The Chicago Traveler

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. (ChicagoSports.com)
*sigh* C’mon people! Maybe I’m biased because I earned my B.A. in English, but it can’t be that difficult, can it? We all learned this in fifth grade. When you drop a letter between words, you use an apostrophe. Let us play two. Let’s play …read more

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Even Ernie Banks himself couldn’t believe his eyes.
“Is that me?” he asked. The Chicago Cubs unveiled a bronze statue of the Hall of Famer outside Wrigley Field yesterday. The likeness stands at bat with a Louisville Slugger in his hands and a grin on his face. That grin was exactly the same as the one on the real Banks’ face, a grin that has won the hearts of Chicagoans for decades. It’s a symbol of his ever-cheerful demeanor, and it’s what earned him nicknames like “Mr. Cub” and “Mr. Sunshine.” He was also well-known for his catch phrase, “It’s a …read more

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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 on the fountain.
Opened on May 26, 1927, the fountain was designed to represent Lake Michigan; the four seahorse statues symbolize the four states that touch the lake: Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan.
It’s currently too cold for Buckingham Fountain to be running, as it usually operates …read more

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The Chicago Board of Trade Building has towered over the LaSalle Street “canyon” since its completion in 1930. With 44 floors and standing at 605 feet (184 m), it was Chicago’s tallest building from 1930 until 1965 (when it was surpassed by the Daley Center). It has been listed as a National Historic Landmark since 1978 and is now the primary trading venue for the CME Group (the merger of the Chicago Board of Trade and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange).
Known for its art deco architecture, sculptures, and stone carving, the building is a popular attraction for both tourists and filmmakers. …read more

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