Chicago HQ

Navy Pier

admin — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Navy Pier is a popular destination for families and couples in Chicago. It is a beautiful pier overlooking lake Michigan and is a great place to take a lazy afternoon walk. The Navy Pier is host to a number of fun attractions, including shops, an IMAX theater, a stained glass museum, a children’s museum, and a beer garden. The Navy Pier also hosts a number of events through out the year, including fire works and live bands.
In the summer time the Navy Pier sets off fire works twice a week, as well as on Independence Day on July 4th. This ongoing tradition is accompanied by music provided by local radio stations. A number of other festivals and events are held at the pier each year, including the annual Chicago Flower and Garden Show.
On the pier is a 150 foot Ferris wheel, as well as number of other smaller rides. The Ferris wheel is a great place to overlook the city and is popular attraction among visitors and Chicago citizens alike.
The Smith Stained Glass Museum features over 150 stained glass windows and is the only American museum devoted to stained glass. Most of the works are rescued from Chicago area buildings.

Discover DePaul University

admin — Mon, 23 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

DePaul University is a private university dedicated to higher education and research. Located in Chicago, IL, DePaul University was founded in 1898 by the Vincentians. The university was named for Saint Vincent de Paul, a French priest from the 17th century who placed a high value on philanthropy.

DePaul is the largest private university in the state of Illinois with 25,150 students in total. It is also the largest Roman Catholic university in the United States. A non-profit university, DePaul ranks in the Top Tier of national colleges according to the US News & World Report. DePaul offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate programs housed in ten colleges and schools: the College of Commerce, College of Communication, College of Law, College of Computing and Digital Media, College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, School for New Learning, School of Education, School of Music, The Theatre School, and the school of Continuing and Professional Education.

DePaul University is a member of the Big East Conference and NCAA Division I. DePaul’s basketball program gained prominence in 1978 when the team went to the Final Four. The school’s mascot is Demon In a Blue Suit (DIBS), and DePaul fans refer to themselves as “Blue Demons.”

The Chicago Loop

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Downtown Chicago, better known as ‘The Loop’ is famous for its historic skyscrapers. It is the second largest business district in the United States, consisting mainly of commercial buildings. Nonetheless, The Loop has something for everyone.

In addition to spectacular views of Lake Michigan, the Navy Pier offers much in form of dining and entertainment, catering to both adults and children. The Children’s Museum features an urban garden area, an art studio, and a mock fire station. River cruises, park rides, bike tours, and the Funhouse Maze are other highlights of the Navy Pier.

The Arts district encompasses several blocks, boasting numerous theaters, galleries, and gift shops. The Millennium Park is home to many of the city’s festivals and events. Complementing the huge playgrounds and picnic area, the park houses a theatre, an art gallery, and an iceskating rink.

Also popular in the area is the Shedd Aquarium, among the largest indoor aquariums in the world. On display are dolphins, whales, sharks, penguins, sea turtles, frogfishes, otters and thousands of other sea and river creatures.

Though many visitors and local prefer to get around the Loop by foot, transportation is readily available should the need arise. The city operates several bus and train lines serving the area on a regular basis.

So Much To Do And So Much To See

admin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0000

With so much to see and so much to do in the Greater Chicago area, it is really difficult to plan a trip for less than a week in the windy city. Depending on what your families interest is and the time of year that you are going, will have a lot to do with what you may want to see. Chicago in the winter is cold. That is not always a bad thing, but it will definitely limit the amount of outdoor activities that you may want to do and see. There is always plenty to do inside where it is nice and warm.

The city starts to have beautiful weather in late April and early May. This is the time of year to begin to explore the outside parts of the city, it is not cold for a lot of walking but not too hot either. Your family may enjoy visiting to the two zoos in the area during this time of year. Both the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Brookfield Zoo is an enjoyable way to spend the day.

No matter when you choose to visit make sure that you set your Alarm systems before you leave home. You will want to ensure that you will return home and find everything safe and sound.

Get Wild at the Lincoln Park Zoo

www.chicago-hq.com — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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.

Building Chicago brick by brick

www.chicago-hq.com — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 21:06:16 +0000

Coming to Chicago from October 29^th through to the 31^st, LEGO KidsFest is a combination of an educational, interactive and creative event. Located at McCormick Place, the exhibit will feature large scale LEGO constructions as well as building zones for creating your own LEGO masterpiece.However, there are other features for the KidsFest. At the Cool Creations showcase, LEGO fans can view the creations of other LEGO designers. Meanwhile, at the incredible Creation Nation exhibit, families build their own mosaics to add to a gigantic map of the United States. In-fact, the map is so large it reaches the size of a basketball court.On Sunday, LEGO KidsFest will host a special Halloween event. Not only will visitors enjoy Halloween treats, but a costume contest, and other exciting holiday themed festivities.If your child is 16 years old or under, an adult must accompany them. To guarantee your place at the event, log onto the sites website and book your tickets today.

Lollapalooza lives on in the Windy City

www.chicago-hq.com — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 18:00:03 +0000

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.

Wrigley FieldHome of the Chicago Cubs

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:46:15 +0000

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. Despite the teams championship losses, games are still widely attended by passionate Cubs fans and easygoing baseball fans alike. The bleachers are always filled with energetic fans cheering their team on while munching on all American hot dogs and drinking ice cold beer. The old-school scoreboard that’s been in place since 1937 makes a great addition to an already historic team.If you’re in the Lake View area, be sure to check the times of home games and get a piece of the action. After the game, head on over to The Cubby Bear, a festive bar across from Wrigley Field. If Cubby’s is too packed, try Sluggersa double-decker bar with an impressive game room. If you’re looking for food near the field, try Salt and Pepper, Heaven on Seven, the Kit Kat Lounge, or Bar Louie. If you’re not ready to head back home, there are cute coffee shops nearby including Fly Me to the Moon, the Pick Me Up Caf, or Julius Meinl where live music is usually playing for your entertainment. If the music scene interests you, Wrigleyville can provide you with hopping music venues like the Wild Hare who hosts Reggae bands 7 nights a week.

Where to Eat in the Windy City

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:36:35 +0000

Like any big city, the streets of Chicago are overflowing with places to eat. Unlike the other big cities, the restaurants of the Windy City are blessed with culinary genius. You don’t have to go to a five star restaurant to get great food in Chicago. In fact, their two biggest delicacies are hot dogs and pizza. Chicago Style pizza is a must while visiting the city. For the best authentic Chicago pizza, try Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria or Gino’s East of Chicago.Once you’ve tried the all-American classics, it’s safe to move on to some of the diverse dining options Chicago has to offer. Restaurants in Chicago’s 77 diverse neighborhoods range from African, Asian, Caribbean, Chinese, Mediterranean, Mexican, Moroccan, Thai, Vietnamese, and everything in between. The best Italian can be found in the Little Italy neighborhood, the west side is famous for its Greektown restaurants and cuisine, and Devon Avenue in the northwest is the place for Indian and Pakistani food.In terms of fine dining, Chicago’s fancy restaurants are definitely chart toppers. We recommend heading to Everest Restaurantan internationally recognized dining room located on the 40^th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange. If you’re a fan of French, try Les Nomades where you can experience new French tastes in a private club atmosphere. Charlie Trotter’s is another must-try while in Chicago. Chef Trotter has written 11 cookbooks, been the subject of two management books, and hosts the award winning PBS series ‘The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter’. Accordingly, the chefs at Charlie Trotter’s create excellent dishes with innovative styles and scrumptious taste.With so many options available, the hardest part about dining in Chicago is choosing where to feast. When the time comes to decide, you can use this complete dining guide to help point you in the direction your mouth desires.

The Navy Pier

admin — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 19:27:50 +0000

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.If you travel to the Navy Pier between May 28 and September 6, you’ll definitely want to get tickets for Cirque Shanghai at Cloud 9. The talented performers put on a beautifully extravagant show that will make your eyes pop, your heart stop, and your jaw drop. Check out another show of equal proportions at the 440-seat Navy Pier IMAX Theater that is currently playing the Twilight Saga Eclipse in 3D and will soon be playing Inception in 3D.After you work up an appetite riding the rides and seeing the sights, stop by the food court in the Family Pavilion for a delicious variety of tastes. If you’d rather sit down and enjoy some of the best seafood Chicago has to offer, take the classier route and dine at Riva’s Crab House where meals are cooked fresh by expert chefs.