. Pearson Street, 60611
phone: (312)573-5223

Foodlife
835 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)335-3663
leye.com

Gene & Georgetti
500 N. Franklin Street, 60610
phone: (312)527-3718

Gino’s East Famous Stuffed Pizza ** Chicago Weekend Fun Recommends**
160 E. Superior Street, 60611
phone: (312)345-8500
ginoseast.com

Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop & Soda Fountain
830 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)337-9330
Old fashioned soda fountain and chocolate shop.

Joy of Ireland’s Irish Tea Room
700 N. Michigan Avenue
phone: (312)664-7290

Kinzie Street Chophouse
400 N. Wells Street, 60610
phone: (312)822-0191

La Cantina Grill Mexican Dining
1911 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois 60616
Phone: 312-842-1911

Lawry’s The Prime Rib Steakhouse **Chicago Weekend Fun Recommends**
100 E. Ontario Street, 60611
phone: (312)787-5000

McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
41 E. Chestnut – Corner of Rush Street, 60611
phone: (312)397-9500
mccormickandschmicks.com

McDonald’s Water Tower Place
835 North Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)649-5562

Mity Nice Grill Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
835 North Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)335-4745
leye.com

O’Brien’s Restaurant By the River – Enter by Michigan Ave and Wacker on the NW corner down the staircase to the river. **Chicago Weekend Fun Recommends**
1528 North Wells Street
60610 
phone: (312)787-9400
obriensrestaurant.com

The Signature Room At the Ninety-Fifth John Hancock Tower
875 North Michigan Avenue – Suite 1525, 60611
p: (312)280-5450
www.signatureroom.com
The traditional place to propose to someone you want to marry.

Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse
318 N. State Street At Marina City, 60610
phone: (312)670-9900
The best quality steaks in Chicago!

Spiaggia
980 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)280-2750

Szechwan Restaurant
625 N. Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: (312)329-9494

Tavern Club
333 N. Michigan Avenue
60601
phone: 312 263-1239

Tucci Benucch Lettuce
900 North Michigan Avenue, 60611
phone: 312 266-2500
leye.com

Weather Mark Tavern
1503 South Michigan Avenue
Phone: 312 588-0230

Bonus: Parking garages on Michigan Avenue listed for your convienience:

CPS Parking
1 N. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Phone: 312-578-1660

Downtown Parking
300 East Illinois Street
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone 312 296-3430

G. O. Parking
875 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone 312 335-8600

Hammerschlag & Co
350 West Hubbard Street
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone 312 494-0371

Imperial Parking Corporation
205 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone 312-960-0700

InterPark
111 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
Phone 312-935-2800

Standard Parking
900 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, Illinois
Phone: 312-274-2040

System Parking
111 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Phone 312-819-5050

Valet Parking Service, Inc.
70 West Madison Street
Chicago, IL 60602
Phone 312-332-1134

Happy Shopping!
 

This weekend in Chicago there are plenty of events to attend if you are still making your plans. First off the Olympics are ending this weekend and the closing ceremony will be on Sunday evening NBC Channel 5 in Chicago at 8pm.

Everyone is a Buzz over Barack Obama announcing his Vice President Choice via Text Message today. We still await the text message. Barack has chosen Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware. We hope there wasn’t a server crash sending out all those emails and texts… I am sure most people will be tuned in to the Democratic National Convention on Monday since Obama-mania is sweeping Chicago. Everywhere I go people are wearing Barack Obama T-Shirts, buttons, hats and other merchandise. He really is a phenomenon in Chicago. We may not win the Olympic bid for 2016 but we may get to have a cool connection with the next president of the United States.

Another event happening this weekend that will be a lot of fun is the Chicago Viva Latin Music Festival August 23-24 in Grant Park downtown.  (200-300 East Jackson. Jackson Street will be closed from Columbus to Lake Shore Drive Thursday to Monday for the Festival) Viva is a two day festival that features all styles of Latin Music along with food, a low rider car show and latin dancing too. The Viva Latin Music Festival is free and open from 10:30 am to 9:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday! The CTA is the best way to get to the festival. Please see the CTA web site for directions from where you live. The schedule of music performers is as follows:

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Saturday August 23rd 2008
2:30-2:35 pm Opening National Anthem
2:35-3:30 pm Everardo Rey y su flota musical
3:40-4:35 pm Malo featuring Jorge Santana
4:45-5:30 pm Don Tetto
5:40-6:20 pm Tommy Torres
6:25-7:05 pm The Dey
7:10-8:20 pm Yamil, El orgullo de México con el Mariachi, Zapopan y el Ballet C’Acatl
8:30-9:30 pm Alexis y Fido El Duo Sobrenatural

Sunday August 24th 2008
2:30-2:35 pm Opening National Anthem
2:35-3:05 pm Menudo
3:15-3:30 pm MTV Winner
3:40-4:40 pm Cruz Martínez y Los Súper Reyes
4:50-5:50 pm Los Creadores del Pasito Duranguense
6:00-7:00 pm Fobia
7:10-8:00 pm Mike Roman & The Tellstars Featuring Jose Chepito Areas and Armando Peraza
8:10-9:30 pm – Los Lobos

Also, you should tickets if you want to see Dirty Dancing the Musical when it opens at the Cadillac Palace Theater in Chicago September 28th. These tickets are selling fast because this show got such great reviews in New York. And remember, nobody puts baby in a corner. Broadway in Chicago sells all the tickets for the theater and musicals in Chicago and they are also listed on Ticketmaster.com. Prices range from $27.50 to $125.50 each. 

The Accenture Triathalon is also happening this weekend in Chicago. You probably wouldn’t think of entering unless you have already been training for 6 months, but if you want to go watch very fit people compete and get some inspiration for your own fitness goals you can watch the triatheletes. The race starts early on Saturday Morning at 6 AM at Chicago’s Foster Avenue Beach. It is all over by 11 am  though so you have to be an early riser to compete or be a spectator. The weather should be nice for a day at the beach in general though…

The Labor Day Holiday is also just around the corner and planning your shopping trip, camping expedition or last cookout BBQ of the season would be good right about now.  Or maybe it is just more fun to stay home and play Rock Band or the Wii. Personally I may go see the new movie The Rocker with Rainn Wilson in it and I have some Fantasy Football Drafts to attend. (although I am only playing fantasy football because my boyfriend asked, not because I understand anything about Football) Whatever you do this weekend, have fun with it!  

Every year the Chicago Air and Water Show airplanes buzz our buildings on the Thursday and Friday before the show downtown. They practice the airshow routines over the buildings and the Chicago lakefront. You can see some of the show from here but because we are on Michigan Avenue a lot of the other buildings block some of the view. The clearest view is still near the beaches north of downtown. (Gold Coast, Old Town, Lakeview, Lincoln Park areas) if you plan on coming into the city from the suburbs to view the Chicago Air and Water show in person, beware of expensive parking garages and lots of traffic. Most people avoid driving (plus Gas is wicked expensive these days) and just take the Metra into Union Station and take a cab or bus to the North Ave or North Street beach. 2.2 Million people is a lot to deal with in a small area. Public transportation is the way to go.

From the official City of Chicago page we learn that:
There will be an additional day of shows on Friday, August 15. This is new, they have never done a show during the work week before.

The Friday Schedule :
• the show starts with the U.S. Navy Blue Angels at 3:00 p.m. and then the U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team will parachute into the city.
• There is a Free concert at the North Ave. Boat House @ 5:00 pm and after the concert, the air show starts again with more flying and aerobatic demonstrations until dusk. (Lima Lima)
• Fireworks will be shown from 8:45-9:00 pm

The Schedule is a little different for Saturday, August 16 & Sunday, August 17:
• The Water portion of the show begins at 9 am (but does anyone really watch this part?)
• The Air Show runs from 11 am – 4 pm with the same performer list as on Friday.

Chicago Air and Water Show Performers 2008:

• U.S. Navy Blue Angels F-18s
• U.S. Army Parachute Team Golden Knights
• F-22 Raptor
• U.S. Navy Leap Frogs Parachute Team
• AeroShell Aerobatic Team
• The Firebirds F-16
• Lima Lima Flight Team
• Sean Tucker & Team Oracle Challenger
• Bill Leff Airshows T-6
• Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band and Special Guest play at the North Avenue Boat @ 5:00 pm on Friday.
• Shell Extreme Watershow
• Herb Hunter – The Voice of the Chicago Air and Water Show
• The Collaborators with the Oracle BiPlane

Some great pictures from Flickr:

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There are a lot of very affordable (cheap) entertainment and (family) fun options this weekend in Chicago. Whether you live in the suburbs or are planning on getting a hotel room and vacationing in Chicago for the weekend, there is lots to do. If you haven’t gotten tickets to see the award winning show Wicked (the musical) or Jersey Boys, get them quick, the last block of tickets is on sale now. Also, in perfect timing with the Olympics on TV, Circqe Shanghai: Gold is in town performing at Navy Pier. The Museum of Science and Industry also has a new exhibit on Glass Making called The Glass Experience that is a lot of fun for the family. The Chicago Shedd Aquarium also has a new exhibit also called Lizards & the Komodo King. Here are my recommendations and best picks this weekend in Chicago:

1. Everyone knows that the Opening Ceremonies for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will begin on NBC Channel 5 at 6:30 pm Friday evening. You can also see Cirque Shanghai: Gold at Navy Pier’s Pepsi Skyline Stage this weekendin between watching Olympic TV events from China. They will be performing there through September 1st so get tickets for later in the month if you are already booked. Tickets are very affordable from $15.00 to $30.00 and it is a fun family event. If you re coming in from the suburbs, take the metra and then a cab or bus from the train station to avoid traffic and the high cost of parking the car.

2. The Museum of Science and Industry has a new exhibit on Glassmaking and Glassblowing that is a lot of fun for the family while also being a learning experience. The Museum of Science & Industry is located at the address: 57th Street & Lake Shore Drive Chicago, IL 60637. Call 773-684-1414 for more information. The Glass Experience, runs through September 1 and this interactive exhibition reveals the science, craftsmanship and beauty from the world of glassmaking. There are live glass blowing demonstrations, Dale Chihuly glass bowls artwork, Tiffany glass shaded lamps and Frank Lloyd wright stained glass windows. Admission is 8.50 for kids and $13.00 for Adults. the Museum of Science and Industry and the Glass Experience is open from 9:30 am to 4pm daily.

3. The Chicago Shedd Aquarium has a new exhibit also called Lizards & the Komodo King through September 1. The John G. Shedd Aquarium is located at the address 1200 S. Lake Shore Drive (Museum Campus) Chicago, IL 60605. Call 312.939.2438 if you have questions for the Shedd Aquarium. This exhibit is neat because the world’s largest lizard is making his first-time appearance in Chicago and they have brought out all the lizard creatures he is related to for show also. Lots of great fish and amphibious creatures are always viewable at the Shedd Aquarium (penguins!) also. Admission is $27.00 for an adult day pass which includes this exhibit.

4. The award winning show Wicked is ending it’s Musical Theater run in Chicago at the Ford Center for the Performing arts (formerly the Oriental Theater) in January. The last blocks of tickets to the shows through December have gone on sale now. They won’t last long, plan tour trip to Chicago and book your hotel rooms now before it sells out. Get your tickets to see Wicked from Broadway in Chicago before it leaves Chicago whether you have seen it many times or have never seen the show before. I saw it 3 times and loved it. Ticket prices range from around $30.00 to $100.00 per seat.

Have a happy and safe Olympic weekend in Chicago!

Few things can ignite the senses of women in Chicago more than fat free desert treats like Fro Yo, Starfruit, YoBerri, Red Mango and PinkBerry (which hasn’t quite arrived yet). (what we have forgotten coldstone’s mashed up madness so quickly?) Remember how much you loved TCBY fat free white chocolate mousse frozen Yogurt in the 1990’s? This latest frozen yogurt craze of companies seem to have made that basic product tastier healthier and better.

It looks like these new stores do a lot more with flavors and toppings now than they did back in the TCBY era and Fro Yo, Red Mango, YoBerri, Berry Chill , Starfruit and PinkBerry are rolling in the profits as a result. There is also another copy cat chain called Berry Chill opening in Ogilvie Transportation Center (Metra Train Station) downtown in the loop this fall. Some people think that five or six dollars for ice cream (or fat free frozen yogurt) is too much to pay for indulgent guilt free treats. Others are addicted. I am usually one that is addicted to fat free snacky treats but as of yet I can’t find one of these hip trendy frozen Yogurt stores near where I work or live.

Here is what I found about the locations so far in Chicago and the suburbs (Evanston). They seem to all be open until 10 or 11 PM for almost midnight snacks and everyone is comparing them to see which one is the best in Chicago.

Fro Yo Locations: Some say it is a more tart sweet flavor than traditional frozen yo. This seems to be what is so addictive about it. They don’t have stores of their own but it can be bought at other ice cream and yogurt places like Treats in Lakeview – Lincoln Park at 3319 North Broadway Street between Aldine and Buckingham in Chicago, IL 60657. The phone number there is 773-525-0900.

YoBerri Locations: Lakeview & Lincoln Park Neighborhood in Chicago: 2814 N Halsted Street between Diversey and Wolfram Street in Chicago, IL 60657 Phone number 773-348-3762  This location isn’t even listed on the corporate website. Maybe it’s a secret test marketing spot? Brown Line stops at Diversey near by for easy transit. People seem annoyed at their lack of eco-consiousness in using Styrofoam cups for the frozen yogurt.

Red Mango Locations: Evanston just north of Chicago. Purple Line Accessible. The address is 809 Davis Street between Benson and Sherman in Evanston, IL 60201. The phone number is 847-866-0998.Red Mango has by far the most fans online and everyone has only good things to say about the yogurt, the fresh fruit toppings and the store. It is usually packed until closing time, expect parking to be hard to find (not that it’s any easier in Lakeview) and a line to reach the counter if it’s near lunch or dinner time.

Berry Chill Locations: Said to be the closest to PinkBerry available here in Chicago. The store is located on the Near North Side at 635 North State Street between Erie and Ontario in Chicago, IL 60610. Not far from the Drake hotel for visitors and vacationers. The phone number for the store is 312- 266-2445.

StarFruit Cafe Locations: In the Wicker Park neighborhood located at 1745 West Division Street between Hermitage Ave & Wood St in Chicago, IL 60622. The phone number is 773-328-2900. This one has more a jamba juice take on frozen yogurt adding more health related nutrient options and toppings on their slightly tart Kiefr frozen yogurt.  

PinkBerry Locations: Not in Chicago at this time. You have to travel to LA or NYC for this treat.

The kicker on all of this is that fat free frozen soft serve yogurt isn’t that hard to find at other restaurants and places around Chicago. It is even worth mentioning that the fat free soft serve frozen yogurt at McDonalds isn’t even that bad or different from all these other newbies except that it is only in chocolate and vanilla and costs $0.99. So, I will be on the lookout for trying these new frozen yogurt yo pink fro berry mango chill locations all over Chicago and I will probably try them too. But I don’t really expect them to outlast TCBY or certainly not McDonald’s. I may even head down to Bobtail for a shake full of real Ice Cream just for fun or get a pint of Fannie May mint meltaway ice cream to really taste what good ice cream is like.

The 4th of July is almost here and everyone is heading out to their favorite restaurants with outdoor patios and putting on the sunblock to go to the beach in Chicago. It is that rare time of year when we forget that Chicago is really a cold and desolate place the rest of the year and we enjoy the outdoors. But we also like our air conditioning because Chicago is humid in the summer, so you have to balance your activities between indoors and outside. This weekend there is a bevy of new restaurant openings, events and concerts to go to. So enjoy your weekend and plan for next week on July 4th also.

1. The Grant Park Music Festival is going on all Summer long from June 11 through August 16th. They have found sponsors to cover the costs of the musicians and facilities so that the city can offer free classical music concerts to the public all summer. This weekend they have 2 concerts scheduled, one on Friday at 6:30 pm and one on Saturday at 7:30 pm both at Harris Theater. (which may not be free, but there is no note about ticket costs on the booklet they sent me in the mail) The classical music concert is featuring 20th Century Masters played by the Grant Park Orchestra. The Harris Theater is a very box-like uber-modern concrete structure at the northern most edge of Millennium Park.

2. C-House Restaurant opens at the Affinia Chicago 166 East Superior Street Downtown. (312.523.0923) Expect a high class experience with a nautical theme. I wonder what the draw is for bringing high quality seafood to Chicago when transportation and fuel costs are so high. Anyway, I am sure the food is divine.

3. The (BAM) Belmont Arts and Music Fest  is on this weekend with plenty of indie bands to delight the senses. As they say it is “2 days of Beats, Art & Eats” (and drinks) The Belmont Arts and Music Fest is open from 12pm noon until 10pm on Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Check it out on Belmont Avenue between Damen and Leavitt in Roscoe Village. The music lineup includes (in reverse order):

Saturday: Cursive @ 9:00 pm, The Redwalls @8:30 pm, Maritime @ 7:55 pm, Waco Brothers @7:00 pm,
Sybris @ 6:45 pm, Dot Dot Dot @5:30 pm, Unwed Sailor @ 5:40 pm, Steepwater@4:00 pm; Parlor Mob @ 4:35 pm Rockit @2:30 pm, Mark Rose @ 3:50 pm, Hey Champ @1:00 pm, Everthus The Deadbeats @ 3:00 pm,

Sunday: American Music Club @ 9:00 pm, Smoking Popes @ 8:30 pm, Johnathan Rice @ 7:55 pm, Justin Townes Earle @7:00 pm, Maria Taylor @ 6:45 pm, Air This Side Of Caution @5:30 pm, Casiotone For The Painfully Alone @ 5:40 pm, Ezra Furman and the Harpoons @4:OO pm, Nik Freitas @ 4:35 pm, Anne Harris Band @2:30 pm, Yourself and The Air @ 3:30 pm Cavashawn @1:00 pm 

4. Cirque du Soleil has a new show in the parking lot around the United Center called KOOZA. The concept of highly trained acrobats with lighting and special effects and clowns is getting a little old, they have been pushing it since the Albertville Olympic Games in 1992. I am really tired of it and most of us realize it’s still just a bunch of circus performers. Yes it can be awe inspiring to see once in a while, but not anything new, exciting or ground breaking. Hence all the advertising they had to do in order to sell tickets. If you love the circus, this is for you, if not, skip it.

5. The Joffrey Ballet  is selling tickets to their new home location opening coming up this September, so if you really miss having a local Ballet Company downtown, book these dates. 

• Thursday, September 11th, 2008 – 6:00pm Joffrey Ballet Performance at Millennium Park
• Friday, September 12, 2008 – 7:00 pm The Opening Night at the Joffrey Tower. A Black Tie Dinner and Performance Limited Seating is available.
• Saturday, September 13, 2008 – 3:00pm Joffrey Tower: Community Open House
• Monday, September 15, 2008 – 6:30pm Couture and Cocktails Fashion Show by Maria Pinto

6. Of course on Sunday the Gay Pride Parade in Chicago is going on from noon until around 2 in Boystown and Wrigleyville. It is always a light hearted fun time with lots of flamboyant costumes, rainbows and skin. I have to say that it can be an eye opening experience if you have never been there before but everyone is really nice and very cool so it is always a fun time. It is really a chance to celebrate openness in society and realize that while we aren’t all the same we are pretty similar (we all like beer!) and can all get along.

7. The Randolph Street Market Festival has all you can possibly imagine in the way of decorative furnishings and vintage antiques. (over 200 vendors from all over the country selling all eras of “vintage”) It is kind of like a cross between those fancy shmantsy antique shows at the merchandise mart and the flea market on the Kane County Fair Grounds. But on Randolph Street instead. The Randolph Street Market festival is open on Saturday from 10am to 5pm and on Sunday from 11am to 5pm. 

8. If that isn’t enough to do just wait, The Taste of Chicago Starts Friday June 27th at 11 AM!

Have a great weekend!!

The Gay Pride Parade is an annual tradition in Chicago. The parade draws thousands of proud GLBT community members and local visitors who enjoy the parade and festivities while they support the freedom to be out and be proud in Chicago. I have gone to see the Gay Pride Parade in Chicago, although not for a few years now, and it was a lot of fun and laughs and quite the party. (I distinctly remember the altoids) I do think it is an entertaining and open event for both straight and gay people and can be very entertaining for everyone if you keep an open mind. But then again, that is exactly what the gay pride parade is all about, open-mindedness. (think Eddie Izzard)

We need to keep the openness idea rolling in Chicago, we are pretty close to middle America and some people here really don’t embrace the open culture idea, but events and public awareness like this has changed the gay community in Chicago over the years. In fact everywhere I have worked over the last 10 years there have been a number of open and out gay professionals in the department and company. The companies embraced these differences and it was totally accepted to see significant others at company social events and the companies also provided benefits for these significant others. Now high schools have openly gay groups for teens and things are much more acceptable to be talked about in general. I admit I am not an expert on the gay community in Chicago, but even I have noticed that things have come a long way in the last 10 or 20 years!

If you want to see the 39th annual Gay & Lesbian Pride Parade in Chicago this year here is some info you will need. It is of course free to see the parade, but if you are driving in to the city, expect parking to be difficult to find and you will probably have to pay to park and then walk from a few blocks away. The map below shows the parade route and it starts in Boystown at Clark, Belmont and Halsted and ends at Diversey in Lincoln Park. The gay pride parade begins at 12 noon and usually goes until 2pm or longer. With 250 floats and many groups to see it takes a while. According to the official parade site chicagopride.com over 400,000 people attend the parade every year.  After the parade many people have parties locally and visitors from out of town usually like to do some shopping in the area. All in all it is a fun thing to do in Chicago this weekend.

Naperville Ribfest has become one of the largest suburban summer festivals in Chicago. It has been running for at least 20 years and the Ribfest has grown to now include major music acts along with great ribs from all over the country.

The thing that makes the Naperville Ribfest so attractive for both businesses and local residents is that it is in the suburbs and there are over 128,000 people living in Naperville and many more in towns of similar size around it. All these families with kids get something fun to do over the July 4th weekend and advertisers and entertainers love to be in front of them.

Over 1 million people go through the Naperville Ribfest over the 4th of July weekend. With that in mind save yourself some time and park in the 5th Avenue Metra Station lot and take the shuttles they have running every 10 minutes to the Ribfest. Otherwise there is no aprking within 1 mile of the fest. It is actually located in Knoch park behind Edwards Hospital but the hospital parking lot is off limits too. All the street parking was full by 3pm in the afternoon when we went too.

We suburbanites live 1 hour or more southwest of Chicago so the Taste of Chicago isn’t really an option for us with the awful traffic Chicago has these days. Plus if you live locally walking or biking to the Naperville Ribfest makes it more community friendly and less like the big city. The festival tries to be kid friendly and family friendly but local high school and college kids enjoy the Ribfest too.

Here is some helpful information about  the Naperville Ribfest schedule, rib restaurants selling food there and the events that weekend. 2009

Ribfest 2009 will run from Thursday, July 2rd through Sunday, July 5th.

• Thursday, July 2nd 12:00 Noon to 10:00 p.m.
• Friday, July 3rd 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.
• Saturday, July 4th 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m. Gates open to public at 7:00pm for fireworks
• Sunday, July 5th 12:00 noon to 10:00 p.m.

The Ribfest Food Vendors selling Ribs will be:

• Desperado’s BBQ & Rib Co. – Their 10th year at Ribfest
• Fast Freddy’s Electric BBQ Ribs – They aren’t cooked fast but they are eaten fast!
• Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue and Catering – You know and love Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce from the Jewel grocery store and come see what they do when they are cookin’
• Texas Outlaws BBQ – They have won first place two of the last five years
• Uncle Bub’s- The Hichory Smoked BBQ Restaurant was born in 1997 in Westmont
• Famous Dave’s – Well, they are famous for their ribs of course
• Pigfoot BBQ Company – A Ribber at Naperville Ribfest for 13 years
• Aussom Aussie – A 20 year veteran of the International BBQ Circuit and they have great cornbread for $2.00 also.
• Butch’s Smack Your Lips BBQ – They offer both tomato based as well as vinegar based sauces.
• Porky N Beans – a member of the National Award Winning Rib Cookers of America since 1983
• Rasta Joes BBQ – Joe Alexander (Rasta Joe) has been at Ribfest for over 15 years
• Sgt. Oink’s Pit BBQ – Last year they won Naperville 3rd place best ribs
• Johnson’s BBQ – They have a BBQ sauce called “Thermonuclear Sauce”
• Smokin’ Joe’s Hog Wild Barbeque
• Armadillo’s Rib and Que Company
• Howling Coyote Southwest BBQ

The competition for best ribs prizes is Fierce! Last year Uncle Bubs was voted best in the Naperville Ribfest and Armadillo’s won best Sauce. I think that those plus Sweet Baby Ray’s will be the best ones to check out first because it may be impossible to try them all unless you plan on eating lunch and dinner there every day of the festival. There are other food and drink vendors there at the fest too. You can always count on Oberweis for some great ice cream and root beer floats.

If you come to Naperville Ribfest for the food, stay for the music. They have brought nationally known bands and acts to the suburbs for years and this year is no different. There are 2 stages; the Main Stage (Heart, Sarah Evans, Todd Rundgren and Huey Louis and the News) and the Brian R Schultz Rock and Roll Stage (Blue Oyster Cult, North Mississippi All Stars, WAR, Herman’s Hermits with Peter Noone) plus there is also a BP Family Area that has a lot of fun activities for the kids. The schedules for both stages are below.

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Some tips for making your trip to the Naperville Ribfest more fun:

1. If you drive be prepared to walk because parking fills up in downtown Naperville quickly and you end up parking far away. Wear comfortable shoes. Park in the 5th Avenue Metra station lot off Washington and take the shuttle to the fest.

2. Buy your tickets in advance through the Ribfest web site or pre-sale tickets locally in downtown Naperville at the Jewel Grocery Food Stores and save $2.00 per ticket. Otherwise it is $10.00 at the gate and there are usually long lines.

3. Bring the kids, your appetite and stay for the music and entertainment all evening long. Here is a Map of the events and locations of the Naperville Ribfest.

4. The Ribfest will close if when it is raining there is any Lightning. At that time the park will close and everyone will be asked to leave for safety reasons. It is very very crowded and everyone just sits on the ground with their ribs to eat. So bring handy wipes for your fingers or get them at the Sweet Baby Ray’s station.

Enjoy the Ribfest and have a great time!

Everyone is getting into the Halloween spirit now that the holiday is only about 2 weeks away! This includes lots of office Halloween candy, Pumpkins everywhere, costume shopping and the annual trek to your local Haunted House. If you live in the city of Chicago or are going downtown to the loop, you can visit the Daley Plaza and see the local events happening there leading up to and celebrating all things ghoulish and spooky this Halloween.

The ChicagoWeen Haunted Village in Daley Plaza opened October 12th and will be there until the 31st and the Halloween Madness has ended. The events there are a FREE gift from the City of Chicago and the Mayor’s Office of Special Events. (they really like holidays there)  Haunted Village continues through Halloween open diring the hours of Monday through Wednesday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.   

Daley Plaza (at Washington and Dearborn) hosts the Haunted Village and is transformed into Pumpkin Plaza, with cute pumpkin decorating, spooky storytellers and more to thrill and chill. Each day there are performances from the high flying aerial entertainers, Midnight Circus: 11:30 am, 12:30 pm and 2 pm Thursday through Sunday includes evening shows scheduled at 5:30 pm and 7 pm Free pumpkin decorating is offered on Saturdays and Sundays (except for the parade day, Saturday, October 20) from 11 am to 2 pm (or while supplies last).

And there is even a new Halloween Parade in Chicago this year. The Go Green Halloween Parade is on State Street Saturday October 20th from State and Randolph at 12 Noon. It features lots of candy and costumes (come in costume with the kids) The parade route begins at State and Randolph, going south on State Street, West on Madison, North at Dearborn, ending at Daley Plaza at Dearborn and Washington. Join Mayor Spookenburger from the Midnight Circus as they spread the news of the importance of Chicago’s environmental movement. After the parade, kids can enjoy trick-or-treating, a performance by Midnight Circus, hayrides, a costume contest and special sneak performances by the WICKED cast members. Remember, WICKED loves Halloween.

If you live out in the Chicago suburbs and want to find some fun haunted houses here is a quick reference list of all the haunted houses in Chicago (courtesy of the haunted house chicago site) :

Sweet Dreams/Fun Time Square Alsip, IL
The Haunting at 332 Arlington Heights, IL
Ashmore Estates – Undertakers Laboratories Ashmore, IL
The Graveyard Shift Ashmore, IL
The Haunting at Elsinore Ashmore, IL
Auburn Haunted House Auburn, IL
Nightmares: Basement Of The Dead Aurora, IL
The Grudge Garage Aurora/Batavia, IL
Morton West High School Haunted House Berwyn, IL
Carnival of Terror Berwyn, IL
Creatures Crypt Bloomington, IL
Evil Intentions Bolingbrook, IL
Legende of Sleepy Hollow Boubonnais, IL
Nightmare on Maple CT. Bridgeview, IL
Bridgeview Haunted Hollow Bridgeview, IL
The Haunted Barn Brocton, IL
Brookfield Jaycees Haunted House Brookfield, IL
Frightmare 2007 at Haunted Trails Amusement Park Burbank, IL
Melvina Manor Burbank, IL
The Houdini Seance Chicago, IL
Music Box Massacre 2 Chicago, IL
St. Pascal’s Haunted House Chicago, IL
Chicagoween 2007 Chicago, IL
Haunted Scenes Chicago, IL
Supernatural Chicago Chicago, IL
I Scream for Eye Scream Chicago, IL
Trails of Terror 2007 Chicago, IL
Nightmare City Halloween Chicago, IL
The Annual Halloween Art Exhibit Chicago, IL
Murder Mysteries Gangster Style Chicago, IL
Seven Deadly Sins at Cabaret Chicago, IL
Anna in the Darkness Chicago, IL
The House on Tripp Chicago, IL
Richard Crowe Ghost Tours Chicago, IL
Chicago Ghost Investigations Chicago, IL
Twisted House of Horrors Chicago, IL
Chicago Hauntings Ghost Tours Chicago, IL
Disturbed II Chicago, IL
Little Flower Shop of Horrors Chicago, IL
20th District Haunted House Chicago, IL
The Horror Chicago, IL
Excursions Into The Unknown Chicago Ridge, IL
Spider Hill Chillicothe, IL
Statesville Haunted Prison and City of the Dead Crest Hill, IL
Robertson Family Cemetery Creve Coeur, IL
Custer Park FD Spooktaccular Custer Park, IL
Kishwaukee Kiwanis Haunted House DeKalb, IL
Amenti DeKalb, IL
Downs Haunted House Downs, IL
Elburn Lions House Of Terror Elburn ,IL
Elgin Turners Haunted Hall Elgin, IL
Three Fires Council Haunted Hike Elgin, IL
Halloween Expo Elgin, IL
Eleventh Hour Elk Grove Village, IL
Hall of Horrors (Farmer City, IL) Farmer City, IL
Fright Night the Sequel Forest City, IL
X-treme Haunting’s Haunted House Fox Lake, IL
Mack Manor Haunted House Fox River Grove, IL
Dragon’s Dome Haunted House Frankfort, IL
Killer Clown Funhouse Frankfort, IL
Frankfort Area Jaycees and Jayteens Frankfort, IL
Gilson Haunted School Gilson, IL
Dungeon of Doom Grayslake ,IL
Six Flags Great America Fright Fest Gurnee, IL
The Haunting of Chittyville School Herrin, IL
Hometown Horror Hometown, IL
Madness On Midland Joliet, IL
St. Pat’s Haunted High School Kankakee, IL
Haunt 31 Lake in the Hills, IL
Lake Zurich Haunted House Lake Zurich, IL
Haunted Harvest of Lambs Farm Libertyville, IL
Lincoln Jaycees Fear Fair Lincoln, IL
Thanatophobialand Lockport, IL
Lombard Jaycees Haunted House Lombard, IL
Nightmare on Elizabeth Street Lombard, IL
The Living Dead Of Lombard Lombard, IL
Haunted Corn Maze Malta, IL
Spook Hollow Marquette Heights, IL
Dungeon of Terror Mazon, IL
The Dark Haunted House McHenry, IL
McHenry Jaycees Haunted House McHenry, IL
Haunted Hayride McHenry, IL
Dream Reapers Melrose Park, IL
No Rulz Haunted Yard Melrose Park, IL
Haunted Yard Melrose Park, IL
Homewood Haunts cemetery Moline, IL
Asylum of MAD Dreams Morrison, IL
Raven’s Grin Inn Mount Carroll, IL
Maze of Screams Mount Prospect, IL
Mount Vernon Jaycees’ House of Horror Mount Vernon, IL
Sea Net Monster Tag Adventure – Haunted Laser Tag Naperville, IL
All Hallows Eve: A 19th Century Halloween Naperville, IL
Freaky Frights On Forest North Riverside, IL
Tour Of Terror Northbrook, IL
Carly Boos Crypt Oak Forest, IL
Midnight Terror Oak Lawn, IL
Torment At Twelve Hundred Orion, IL
Dark Shadows Orland Hills, IL
The Haunting at Space Golf Orland Park, IL
Palatine Jaycees Haunted House Palatine ,IL
The Halls of Madness Paris, IL
Halls of Madness Paris, IL
Chamber of Horrors Paris, IL
Terror on the Square Petersburg, IL
Haunted Plainfield Plainfield, IL
Eaton Preserve Haunted Barn Plainfield, IL
Souls of the Forsaken Plainfield, IL
Henry Street Horrors Pontiac, IL
Nightmare on Fairgrounds Road Princeton, IL
Fear Factory Haunted House Rantoul, IL
Haunted Dungeon 2007 Rantoul, IL
Riverside Township Jaycees Ghost Walk Riverside, IL
Boo Crew Rochester, IL
Sterling Rock Falls Jaycees Haunted House Rock Falls, IL
Tebala Temple of Terror Rockford, IL
Spooktacular Haunted Hayrides Rockford, IL
Trail of Screams Rockford, IL
The Haunting on Rogers Road (Haunted Yard) Romeoville, IL
Realm of Terror Haunted House Round Lake Beach, IL
Krypt Keepers Kingdom Sandwich, IL
Scream Scene Skokie, IL
St. Peter’s Haunted Church Skokie, IL
South Beloit Lions Haunted Barn South Beloit, IL
2000 Feet of Terror Spring Grove, IL
Springfield Jaycees Haunted House Springfield, IL
St. Charles Jaycees Haunted House St. Charles, IL
Gallery of Ghoulish Homes Tour St. Charles, IL
St. Charles Gallery of Ghoulish Homes Tour St. Charles, IL
Trail of Screams II Stillman Valley, IL
Trail of Terror Haunted House Streamwood, IL
The Haunting of Willow Road Streamwood, IL
Shotgun Manor Sullivan, IL
Wheaton Jaycees Haunted House Wheaton, IL
Overnight Investigation at Rico D’s Restaurant Willow Springs, IL
Halloween Scare Walk Wood Dale, IL
Kincaid Manor Haunted House Woodridge, IL

It is crazy that we have 137 haunted houses here in Illinois? I guess people really like to go to a Haunted House before or on Halloween. So, go forth, and be scared! Boo!

The LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon is a long standing yearly fall Chicago tradition. The Marathon is one of the 5 world marathon majors and has been running since 1977 and celebrates it’s 30th anniversary this year. The Chicago Marathon celebrates running with over 45,000 runners from 120 countries and over 1 million spectators cheering on friends and family along the route. The event runs for 6.5 hours and everyone who can finish the 26 miles within that time, gets listed on their web site as an official finisher of the race. (about 73% of runners have finished the race in past years) The marathon runs 26 miles through some of the most significant, historical, notable and popular neighborhoods in the city.

The planning for each year’s marathon begins right after the previous one ends with the feedback from the runners and officials built into the next year’s plans by the very dedicated marathon race director Carey Pinkowski. See the entire chicago marathon course map here. The route has been revised over the years to accomodate construction and road conditions but has remained somewhat similar in the past few years. If you are not a runner and live in one of the neighborhoods they run though you will have to move your car off the course the night before (or they will tow it away, good luck getting it back later) as they set up barriers and probably stay in the house and avoid traffic and crowds unless you are part of or going to view the event. The Chicago Marathon starts at 8am in Grant Park and the barriers are usually gone and the roads clear again within a few hours of the runners passing by your home. If you are on the beginning of the route expect things to be clear again by noon. If you live by the end of the route give it a few more hours. If you are driving into the city from the suburbs, start early (6am) or avoid being on the roads this day. It can be a hellish day on I-90-94, I-290 and I-55.

 photo courtesy of Senor Codo

Runners usually start training for the marathon in spring as soon as the snow melts but I usually notice them running everywhere in the city and suburbs around late August and early September. There are programs for new marathon runners who have never run before that help you go from walking to running slowly over time. the most important thing about training is making time to do it. Trying to run the race without actually completing the recommended training is pretty dangerous. Occasionally someone does die while running the marathon, and 4 are on record. Mostly because of pre-existing health conditions. Hundreds of other runners, prepared and not prepared end up needing medical attention in or during the race. The marathon has 15 health aid stations for just this. Staying hydrated on such a long endurance run is also important, and they have fluids at all the aid stations as well.  

The day before the race everyone is required to pick up their race packet with instructions and their number at The LaSalle Bank Health & Fitness Expo on Friday, October 5 (9am-5pm) or Saturday, October 6 (9am-6pm) . The Expo is at McCormick Place, North Building (the big one by I-55), Exhibit Hall B1. 2301 South Martin Luther King Drive, Chicago, IL. You may also notice that LaSalle bank rents out and custom paints a mural on the large brick building by 90-94 every year to promote and celebrate the event.

Many runners have begun to pair the marathon with pledge drives for local charities. Much like a breast cancer walk, the runners get pledges for the running they complete. All funds go direct to charity. I think that is great, but the real win is that you are in good enough physical shape and health to complete a long race like that. I can say definitely that I am not! But then again, I am not a runner. I do admire the professional competitive runners and the weekend warriors alike, they all are far better at it than I would be. Take some time to cheer them on in October.