The Snow Has Begun!

  After much anticipation, the first snowflakes of our big blizzard have arrived.  Right now it's the talk of the news with anchors warning people to:
-Make sure their gas tank is full
-Make sure they check their car battery
-Make sure they have extra blankets in the car

Grocery stores have also been on the news saying that salt and other snow supplies are flying off the shelves.  We'll see what kind of wild wintery ride we're in for.  Please be safe!

Thought for the day...

  Last night I read an article about a successful businessman who is currently a senior vice president of Morgan Stanley.  The article discusses why he chose to go to college in Chicago.  He states "you can have more life experiences walking to the corner to buy a newspaper in Chicago than you do in a month in another city."

The Beautiful Chicago Lakefront in the Winter

President Hu Jintao's Visit

  The President of China has be very warmly welcomed by Chicagoans.  Yesterday evening groups of Chicagoans stood on various street corners in the Gold Coast/Michigan Ave. area waving large Chinese flags.  There were also large amounts of police out and about making sure everything and everyone was in order.  Parking bans were established in some areas the President would be traveling through.  We hope China's President found Chicago as wonderful as we all do.

Who's Visiting Chicago?

  The President of China is!  President Hu Jintao is expected to be in Chicago from this afternoon until tomorrow.  It is said he will meet with Chinese businesses and organizations in Chicago.  Chicago is the only U.S. city he will visit outside of Washington D.C.
  Business side-note:  Chicago-based Boeing has just made a $19-billion deal with China for 200 airplanes.

Navy Pier Snow Days!!

  Chicago's 3rd annual winter festival is at Navy Pier from January 28 - 30.  Enjoy snow sculptures, dog sled races, and snow boarding demonstrations with a competition.  Plus, there's plenty to do inside Navy Pier.  Admission is free. 

Home of the Current Super Bowl Contenders

                                           Chicago is ready for some football!!

Just Wondering....

.....are the trunks of these trees painted blue and orange for the Bears colors?  They are located in Grant Park near Lake Shore Drive.

Seen on Michigan Avenue early this morning....

....a random trumpet player playing in the doorway of a store.  I was a few blocks away when I first heard the sound of the trumpet hit the cold morning air.  At first I thought it was a street performer or one of the homeless who sometimes play music.  I got closer and upon seeing a young, well-dressed man in a nice peacoat, I realized that it was just a random person that decided to entertain random people with his beautiful music on a random Wednesday morning.  It was a nice start to a cold morning.

More Chicago Museums with Free Days

  Here are a few more museums that have free days in January and upcoming months:

The Adler Planetarium
http://www.adlerplanetarium.org
January: 4, 5, 10-14, 18, 19, 24-27
February: 1, 2, 7-10, 15, 16, 22, 23, 28
March: 1-3, 8, 9, 15, 16

Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum-2430 N. Cannon Dr., Chicago, just north of Lincoln Park Zoo
http://www.naturemuseum.org
January: 6, 13, 20, 27
February: 3, 10, 17, 24
March: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31

Museum of Contemporary Art-220 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago
http://www.mcachicago.org
January: 4, 11, 18, 25
February: 1, 8, 15, 22
March: 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
April: 5, 12, 19, 26
May: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
June: 7, 14, 21, 28

Chicago History Museum-1601 N. Clark Street, Chicago
http://www.chicagohistory.org
January: 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
February: 7, 14, 21, 28
March: 7, 14, 21, 28
April: 4, 11, 18, 25
May: 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
June: 6, 13, 20, 27

Chicago Museums Free Days

  January is a time for free admission at some of Chicago's great museums. 
 
The Art Institute is offering free admission every weekday, all day long, from January 3rd through February 4th.
http://www.artic.edu/aic/visitor_info/

The Field Museum is offering free basic admission 52 days out of the year.  There are Target Free Second Mondays plus the following free days in January and February:
January: 3rd, 11th, 13th, 18th, 19th, 24th, 26th, and 31st
February: 2nd, 3rd, 8th, 9th, 15th, and 17th
http://www.fieldmuseum.org/plan_visit/free_days.htm

The Museum of Science and Industry is offering free admission weekdays in January.
http://www.msichicago.org/visit-the-museum/museum-info/admission/free-days/

The Shedd Aquarium offers Community Discount Days where admission to the aquarium's original galleries is free.
Monday and Tuesday Discount Days are:
January:  10, 11, 24, 25
February: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 28
Community Discount Weeks are: January 16-24 and February 20-24
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/discounts.html

Day 2 of Wacker Drive Construction

  Tarped fences have been set up around the parts of Wacker Drive that run by the Lyric Opera House and the intersections of Washington and Lake.  Presumably the fences that run along the sidewalks would be set up to go with the flow of pedestrian traffic while encasing the construction zone.  This morning as I got to the end of the Lyric Opera House, the sidewalk went into a dead-end and the fence forced pedestrians to go either right or left.  I chose right along with a few other people and shortly after realized that I was inside the construction zone.  I hurried down the block hoping for an opening to get back to "the other side" but found nothing but fence.  I crossed over Wacker looking for other possible openings in the fence but again found nothing.  I went back to where I had first entered into the construction zone only to find my previous entrance blocked by fence.  Our little group wandered for a few minutes looking for a way out until finally approaching construction workers to let them know we were trapped.  One of the construction workers lifted and moved part of the fence and we were able to escape.  This construction project should prove to be interesting especially with the size of the area that is blocked off and with how close the construction zone is to the Lyric Opera House and both train stations.

New Years Resolution

 Ah yes, one of the most popular New Years Resolutions....to start working out.  Well, this gym overlooking Wacker Drive serves a two-fold purpose.  For those working out, it has great views of Wacker Drive and all of its hustle and bustle.  It also serves as a motivator because not only can those people working out see the people on the street below, the people on the street below can see those people working out.

Parts of Wacker Drive Closed

  The closing of parts of Wacker Drive has started this morning.  There were baracades and fences going up around the intersections of Washington and Lake.  Also, the piece of Wacker Drive between Lake and Washington has been turned from a one-way street into a two-way street.  On the news this morning, there were jokes that Wacker could be under construction for the next couple of years.  With rush hour just beginning this morning, hopefully drivers are awake enough after this holiday weekend to realize that they're going to have to make some detours around their normal route.