The Chicago Traveler

August 29th, 2008

Labor Day Weekend 2008 (Aug 29-31)

• The African Festival of the Arts is Chicago’s largest neighborhood festival, featuring three music stages, ethnic cuisine, and more than 300 vendors selling everything from fine art to skin care products. Presentations include book discussions and dance workshops. (Aug 29 – Sept 1)
• The 30th annual Chicago Jazz Festival is the city’s longest-running lakefront […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

June 19th, 2008

Weekend Quickies

• The 11th annual Taste of Randolph Street stretches from Peoria Street to Racine Avenue and features food from local restaurants, a wine garden, chef demos, and art vendors. (June 20-22)
• At the Daley Plaza, the Thai Festival Chicago 2008 presents dance performances, Thai boxing demonstrations, food, fashion, and more. (June 19-20)
• Watch the Chicago […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

April 26th, 2008

Cubs Win 10,000

On Wednesday night, the Chicago Cubs became the second major-league team with 10,000 victories. And their opponents, the Colorado Rockies, certainly didn’t make it easy for them.
It took the Cubs ten innings to defeat the Rockies, coming back in the ninth on a two-run homer and then a two-out RBI single from Ryan Theriot. The […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

April 11th, 2008

Friday Film: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Many kids have faked an illness in order to stay home from school. That, however, would never work for me. My parents’ theory seemed to be: “Can you walk? Can you breathe? Then you’re going to school.” One famous fictional teenager gets away with it and decides that he’s not going to waste his day […]

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 26th, 2008

Wrigley Field

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 […]

By Matt B -- 11 comments

February 18th, 2008

Ah One, Ah Two, Ah Three!

Today marks the tenth anniversary of the death of Chicago legend Harry Caray. He was the iconic radio and television announcer for the Chicago Cubs.

Holy Cow!
Harry Caray trained himself to use this expression to avoid any chance of using profanity on the air.

Harry Caray, born Harry Carabina, began his baseball career with the St. Louis […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

January 28th, 2008

Chicago Athletic Association

The Chicago Athletic Association Building and Annex are excellent examples of early-20th-century progressive architectural trends. They housed the city’s upscale athletic, dining, and social club. Founded in 1890 by Marshall Field, Henry Ives Cobb, Cyrus McCormick, A. G. Spalding, and others, the CAA was a not-for-profit organization providing a setting for athletic, business, and social […]

By Matt B -- 6 comments

November 5th, 2007

Soldier Field

The leaves have been falling along with the temperatures here, and that means one thing to many Chicagoans: football. Soldier Field on Lake Shore Drive is home to “Da Bears” and has a bit of an odd look to it… and a just as equally odd history to go with it.

Completed in 1924, Municipal Grant […]

By Matt B -- 5 comments

May 30th, 2007

Sports in Stock on the South Side

Living on the north side of Chicago, I can tell you that there are more than enough places to buy Chicago Cubs souvenirs and memorabilia. But where do you go if you’re a Chicago White Sox fan?

Three blocks away from the White Sox’ home, U.S. Cellular Field, is Grandstand. Established in 1989, this family-owned business […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments