I’ve mentioned before how small bits of Paris occasionally pop up here in Chicago. This includes the entrance to the Metra Van Buren Street Station on Michigan Avenue (across from the Auditorium Building). It is a replica of a Paris subway entrance designed by Hector Guimard. The entrance was given to Chicago by the city of Paris in 2001.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) Atelier Teee, swanksalot, jima

Metra Van Buren Street Station
Public trans: Bus # 1, 3, 4, X4, 6, 7, 14, 26, X28, 126, 145, 147, 148, 151
Metra Electric Line (Van Buren)

Post from: The Chicago Traveler

Improv Everywhere, a comedy group based in New York City, is holding their annual No Pants Subway Rides, and they’re encouraging cities across the nation to get involved. At about 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (Jan 12), Chicagoan pranksters will gather at the Loyola Red Line stop (map). Once everyone is together, these brave citizens will remove their pants, revealing their choice of underwear, and ride the subway across the Windy City. If anyone should ask why they’re not wearing any pants, these jokesters will most likely respond, “I forgot them!”

Oh sure, it’s all rather silly, but sometimes we could use a little absurdity to break the monotony. And it looks like folks in New York City, Washington DC, and Boston agree!

For more information, check out Improv Everywhere or Facebook.

Photo credit: (c/o Flickr) kenyee (1, 2, 3)

Post from: The Chicago Traveler