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Chicago
Skyline at Sunset
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It is thrilling
to see soaring buildings standing face to face, forming a metropolitan skyline.
And that's one of the reasons people are lured into a big city like Chicago.
The city's skyline is one of the most exciting in the world. Beneath the skyline
live hundreds of thousands of people --bankers, lawyers, politicians, city sweepers,
food servers, police officers and street musicians.
The best
way to explore Chicago is to take walking tours. You may want to take a guided
tour, or go as you please. Your choices of self-guided walking tours are seemingly
limitless. Imagine yourself walking around a glass ceilinged atrium, like that
of the Winter Garden of the Harold
Washington Library Center in Chicago, which is filled with sunlight,
its spacious floor patterned with dark green and ivory marble stones. The atrium
is located on the top floor of the building, where few passersby walk through,
contrary to the ground level where a crowd of human hustle and bustle abounds.
Or walk on the Elevated track and approach 333 Wacker Drive. You will
be fascinated to see the soft green surface of the building reflecting the skylines.
The sleek surface is designed as if it's stretched. The building stands at where
the Chicago River curves sharply, and its gracefully curved façade blends
with the river's bend. Facing toward the south, the mirror glass surface glows,
changing its color as the sun sets. While taking a tour, you may run into a
café that will brew the finest cup of coffee you've ever had, or an antique
and craft shop that will give you a lasting memory of the trip.
The
Loop is an area enclosed by a system of elevated train tracks. It contains
the city's principal financial, cultural, and government centers. Chicago has
initiated the 'Percent-for-Art ordinance,' which ensures that 1.33% of municipal
building costs be put aside for artwork. As a result, downtown Chicago has evolved
into somewhat of a museum. Today, the Loop boasts many of the celebrated artists
and sculptors of the 20th century including Picasso and Miro.
The main spot in a downtown tour is the Skydeck of the Sears
Tower. Enter on Jackson Boulevard to take the 70-second elevator
ride to the 103rd floor Skydeck. On a clear day, Illinois,
Michigan, Wisconsin,
and Indiana can be seen.
Contrary
to the Loop, the Downtown South area presents a thriving ethnic urban
neighborhood. The area, once filled with sleazy bars, pornography shops, and
pawnbrokers, now attracts large crowds of stylish diners
and shoppers. South Michigan Avenue to Grant Park is the area
where numerous cultural institutions, such as the Chicago Architecture Foundation
Shop and Tour Center, the Art
Institute of Chicago, and the Harold Washington Library Center are situated.
Especially noteworthy is the Chicago
Cultural Center, an elegant building with sparkling mosaic tiles, sculptured
ceilings and a white Carrara marble staircase. The center's Preston Bradley
Hall has the world's largest Tiffany stained-glass dome.
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Chicago
River Boat Cruise
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The Magnificent
Mile is about 11 blocks of strip mall on North Michigan Avenue. It
is located between the Chicago River and Oak Street Beach where the Tribune
Tower, the Wrigley Building, the John
Hancock Center, and the Water
Tower Place stand. The John Hancock Center has an observation deck on
the 94th floor. The Magnificent Mile features plenty of upscale retail shops,
bookstores and coffeehouses, as well as museums. Lavish Christmas decorations
in the stores along the strip can be seen starting in the late fall. Further
north Oak Street is famous for designer boutiques.
The Gold
Coast, as the north shoreline of Lake Michigan is known, contains
some of the world's most valuable real estate. The Drake
Hotel at Oak Street and Michigan Avenue is Chicago's beloved landmark
hotel. The Old Town, a residential area of middle and upper class Chicagoans,
is an entertainment zone for the entire city, featuring the most respected,
best known comedy
clubs.
Aside from
these walking tours, a cruise
tour may be a fun alternative if you want to get a fresh perspective
on Chicago. The season usually runs from May to October. For the foot-weary,
bus
tours and carriage
tours are also available. Or you could ent a car and drive along the
scenic Lake Shore Drive, either from north or south to downtown. You will see
the illuminated skylines grow gradually larger and larger.
WHEN TO VISIT
Be prepared
for cold, snowy weather in the winter or hot, steamy weather in the summer.
The temperature can get as high as 90 Fahrenheit, or 32 Celsius, in summer,
while it can easily drop to 18 Fahrenheit, (-9 Celsius), on cold days in winter.
Consider a visit in spring or fall for all kinds of activities. For those outdoor
lovers, bicycling can be a fun activity in summer. Chicago has also about 20
miles of lakefront, most of it sand or rock beach. Beaches are usually crowded
with swimmers and people-watchers on hot summer days.
When planning
a visit, consult Chicago's calendar of celebrations and events.
Chicagoans love festivals, and there are nearly 50 annual events and festivals
throughout the year. In the spring, Chicago hosts about seven festivals and
events, including the St. Patrick's Day Parade, the Chicago Latino
Film Festival, and Art Chicago. Summer is the season for music fans
as the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Gospel Fest, the Grant
Park Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, and the Chicago Jazz Festival are
held at Grant Park. The biggest is the Chicago Blues Festival,
which draws a crowd of more than 650,000. This free four-day festival is usually
held in the first weekend of June. In the fall, 11 film and art events are held,
while in the winter there are plenty of indoor celebrations, such as the Christmas
Around the World, the Zoo Lights Festival, and the Pre-Kwanzaa Celebrations.
Winter can be a good season to visit Chicago, as usually hotels offer special
packages to boost business.
However,
even if it's the dead of winter, there are days that the city sees a huge crowd
of people and hotel rooms are packed. Be sure to consult the schedule of more
than 1,000 conventions and trade shows that the city hosts every year. Chicago
is one of the nation's most popular convention and trade show destinations.
During major conventions, such as the Comdex Spring Shows in April, the
National Restaurant Association Show in May, the Manufacturing Technology
Show in September, or the Radiological Society of America in late
November, hotel rooms as well as popular restaurants are typically booked solid.
In the year 2000 alone, about 30 million people visited Chicago.
TRANSPORTATION
The major
gateway to Chicago is O'Hare
International Airport, one of the world's busiest. O'Hare Airport is
20 miles (32 kilometers) from downtown. The other two airports are Midway
Airport and Meigs
Field. Midway is about seven miles southwest of downtown. It mainly
serves budget airlines. Meigs Field, just south of downtown, serves commuter
airlines with flights to downstate Illinois.
The cheapest
and most convenient transportation between the airports and downtown Chicago
are the trains of the Chicago
Transit Authority. At O'Hare Airport the Blue line station is
in the underground concourse between terminals. It takes about 45 minutes from
O'Hare Airport to downtown. At Midway Airport take the Orange line EL
(Elevated train) to get to the Loop. Get off at a station closest to your hotel,
or you can take a taxi or change to other transit lines. Driving from O'Hare
to downtown takes about an hour. Taking a taxi from the airport to downtown
can be anywhere from $25 to $35 plus tip. Airport
shuttle buses are also available. Greyhound's main bus terminal
is located in the Loop. Buses go from here to points all over North America.
Chicago
has an extensive public transportation network including buses and rapid transit
trains that operate 24 hours. There are seven train lines; each route has both
a color name and a destination name. The Red and Blue lines are subways, and
the rest are elevated trains. In general, the route names indicate the first
and last stop on the train. The CTA gives out a free brochure, the Downtown
Transit Sightseeing Guide, which will provide information on hours, fares,
convenient prepaid cards, and transfer fees.
BRIEF HISTORY
Chicago,
home to 2.8 million people, is the third biggest city in the U.S. Having been
nicknamed the Windy City, Chicago is described as the city that moves too fast
to be pinned down. This spacious metropolis spreads 25 miles (40 kilometers)
long and 10 miles (16 kilometers) wide along Lake Michigan.
Chicago is one of the most
ethnically and culturally diverse of all American cities. The record of the
first European explorer to the area dates back to the 1670s. But it was not
until 1803, that the British forces came to establish a military presence, which
was followed by the massacre of Native American people, so-called Indians, by
white settlers in 1812. How many Natives used to live in the region is unknown,
but only about 300 Native Americans were "incorporated" by the town of Chicago
in 1833.
In 1840,
Chicago had a population of about 5,000. By 1880, it grew to 500,000. This was
due to the first wave of European immigrants, triggered by the construction
of the Illinois-Michigan Canal that linked the Great Lakes and
the Mississippi River systems. By 1890, the foreign born and their children
made up three-quarters of Chicago's population. White settlers continued to
hold the power for decades. The Poles, Germans, Italians, the Swedish, and the
Irish formed the majorities until around 1970. Then, 10 years after, African
Americans, Hispanics and Asians formed the growing ethnic majority in the city.
Probably, the most famous
event in the history of Chicago is the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. This two-day
conflagration burnt down the city, which was mostly constructed of wood. Approximately
250 residents were killed, 90,000 people lost their homes, and 18,000 buildings
were destroyed. However, the Great Fire brought about a great business opportunity
to rebuild the city. Shortly after, creative architects and engineers rushed
to the city and the explosion of the architectural scene began. By 1893, Chicago
recovered to the point that the city could host the World's Columbian Exposition.
The nation's first skyscraper as well as modern metal-frame constructions were
created here.
NIGHT
LIFE AND DINING
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Chicago Skyline at Night
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Chicago's
restaurant
scene is as diverse as its populace. Boasting more than 7,000 restaurants, the
city ranks as one of the nation's finest restaurant towns. The downtown area
features a trendy dining scene, from contemporary American restaurants to elegant
French, Greek, and Mediterranean establishments, and upscale Japanese sushi
bars. The Magnificent Mile and its surrounding area also present a great variety
of cuisine, from American, Filipino, Chinese, French, Japanese, Latin, Mexican,
Moroccan, to Thai, in both a casual and upscale setting. The most diverse dining
scene is found in the Lincoln Park and North area. You will find
Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Mexican, Kosher, Ethiopian, East Indian, Vietnamese,
and Thai cuisine in a reasonable price range.
The driving
force of the Chicago theater scene comes from the multitude of small local companies
and fringe groups that specialize in experimental work. Large productions are
concentrated in the Loop, while small, offbeat productions are on the north
side of downtown. Chicago has many other famous nightlife
spots, such as the Green Millar Bar for blues, and the Second
City Club for comedy.
For the
latest arts
and entertainment news, check the Internet or local newspapers and magazines.
Two daily newspapers, the Chicago
Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times, serve the city. The Friday
edition of the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times are also good guides.
There are also alternative weeklies, the Chicago Reader and the New
City, distributed in bookstores, CD shops and other establishments. These
free weeklies contains timely listings and reviews.
