Chicago HQ

If you’re in the Windy City during the sultry months of summer, your calendar is in luck. Chicago’s diverse city offers a dazzling array of events and performances that can be enjoyed by the whole family. If you’re going to be in Chicago August 24-29, you’ll definitely want to visit the Navy Pier for Pepsi Tall Ships Chicago 2010. During this unique festival, more than 20 historic Tall Ships sail into the Navy Pier. The Tall Ships, which consist of pirate reminiscent schooners, brigantines, brigs, and barques, sail in from Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the US. A festival honoring the ships offers nightly fireworks, daily music and entertainment, as well as tours and rides on the historic ships.If music is your scene, head over to the popular Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago on July 10^th and 11^th for the Rock Around the Block music festival. The festival features thirty of Chicago’s most talented bands performing on three stages throughout the day. Of course, delicious culinary stands and artisan vendors will be set up along the streets for your enjoyment. (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…)