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The Chicago Traveler

August 11th, 2008

65 East South Water Street: What’s My Name Again?

I know what you’re thinking. This 1928 24-story high-rise doesn’t look like interesting at all. And you’re right. There’s nothing about it physically that makes it stand out. Rather, what makes this building distinctive is its name… or perhaps, lack thereof.
Near the Seventeenth Church, what was formerly the Millinery Mart Building was renamed after its […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

August 11th, 2008

The Long Arm of Columbus Drive Bridge

The Columbus Drive Bridge may not look like much, but it is actually the second-longest bascule bridge in the world. (If you happen to know which is the longest, I’d love to hear from you. I had difficulty finding this information.) A bascule bridge is the movable type of drawbridge which people are probably most […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

August 6th, 2008

Magnificent Mile’s Posh Pampering

You’ve probably been making sacrifices with your budget in today’s economy, but many of us have a few indulgences we just can’t do without. There are many Chicago locales where you can find the hottest trends and must-haves in beauty and fashion that are on every well-pampered lady’s list.
At downtown’s Oak Street (near Le Colonial), […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

August 4th, 2008

Come Full Circle at Navy Pier’s Ferris Wheel

While I mentioned this attraction in my post on Navy Pier, the Ferris Wheel is so big, it deserves a blog entry of its own. It stands 150 feet tall (46 m) and is modeled after the very first Ferris wheel, built for the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. Open year-round (weather permitting), folks can […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

August 4th, 2008

Presidential Towers Are Four of a Kind

As the saying goes, “there’s strength in numbers.” That’s certainly the case with the Presidential Towers, a residential complex that spans two city blocks (near 525 West Monroe). Each of these buildings wouldn’t seem like much on its own. Built in 1985, the towers are 49 stories tall and “boring brown.” However, standing four strong […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

August 2nd, 2008

Rebar Packs a Punch

Ah, the punch bowl. It’s a staple at every party and gathering, for better or worse. And it’s rarely as innocent as it appears. Under-spiked at the prom or over-spiked at college parties, these beverage bins are seldom just punch. It’s about time someone got the mixture right. The chic and sophisticated Rebar makes its […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

July 31st, 2008

Weekend Events (Aug 1-3, 2008)

• The annual three-day festival, Lollapalooza, takes place this weekend with performances by Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine, Nine Inch Nails, Kanye West, and many, many more. (Aug 1-3)
• Play a game of Australian football at 6 p.m. in Waveland Park thanks to Chicago United’s Friday Night Metro. Everyone is welcome to participate, and coaches […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

July 28th, 2008

Roll Out the Red Carpet for CNA Plaza

While Chicago’s architecture is incredible in terms of shapes and sizes, it doesn’t always offer much in the way of color. Most of these giants of steel and glass are some shade of black or gray. Standing out from the crowd in a unique red dress is the CNA Plaza.

While the building only stands 44 […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments

July 24th, 2008

Weekend Quickies (July 25-27, 2008)

• At the Newberry Library’s 24th annual Book Fair, you can browse through more than 100,000 books in 60 categories, most of which cost $2 or less. (July 24-27)
• In honor of Jimmy Buffet’s concerts at Toyota Park (July 24, 26), Lizzy McNeill’s Irish Pub is holding a Luau on the Chicago River. This Hawaiian-themed […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

July 24th, 2008

Indulge in Luxury Travel

We’ve all probably been more budget-conscious than usual, but sometimes it feels good to splurge a bit. If you want to get around town in luxury, here are some of the most extravagant ways of traveling around Chicago.
At Bentley Gold Coast, you can find some of the best cars in the world, ranging in price […]

By Matt B -- 2 comments