The Chicago Traveler

May 26th, 2008

Sears Tower Stands Above All

Welcome to The Chicago Traveler’s 500th post! For this milestone, it’s time to feature Chicago’s claim to fame, the Sears Tower.

In a city known for its architecture, this is the cream of the crop. Constructed like nine square columns, the building reaches a height of 1451 feet (442 m) and 110 stories with 104 elevators. […]

By Matt B -- 9 comments

May 22nd, 2008

Memorial Day Weekend 2008

• Learn about the causes and outcomes of earthquakes, hurricanes, volcanoes, tornadoes, and more at The Field Museum’s new exhibit, Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters. (through Jan 4)
• The Las Vegas male revue Thunder from Down Under is coming to Chicago for a 75-minute performance at Crobar. Meet and greet the hunky hotties after the […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

May 19th, 2008

Chicago Gas Prices Highest in the U.S.

The other day, before driving to the grocery store, I pulled into the gas station to fill the car’s tank. I read the sign… $4.20 for a gallon of regular gas! Eep! Filling the tank would leave me with no money left for groceries. And I’m certainly not the only one feeling the pinch on […]

By Matt B -- 7 comments

May 3rd, 2008

Garfield Park Conservatory Provides Year-Round Refuge

If you need a moment away from the hustle and bustle of the Windy City, but you can’t make it to one of Illinois’ natural wonders, visit the urban oasis that is the Garfield Park Conservatory.
Covering 4.5 acres (18,211 m2) of the north end of Garfield Park, the conservatory is one of the largest and […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

April 7th, 2008

Adler Planetarium

The Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum opened in 1930 and was the first planetarium built in the Western Hemisphere. It is home to two full-size theaters, including the world’s first all-digital projection StarRider Theater. It stands on Northerly Island (next to Charter One Pavilion), which was initially meant to be the first of several man-made […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

April 4th, 2008

Apostrophe Catastrophe

As I reported on Tuesday, the Chicago Cubs honored Ernie Banks with his very own bronze statue in front of Wrigley Field. It included an inscription of his catchphrase:

See the problem?
At least half the people I asked leaned toward the inscription, mouthed it—Lets play two, lets play two, lets play two—then shook their heads, no. […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

March 31st, 2008

Buckingham Fountain

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 […]

By Matt B -- 3 comments

March 27th, 2008

Seven Wonders of Illinois

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; […]

By Matt B -- 4 comments

March 24th, 2008

Chicago Cultural Center

Completed in 1897, the Chicago Cultural Center was the first permanent home of the Chicago Public Library and now serves as an arts and culture center.
Constructed at a cost of nearly $2 million, the building is a beautiful example of Chicago’s turn-of-the-century architecture. The north wing (Randolph St entrance) features Doric columns, mahogany doors, and […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

March 21st, 2008

"Top Chef: Chicago" Goes to the Zoo

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 dish using no more than five ingredients (excluding salt, pepper, sugar, and […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments