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WEEKEND GETAWAYS - Friday, September 14, 2007
Make The Most Of Your Vacation - From Coast to Coast!
Greetings Getaway Lover,
Most of us who live in and around Chicago never really
get to SEE Chicago. Even though we live so close it
would be Nice to spend a weekend in the Heart of
Chicago where all the action is.....
Don't try to hang a clever moniker on Chicago --
America's midwestern metropolis moves too fast to be
pinned down. What was once considered a gangster's
paradise has evolved into an eclectic amalgam of
transcendent architecture, world-class theater, and
rabid sportsmanship.
Chicago's image has changed. No longer the "second
city," the place that three million call home has
acquired a first-class reputation around the world,
particularly when it comes to the arts. Carl Sandburg's
City of the Big Shoulders is now also City of the Big
Limos on opening nights.
Happy Trails,
Jan
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MAVERICK SUNGLASSES by Dakota
Be The Top Gun In The Crowd...
Store Price: $69.99
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The Maverick is a blend of Style & Sophistication that will
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To see a picture or to order, visit:
MAVERICK SUNGLASSES by Dakota
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--DESTINATION: Chicago, Illinois
Exhibitions at the Art Institute of Chicago have drawn
worldwide acclaim. You could spend days there drinking
in the Impressionist paintings alone, then be happily
transported into the 21st century by works at the bold
Museum of Contemporary Art, which overlooks Lake
Michigan.
Gutsy Steppenwolf Theater productions, from True West
to The Libertine, have jolted critics on both coasts.
The city's scores of other theaters, including the
Victory Gardens, the Goodman, the Court, and the
Shakespeare Repertory, regularly showcase the talents
of remarkable local actors who just might turn out to
be the next John Malkovich or Gary Sinise.
The Grammy-laden Chicago Symphony Orchestra wins stand-
ing ovations both at home and abroad. At the other end
of the Loop (Chicago's central business district), the
Lyric Opera's lavish productions boast world-class
singers and conductors. The city's staggeringly varied
architecture is lauded (and occasionally lambasted)
around the globe. And don't forget film criticism and
TV talk. The thumbs of Roger Ebert and the late Gene
Siskel weighed heavily in the movie-review scale. And
who doesn't know Oprah, Jenny Jones, or Jerry Springer?
This is also the home of the ground-breaking Second
City improvisation and comedy club whose talented
performers have included the brilliantly funny Mike
Nichols and Elaine May, Jim and the late John Belushi,
Bill Murray, and George Wendt. And even city hall,
headed by no-nonsense mayor Richard M. Daley, lightens
up in March by dyeing the Chicago River green in honor
of St. Patrick.
Perhaps one reason Chicagoans have a sense of humor
is the weather. As local film director Joel Sedelmaier
contends, "Colder-than-hell winters saved this city."
In an essay in Great Chicago Stories, he wrote, "If
Chicago had weather like Florida, we'd be L.A. and I
wouldn't wish that on anybody." Though residents
complain that the city's four seasons are "winter,
winter, winter, and the Fourth of July," at least on
a winter day, when the snow is blowing horizontally
across the Michigan Avenue Bridge, Chicagoans can duck
into such popular clubs as Andy's, where there's hot
jazz even at noon.
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PET BLINKERS... The Pet Safety Light
Protect Yourself & Your Pet!
Store Price: $7.99
DEAL PRICE: $2.99
Pet Blinkers give you the added security and peace of mind
knowing you and your pet(s) are visible at night. Whether
you're going for a jog with your pet or if you just want
extra attention, attach the Pet Blinker to your pet's collar
and be seen a half-mile away. These eye-catching, multi-color
LEDs accessorize any pet. Requires three AG3 lithium cell
batteries (included).
PET BLINKERS... The Pet Safety Light
------------------------------------------------------------
--WHAT TO DO AND SEE:
Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum
Museum/Gallery, Museum Campus
Interactive and state-of-the-art exhibits hold appeal
for traditionalists as well as for technology-savvy kids
and adults who can be their own navigators through the
solar system. Opened in 1930 as the first public
planetarium in the western hemisphere, the Adler still
has a traditional in-the-round Zeiss planetarium (called
the Sky Theater) that shows constellations and planets
in the night sky. In this 1930s building is also a
Gateway to the Universe gallery where you feel like
you're stepping into infinite space, as well as galleries
with special exhibits and astronomical artifacts.
The high-tech Sky Pavilion, a glass structure that wraps
around the old building, contains the interactive
StarRider Theater. Through control buttons on your
armrest, you can choose how you'd like to journey into
space; what you see on the screen in front of you is
based on the majority sentiment of the audience. (Part
of the technology is based on aircraft flight simulators.)
Also in this building are a telescope terrace and inter-
active exhibition galleries that include 3-D computer
animations of the Milky Way and of the birth of the solar
system. Additional charges apply for the Sky Theater
planetarium shows and the StarRider interactive shows.
www.adlerplanetarium.org. COST: $13 museum admission and
1 show, $18 museum admission and 2 shows. Free Mon. and
Tues. Jan., Feb., and mid-Sept.-3rd wk Dec. OPEN: Weekdays
9:30 AM-4:30 PM (except 1st Fri. of month when open until
10 PM), weekends 9 AM-4:30 PM.
Address: 1300 S. Lake Shore Dr., South Loop, Chicago,
IL, USA
Phone: 312/922-7827
Buckingham Fountain
Fountain, Downtown South
A centerpiece in Grant Park, this decorative, tiered
fountain has intricate designs of pink marble seashells,
water-spouting fish, and bronze sculptures of sea horses.
It was patterned after a fountain at Versailles but is
about twice as large as its model. Thanks to its size,
the 25-foot-tall fountain can propel water 150 feet high
and circulate 14,000 gallons a minute. Dedicated in 1927,
the fountain was given to Chicago by philanthropist Kate
Sturges Buckingham in memory of her brother Clarence. See
it in all its glory between May 1 and October 1, when it's
elaborately illuminated at night and sprays colorfully
lighted waters.
Address: Grant Park between Columbus and Lake Shore Drs.
east of Congress Plaza, Chicago, IL, USA
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Other Places of Interest:
John G. Shedd Aquarium
Zoo/Aquarium, Museum Campus
Take a plunge into an underwater world at the world's
largest indoor aquarium. Built in 1930, the Shedd houses
more than 8,000 aquatic animals. "Amazon Rising" takes
you on a journey along the banks of the Amazon River with
an up-close look at many animals including piranhas,
snakes, and stingrays. You can walk through an underwater
kingdom rich with marine biodiversity and coral reefs in
the "Wild Reef" exhibit about the Indo-Pacific waters
surrounding the Philippines, which are threatened by over-
fishing and rapid coastal development. Get up close and
personal with the "demons of the deep" as dozens of sharks
swim the 400,000-gallon habitat exploring one of the
world's largest coral reefs, as well as the mangroves and
beaches of Apo Island, Philippines.
Another attraction is the spectacular Oceanarium, with
pools that seem to blend into Lake Michigan, which is
visible through the huge glass wall. In the Oceanarium
you can have a stare-down with one of the knobby-headed
beluga whales (they love to people-watch), observe Pacific
white-sided dolphins at play, and explore the simulated
Pacific Northwest nature trail. An educational dolphin
presentation, scheduled daily, shows natural behaviors
including vocalizing, breaching, and tail-walking. Be
sure to check out the underwater viewing windows for the
dolphins and whales and the information-packed, hands-on
activities on the lower level. In the main building, a
highlight is the 90,000-gallon Caribbean Reef exhibit,
where you can watch divers feed sharks, stingrays, a sea
turtle, and other denizens of the deep. A special treat
on Thursday evening from June through September is live
jazz on the Shedd's north terrace, with a great view of
the lake and skyline. www.sheddaquarium.org. COST: $21
all-access pass; $13 Mon. and Tues. OPEN: Memorial Day-
Labor Day, daily 9-6, Thurs. until 10; Labor Day-Memorial
Day, weekdays 9-5, weekends 9-6.
Address: 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., South Loop, Chicago,
IL, USA
Phone: 312/939-2438
Navy Pier
Pedestrian Mall, Near North
No matter the season, Navy Pier is a fun place to spend
a few hours. Constructed in 1916 as a commercial-shipp-
ing pier, it was renamed in honor of the Navy in 1927
(the Army got Soldier Field). The once-deserted pier
contains an outdoor landscaped area with gardens, a
fountain, a carousel, a 15-story Ferris wheel, and an
ice-skating rink; Crystal Gardens, one of the country's
largest indoor botanical parks; the Chicago Children's
Museum; an IMAX theater; an outdoor beer garden; and
shopping promenades, restaurants, and bars. The elegant
round building with a bright neon sign is the Chicago
Shakespeare Theatre (PHONE: 312/595-5600), the home of
the prominent Shakespeare repertory company. The
lakefront Skyline Stage (PHONE: 312/595-7437) is a 1,500-
seat vault-roof theater.
Navy Pier is also the home port for a number of tour and
dinner cruises. Prices are premium for these cruises, and
the food's better on land, but the voyage can be pleasant
on a hot summer night. Dinner cruise operators include
Spirit of Chicago (PHONE: 312/836-7899) and Odyssey I
(PHONE: 630/990-0800); the Cap Streeter and the Shoreline
Sightseeing (PHONE: 312/222-9328;
www.shorelinesightseeing.com; OPEN: May-Oct., daily; Apr.,
Nov., weekends) offer 30-minute shoreline cruises that
don't require reservations. www.navypier.com. OPEN: Daily
6 AM-11 PM.
Address: Grand Ave. at the lakefront, Chicago, IL, USA
Phone: 312/595-7437
Sears Tower
Architectural Site, Loop
In Chicago, size matters. This soaring 110-story sky-
scraper, designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill in 1974,
was the world's tallest building until 1996 when the
Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, claimed the
title. However, the folks at the Sears Tower are quick
to point out that the Petronas Towers counts its spire
as part of the building. But if you were to measure the
1,454-foot-high Sears Tower in terms of highest occupied
floor, highest roof, or highest antenna, the Sears Tower
would win hands down.
Those bragging rights aside, the Skydeck is really some-
thing to boast about. Enter on Jackson Boulevard to take
the ear-popping ride to the 103rd-floor observatory.
Video monitors turn the 70-second elevator ride into a
fun-filled, thrilling trip. On a clear day you can see
to Michigan, Wisconsin, and Indiana. (Check the visibility
ratings at the security desk before you decide to ride up
and take in the view.) At the top, interactive exhibits
tell about Chicago's dreamers, schemers, architects,
musicians, writers, and sports stars. Computer kiosks in
six languages help international travelers key into
Chicago hot spots. Knee-High Chicago, a 4-foot-high
exhibit which has cutouts of Chicago sports, history, and
cultural icons at a child's eye-level, should entertain
the kids. The Sears Tower also has spruced up the lower
level with a food court, new exhibits, and an eight-minute
movie about the city. Security is very tight, so figure in
a little extra time for your visit to the Skydeck. Before
you leave, don't miss the spiraling Calder mobile sculpture
The Universe in the ground-floor lobby on the Wacker Drive
side. www.theskydeck.com. COST: $11.95. OPEN: May-Sept.,
daily 10-10; Oct.-Apr., daily 10-8.
Address: 233 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606, USA
Phone: 312/875-9696
------------------------------------------------------------
iPod Like MP3/MP4 Player (Play Music, Video & Pictures)...
Store Price: $149.99
Our Normal Price: $99.99
DEAL PRICE: $69.99
Here's an item that our Gopher Staff went crazy over. It's
the iPod Like MP3/MP4. But unlike the iPod this Digital
MP3/MP4 player is more than just a music machine. You can
store photos, playback some movies, record your voice...
even listen to the FM radio! Download text files and read
them anytime you like. It fits right in the palm of your
hand.
*---- It has the look and the feel of an iPod Nano ----*
*---- but it's HALF THE PRICE... HALF THE PRICE ----*
FEATURES INCLUDE:
- The 6 in 1 system plays MP3 music, movie videos, stores
data, plus serves as photo album, digital voice recorder
and more.
- Pre set to 20 FM stations.
- Plays up to 6 hours of music or 4 hours of video.
- Stores up to 250 songs, or 15,000 photos.
Plus the accessories are many. To see a picture, get more
details or order this amazing MP3/MP4 Player, visit:
iPod-Like 1GIG MP3/MP4 Player - $69.99
------------------------------------------------------------
--WHERE TO SLEEP:
Days Inn Gold Coast
Under $100 to $225, Lincoln Park
Once a place of dubious reputation, this well-located
brick building benefited from a changing-of-hands and
a major rehab in 1999. The front desk has the retro/
futuristic feel of a '60s sci-fi movie, but the solid,
if functional, rooms are more low-key. Try for a room
with windows overlooking Lincoln Park. The zoo is three
blocks east, the nightlife and shops of Old Town the
same distance southwest. When you get hungry, there's a
convenience store downstairs and a popular restaurant,
Louie on the Park, around the corner.
www.chicagodaysinn.com. 176 rooms, 47 suites. In-room:
dial-up. In-hotel: room service, concierge, parking
(fee), no-smoking rooms. AE, D, DC, MC, V. Continental
breakfast.
Address: 1816 N. Clark St., Chicago, IL 60614, USA
Phone: 312/664-3040 or 800/329-7466
Fax: 312/664-3048
Drake Hotel
Over $350, Near North
Built in 1920, the grande dame of Chicago hotels pre-
sides over the northernmost end of Michigan Avenue.
The lobby, inspired by an Italian Renaissance palace,
envelops you in its deep-red walls and glimmering
crystal. The sounds of a fountain and harpist beckon
you to the Palm Court, a lovely setting for afternoon
tea. There's piano music in the Coq d'Or most nights,
and a jazz trio plays in the Palm Court five nights a
week. Guest rooms and suites have city or lake views
and are filled with neoclassic furnishings. Keep in
mind that some rooms can be old-world tiny.
www.thedrakehotel.com. 537 rooms, 55 suites. In-room:
safe, ethernet, dial-up. In-hotel: 4 restaurants, room
service, bar, gym, concierge, laundry service, public
Wi-Fi, parking (fee), no-smoking rooms, minibar. AE, D,
DC, MC, V.
Address: 140 E. Walton Pl., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Phone: 312/787-2200 or 800/553-7253
Fax: 312/787-1431
Embassy Suites Lakefront
$150 to $350, Near North
Every guest in this all-suites hotel has views of either
Lake Michigan or the Chicago skyscrapers. Rooms have
separate bedrooms and living rooms and provide frequently
forgotten items like cotton balls and Q-Tips. The sleek,
glass atrium bustles in the morning for complimentary
breakfast buffet and in the evening for complimentary
happy hour. A bonus for families on vacation is the
location: within walking distance of Navy Pier and North
Michigan Avenue. It's also connected to a 21-screen movie
theater. www.chicagoembassy.com. 455 suites. In-room:
kitchen, refrigerator, ethernet, dial-up. In-hotel:
restaurant, room service, bar, pool, gym, concierge,
laundry facilities, laundry service, airport shuttle,
parking (fee), no-smoking rooms, minibar. AE, D, DC, MC,
V. Full breakfast.
Address: 511 N. Columbus Dr., Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Phone: 312/836-5900 or 800/362-2779
Fax: 312/836-5901
--WHERE TO DINE:
312 Chicago
Italian, $7 to $28, Loop
This Italian-accented dining room inside the hip Hotel
Allegro is handy for power-breakfast meetings, Loop
lunches, and pretheater dinners. Home-baked breads and
yummy desserts may tempt you to bypass the in-between
courses, but roasted sturgeon with potato-mushroom
lasagna and salmon and tuna tartare will beg you to
consider otherwise. Brunch is served on Sunday. AE, D,
DC, MC, V. No lunch Sat.
Address: Hotel Allegro, 136 N. LaSalle St., Chicago, IL,
USA
Phone: 312/696-2420
Atwood Café
Contemporary, $15 to $28, Loop
Mahogany columns, cherrywood floors, gold café curtains,
and curvy light-blue banquettes fill this heart-of-the-
Loop charmer with color. Floor-to-ceiling windows over-
looking Michigan Avenue from the lobby of the Hotel
Burnham provide light. The mostly American menu includes
reliable dishes like chicken potpie and a thick pork chop,
along with contemporary fare such as duck and manchego
quesadillas and grilled salmon with charred tomato sauce.
AE, D, DC, MC, V.
Address: Hotel Burnham, 1 W. Washington St., Chicago, IL,
USA
Phone: 312/368-1900
Billy Goat Tavern
American, Under $7, Near North
The late comedian John Belushi immortalized the Goat's
short-order cooks on Saturday Night Live for barking,
"No Coke! Pepsi!" and "No fries! Cheeps!" at customers.
They still do the shtick at this subterranean hole-in-
the-wall favored by reporters posted nearby at the
Tribune and the Sun-Times. Griddle-fried "cheezborgers"
are the featured chow, and people-watching the favored
sport. No credit cards.
Address: 430 N. Michigan Ave., lower level, Chicago, IL,
USA Phone: 312/222-1525
********************
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The travel destinations and events that appear in this
newsletter have been selected by our editors. Apart from
those offers clearly set apart from the text, none of the
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