For MLA members staying at the Hotel Orrington, here are some tips to help you get acquainted with the Evanston neighborhood where you’re staying.

Are you staying at the Orrington and looking for specific suggestions? Are you an Evanston local with suggestions to share? Leave us a comment below.

The neighborhood

Evanston is a lovely suburb on the northern boundary of Chicago, along Lake Michigan. The Hotel Orrington is located only four blocks from the parks and trails on the lakefront. The hotel is also convenient to restaurants, shops, and other amenities.

To find your way around the neighborhood, you may want to bookmark this map.

Northwestern University

The Hotel Orrington is practically at the door of the (main) Evanston campus of Northwestern University. A campus map is available here. Barely a half block away from the hotel is a useful landmark, Crown Plaza, which is a combination of three concrete buildings that make up the university administration headquarters (Office of the President, the Vice Presidents, etc.). Cross Crown Plaza and walk down Sheridan Road toward the heart of campus.

Across a graceful front lawn (Deering Meadow) sits the University Library. It is composed of two architectural opposites: the older Deering Library is a beautiful, 1930s collegiate Gothic masterpiece, and the 1970s University Library building is another monument to concrete, in three interconnected towers. Two unusual facts about the University Library:

  • The Library uses the Dewey classification scheme (one of only a few research libraries to do so)
  • Its stacks radiate from the center of each square tower in spoke-like arrangement.

Evanston Public Library

Also across the street from the Hotel Orrington is the main branch of the Evanston Public Library. On the third floor, the Library has 10 computers providing Internet access. A library card is not required to use computers, but visitors will need to make a reservation at the Magazine Desk. Unrestricted wireless access is also available in the building.

- Jim Shedlock, with additional links from Kristin Hitchcock