Chicago Favorite Tips by LoriPori

TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOWER History, Architecture, & Landmarks Review

Favorite thing: Named after real estate developer Donald Trump TRUMP INTERNATIONAL HOTEL & TOWER is a skyscraper in downtown Chicago. The 98-story structure reaches a height of 1,389 feet (423 meters) including its spire. It is built next to the main brance of the Chicago River, with a view of the entry to Lake Michigan. It is the second-tallest building in the U.S. after Chicago's Willis Tower, and the tenth-tallest building in the world.
The building includes retail space, a parking garage, a hotel (339 rooms) and condominiums (486 luxury condos).
Situated at 401 North Wabash Avenue in the River North Gallery district. The entire length of the building is visible from Chicago River Waterway Traffic. (pic # 3 taken during our River Boat Tour).

OLD TOWN CHICAGO Neighborhoods Review

Favorite thing: Chicago's OLD TOWN is a neighbourhood bounded by the Ogden Ave. right-of-way on the Northwest, Larrabee Street on the west, Clyburn Avenue on the southwest, Division Street on the South and Clark street on the east and northeast.
Old Town is an historic neighbourhood, site of many of Chicago's older Victorian-era buildings and St. Michael's Catholic Church. The neighbourhood is also home to the famous Second City Improv, which was one of the venues for our VT Chicago Meet over the weekend. Also the venue for Saturday night's dinner was at the Adobo Grill at 1610 N Wells, which specializes in Mexican Fare.
Shopping in Old Town is a unique experience, as most of the shops are boutiques rather than well-known chain stores.
After hours, Old Town is popular as there are plenty of bars and clubs available.

LINCOLN PARK

Favorite thing: Chicago's largest public park at 1,208 acres, LINCOLN PARK was named after Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln Park is known for its statuary. Walking through the park you will see many of Chicago's great works of art. There is a famous statue of Abraham Lincoln (Main pic) by Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
Lincoln Park is also well known for the Lincoln Park Zoo, a free zoo that is open all year round.

ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH History, Architecture, & Landmarks Review

Favorite thing: Located in Old Town Parish ST. MICHAEL'S CATHOLIC CHURCH dates back to the 1800's. On September 23, 1866, workmen broke ground for a magnificent new brick church, to stand on the corner of Eugenie Street and Cleveland Avenue. The exterior walls were made of red sandstone bricks made locally. On September 29, 1869, the new church building was blessed and dedicated.
Two years later, tragedy struck not only the Parish, but the City as well. On October 8, 1871, the O'Leary house and barn on Chicago's south side, burst into flames, which fanned north, aided by strong southerly winds. Priests, nuns and parishioners loaded Parish Treasures onto Oxcarts and fled. Soon, flames tore into all the Parish buildings, leveling all of them - only the walls of the Church remained standing.
Rebuilding began and two years later, on October 12, 1873, the rebuilt St. Michael's was consecrated. St. Michael's was one of the first churches to rise again from the ashes of the Great Chicago Fire.
The Church's Tower is capped by a gilded cross more than 24 feet tall and 9 feet wide. We could not enter the Church as there was a wedding just getting started. We could see the Bride waiting to make here grand entry into the Church.

FOUNTAIN OF TIME

Favorite thing: Located in the southeast corner of Washington Park, west of the Allison Davis Garden is the massive, 102-foot FOUNTAIN OF TIME combination sculpture and reflecting pool. Constructed in 1922, the fountain was designed by renowned Chicago sculptor Lorado Taft.
A cloaked figure of Father Time, watches over a procession of human figures.
The Title comes from the poetry of Henry Austin Dobson.
"Time goes, you say?
Ah no,
Alas Time stays,
We go"

THE GOLDEN LADY

Favorite thing: Located in Jackson Park, The State of the Republic or THE GOLDEN LADY is a 24 foot high gold leaf on bronze replica of the 65 foot original which stood at the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893 and was surely intended to be Chicago's version of New York's Statue of Liberty.
The "Republic" stands in the Hayes Richards Circle and shows a woman with breastplate and long flowing robe, with arms outstretched above her head. Her right hand is holding a globe with an eagle perched on top.

MILLENIUM MONUMENT IN WRIGLEY SQUARE Art Displays Review

Favorite thing: Located at Michigan Avenue at Randolph St., the MILLENIUM MONUMENT designed by Chicago architects OWP/P. is a nearly full-size replica of the original, semi-circle peristyle of Doric-style columns that graced the northwest corner of Grant Park between 1917 and 1953. In appreciation of the park's founders, the monument displays their names along its base.

MIRO'S CHICAGO Art Displays Review

Favorite thing: Located near the Cook County Administrative Building at 69 W. Washington St., the playful image of Joan Miro's MIRO'S CHICAGO is derived from the artist's memories of his homeland in Catalonia Spain. Using his unique visual symbolism, Miro envisions the mystical presence of an earth deity, both cosmic and worldly.

JAY PRITZKER PAVILION Art Displays Review

Favorite thing: The Frank Geary designed JAY PRITZKER PAVILION is located in Millennium Park on Randolph Street between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. Chicago's newest masterpiece of architecture and design, it is the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the United States. The music pavilion showcases billowing curves of stainless steel and includes a vast steel trellis, which forms an accoustical canopy extending south over the Great Lawn. It was an absolutely stunning presence.

LIONS Art Displays Review

Favorite thing: The great bronze LIONS guarding the entrance to the Art Institute of Chicago, have been a presence and a symbol of the museum for over 110 years. Larger than life-size, Edward Kemeys "Lions" are realistically depicted, but have inspired more affection than fear over the years. Their poses are similar although not identical. One is "on the prowl" and the other "stands in an attitude of defiance". As it was the Christmas Holidays, each one was adorned with a big red bow.