Wabash Arts Corridor Crawl

The Wabash Arts Corridor (WAC) Crawl will take place during EXPO ART WEEK, a showcase of the

city’s visual, performing and culinary arts September 16-22, presented in conjunction with EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art at Navy Pier, September 19-22.

The WAC Crawl is a free public event, open Wednesday, Sept. 18, from 5–8 p.m., and located along Wabash Avenue from Congress to Roosevelt. The WAC Crawl will feature gallery openings, concerts, dance and street performances, multimedia demonstrations, chalk art, sidewalk sales, discounts to area restaurants and pubs, the unveiling of the Columbia College’s Papermaker’s Garden and a Joffrey Ballet rehearsal performance in the storied Auditorium Theatre.

The WAC Crawl is the latest development of the Wabash Arts Corridor, a long-term partnership between the city and local business community to transform empty storefronts, parking lots, walls and vacant land in the South Loop into a dynamic, creative community that will serve as a gateway to the South Loop. Recent developments include an installation of large-scale fashion photography on the exterior of the Hilton Chicago; a mural project on George’s Lounge (650 S. Wabash); the Harrison Gateway, a collaboration with the Chicago Transit Authority to install images and haikus on the El Track support beams on Harrison Ave; expansion of the Papermaker’s Garden across from the Hilton Chicago; and updating the façade of 619 S. Wabash.

“The WAC Crawl is going to be a dynamic celebration of the cultural and educational life of the South Loop,” said Mark Kelly vice president of student affairs at Columbia College, and one of the driving forces behind the WAC Initiative. “This area is home to more than 30,000 students, 17 major cultural organizations and a thriving business community. The WAC Crawl is going to unleash the creative energy and assets of this community and use it to transform the South Loop into a major tourist destination.”

Organizations participating in the WAC Crawl include Columbia College Chicago, Roosevelt University; DePaul University; East-West University; Jones College Prep High School; The Harold Washington Library; Greater South Loop Association, Hilton Chicago; The Blackstone Hotel; The Elephant Room Gallery, Buddy Guy’s and the Near South Planning Board among others. For more information on WAC Crawl events, contact Norman Alexandroff at 312.369.7416.

2011 Condo, HOA Co-op Expo

Exhibit Hall B at Navy Pier

The 2011 Condo, HOA Co-op Expo was at Navy Pier today, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Over 100 exhibitors were there: property management companies and any kind of service that a condo or town home community might need or utilize were on display. There were also educational seminars on “Condo Lending Guideline Updates,” and “Getting Along: Conflict Resolution for Boards and Managers.” The Expo, sponsored by The Chicagoland Cooperator was free.

Outside, Navy Pier was getting ready for Christmas.

Labor Day Weekend In Chicago

Summer’s Last Stand
Summer isn’t over yet, but Labor Day marks its unofficial end. The weekend was exceptional weather-wise and activity-wise. Take a look as some of the sights around the city: Museum Campus, Navy Pier, and Grant Park for the Jazz Festival.

"Labor Day Weekend in Chicago"

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Lights Off: Earth Hour 2011 Saturday, March 26--8:30 p.m.

Join the Alliance for a Greener South Loop in promoting Earth Hour 2011 this Saturday. This global initiative “invites individuals to turn off their lights for one hour—8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 26.” The Alliance hope the South Loop will take part.

A World-Wide Event

Will you help the Alliance for a Greener South Loop in promoting Earth Hour 2011? Started in Sydney, Australia, in 2007, Earth Hour has become a world-wide event with hundreds of millions of people from around the globe participating.

 

Lights Out, Chicago!

The Alliance is encouraging the citizens of the South Loop and Chicago to turn out the lights for one hour this Saturday. The city will be turning off the lights on “15 skyscrapers, 170 buildings, 500 corporations and businesses, and landmarks like the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier and the Marquee at Wrigley Field.”

Buckingham Fountain in the Morning

Buckingham Fountain is one of Chicago's treasures. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit it every year. During the spring and summer, it's not uncommon to see prom and bridal parties getting their pictures taken in front of the famous landmark.

Popular City Landmark
The fountain, known officially as the "Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain," is a popular Chicago attraction, rivaling other windy city landmarks like the Willis Tower, Navy Pier, and the John Hancock Center. 

Fountain History Started in the South Loop
The fountain was commissioned in 1927 by Kate Buckingham to honor her late brother Clarence who died in the First World War. Buckingham thought the fountains in Europe were beautiful and wanted to install one in Chicago, her hometown.  Buckingham grew up at 2036 S. Prairie Ave., during the late nineteenth century, when S. Prairie Ave. was Chicago's original gold coast. Her father, Ebenezer Buckingham, had one of the finest art collections in that storied neighborhood.

It's hard to beat this view.

Up, up, and Away!

 Aeroballoon at Navy Pier
The new attraction at Navy Pier is a 10-minute balloon ride 350 feet in the air. The balloon's gondola can carry up to 17 people at a time. Those 10-minute panoramic views will cost you though. Tickets for adults are $25 each and $15 each for children 12 and under. For the big spender, "Speed Line" tickets are available for an additional $5 peer ticket ($30 for adults; $20 for children). The Speed Line ticket shortens your wait time, according to the balloon ride's Web site.

The balloon ride was very active yesterday, even though the fog was still fairly heavy into the late afternoon when these pictures were taken. To make photos larger, just click on them.