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Yes, it’s winter as we write this and we know that thoughts of visiting a zoo are sometimes the furthest thing in people’s minds as chills descend with a freezing thud around us.But in the case of the Lincoln Park Zoo, the winter months can be equally enchanting as other months with less severe weather so we encourage you to venture out and see the wildlife in ways that not many get to experience.The zoo is housed on 35 acres and home to a vast array of animals totaling around 1,250 (depending on birthing seasons, etc.).If you love “all things” about Chicago you’ll definitely love the fact that the zoo allows visitors to see animals in a very natural habitat with the beauty of the city as its backdrop.In fact, you can watch gorillas as they climb trees and see Sears Tower looming in the distance!Exhibits and animal houses at the zoo include:

Antelope and zebra areaBlum-Kovler Penguin-Seabird HouseFarm in the Zoo presented by Jon DeereFlamingo habitatHelen Brach primate houseHope B. McCormick Swan poolKovler lion houseKovler sea lion poolMcCormick bear habitatMcCormick bird houseNature boardwalkPritzker Family children’s zooRegenstein African journeyRegenstein birds of prey exhibitRegenstein Center for African apesRegenstein small mammal-reptile house

Entrance to the zoo is free; and for those of you who would like a little trivia in advance of your visit, famed host of the television show Wild Kingdom Marlin Perkins was the director of the zoo from 1944 until 1962 at which time he left to work on the show which aired from 1963 to 1988.

Lollapalooza starts in Grant Park, Chicago today and runs through Sunday, and alternative rock fans around the world are breathing a sigh of relief.When Jane’s Addiction launched Lollapalooza as their farewell tour in 1991, there was no way of knowing the lasting success the tour would have. After its inception, the festival grew to encapsulate the alternative rock scene of the 1990s, including subgenres like grunge. The cancellation of the show in 1998 was seen as a major indicator that alt rock was past its prime. In 2003, a new iteration of the show toured before being cancelled again the next year. Then, in 2005, Chicago provided the birthing place for the new era of the festival. No longer a touring show, the festival is now scheduled to be held at Grant Park until 2018.Headliners for Friday night include Lady Gaga, The Strokes, the Black Keys, and Hot Chip. Classic post-punk group Devo will also be going on at 4 P.M. at the Parkways stage. Overall, there are 8 different stages, with artists from all across the popularity scale. Festival-goers are sure to find someone new during their visit. For those who can’t make it, there’s a Live Webcast available at the official website from 2 P.M. 10 P.M. each day.Festival goers are encouraged to go green as they rock out, by using public transportation or riding a bike. For food, they can visit Chow Town, consisting of booths from Big Star, Bleeding Heart Bakery, Kuma’s Corner, and more, all overseen by chef Graham Eliot. Alternatively, there’s the Green Street Farmer’s Market, featuring plenty of fresh fruit, smoothies, and organic espressos. And if you have a young rock star you want to bring along, you’re in luckchildren 10 and under get in free with an adult.

When most people hear ‘Chicago’, they think ‘The Windy City’. When sports fans hear Chicago, they think of the Chicago Cubs. Unfortunately, one of the Cubs most notable features is that they haven’t won a Championship game in 102 yearslonger than any other major North American professional sports team. Wrigley Field, the ballpark the Chicago Cubs call home, is the second-oldest ballpark in the majors (behind Boston’s Fenway Park). The history of Wrigley field also manages to expand beyond Chicago in the form of songthe famous ballpark tune “Take me out to the Ballgame” was made famous by broadcaster Harry Caray during a the seventh inning of a Cubs game in the 1990s. (more…)

This fun filled boardwalk is not only the number one tourist attraction in Chicago; it’s one of the top attractions in the entire Midwest. Complete with a 150-ft Ferris wheel, boat and segway tours, and hundreds of shopping and dining options, the Lake Michigan Navy Pier is a great destination night or day for both visitors and locals.In terms of things to do at the pier, your possibilities are endless. At Pier Park, you can choose between the Ferris wheel, an 18-hole mini golf course, a musical carousel, an old fashioned wave swinger, remote control boat driving, or a 13 foot light tower ride. There’s also a children’s museum your kids will love and a 4000 square foot Funhouse maze with distorting mirrors and dizzying spin tunnels. For a panoramic view of the bustling streets of Chicago and the sparkling waters of Lake Michigan, take a ride 35 stories into the air in the Navy Pier AeroBalloon. The only view that might rival the AeroBalloon’s is the collection of gorgeous stained glass windows in the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows. (more…)

Millennium Park features world famous talented architects, artists, and designers over its 24.5 acre expanse. One of the biggest attractions is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehrywinner of the National Medal of Art. The Pavilion is the most sophisticated outdoor concert venue of its kind in the US. Seating 4,000 in the trellis and 7,000 on the Great Lawn, the Pavilion is the perfect home for the Grant Park Music Festival as well as other big concerts and events. Plus, the state-of-the-art sound system delivers sound quality rivaling the sound of indoor concert venues. Another famous feature of Millennium Park is Jaume Plensa’s interactive Crown Fountain. Inspired by the people of Chicago, the fountain consists of two 50 foot glass block towers on the ends of a shallow reflecting pool. The towers project images of the faces of 1,000 Chicago residents and is designed so it looks like water is spouting from their mouths. Kids love to play in the artistic water flow during the summer months (the water is on from mid spring to mid fall but the images stay on year round). (more…)