MLA ‘08 Blog

As you set out for Chicago, take a look at the MLA ‘08 Travel & Transportation page to get directions to the Hyatt (including driving and public transportation options from the airports).

If you’re staying at the Hotel Orrington, in Evanston, see this page for directions to the hotel. You may also want to print out a copy of the Orrington-Hyatt shuttle schedule. Alternatively, you can travel between the hotels via the CTA Purple Line train; see our directions here.

Once you’re in Chicago, you may find these resources from a previous post helpful. Also feel free to stop by the MLA Hospitality Booth to ask for directions and suggestions from a member of the MLA ‘08 Local Assistance Committee. We’re glad to help!

Time is drawing near and it will soon be time to begin packing for MLA. If you’ve been attending conferences for a while you may have your own routine down, but I bet almost everyone can find something useful in these posts from the popular blog Lifehacker.

Simplify Your Work Travel
This post lists 10 tips for working on the road. You can’t hear that reminder about backing up your data too often.

The Power Traveler’s Checklist, Part One: Pre-Flight
The Power Traveler’s Checklist, Part Two: Travel Day
These are two great checklists that contain links to lots of other useful sites related to travel. Be sure to check out the comments on the posts; there are more great ideas hidden there.

- Pat Higginbottom

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

For members staying at the Hotel Orrington, MLA will provide a free shuttle to/from the annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency. It is also possible to take public transportation between the two hotels. Allow around an hour for the trip.

The Davis Street stop on the CTA Purple Line is three blocks west of the Hotel Orrington. Trains run approximately every 6-12 minutes throughout most of the day (pdf schedule). The CTA train costs $2 per ride; purchase a fare card at the station.

Going to the Hyatt

Traveling southbound on Purple Line trains, the line usually ends at Howard, where you will need to transfer to a Red Line train to get downtown. The exception is during weekday morning rush hours, when express commuter trains run on the Purple Line all the way from Davis into the Loop (and back again in the evening).

• During morning rush hour . . . Board a train headed south towards the Loop (they run approximately every 15 minutes). Get off at the State & Lake stop. Walk north one block to Wacker Drive and turn right. It’s about three blocks to the Hyatt.
• Outside of rush hour . . . Take the Purple Line train south towards Howard. At Howard (the end of the line), transfer to a Red Line train headed south towards 95th Street (and the Loop). Exit at the Lake Street subway station. Walk north one block to Wacker Drive and turn right. It’s about three blocks to the Hyatt.

Returning to the Hotel Orrington

From the Hyatt, walk to the CTA train station at State & Lake, in the Loop.

• During evening rush hour . . . catch the Purple Line express train headed north towards Linden. Exit at the Davis Street stop and walk three blocks east to the Hotel Orrington.
• Outside of rush hour . . . Board a Red Line train headed towards Howard. At Howard (the end of the line) transfer to the Purple Line. Exit at the Davis Street stop.

If you’re leaving very early or late, when trains are less frequent (or stop running), be sure to check the schedule online or pick up a paper copy at the station.

MLA will offer a free shuttle between the Hotel Orrington and the annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Chicago. The schedule is now available on the MLA ‘08 website.

The MLA shuttle will operate between the two hotels from Saturday morning through Wednesday morning. For members attending Friday CE courses, MLA will help to coordinate shared taxi rides. Members can also take the CTA Purple Line train (see our post with directions).

MLA advises members to allow for a minimum of 45 minutes ride time during peak traffic hours. While traffic is not likely to be as much of an issue on Saturday and Sunday, during morning rush hour (Monday to Wednesday) roads will be more congested. Be prepared, and take advantage of the time to network with colleagues and enjoy the views of Chicago and Lake Michigan.

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.