About.com Chicago Travel

MSI Celebrates Christmas Around the World

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:20:41 +0000

Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry gets into the holiday spirit with its annual Christmas Around the World, which kicks off today. Just as the name implies, the exhibit takes a look at how various cultures celebrate the winter holiday across the globe, with performances from multiple dance and chorus groups as well as over 50 trees decorated by various ethnic groups throughout Chicago. The 45-foot tree in the museum's main hall features over 25,000 lights and is decorated with ornaments -- this year's theme pays homage to their temporary exhibit, The White House: A Look Inside.

What: Christmas Around the World
Where: Museum of Science and Industry, 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive, Chicago
When: November 20, 2009 - January 3, 2010
Admission: Christmas Around the World is included in the museum's general admission

MSI Celebrates Christmas Around the World originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 13:20:41.

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Oprah Winfrey Quitting Show in 2011

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 20:59:56 +0000

So you Oprah fans out there -- have you always been dreaming of taking a trip to Chicago, scoring Oprah tickets, and go on a shopping spree at the Oprah store? Well you had better do it sooner than later. Oprah Winfrey has announced that she's hanging up her talk show hat in 2011, after her 25th season. That's right, Oprah is quitting her show. Let the freak-out commence.

Oprah Winfrey Quitting Show in 2011 originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 20:59:56.

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CTA Holiday Train Pulls Into the Station

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:20:06 +0000

The popular Chicago Transit Authority Holiday Train returns for the 2009 Christmas season this Saturday, November 21. The CTA is already a fun, inexpensive way to take in the sights (especially if you have kids, mine love cruising the "L"), and the Holiday Train certainly removes some of the doldrums of riding mass transit.

The six-car train is adorned with thousands of lights, and has a flat car in the middle featuring Santa and his reindeer. The insides of the cars are decorated with bows, garland, lights, and more.

The Holiday Train shows up first on the Red and Purple lines, and rotates throughout the various CTA routes until Christmas as part of regular rail service (you have to pay the normal CTA fare). The train will run between 1 p.m. and 9 p.m. on weekends, and 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays, and makes all stops along their respective routes. Visit the CTA website for the full schedule to find out when the Holiday Train will be pulling into your stop.

More on About.com:

Chicago public transportation overview

CTA Holiday Train Pulls Into the Station originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 13:20:06.

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Mag Mile Lights Festival This Weekend

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:19:01 +0000

The Magnificent Mile Lights Festival officially kicks off the Michigan Avenue shopping season in Chicago, with numerous fun family activities and the highlight, the Mickey Mouse parade illuminating over one million lights along Michigan Avenue, which takes place every year on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. For more information, check out my Magnificent Mile Lights Festival profile.

What: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival 2009
Where: Michigan Avenue between Oak Street and the Chicago River
When: November 21, 2009
Admission: FREE!

Mag Mile Lights Festival This Weekend originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 21:19:01.

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Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein' hits Chicago

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:31:01 +0000

Trying to ride the wave of the previous smash Broadway hit, The Producers, another Mel Brooks' classic movie has been turned into a live musical -- this time it's Young Frankenstein, which has landed in Chicago. Like The Producers, the stage version of Young Frankenstein follows the same plot line as the movie, but injects musical song and dance numbers throughout the production. So, did the theater producers strike gold for the second time? Despite winning a couple of awards, it doesn't sound like it according to this review at Chicagoist.com. But if you like your musical theater covered in thick cheese, it might be right up your alley.

What: Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein
Where: Cadillac Palace Theatre
When: Now through December 13, 2009
Tickets: $30 - $90, available online through Ticketmaster

Mel Brooks' 'Young Frankenstein' hits Chicago originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 19:31:01.

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Cirque du Soleil 'Banana Shpeel' Coming to Chicago

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:40:06 +0000

The popular performing group Cirque du Soleil is returning to Chicago with Banana Shpeel, and lending their decidedly unique interpretations not to the circus this time, but rather vaudeville. Banana Shpeel is a decidedly different turn for Cirque du Soleil, in that the act has a distinct narrative.

The show tells the tale of Shmelky, Emmett, and Katie -- a theater producer, actor, and love interest, respectively -- and the ins and outs and highs and lows of producing a stage show. Of course, this being Cirque du Soleil, a one sentence description certainly oversimplifies things and it's sure to be a wild ride, including, as Cirque describes it, "crazy humour and intense choreography." This is a preview of the show before it takes up residency in New York.

What: Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel
Where: Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State Street, Chicago
When: November 19, 2009 through January 3, 2010
Tickets: $35 - $82. Tickets are available online

Cirque du Soleil 'Banana Shpeel' Coming to Chicago originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Friday, November 6th, 2009 at 22:40:06.

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Chicago Hotel Workers Authorize Strike

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:34:03 +0000

If you have reservations at one of the five Starwood hotels in downtown Chicago -- the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers, Westin Michigan Avenue, W Chicago Lakeshore, W Chicago City Center, and the Tremont Hotel -- you might want to have a backup plan just in case hotel workers move forward on a strike authorized last night. So far the talk of a strike remains as a "negotiating tactic," but an actual strike is not out of the question. Union workers are at odds with new guidelines regarding health insurance benefits, which they say will result in decreased coverage. Read the full story.

Chicago Hotel Workers Authorize Strike originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Thursday, October 29th, 2009 at 13:34:03.

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The Fear at Navy Pier

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 10:06:00 +0000

There's only one week left to check out The Fear Haunted House at Chicago's Navy Pier. This fright fest has several times been voted as one of the best haunted houses in the Chicago area. Want to read more about how to have your pants scared off of you? Read my Fear Haunted House profile.

The Fear at Navy Pier originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Sunday, October 25th, 2009 at 10:06:00.

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Spooky Zoo Spectacular at Lincoln Park Zoo

Sat, 17 Oct 2009 21:56:56 +0000

Not to be outdone by Brookfield Zoo's Halloween festivities, Lincoln Park Zoo gets into the act this Saturday with their Spooky Zoo Spectacular. This wildly popular event usually draws upwards of 25,000 visitors and features costumed characters, family entertainment, a haunted house, and surely most important to the little ones, trick-or-treating. But don't feed that candy to the animals, kids!

What: Spooky Zoo Spectacular
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo, Fullerton Parkway directly west of Lake Shore Drive
When: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Hours: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Admission: Free!

Spooky Zoo Spectacular at Lincoln Park Zoo originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Saturday, October 17th, 2009 at 21:56:56.

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Franken Plaza Returns to Downtown

Fri, 09 Oct 2009 21:22:51 +0000

Halloween is right around the corner and we here in Chicago LOVE the spooky holiday. One of the highlights is when Daley Plaza becomes "Franken Plaza," with entertainment from Midnight Circus and Pyrotechniq, along with arts and crafts and a farmers market. Activities are free, so it's certainly a recommended stop if traveling to Chicago in the latter part of October, especially if you're coming with the kids. Make sure to read my profile on Franken Plaza for more information.

What: Franken Plaza
When: October 23 - 31, 2009
Where: Daley Plaza (Washington and Dearborn), Chicago, IL

More on About.com:

Franken Plaza Returns to Downtown originally appeared on About.com Chicago Travel on Friday, October 9th, 2009 at 21:22:51.

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