Monthly Archives: July 2013

Lunch at the Signature Room

Today, Mary Therese and I joined Colleen Howard and Di Murphy, and 8 of their other friends and family to celebrate their 9th anniversary at the Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building.

Although the temperature in Chicago reportedly hit 100 degrees in some places, the views from the top of the city looking down were cool.

The heat index — how it really feels — is supposed to be above 105 degrees. Thank goodness for air conditioning.

A view of the Chicago loop, looking south from the 95th floor of the John Hancock building. July 18, 2013 © David K Staub

A view of the Chicago loop, looking south from the 95th floor of the John Hancock building. July 18, 2013 © David K Staub

Lake Michigan and Navy Pier

A view of the Lake Michigan and Chicago’s Navy Pier, looking east from the 95th floor of the John Hancock building. July 18, 2013 © David K Staub

 

Google Field Trip Gives Free Museum Passes

Google’s Field Trip app is giving users free admission into 23 museums and zoos during July. In Chicago, users of the app can get free admission to the The Field Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Other participating institutions are located in Washington D.C., New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Portland, and Reno.

Google Field Trip app

Google Field Trip app

How it works

The free Google Field Trip app tracks your location through your phone’s GPS. Google has assembled data on restaurants, venues, public art, movie locations and points of historical interest from 110 different content partners. Depending on how you have set the notifications in the settings, when you are in the vicinity of one of those locations, the app will notify you.

To promote the app, during July Google is giving free admission by simply showing the free ticket on your phone. To take advantage of the free ticket, download Google Field Trip from the iTunes App Store or Google Play. When you are near one of the attractions included in the offer, a free pass will automatically appear within the Nearby Tab, with your free tickets.Each museum has only a limited number of free passes.

Participating museums

The complete list of museums participating in Google’s Field Trip promotion are:

Museum of the City of New York, NYC
The Museum of Arts and Design, NYC
Bronx Zoo, NYC
Central Park Zoo, NYC
National Building Museum, Washington DC
Crime Museum, Washington DC
President Lincoln’s Cottage, Washington DC
The Field Museum, Chicago
Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago
Conservatory of Flowers, San Francisco
Walt Disney Family Museum, San Francisco
Exploratorium, San Francisco
Legion of Honor, San Francisco
de Young Museum, San Francisco
Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles
Pittock Mansion, Portland
Portland Art Museum, Portland
Portland Children’s Museum, Portland
Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum, Reno
Nevada Museum of Art, Reno

Food and Music Paired in Chicago this Weekend

For anyone looking for something to do in Chicago this weekend, there are lots of things on their plate (literally!). This weekend’s offerings are centered around a combination of food and music.

Taste of Chicago

The Taste of Chicago started on Wednesday July 10 and runs through Sunday, July 14 in Grant Park. Admission is free and food tickets may be purchased at the site.

TOCbrochurecoverAlongside Taste of Chicago’s classic favorites, such as Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, Billy Goat Inn and Eli’s Cheesecake, the 2013 event welcomes several newcomers, including Bombay Spice Grill & Wine, featuring healthful Indian fare; French Market favorite Flip Crepes; Lao Ma La Chinese by acclaimed Chef Tony Hu; and the decadent, Southern-inspired Wishbone Restaurant. Additionally, after taking part in last year’s crowd-pleasing pop-up pavilion, both Beat Kitchen and Caffe Gelato return in 2013 as five-day participants.

As for music, the lineup at Petrillo Music Shell Concerts includes the Rock ‘n Roll legend Robert Plant and Grammy Award winner Jill Scott and more. Concert seating is sold out but lawn seating around the pavilion is free.

The Bud Light Stage at Taste of Chicago features 30 bands for a dynamic showcase of local talent, from up-and-coming to established Chicago artists.

For a complete schedule and more information, click here.

Windy City Smokeout

Only a few short blocks from the Taste of Chicago, visitors can enjoy BBQ, beer and country music at the first annual Windy City Smokeout. Located in the River North area at Illinois Street and Rush Street, the Windy City Smokeout runs from July 11 to 14.

Bastille Day

For the Francophiles in the city, this weekend also marks Le quatorze juillet, also known as La Fete Nationale in France and Bastille Day most other places. Bastille Day commemorates the July 14, 1789, storming of the Bastille, a French fortress famed for holding political prisoners. The day is honored with a fest at Daley Plaza. In addition, Chicago Tribune restaurant critic Phil Vettel lists area restaurants that offer special deals throughout the weekend.

Musically, on Sunday, July 14 at 2 PM, at SPACE in Evanston Martha Carés and Robert Swan will bring the audience back in time to the era of WWII France through the inimitable music of Edith Piaf. Piaf (“the little sparrow”) captured France in the forties and America in the fifties with her compelling renditions of some of the most moving and nostalgic songs ever written.

So bring your appetite and listening ears and enjoy the midsummer weekend in Chicago.