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Chicago Attractions
Boat Tours
Boat trips travel along the Chicago River, through the locks into Chicago Harbor and Lake Michigan.
Bus and Trolley Tours
One of the best ways to get oriented and view a multitude of sights in a short time is to take a bus tour. American Sightseeing Tours, (312) 251-3100, in the Palmer House at 17 E. Monroe St.; and Gray Line, (312) 251-3107, at 17 E. Monroe St., offer city orientation tours, including land and lake tours.
Industrial Tours
Several of Chicago's manufacturers offer tours of their facilities; check with the Chicago Office of Tourism.
Spectator Sports
Chicago is one of the nation's great sports cities. From the early days of the Bears' gridiron glory to the 1990s reign of Air Jordan, locals turn out in droves year-round to cheer the home teams on to glory.
Those who would rather watch than work at their sports will find a full calendar of both amateur and professional contests. Do not forget the college and university teams; they can provide as much excitement as the professionals. A review of the sports and events pages in the daily newspapers will tell you who and what is scheduled where.
Recreation
Chicagoans also get in on the action themselves. And why not? Whether basking in the sun along the shore of Lake Michigan or enjoying wintry excursions in the surrounding heartland, you'll find the city's many recreational facilities offer a scenic playground in any season.
Information about the large variety of recreational facilities available in the Greater Chicago area can be obtained from the Chicago Park District, 54 N. Fairbanks Ct., which distributes a free brochure describing all its offerings; phone (312) 742-7529.
In addition the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, 536 N. Harlem Ave. in River Forest, and the Cook County Building at 118 N. Clark have free brochures, maps and information detailing recreational opportunities. For more specific information regarding activities on the Forest Preserve District's 67,000 acres, phone (773) 261-8400, (708) 366-9420 in the suburbs, (800) 870-3666, or (708) 771-1190.
Shopping
Any shop 'til you drop aficionado is familiar with the Magnificent Mile, a Chicago landmark. But savvy shoppers also know that virtually every type of store can be found in the Windy City and its environs.
Performing Arts
Chicago's world-class cultural amenities set trends as well as standards. The arts are showcased in numerous venues and often are the focus of area events.
The city's artistic contributions can be seen within a variety of media, including television. Between 1949 and 1955 the Chicago School of Television, as five locally produced NBC programs came to be known, was heralded for broadcasting original ideas and utilizing inventive production techniques.
Oprah Winfrey became a television pioneer after relocating to the city in 1984; she established her own Chicago production facility just 4 years later. Harpo Studios, 1058 W. Washington Blvd., is home to "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which is broadcast internationally in 122 countries. Tickets to the show, taped January through May and August through November, are hard to come by, and reservations must be made in advance through the studio's Audience Department; phone (312) 633-0808.
Ballets, concerts and legitimate theater productions with big-name entertainers are presented at Chicago's largest indoor theater, the Arié Crown Theatre, (312) 791-6190, in McCormick Place at 23rd Street and the lakefront. McCormick Place is reputed to be the largest exhibition and trade show facility in the Northern Hemisphere, featuring major shows throughout the year. Performances also are held at Auditorium Theatre, (312) 922-4046, 50 E. Congress Pkwy.; Chicago Theatre, (312) 443-1130, on State and Lake streets; and Rosemont Theatre, (847) 671-5100, at 5400 N. River Rd. in Rosemont.
Other cultural centers that offer lectures and present dance and classical concerts include the Chicago Cultural Center, at Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, and the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, (847) 448-8260, 927 Noyes St., in nearby Evanston. Consult the newspapers for complete information.
Special Events
Throughout the year Chicago's calendar is full of special events, ranging from huge exhibitions of automobiles, vacation equipment and antiques to shopping center art fairs. The flower and garden shows change with the seasons; check the events sections of the newspapers.
One of the main horticultural events on Chicago's calendar is the Chicago Flower & Garden Show, bursting with exhibits of earthy pursuits. The show takes place at Navy Pier in mid-March.
Chicago so loves a parade that more than 200 parade permits are issued annually. There are parades to celebrate Chinese New Year, held late January or early February; St. Patrick's Day; Polish Constitution Day, in early May; Bud Billiken Day, a variable Saturday in August; Mexican Independence Day in September; Columbus Day; and the Saturday after Thanksgiving to welcome Santa.
The various ethnic communities throughout the city have some extraordinary celebrations, including the New Year celebration in Chinatown and the traditional Scottish Highland Games in mid-June. There are the Irish Festival in late May, Festa Italiana in late July, Viva! Chicago Latin Music Festival and the Pan American Festival in August, Oktoberfest in mid-September, and the Celtic Fest Chicago in late September.
Summer brings several events, including the Chicago Blues Festival in late May, a 4-day jam where top musicians get down in Delta style at the Petrillo Band Shell in Grant Park. Chicagoans throng Lake Michigan's moonlit shore to enjoy the symphonic delights of the Grant Park Music Festival, also held in the shell mid-June to August. That "great street" gets its due at the Celebrate on State Street Festival in mid-July. The event is held, logically enough, on State Street between Wacker Drive and Van Buren Street. Chicago's culinary wizards demonstrate their prowess for the hungry multitudes at the Taste of Chicago food festival in late June in Grant Park.
Other events worth considering are the Chicago International Antiques and Fine Arts Fair in late April; the Chicago International Art Exposition in mid-May; the Gospel Festival and the Chicago International Boat Show in June; Venetian Night in July; the Air and Water Show in August; the Chicago Jazz Festival in late August; the Chicago International Antiques Show and Chicago International Film Festival in October; and the Sculpture, Objects and Functional Art (SOFA) Exposition in late October.
Participating in the mid-October Chicago Marathon is a thorough, if strenuous, way to see the city, although just watching the 26.2-mile race can be exhausting. The contest begins and ends at Columbus and Balbo drives in Grant Park, running through various neighborhoods along the way.
The Chicago Office of Tourism, (312) 744-2400, can provide additional information about city events as can the Mayor's Office of Special Events, (312) 744-3370.
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