Ramsay will be signing copies of his new cookbook, Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food, in Macy’s lower-level culinary kitchen. Be sure to stop in and say hello! Just don’t tick him off. You’ll be in for an earful.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Dave Pullig

Macy’s: 111 N State St; 312-781-1000
Apr 29: 1:00 p.m.
Parking pay lots available
Public trans: Bus # 2, 3, 4, X4, 6, 10, 14, 20, X20, 22, 24, 26, 29, 36, 56, 60, 62, 124, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151, 157
Red/Blue Line train (Washington)
Orange/Purple/Pink/Green/Brown Line train (Randolph, Madison)
http://www.macys.com/

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

This week’s Quickfire challenge tested the chefs’ palates by a series of 15 comparisons. Each chef was blindfolded and tasted two variations of the same food: one of a high-priced fine quality, the other of a lesser value.

Whether you’re looking for a refined, elegant meal or just some cheap eats, Chicago’s got something for you. The list of restaurants on the left provides stylish culinary experiences, while the examples on the right give you great flavors for small prices.

In the Elimination Challenge, the chefs were randomly split into four groups of three. Each group was assigned one of the classical elements (Air, Earth, Fire, and Water) and had to create a first-course meal based on that element for 80 people of Chicago’s Celebrity Chef Meals on Wheels Fundraiser, held at the old Marshall Field Building.

Meals on Wheels delivers meals to individuals at home, many of which are elderly or handicapped and are unable to prepare their own meals. Here in the Windy City, Meals on Wheels Chicago works in partnership with the Chicago Department of Senior Services and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities “to ensure homebound senior citizens and disabled Chicagoans maintain dignified and independent lifestyles by providing them with warm nutritious meals and related services.” Since 1987, the program has provided approximately 10 million meals. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause or if you know someone who is in need of these services, call 312-744-2120 or visit http://www.mealsonwheelschicago.org/

The Marshall Field & Co. building on State Street is over 100 years old and is an incredible piece of Chicago’s history. However, in 2005, it was acquired by Macy’s Inc., who changed the store’s appearance and name. You can read more about the famous department store and its surrounding controversy in my blog entry, The Great Clocks.

Photo credit: HelenaN, kisokiso, Atelier Teee

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

The first Great Clock at Marshall Field’s Macy’s State Street store was installed on November 26, 1897. At that time, the clock was a symbol of elegance and prosperity. Mr. Field wanted this great clock to serve as a guide for all Chicagoans, attracting them to his store. The flagship store was much more than a department store; it was a place to socialize, dine, and explore. The Great Clock was immortalized by Norman Rockwell in one of his works that was used as a cover for the Saturday Evening Post in 1945.

It is unfortunate that this building, which was once Chicago’s third most popular tourist attraction, is now an eyesore to so many, myself included. In 2005, the department store was acquired by Federated Department Stores (now Macy’s, Inc). To many Chicagoans’ disappointment, the name of the store was officially changed to “Macy’s on State Street,” the traditional dark green awnings were replaced by Macy’s black ones, and the Field’s slogan “As Chicago as it Gets” has been swapped out for Macy’s “Way to Shop.” Hundreds of demonstrators hold protests in front of the store on a regular basis, and in a recent survey, 70% of Chicagoans said they were angry with Macy’s for replacing Marshall Field’s and refuse to shop at the store now. In fact, at Federated’s 2007 annual shareholder’s meeting, a Federated executive admitted that, while other former Marshall Field’s stores were “no better or worse” than other converted stores, the flagship State Street store was “doing badly.”

If protests and sales continue along this route, who knows what’s (*ahem*) in store for Macy’s?

Only time will tell.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Atelier Teee, Springsun, Michael L, David Paul Ohmer, Wikipedia

Marshall Field’s Great Clock: 100 N State St
Parking pay lot
Public trans: Bus # 2, 3, 4, X4, 6, 10, 14, 20, X20, 22, 24, 26, 36, 62, 29, 36, 56, 60, 62, 124, 127, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 151, 157
Red Line train (Washington) currently under construction
Blue Line train (Washington)
Orange/Purple/Pink/Green/Brown Line train (Randolph/Madison)

Post from: The Chicago Traveler