The Chicago Traveler

• We’re all familiar with the Taste of Chicago, an all-out food fest featuring dozens of Chicago restaurants. Foodies will want to check out the upscale version, Chicago Gourmet. Over two dozen famous Chicago chefs (including Rick Bayless, David Burke, and Art Smith) will be offering some of their signature dishes for the event, along with wine tastings and cooking demonstrations. (Sept 26-28)
• Dia de los Muertos is still over a month away, but you can begin celebrating this weekend at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Dia de los Muertos: La Vida Sin Fin is the nation’s largest Day …read more

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Today, the United States remembers those who were lost in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In honor of the victims and their families, the Joffrey Ballet will present an evening of classical, historical, and contemporary performances. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, and the seating bowl will open one hour and a half before show time. Free and open to the public, the presentation will be an unforgettable dedication.
Photo credit: Benjamin Earwicker
http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/default.aspx

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• The annual German festival Mayfest is stuffed with plenty of brats, beer, and bands. The official opening ceremony on Friday features a traditional keg tapping and May Queen crowning. Prost! (May 29-June 1)
• The 24th Annual Chicago Gospel Music Festival is three days of more than 50 performances on three stages in Millennium Park. (May 30-June 1)
• Foodies can sample dishes from more than 50 chefs from local restaurants at the 16th Annual Great Chefs Tasting Party at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers, hosted by the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago. Participating restaurants include David Burke’s …read more

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The Trump International Hotel and Tower is well on its way to becoming Chicago’s newest landmark, soon to be the city’s second-tallest building. And even though it is still under construction, this five-star luxury hotel is already open for business. According to hotels.com, its average lowest nightly rate is $385.
If you need a hotel that is a bit more budget-friendly, but you still want to be close to all the downtown lights and sights, take a look at this list. Here are 10 of the best hotels (in alphabetical order) within 5 miles (8 km) of Millennium Park whose lowest …read more

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If you’re scheduling a trip to Chicago and haven’t planned a trip to Millennium Park, you’re definitely missing out. The fact that it opened in July 2004 (not 2000) and was three times more expensive than anyone had planned just goes to show how much work went into this state-of-the-art attraction.
Oh sure, it may seem simple, comprised mostly of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, Cloud Gate, and Crown Fountain. But each one of those features is nothing like anything you’ve seen before. This northern section of Grant Park is a showcase for postmodern architecture, featuring a bandshell with curving planes of …read more

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Try to describe Crown Fountain to anyone who hasn’t been there, and you may be at a loss. While looking at it, the concept seems very simple: two 50-foot (15-m) towers facing each over a reflecting pool. But if you take a closer look, you’ll notice there is a lot going on with this project that skillfully combines art, technology, architecture, and water.
Opened to the public in July of 2004, Crown Fountain is like none other. Not only is this artwork interactive, but it is constantly changing. Each of the towers is made of over 10,000 5- by 10- by …read more

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One of the most interesting and unique attractions in Chicago is Cloud Gate, otherwise known as “The Bean.” Sculptor Anish Kapoor created this work of art, giving visitors a unique panoramic view of Chicago’s skyline reaching for the clouds above. “The Bean” is made of 168 polished stainless steel plates seamlessly welded together. It stands 33 feet (10 m) high, 66 feet (20 m) long, and 42 feet (13 m) wide.
Like many of Chicago’s attractions, this sculpture came with a bit of controversy. From 2002 through 2004, the plates which comprise Cloud Gate were made in Oakland, California and were …read more

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When I first saw the Jay Pritzker Pavilion (which opened in 2004), all I could think was, “What is that?!” This strange-looking band shell is the centerpiece of downtown’s Millennium Park and is a work of acoustic-engineering genius .
The Jay Pritzker Pavilion is an acoustical and architectural masterpiece in the Loop (across from the Aon Center). Architect Frank Gehry applied his signature style to this one-of-a-kind outdoor concert venue. Known for his touch of curving metal, the roof of the 4,000-fixed-seat amphitheatre is formed by 679 interlocking strips of curling stainless steel. Just behind the fixed seats lies the 95,000-square-foot …read more

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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 green marble walls. The rotunda here features a yellow-toned, stained-glass dome in intricate Renaissance pattern. The south wing (Washington St entrance) is designed with Romanesque revival elements: arched doors and white marble walls. The majestic staircase is also made of marble, set with elaborate mosaics …read more

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I have seen some strange food combinations out there. A friend of mine likes to eat his French fries with tartar sauce. And a girl I know puts Ranch dressing on just about everything… even pizza. But what about ice cream and gourmet popcorn?
Dip & Pop is a tiny Loop spot (just west of the Chicago Athletic Association building) that offers 24 ice cream flavors, including coffee-toffee and apple cinnamon mingle. (Don’t worry; they have vanilla and chocolate, too.) Pick a flavor, and enjoy it in a malt, float, or shake. Then take a gander at the popcorn choices, …read more

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