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Getting acquainted with Chicago
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Visits
32
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Visits
32
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Visits
32
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September 07, 2012
Chicago is an influential metropolitan city for conventions, expos, events, meetings, conferences and getting down to business. It was home to McCormick Place Convention Center, the nation’s largest convention, trade show and event center, and the famed Merchandise Mart, the biggest commercial office structure in the world. Chicago is the Midwest’s ultimate convention center and meeting point.
Situated in the Village of Rosemont, the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center offers 840,000 square feet of flexible exhibition space with diverse layouts and tailored floor plans for up to 3,566 booths. Chicago’s Merchandise Mart features over 4.1 million square feet of showroom and exhibit room, as well as retail shops, a bank, a U.S. Post Office, an "EL" train stop, currency exchange, and a food court. The Chicago Merchandise Mart produces celebrated trade shows, conferences, and special events, including the world’s largest furniture show, Neocon, Chicago Auto Show, Chicago Antique Fair, Chicago Design Show, and much apparel shows each year.
The House of Crosses, also known as Mitch's Place and the Cross House, is situated in Chicago. There are hundreds of wooden crosses, plaques and shields hiding the front of the house. Mitchell Szewczjyk, the owner of the house, began beautifying it in 1979. Work stopped when he became bedridden in the 1990s. The creation is chiefly a tribute to movie stars. The names on the crosses and other things include: Bing Crosby, Bette Davis, Mickey Rooney, Zsa Zsa Gabor, John Wayne, Rudolph Valentino, Doris Day, Tarzan, Buckwheat, the Cisco Kid, Camelot, the Pope, Joan of Arc, Zorro, and former mayor Jane Byrne. The place is every so often referred to as "It's What I Do" since that is the stocks answer Mitch gave when asked about his creation. In 2006, the house was put up for sale with hopes that new owners will hang on to the artwork. However, it sounds like the house will be knocked down.
The Museum of Science and Industry is one of the much-loved and visited museums in the world. Its beginnings are tied to two great World's Fairs and the imagination of Chicago businessman Julius Rosenwald. He returned to Chicago determined to make America's first center for "industrial enlightenment," a vehicle for public science learning. With the help of other Midwest business leaders, Rosenwald reinstated and transformed the Palace of Fine Arts, the last remaining major structure from the 1893 World's Fair, into a new type of American museum, where visitors could interact with the exhibits, not just view displays and artifacts. Much later the Museum of Science and Industry opened to the public, at the same time as the Century of Progress Exposition. The Museum of Science and Industry is the oldest science museum of its class in the Western Hemisphere. Just a few of the many interesting items you'll see include: a WWII captured German submarine; a 3,000-square-foot model railroad.
The best of Chicago
Experience the ultimate location in Chicago. The magnificent Great Hall at Chicago Union Station is the ideal place for elegant special events, receptions and weddings. Originally designed by famed architect Daniel Burnham "make no small plans, they have no magic to stir men's blood" and completed by the Graham, Anderson, Probst and White Firm, the Great Hall is considered to be one of the greatest inside spaces in the United States. Guests are impressed as they enter this 20,000 foot classic Beaux Arts style room which boasts 18 soaring Corinthian columns, terracotta walls, a pink Tennessee marble floor and is crowned with a spectacular five-storey, barrel-vaulted, atrium ceiling. Opening onto the Great Hall is the Union Gallery, a stunning 3,500 square foot room, ideal for VIP receptions, lounges, ceremonies and meetings. Whether you are planning a feast for 300 or a cocktail reception for 2,500, this timeless setting in one of Chicago's most prestigious landmarks and will be sure to make an memorable impression upon your guests.
Placed in the suburb of Dundee, the Three Worlds of Santa's Village has been open to people for over 40 years. The "Three Worlds" comprises of Santa’s World, Old McDonald's Farm and Coney Island. Santa's World has a diversity of fun attractions for kids. Old McDonald's Farm is a petting zoo with horse rides. Coney Island has exciting rides and bumper cars. Santa's Village also has a picnic area. Santa's Village is open just about May through September. In addition, onsite at Santa's Village is Racing Rapids, a water park that is open approximately June through Labor Day. There you'll find giant water slides, a tubing slide, a lazy river tubing ride, bumper boats and a children's play area. From roughly September through April you can enjoy the ice rink at the Polar Dome, which is also situated at Santa's Village. This facility is for public skate, figure skating lessons and hockey games.
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