We are glad you are coming to participate in all the fun and excitement of our

South Shore High School 50^th Reunion weekend. In case you haven’t been in downtown Chicago in a few years (decades?), here are a few wonders of our town you might like to explore.

 

MILLENNIUM PARK

Michigan Ave. between Randolph & Monroe - Not to be missed, Millennium Park

is free and fabulous! Major architecture, some of the best public art in the country, a garden, free concerts and a very cool bar/restaurant ( The Park Grille) for people watching. Also check out the bridge from the park directly to the new Modern wing of the Art Institute. (not to be missed!)

 

OAK STREET BEACH

1000 N. Lake Shore Drive. free - sunbathing, rollerblading, people watching and, yes, swimming!

 

NAVY PIER

600 E. Grand Ave. – free - shops, restaurants, garden, fabulous views of Chicago, Putting Green and 150 ft. Ferris wheel. Also the home of the

Chicago Children’s Museum ( 312) 527-1000, $10.00

 

BOAT TOURS

Many cool boat tours are available in Chicago. From the informative to the romantic, there are lots of ways to see the city from the river. 

Check out: The Wendella ( 312) 337-1446 , The Chicago Architecture Foundation ( 312) 922-3432 , Mercury Skyline tours ( 312) 332-1366 or Chicago Skyline Boat Tours ( 888) 831-3284.

 

                                                   Killer views

 

JOHN HANCOCK OBSERVATORY – 875 N.Michigan, (312) 751-3681, See Chicago from the 94^th floor. (www.hancockobservatory.com)

 

THE SKYDECK at WILLIS TOWER - ( Formerly Sears Tower) 233 S. Wacker, (312) 875-9696, (www.theskydeck.com) Glass enclosed ledge outside the building!

 

 

CHICAGO CULTURAL CENTER– 78 E. Washington, (312) 744-6630 (www.chicagoculturalcenter.org) Free-A gorgeous building with terrific art exhibits, daytime concerts, music and dance performances.

 

 

If you haven’t been in town for a few years, you might enjoy the new Museum Campus. You can now walk from one museum to the other! A 5 minute cab ride from your hotel, it includes:

THE ADLER PLANETARIUM –

1300 S. Lake Shore Dr. – (www.adlerplanetarium.org)

THE SHEDD AQUARIUM 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.- (312) 939-2438,

Check out the new Wild Reef and the Beluga whales. (www.sheddaquarium.org)

THE FIELD MUSEUM-

1400 S. Lake Shore Dr. –(www.fieldmuseum.org) - (312) 922-9410

 

THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY-

57^th St. & Lake Shore Dr.- (773) 684-1414 (www.msichicago.org)

Lots of new exhibits, plus Omnimax

 

THE ART INSTITUTE- 111 S. Michigan, (312) 443-3600

(www.artic.edu) Still one of the greatest in the world.

 

THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART - 220 E. Chicago, (312) 280-2660

(www.mcachicago.org) See what’s happening in the art world now.

 

                                       Shop ‘til you drop

 

The State Street department stores are mostly gone ( Field’s is now Macy’s!!!) but check out the action on North Michigan Ave.

WATER TOWER PLACE (over 100 stores, restaurants & theaters in an upscale vertical mall), 835 N. Michigan Ave. on the Miracle Mile…along with:

NORDSTROMS, BLOOMINGDALES, SAKS FIFTH AVE. NEIMAN MARCUS, TIFFANY, CARTIER, NIKETOWN, AMERICAN GIRL, APPLE, BARNEYS & on and on.

 

                                    Relax & Refuel at Local Restaurants

 

Chicago is home to literally thousands of restaurants, but here are just a few

UNOS ( 29 E. Ohio) & DUES ( 619 N. Wabash) PIZZA ( a trip down memory lane for sure, but still good.)

OAK TREE ( 900 N. Michigan ), TEMPO on Chestnut,

FEAST on Delaware, FOOD LIFE in Water Tower,

ROCKIT BAR & GRILL on Hubbard, NOMI at the Park Hyatt,

RL on Chicago, TAVERN & CARMINES on Rush St.,

BISTRO 110 & GHIRARDELLI on Pearson,

LUXE BAR on Bellevue, GRAND LUx CAFÉ on Ontario.