Illinois Travel Guide 2008 - (Page 50) 43 E. Ohio St. The 35,000-sq.-ft. sports-themed dining and entertainment complex offers great American grill food in the Studio Grill, the ultimate sportsviewing environment in the Screening Room and 10,000 sq. ft. of interactive games and attractions in the Sports Arena. 312/644-3776, www.espnzone.com McClurg Court at the Chicago River A 100-foot jet stream creates an arc across the Chicago River for 10 minutes on the hour, except at 3pm and 4pm. 312/751-7909 Free Pullman Historic District 11141 S. Cottage Grove Ave. Founded in 1880 by railroad-car manufacturer George Pullman for his workers, this National Historic Landmark District is also Chicago’s largest landmark district. The Historic Pullman Foundation offers guided walking tours, plus an annual house tour and candlelight tour. The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency offers tours of the Hotel Florence and remains of the factory. 773/785-8901, www.pullmanil.org $ John Hancock Center Observatory 875 N. Michigan Ave. A 39-second elevator ride takes you to the 94th-floor observatory of the John Hancock Center for a panoramic view of Chicago, Lake Michigan and up to four surrounding states. 888/875-VIEW, 312/751-3681, www.hancock-observatory.com $ Magnificent Mile Sears Tower Skydeck Observatory 233 S. Wacker Dr. How does it feel to be on top of the world? Take an elevator to the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower and find out. The trip includes the “Chicago Experience,” a seven-minute multi-image presentation movie. 312/875-9696, www.theskydeck.com $ Loop District Bordered by Chicago River, Michigan Ave. and Congress Pkwy. The Loop is named after the elevated train, constructed in the 1880s, that circles the heart of downtown. Bustling sidewalks and impressive buildings house financial trading centers, historic department stores, cultural institutions and offices converted to residential lofts. Free showrooms and design floors. The “Shops at the Mart” is two floors of stores, boutiques and restaurants enclosed in two city blocks. www.merchandisemart.com New Maxwell Street Market Canal St. and Roosevelt Rd. Visit this flea market famous for wonderful bargains on everything from tires and tools to fresh produce and clothing. It’s a Chicago tradition every Sun. morning. 312/922-3100 University of Chicago Hyde Park One of the nation’s most prestigious private educational institutions, the University of Chicago has been home to many Nobel Prize winners. The campus also contains architectural wonders, such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House and the Rockefeller Memorial Chapel. 773/702-1234, www.uchicago.edu Free Navy Pier 600 E. Grand Ave. This historic maritime landmark includes 50 acres of promenades, gardens, shops, restaurants, live music, an IMAX theater and the 1,500-seat Skyline Stage. The pier is home to the Chicago Children’s Museum, the Chicago Shakespeare Theater and the Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows. Take a ride on the merry-go-round or the sky-scraping Ferris wheel, or stroll through the glass-enclosed Crystal Gardens. Fireworks displays take place every Wed. and Sat. from Memorial Day to Labor Day. 312/595-PIER, www.navypier.com Free Oak Street Between State St. and Michigan Ave. Many of the world’s most exclusive boutiques line Oak Street, including Barneys, Prada, Tod’s and other high-end retailers. 888/909-5500, www.oakstreetchicago.com State Street Between Wacker Dr. and Congress St. The pulse of the city beats in the Loop’s “Great Street,” where historic Chicago shops are located, as well as numerous specialty stores. The area is also a theater hub. www.chicagoloopalliance.com SHOPPING American Girl Place 111 E. Chicago Ave. American Girls come to life in the first mall dedicated to the dolls that make up the American Girl collection. Shop the colorful boutiques, dine in the eclectic cafe and see one of the live stage shows. In October 2008, American Girl Place plans to move to Water Tower Place. 877/AGPLACE, www.americangirlplace.com CHICAGO-STYLE PIZZA Pizzeria Uno is the birthplace of Chicago’s original deep-dish pizza, invented by owner Ike Sewell in 1943. The mighty pie caught on— more than 200 Unos now serve deep-dish pizza worldwide. Another longtime contributor to local pizza lore, Giordano’s, has stuffed its pies for some 30 years, following closely guarded family recipes developed generations ago in Torino, Italy. Don’t leave the city without trying the famous, tomato-topped pie. 50 ILLINOIS. MILE AFTER MAGNIFICENT MILE. PERFORMING ARTS Apollo Theater 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. This intimate venue located in Lincoln Park stages comedies, musicals and other original productions. It also houses the city’s most popular children’s theater company, Emerald City. 773/935-6100, www.apollochicago.com $ Gallery 37 Store 66 E. Randolph St. Gallery 37 is Chicago’s celebrated job-training program in the arts, where students participate in visual, literary and performing arts workshops. You can purchase artwork by Chicago youths at this shop. 312/744-7274, www.gallery37.org Free Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University 50 E. Congress Pkwy. This acoustically perfect theater, designed by Louis Sullivan, presents dance, music and Broadway performances. 312/922-2110, www.auditoriumtheatre.org $ Illinois Artisans Shop James R. Thompson Center, 2nd Floor, Ste. 2-200, 100 W. Randolph St. The Illinois Artisans Shop is the place to buy fine crafts made in Illinois. The work of more than 500 juried Illinois artisans is on view and for sale. Jewelry, baskets, ceramics, textiles, paintings, photography, glass and more are available. 312/814-5321, www.museum.state.il.us/artisans Bailiwick Repertory Theatre 1229 W. Belmont Ave. See works penned by Chicago playwrights and staged by Chicago actors at this popular local theater in the Bailiwick Arts Center. 773/883-1090, www.bailiwick.org $ Magnificent Mile North Michigan Ave. between Oak St. and the Chicago River Besides showplace shopping on tree-lined walkways, you will find world-class hotels, top restaurants, noteworthy historic landmarks and architectural treasures. 312/642-3570, www.themagnificentmile.com Beverly Arts Center 2407 W. 111th St. A lively place for the arts, the Beverly Arts Center hosts exhibitions, plays, concerts, the Annual Festival of Ethnic Arts and classes for children and adults in art, music, theater and dance. 773/445-3838, www.beverlyartcenter.org $ Merchandise Mart Merchandise Mart Plaza, Kinzie and Wells streets, north of the Chicago River Tours of Chicago’s legendary Merchandise Mart highlight the Mart’s fascinating history, Briar Street Theatre/Blue Man Group 3133 N. Halsted St. Catch the famed Blue Man Group at this intimate Lakeview theater. 773/348-4000, www.blueman.com $ enjoyillinois.com MATTHEW GILSON ESPN Zone Nicholas Melas Centennial Fountain and Arc http://www.espnzone.com http://www.pullmanil.org http://www.hancock-observatory.com http://www.merchandisemart.com http://www.theskydeck.com http://www.oakstreetchicago.com http://www.uchicago.edu http://www.chicagoloopalliance.com http://www.navypier.com http://www.americangirlplace.com http://www.apollochicago.com http://www.gallery37.org http://www.auditoriumtheatre.org http://www.museum.state.il.us/artisans http://www.bailiwick.org http://www.themagnificentmile.com http://www.beverlyartcenter.org http://www.blueman.com http://enjoyillinois.com
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