I really enjoyed the parade. But man they couldnt rush u out of there fast enough once it was over…read more I found that odd. Also it was extremely heavy on police parading around (only one guy cheered lol) and the jeeps squealed like a pig in heat for no other reason but to torture the spectrum ppl. On the positive lots of puppies, lots of great costumes. I hope it dumps the police and jeeps and grows in to something awesome

If you're around the neighborhood go ahead it's pretty neat. But I wouldn't make the trip from say…read morethe burbs The parade was just under half hour. This is in boys town. Thus some of the costumes reflect the area. The thriller and fire dancers deserve extra mention. It starts at Belmont and Halsted goes north on Halsted. I don't know where it ends.

Harold Washington Social Security Administration Building at 600 West Madison Street…read moreThis piece sits out front of the Chicago Social Security building and definitely grabs your attention. It was Commissioned through GSA's Art in Architecture Program Fine Arts Collection, stands over 100 feet tall and is the work of Claes Oldenburg. It was made in 1977 and is constructed of gray painted steel and aluminum. The sculpture looks like a baseball bat standing on its knob. That is fitting for a city with a storied baseball team such as the Cubs. I really like the wireframe mesh style that the bat is made in. I am sure that that design was also chosen to make the bat lighter. But it still looks awesome. The bat is in great shape, especially considering its age. The sculpture was supposed to be painted red, instead of gray, but that idea was abandoned to distinguish it from the city's famous Flamingo sculpture by the Post Office. You will find a placard in the front of the sculpture that reads, "Oldenburg selected the baseball bat as an emblem of Chicago's ambition and vigor. The sculpture's verticality echoes the city's dramatic skyline, while its form and scale cleverly allude to more traditional civic monuments, such as obelisks and memorial columns." There is metered street parking and commercial garages available within a reasonable walking distance. I understand that this is not a destination piece and would probably be viewed by someone with business in the area or a common passerby. As with most sculptures that I have visited and viewed, this is not a very long stop. I was there less than 5 minutes. I recommend making a visit here part of a larger itinerary or as a stop on your way to/from somewhere else.

THE BATCOLUMN SCULPTURE by Swedish-American Pop Artist Claes Oldenburg…read more Dedicated in 1977..it is a 101-foot-tall outdoor sculpture built in Mr. Oldenburg's style of replicating everyday objects into Colossal and Gigantic sculptural replications. How fitting that we recognize this piece "The Batcolumn" since the Chicago Cubs won the World Series in Baseball recently and on any game day...you will see suburbanites parking downtown and taking the L to the Stadium decked out in their "Cubs" Gear! Other Sculptural works of GIANT proportion by Claes Oldenburg in the United States include: 1. The Gigantic Clothespin, The Paint Brush and 3 Way Plug in downtown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2. The Colossal Cherry on a Spoon in Minneapolis, Minnesota 3. Giant Shuttlecock in Kansas City, Missouri 4. Giant Binoculars in Venice, California 5. The Big Sweep (Dustpan and Brush) in Denver, Colorado 6. Giant Rubber Stamps stating "FREE" in Cleveland, Ohio FYI-Mr. Oldenburg was born in Sweden, but moved to Chicago and became an American Citizen in 1956...he spent his life in Chicago being educated at an early age as his father was a Swedish Diplomat stationed in New York City and later in 1936 appointed the Consul General of Sweden to Chicago, Illinois. See: Wikipedia...https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claes_Oldenburg See this for a picture of Claes Oldenburg in 1977 as the Giant "Batcolumn Sculpture" is preparing for installation: https://charlesosgood.photoshelter.com/image/I0000A1gvwNpRcz0 "One Very Big Bat" article by Rick Kogan in the "Chicago Tribune" (1999). http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1999-03-14/features/9903140489_1_art-institute-sculpture-city-news-bureau For an article with pictures see"Claes Oldenburg's Supersize Pop Art Sculptures Made Public Art Fun" By Abigail Cain. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-claes-oldenburgs-supersized-pop-sculptures-made-public-art-fun

Have you ever walked by this and wondered…read more.. "What is THIS?" =Monument with Standing Beast. It is French Artist and Sculptor Jean Dubuffet's public artwork that he "hoped would 'resonate' with the average person." Hmmmm...it is intriguing... The City of Chicago describes the piece as "Monument with Standing Beast is comprised of four elements that suggest a standing animal, a tree, a portal and an architectural form. The configuration invites viewers to enter the sculpture and echoes the dramatically open plan of the James R. Thompson Center." 4 elements: 1. standing animal 2. a tree 3. a portal 4. architectural form (this part is a "no brainer.") See: https://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_s_publicartjeandubuffetsmonumentwithstandingbeast.html

Barrington's yearly 4th of July celebration includes 5 days of "Beer and Brats" in the tent they…read moreset up downtown. Its a great "small town 4th of July feel". Its also a great time to go drink some beer and eat some brats with friends! Can't wait until next year!

I think it was just a stroke of luck that we stumbled upon this parade. We're in Forest Park fairly…read moreregularly for my little girl's swim lesson so we caught wind of it. Yay for us! I love parades, and won't be said if she does too. It's a great parade. It's a long one too; it was almost two hours long this year. The start of the parade was an incredible number of fire and police vehicles, from probably at least two dozen suburban areas. There was at least one high school band, but two or three high schools were represented here with dance teams. Lots of local businesses, of course, and municipal services like the library. There were a few Irish dance companies and two or three sets of bagpipers. Oh, and it's primary season, so every other float represented a candidate. Many of the floats gave candies and other handouts, so you will want to bring a bag. Forest Park can really party. Their St. Paddy's Parade celebration is from 10-4 or something. Several of the restaurants have their windows open and sell beer right out the window. Even non-bars have specials and sales; Chef Paco at New Rebozo had margaritas and flautas, and Brown Cow was selling cake pops and cookies and stuff outside. I'd get here early to find a space if you plan to come, or check out public transit options since the Blue Line comes out to Forest Park.

This parade has been an annual family event for us 4-5 yrs running. It's easily the most unscripted…read moreparade I've ever seen. The people watching is an amusement in itself..a whole lot of drunks having a good time. Don't get me wrong, this is a family parade and the kiddo's love it. Especially the free candy and giveaways. Cheers.

This really isn't a place...it's an event that's held at Willowbrook High School in Villa Park to…read moreremember Lauren Kiefer. She graduated from Willowbrook in 2000 and her mother still works there. This event is held in her honor because she was brutally taken from friends and family on Dec. 25, 2006. So this is a 5K walk/run that is going to take place every year around the third weekend in June. I believe it is $25 to enter and then donations are also accepted which benefit a number of charities including two scholarships that are given out to Willowbrook students. This a fun event for a great cause and in honor of one very special woman! Go to rememberlaur.com to check out the details under events! Hope to see you there!

I love murals, and love to take photos of them wherever I am, be it Nashville, Rome, my hometown,…read moreor here in Chicago. I had a dental appointment and found they had made this lovely improvement to their building--a huge mural celebrating Buena Park! Not sure this area gets much love anymore, so it was really nice to see this new piece of public art. It's only a 3-4 blocks from the Sheridan stop on the red line, and it's huge, taking up the entire exterior east-west wall of the building. Next time you're hustling to and fro, take a moment to enjoy the work of one of our artists, especially when its so easily accessible.

Project Windows is an annual contest hosted by Michigan Avenue Magazine in Chicago which partners…read morewith the Chicago Community, Chicago Shops, Local Restaurants, Hotels, and other Local Businesses to promote the current LARGE curated Exhibition at The Art Institute of Chicago. It is a voluntary option for all of these entities to participate by using the thematic artist that is showcased in their Store Front Windows. Individuals can log onto the Project Windows Web Site and vote for their favorite Shop Window Exhibit that is an interpretation of the current artist and art exhibit on display at the Art Institute of Chicago. This Year-2020 the Exhibition was dedicated to Andy Warhol-Pop Art King in his "Retrospective" Exhibit Entitled: ANDY WARHOL-FROM A TO B AND BACK AGAIN My favorite Window Front Exhibits by local businesses were- 1. TeaGschwendner 1160 N State St Chicago, IL 60610 b/t Division St & Elm Streets Their window front featured Andy Warhol, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Queen Elizabeth of England and others sipping tea-each in their own Pop Art colorfully modern canvas while featuring a signature banana print at the base of the window front which had tea pots, tea cups, and other tea related accessories juxtaposed in a variety of bright colors and modern styles. (See Attached Pictures) 2. The Acme Hotel 15 E Ohio St Chicago, IL 60611 b/t Wabash Ave & State Streets Their Hotel Window featured a Christmas Tree with Andy Warhol's black glasses stuck into a Silver Christmas Tree and hanging images of famous celebrities such as Audrey Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Warhol himself. Under the Christmas Tree were gifts wrapped in Andy Warhol colorful celebrity prints and cans of Campbell's Tomato Soup! (See Attached Pictures) How are the Winners Chosen?- "An esteemed panel of judges is assembled to professionally judge all the entries and the public is invited to vote online for their favorite display design. The entry receiving the most votes is awarded the People's Choice Award, and themed awards are given out in relation to the exhibition." Source: https://michiganavemag.com/Project-Windows-2019 2020 Winner Announcement Date and Link- This Year's Winner will be announced on January 24, 2020. See this link for the final results: https://michiganavemag.com/Project-Windows-2019 FYI-Individuals are Welcome to "Join the Conversation"Via- @michiganavemag @oakstreetdesign @artinstitutechi #ProjectWindows