Chicago, IL

Do you want an interesting and new way to explore Chicago and its architecture? You should consider taking a ride on the Loop Tour Train. The special train ride consists of a 40 minute fun and educational journey of the Chicago Loop. Docents from the Chicago Architecture Foundation narrate the tours to give you the history of the area.

The best part of this Loop Tour train ride is that it is free! Trains depart every Saturday at 10:00 a.m. and 10:40 a.m. from the Randolph and Wabash Chicago Transit Authority elevated train station. Tickets are required and can be picked up the morning of the ride at the Chicago Office of Tourism Visitor Information Center in the Chicago Cultural Center, which is located at 77 E. Randolph Street.

For more information on the tours, which run now through September 29, visit the City of Chicago website.

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Do you have an hour to kill today? Then, you should take a tour of the Chicago Theater. According to the website, “The tour encompasses historical and architectural highlights of the building, including the grand lobby areas, majestic auditorium and backstage space (when possible).”

At first, that sounds a little bit on the dull side, until you check out photos of the building…

Wow. You have to admit that is pretty amazing.

Tour Schedule

April 1 - September 30: Weekly tours take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 12pm
October 1 - March 31: Weekly tours take place every Tuesday at 12pm

Cost: $5 per person - which includes a souvenir VIP badge.

There are also sometimes special Saturday tours that include possible demonstrations on the Wurlitzer organ.

Does that make me a nerd, if that sounds REALLY REALLY cool to me?

If you want to learn some history of the building, visit this website: ZING!

The Chicago Theater
175 North State Street
Chicago, IL

The Chicago Theater, Tours, Sight-seeing, Wurlitzer organ

One of the things that Chicago is most well-known for is its food! Whether you are a resident or a visitor, one fun way to get to know the city in a different way is through a food tour. A company called Chicago Food Planet offers food tasting walking tours of the Gold Coast, Old Town, and Lincoln Park neighborhoods.

According to their website, they offer a wide variety of food on the tour, including stops at a bakery, a fudge and confectionery specialty shop, a Middle-Eastern delicatessen, a tea specialty store, a spice and herb specialty shop, a local chocolate lounge, and an authentic Chicago pizzeria.

In addition to the food, the three hour walking tour is fully-narrated and includes information about the various neighborhoods, including history, culture, and architecture. Advance tickets (at $38 a person) are required and can be purchased on their website.

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Over the years, Chicago has served as the backdrop for a tremendous amount of movies, as well as several successful television shows. Although in many cases only the outdoor shots are actually done in Chicago, the city is often affected by these shoots.

According to Chicagoist, film crews are in town shooting for Wanted, a new film starring Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman. As a result, many streets are closed in the overnight hours this week. There is no word whether there are any actors in town or if this is just all for exterior background shots.

Also filming in the area is The Return, about soldiers returning from Iraq, which starring Tim Robbins. Portions of the film are being filmed in the Naperville/Bolingbrook area.

If you want to keep on top of what movies and television shows are filming in the area, check out the city of Chicago website on the topic. It even has information on how you can be an extra in a film!

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There are many ways that you can see the sights in Chicago: boat, bus, on foot, and even on a Segway, thanks to Segway Experience of Chicago. Before the tour, you will receive training on how to operate a Segway. The tour includes a wide variety of Chicago landmarks, such as:

* Field Museum
* Millennium Park
* Shedd Aquarium
* Adler Planetarium
* Museum Campus
* Buckingham Fountain
* The Lakefront Bike Path

The tours run everyday of the year, rain or shine. Please note that this event is only for adults and children over the age of 12. Tickets are $70 for a 2-hour tour. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit the Segway Experience website.

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From May 18-20, the city of Chicago will be hosting the “Great Chicago Places and Spaces” event.

On Saturday and Sunday, explore Chicago with more than 200 free tours throughout downtown and many of the city’s historic neighborhoods. Some exciting jaunts include tours of movie sites, gardens and parks, theaters, sculpture and stained glass, bungalows and skyscrapers. On these tours, visitors will discover the works of world famous architects including Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Holabird & Roche/Root, Mies van der Rohe, Frank Gehry and Frank Lloyd Wright.

There are also several events planned for children, so there should be a tour for everyone. For more information or to register in advance, visit the Great Chicago Places website.

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