Great Chicago Places and Spaces

On the side of the Art Institute.

Last year I took a free trolley tour with Pablo to Bronzeville. The guide was knowledgeable and for a history geek, the tour was interesting. It was a little dry but with the right person, which Pablo was, it turned out to be fun.

This year most of the neighborhood tours cost but on May 19 and 20, you can go for relatively cheap. There is a $3 fee per person per tour which makes it a real bargain. The trick is you have to register on the day of the tour at 7:30 a.m. It is first come, first serve. Starting on May 1st at 12 p.m. until May 10th, you can also register on line for some of the tours. I'm hoping to get the Architecture River Cruise tour. I'm sure that will go fast. If I don't get that one, maybe I will try Chicago Kayak instead. Yeah, right.

There are so many to choose from, so if you don't get the one you want, there will be something left that will excite you. For more information, go to http://www.cityofchicago.org/Tourism/. You will be directed to their new tourist page. Once there look under festivals and special events for Great chicago Places and Spaces. It's hard to find, but worth it.

Loopy and Looptopia

I am not a Chicagoan but I live so close, I feel like one most of the times. I'm sure the natives recognize me for what I am, a weekender looking up at the tall buildings. I don't wear the prerequisite jaded look when I come to town. The real Chicagoan love their city with the emotions of an old suitor--cool, nonchalant, confident that the object of their affection returns their ardor.

Not me. I'm goofy about the city, going into town whenever I can. I have this spring ritual where I walk down Michigan Avenue on the first day that the weather turns good for sure, something like John Travolta strutting his stuff in Saturday Night Fever. I'm sure the stupid smile on my face marks me as a suburbanite. Most Chicagoans are too cool to smile.

While trolling the web for stuff about the upcoming festivals, I came across something new. Looptopia! Sounds like dinotopia. I don't know who came up with the crazy name but the idea sounds fantastic. It is being touted as the country's first all-night cultural and artistic party and it all takes place in the loop. Patterned after the "White Night" event in Paris and Rome, they are even having a slumber party at Harold Washington Library and a sunrise buffet at Millennium Park.

It all takes place May 11th and 12th from 8 p.m to 6 a.m. Most of the offerings are free, the others are for a nominal fee. There's dancing, movies, lectures, oh, my! What I'm looking forward to the most is the showing of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers at the Chicago Cultural Center in the wee hours. I think I will pass on the knitting circle event (yes, you read it right) but there are so many other things to do I won't get to sleep until Sunday afternoon.

For a complete list of the events, check out www.ChicagoLoopAlliance.com.

I Love Chicago in the Springtime

Spring has finally decided to stay for a while. May is next week. That means it is time for festivals in Chicago.
Watch this spot for upcoming events, photos of past events and various tidbits about Chicago.
Why is it called Pablo's Place. Pablo knows.