MLA ‘08 Blog

In response to several inquiries . . . We’ve listed here some local options for Saturday evening religious services, for meeting attendees who would like to participate in Sunday MLA sessions as well as attend services.

Please see this webpage for a more comprehensive list of downtown Chicago churches and synagogues.

Saturday, 5pm Services

St. Peter’s Church (Catholic), with 4:30 confession
Address: 110 W. Madison Street (map)

Chicago Loop Synagogue (Jewish), with both afternoon and evening prayers
Address: 16 S. Clark Street (map)

First United Methodist Church at the Chicago Temple (the one with the Sky Chapel, but the services are in the main church on the second floor of the building)
Address: 77 W. Washington Street (map)

We talk about great architecture, entertainment, food . . . but as conference-goers ourselves, the LAC knows that sometimes you just need to find the basic necessities. Here are a just a few, with locations near the conference hotel.

Have a request or suggestion? Leave us a comment below or stop by the MLA Hospitality Booth.

Pharmacies

Walgreens
Address: 300 North Michigan Avenue
Phone: 312-558-9079
Pharmacy Hours: M-F 8am-6pm
Store Hours: M-F 6:30am-10pm, Sa 8am-9pm, Su 9am-9pm

Address: 430 North Michigan Avenue (just across the bridge)
Phone: 312-321-0951
Pharmacy Hours: M-F 7am-8pm, Sa 9am-5pm, Su 10am-6pm
Store Hours: M-F 7-12am, Sa/Su 8-12am

CVS
Address: 205 North Michigan Avenue
Phone: 312-938-4091 (pharmacy)
Pharmacy Hours: M-F 6:30am-7:30pm, Sa 8am-4:00 PM
Store Hours: M-F 6:30am-10pm, Sa 8am-10pm, Su 8am-4pm

24-hour Pharmacy
Walgreens, at the corner of Michigan and Chicago Avenues
Phone: 312-664-8686

Mailings

U.S. Post Office
Address: 227 E. Ontario (map)
Phone: 312-642-3576
Hours: M-F 8am-6:30pm

FedEx Kinko’s
Address: 111 E. Wacker
Phone: 312-938-0650
Hours: M-F 6am-8pm, Sa 7am-5pm, Su Closed

Copies

FedEx Kinko’s
Address: 111 E. Wacker
Phone: 312-938-0650
Hours: M-F 6am-8pm, Sa 7am-5pm, Su Closed

Groceries

Dominick’s (supermarket chain)
Address: 255 E. Grand (map)
Phone: 312-279-1309
Hours: 6am-10pm daily

Fox & Obel Food Store (gourmet market & deli)
Address: 401 E. Illinois St. (map)
Phone: 312-410-7301
Hours: 7am-9pm daily

Just south of Chicago’s Loop is the 57-acre lakefront Museum Campus. Visiting this destination is a real treat. What other big city lets you go from seeing dinosaurs to viewing a star-bright sky to watching dolphins and whales frolic in the sea? You can do all of this by visiting the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium.

(Those of you who watch football on TV have seen it many times. The Chicago Bears play their home games at Soldier Field, right next to the campus, and the blimp provides many interesting shots).

Transportation

You can get to the Museum Campus by cab, car, or city bus:

• View driving directions (from MapQuest)
• View Museum Campus map
• CTA Bus #146 Southbound to Museum Campus (pdf) - stops along Michigan Avenue north of the river and on State Street south of the river. From the Hyatt, walk west to Michigan Ave. Cross the bridge and look for a 146 bus stop sign on the West side of the street. Hop on the bus and tour through downtown. The bus will drop you off right across the street from the Museum.

Adler Planetarium
Address: 1300 South Lake Shore Drive
Hours: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m daily
Admission: $10 (adult general admission)

Field Museum of Natural History
Address: Roosevelt Road at Lake Shore Drive
Hours: 9:00am - 5:00 pm daily, last admission at 4:00pm
Admission: $14, general admission (adult); extra for tickets to some special exhibits

Shedd Aquarium
Address: 1200 South Lake Shore Drive
Hours: 9:00am-5:00pm M-F, 9:00am-6:00pm Sa-Su
Admission: $8, aquarium only (adult); $27.50, aquarium, special exhibits, Oceanarium, and 4-D theater

There are many other museums listed in the MLA ‘08 Chicago Attractions Guide (pdf).

-Pat Pinkowski & Jim Shedlock

(Photo from City of Chicago website)

Chicago has varied weather in the Spring. Daytime highs can range from upper-50s to mid-70s. (Since the Hyatt is located close to the lakefront, some days it may be a few degrees cooler here than elsewhere in the city). You may see a week of sunshine, or several rainy days in a row. The moral of this story? Come to MLA prepared: pack and wear layers, and stash an umbrella and jacket in your bag. You can keep an eye on Chicago weather using weather.com’s 10-day forecast.

But don’t worry, there is a wealth of both indoor and outdoor activities you can take advantage of during MLA. No matter the weather, we’re confident you’ll have fun in Chicago!

Insider Tip: Although Chicago is called the “Windy City”, it’s not because of the weather. Read about the history of the moniker, a metaphor for “talkative” or “boastful” locals, here.

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

MLA will provide a free shuttle to/from the annual meeting for MLA members staying Hotel Orrington. One of the advantages of riding the shuttle is to get a glimpse into Chicago’s urban landscape. This article is meant to give shuttle riders a glimpse of what to expect on their ride between the two hotels.

Shuttle Route Highlights

The Hotel Orrington shuttle is likely to follow a travel route similar to the one used by Northwestern University to move faculty, staff and students between its Evanston and Chicago campuses. Here are some highlights of that trip . . .

When the shuttle leaves the Hotel Orrington it will head south and may pass through Evanston neighborhoods with graceful, stately homes from the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries. One notable home is the Dawes House, on Greenwood and Lake Shore Boulevard, now home to the Evanston History Center. Dawes was Vice President of the United States under Calvin Coolidge and served in office between 1925 and 1929.

After leaving Evanston, the shuttle route will follow the Lake Michigan shore line and proceed through some typical Chicago neighborhoods. Starting from the Evanston-Chicago border, the shuttle will pass through the East Rogers Park, Edgewater, Margate Park, and Uptown neighborhoods. Riders will see typical Chicago neighborhoods with 1920’s-era houses , small apartment buildings, and neighborhood stores and businesses located on the main drag, namely Sheridan Road.

The shuttle will likely pass Loyola University’s Lake Shore Campus (its main campus) and turn towards Lake Michigan. Between Loyola’s campus and Hollywood Avenue, Sheridan Road passes through a canyon of high-rise condo towers. This stretch of land is about the only place where private land is directly on the Lake Michigan shore. At Hollywood Avenue, the shuttle bus may take south-bound Lake Shore Drive, or the Outer Drive. Riders will get a close look at Lake Michigan and the parkland along its shore. Inland are more high-rise residential buildings facing the lake.

The shuttle will continue through Uptown, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and the near-northside neighborhoods of Gold Coast or Streeterville. Look out for the boat harbors at Montrose, Belmont and Diversey Avenues. At Fullerton Avenue, one will begin to see Lincoln Park, including its zoo and several park facilities and playgrounds.

After rounding the curve by Oak Street Beach and East Lake Shore Drive, the shuttle will pass by Northwestern’s Chicago Campus, home to its Law School, the Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

Crossing the Chicago River, on your left will be Lake Point Tower, a stunning example of late 20^th century architecture with its curving glass façade, and next to it Navy Pier with its huge Ferris Wheel. On your right you will see a great panorama of Chicago architecture, including Wrigley Tower and the new Trump Tower under construction. The shuttle will likely exit Lake Shore Drive at East Wacker Drive, and in no time you’ll be at the front door of the Hyatt Regency.

Enjoy the Ride!

The shuttle ride will provide ample opportunities to network with colleagues as you take in views of the Chicago skyline, its neighborhoods and Lake Michigan. Enjoy and make the best of your travel time.

-Jim Shedlock

On Sunday, May 18^th from 6:30-9:00pm, the Chicago History Museum will be hosting a fun boat tour called Exploring Chicago’s Yeast Side: A History of Beer. This sunset tour will take in the sights related to Chicago’s long history of beer brewing and provide beautiful views of the city from Lake Michigan. There are even beer tastings provided by Berghoff Brewery. Tickets are still available (as of 5/2/08) for $45.00 per adult.

Tour meets at the Chicago Line Cruises dock at North Pier, 465 N. McClurg Court, about 1/2 mile northeast of the Hyatt Regency. From the Hyatt, follow Michigan Ave. North, across the bridge, to Illinois St. Turn right on Illinois and walk to McClurg Ct. North Pier is at 465 N. McClurg Ct., on the left side of the street.

For more information on the Chicago History Museum consult our earlier post.

-Andrea Garren

Here are some tools and tips to help plan your Chicago adventures:

Maps

It’s always helpful to have a map, especially one that shows “you are here.” Find directions to/from the Hyatt using this customized Google Map. When searching for directions, click on the “Take Public Transportation” link to see bus and/or train options.

CTA: Bus & Train

The website of the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) has bus/train maps and schedules. The CTA has partnered with Google to offer a trip planner that will suggest a public transportation route to get you to your destination. The Trip Planner is available on the CTA website and from within any Google Map of Chicago (see note above).

The cash fare for CTA buses is $2 per trip, exact change only. Fares are slightly lower when you use a CTA fare card on the bus: $1.75 per trip, and 25 cents for transfers. You must purchase a fare card to ride the CTA trains (also called the “El”, short for elevated train). The fare for trains is $2. Purchase a card and add value at CTA stations, and at many currency exchange outlets.

If you plan to do a lot of site-seeing around the city, consider purchasing a CTA vistor pass. Passes are available for 1, 2, 3, and 5 days, and offer unlimited travel on buses and trains. Take 3 rides in a day, and you’ve already paid for the 1-day pass ($5)!

Taxi

For taxi company phone numbers, see this list on the City of Chicago webpages. An easy number to commit to memory is that of Yellow Cab: 312-TAXI-CAB.

Looking for things to do? Check out the Chicago Attractions Guide (PDF), which highlights libraries, museums, and architectural tours. The Guide is available on the Annual Meeting Website.

Daniel Burnham, Louis H. Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe . . . Chicago is a city of great architecture. And there’s no better way to gain an appreciation for it’s history than by taking a tour led by a knowledgeable docent from the Chicago Architecture Foundation (CAF).

Here are four (of many) tours you might consider:

• Explore downtown Chicago and visit beautiful art deco skyscrapers.
• Admire art glass and mosaics by Tiffany Glass in several landmark Chicago buildings. The tour fee includes general admission to the Art Institute.
• Sit back and enjoy the skyline vistas on a river cruise. In addition to all you’ll learn about the city’s architectural history, you’ll also get the best unobstructed photo of the Sears Tower!
• Have you read Devil and the White City? Learn about the site and circumstances surrounding the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893, the backdrop for this chilling story. The special companion tour is offered on Thursday, May 22nd at 10:30 AM.

CAF tours are offered on all days of the week; visit their website to see which will work best with your conference schedule. Fees range from $5 for tours of individual, historic buildings, to $30 for the river cruise.

Insider tip: The shop at the CAF ArchiCenter is a great place to pick up an unusual gift or Chicago souvenir. They are located at 224 S. Michigan Ave., at the corner of Michigan and Jackson.

-Kristin Hitchcock