The Chicago Traveler

Another destination blog is joining us here at the b5media Travel & Culture Channel. Greetings and salutations to The Tokyo Traveler!

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One of Chicago’s most popular attractions is Buckingham Fountain. It is one of the largest fountains in the world and was dedicated to the people of Chicago by Kate Buckingham in honor of her late brother, Clarence. Kate also established the Buckingham Fountain Endowment Fund with an initial investment of $300,000 to pay for maintenance on the fountain.
Opened on May 26, 1927, the fountain was designed to represent Lake Michigan; the four seahorse statues symbolize the four states that touch the lake: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
It’s currently too cold for Buckingham Fountain to be running, as it usually operates …read more

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This season of the Bravo network’s Top Chef was filmed here in Chicago, exposing competing chefs from all over the country to all the culinary treats the Windy City has to offer.
This week’s Quickfire challenge required each of the chefs to create a taco dish that was suitable for fine dining. Along with earning its creator immunity in the following Elimination challenge, the winning dish was placed on the menu at Rick Bayless’ restaurant, Topolobampo. Sure, it may sound funny, but the flavors here are amazing. You can read more about it and its sister restaurant in my post: Frontera …read more

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Do the planet a favor and participate in tonight’s Earth Hour. This international event asks households and businesses to turn off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour tonight at 8:00 p.m. (CST) until 9:00 p.m.
Governments, businesses, and individuals on six continents will participate in Earth Hour. Chicago is the World Wildlife Fund’s flagship city for the United States. We can conserve electricity and lower carbon emissions just by turning off the lights for 60 minutes. Expect a dark Wrigley Field marquee, dim Michigan Avenue storefronts, and even an unlit Sears Tower.
By working together, each of us can …read more

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Anyone who’s interested in food knows about Rick Bayless, Chicago’s own celebrity chef. Specializing in Mexican cuisine, he is known for countless cookbooks, his PBS series Mexico: One Plate at a Time, and two great restaurants here in Chicago: Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.
The two restaurants share the same building and bar and have a hip, colorful atmosphere. Both offer some of the best Mexican food you’ll ever have. For a more casual feel, try Frontera Grill. Just remember, Frontera takes a limited amount of reservations for all sizes. So, more than likely, you’ll be in for a long wait at …read more

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The Illinois Bureau of Tourism asked the state’s residents and visitors to nominate their favorite destinations in Illinois. In May of 2007, seven of these were selected as the Seven Wonders of Illinois.

• Chicago: Wrigley Field. The atmosphere, neighborhood, and fans put this stadium in a league of its own. It’s not just a ballpark; it’s an experience.
• Chicagoland: The Baha’I House of Worship. This unforgettable sight is beautiful both inside and out. Its intricate construction took nearly 30 years to complete.
• Northern: Starved Rock State Park. Visitors can witness firsthand the results of Mother Nature’s power: 18 canyons framed …read more

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Yesterday was Opening Day for Major League Baseball, so it is only appropriate to dedicate a post to Chicago’s one and only Wrigley Field. It is one of Chicago’s most recognized landmarks and is one of the few remaining ballparks without a dome, with real grass, and without a large-screen television. And while a few of the seats are less than ideal (the infamous “nosebleeds” and seats behind structural supports), the majority of fans have a great view of their “loveable losers.”
With nearly 100 years of history, where do I even begin? Wrigley Field was originally built in 1914 as …read more

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Chicagoans are just as opinionated about their Italian beef as they are about their pizza and hot dogs. So when a restaurant claims to have the best beef in town, they’d better prepare themselves for plenty of heat. And that’s exactly what Al’s #1 Italian Beef has got.
Since 1938, Al’s has been offering some of the best Italian beef in town… depending on who you ask. There are just as many people who drive away from this place as there are people who flock to this place. But among the many customers salivating over Al’s dishes are several celebrities, as …read more

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Illinois provides many opportunities for outdoors enthusiasts to hike, swim, camp, fish, and much more. But for those of us who are a little less enthusiastic about nature, sometimes just a nice scenic drive can be a nice relaxing getaway.
In southwestern Illinois, the Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route travels for 33 miles (53 km) through the floodplains where the Missouri, Mississippi, and Illinois Rivers meet. At the rivers’ juncture, history and natural beauty also come together, for this area had great significance in early American times.
For example, on the south end of the route, Meriwether Lewis and William …read more

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The Chicago Title & Trust Building is a 50-story office tower (one block east of the Bilandic Building) that was completed in 1992 and stands 756 feet tall (230 m). The tower’s most prominent feature is its unusual top. The east side has a very steep slope, while the west has a large triple-“lantern” decoration. Both sides are flooded with light in the evening hours. The building was originally designed with a twin tower in mind, which was never produced. However, plans for the second half were not completely scrapped and may still pan out one day.

Photo credit: polomex, Aquistbe, …read more

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