Classical Mondays

Sadly, or happily, summer in Chicago is coming to a close. Classes are starting, fall clothes have appeared in stores, and hopefully the weather will start getting cooler soon? But luckily one thing hasn't changed: Classical Mondays!



This, the stunning Preston Bradley Hall, is the space where Classical Mondays happen. Lunch hour, free music, a gorgeous space: how could one possibly go wrong? Preston Bradley Hall is located on the top floor of the Chicago Cultural Center, across the street from Millennium Park and a few blocks north of the Art Institute. In and of itself, the Cultural Center is a wealth of, well, cultural goings-on for the city, and it's well worth visiting their website before coming to visit.

But let's shift back to any given Monday at 12.15. Find your way up the beautiful mosaic-covered staircase to the room at the top of the stairs. In another life, the Cultural Center was the Chicago Public Library, and Preston Bradley Hall was its reading room. Recently, the PBH underwent an incredibly thorough renovation to both reposition the Cultural Center as a work of art in and of itself (which it truly is) as well as to showcase the room's ceiling. This exquisite ceiling boasts the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world, which for the last 70 years has been covered from the outside by a very ugly green iron shell. The shell was thought to be constructed during WWII, when blackouts were required of everyone, but during the renovation this past summer it was discovered that the shell was actually constructed in the late 30's, before the war technically began. Since there was no good historical excuse that the shell stay, it was removed.

And thank goodness! During the Ugly Iron Shell Period, the room was lit from the inside by wall sconces, the beautiful parchment-colored Tiffany chandeliers, and other artificial light. But now the room is awash in natural light. The walls and floor are covered in glinting, twinkling greenish-gold mosaics, creating an effect not unlike an amazing, greenish-blue aquarium. Just imagine listening to something by Saint-Saëns or, as I did the other day, a violin-piano duo playing Massenet's Méditation de Thaïs. The concerts themselves are top-notch, espresso shots of beautiful music played by some of Chicago's most talented artists. Whether you go to hear the music or visit the space, a trip to the Cultural Center should definitely be at the top of your list.

Classical Mondays
Mondays, 12.15pm, ongoing
78 East Washington (also accessible at Randolph Street)
Free!

Windy City Wine Festival

Grab some friends, a designated driver and head down to Grant Park this weekned for the Windy City Wine Festival.  Two days of sipping samples of over 250 wines from around the world (some good and some not so great, sorry to have to say that) wines, along with food and cooking demonstrations prepared by a variety of chefs and caterers in the Chicagoland area.  Seminars are being held both days that cover a variety of topics from understanding French wines to the art of the wine cocktail.....didn't know that existed.  Where have I been?

Lots more information at the website:  

Windy City Wine Festival  

Friday, September 5th,  4:00 to 10:00pm

Saturday, September 6th,  3:00 to 10:00pm

Tickets:  $30 at the gate, $10 designated driver

Daley Bicentennial Plaza

Flugtag: Because You Can

A number of years ago, my family got caught up in a televised event that we found a tiny bit odd right out of the gate but as we watched, it hooked us in and we haven't been the same since.  We are "Flugtag Fans"--observers of the craziest, dare I say sport, out there.  

For the uninitiated, Flugtag is the brainchild of Dietrich Mateschitz, owner of Red Bull.  (a carbonated energy drink).  Flugtag is a competition if you will, between homemade human flying machines that are launched off a pier about 30 feet high with contestants ending up in an appropriate depth of water in order to avoid as much personal injury as possible.  I say this because experience has shown that as wonderful and crazy and zany as these men and their flying machines are, none have actually gone airborne.  Surprising, I know.  

The first Flugtag (which by the way means flying day in German), was held way back in 1991 in Vienna, Austria.  Its early success has made it a yearly event with competitions in 35 cities around the world.  Teams that enter Flugtag are judged in three catagories:  distance, creativity and showmanship.  Notice, actually flying is not a requirement but would be an added bonus.   Each flying machine must have a wingspan of 30 feet and a maximum weight of 450lbs including the pilot.  It must be powered by muscle, gravity and imagination.  Since the aircraft and competitors land in water, it must float and be constructed from environmentally friendly materials.  

I bring this to your attention as on my walk this morning, I saw the beginnings of the launching pier being built up at North Street Beach.  Yes, Chicago is one of the cities lucky enough to have its very own Flugtag event which is this Saturday, September 6th, with gates opening at 11:00am.  Seriously, you should try to come out as it looks like so much fun. I have never seen it live so will be parking my rear on the beach early enough to get a good seat.  Hope to see you there.  

One last thought:  Red Bull has nothing on this idea.  Leonardo da Vinci was all over it years ago!!

Red Bull Flugtag Competition

Saturday, September 6, 2008

North Street Beach

Gates open at 11:00am

Additional information:  redbullflugtagusa.com

Photo credits:  creativemag.com, allposters.com

Fox & Obel: Gourmet Goodies and an Epiphany

I have to start this blog by honoring the gourmet grocery here in Chicago, Fox & Obel, that in my mind is the BEST gourmet food shop in the city.  Cheese, baked goods, meats, veggies and a selection of wines that will have your head spinning without having taken a sip is what you will find here and they will be awesome.  Small but mighty, they do their best at keeping all foodies here in the Windy City happy.  

In addition to all the great groceries to take home with you, they have a great little café where my husband and I end up on Sunday mornings after a long walk along Lake Michigan.  On this most recent Sunday, over one of their delicious yogurt parfaits, I mapped out what a blog about getting around in Chicago might be like.  Having experience writing about the ins and outs of Paris, my favorite city of all, I thought it would be fun to take that concept and apply it to my "new" hometown.  Living right in the thick of it all, I come across things on a daily basis--events, restaurants, shops, that may or may not be on your radar but should.  Basically, in an attempt to make your life easier once you get yourself in the city, I am going to eat, shop and sight see my way through this fabulous town to let you know what's worth doing.  Hey, someone has to do it.  So far, I am loving the task.  

In addition to my posts, my daughter Taylor, will be keeping us up to speed on the cultural events taking place here.  Working at one of the best museums in the world, The Art Institute of Chicago, her finger is on the pulse of the art, as well as music world.  Between the two of us, we will dish the dirt to make traveling here--whether from many miles away or just a trip in from the suburbs--interesting, easier and lots more fun.  

The pictures on the right hand side will take you to websites that offer hotel and dining ideas that go beyond what I can give you as well as links to places that you just shouldn't miss on a visit to Chicago.  It will keep growing as we grow and unearth new places worth the effort to get to.  We will keep you up to speed with upcoming events and even throw in little bits and pieces of historical information since the city is filled with an interesting past.  

We hope you join us in discovering this great city and all it has to offer.  It is going to be a fun journey and we wouldn't want you to miss out.