Crossin' the South Branch of the Chicago River since 1928!…read more This bridge, also known as the 12th Street Bridge, is a nice looking bridge! It bridges the Loop with the liquor store down the way. It did a good job of holding up the bus as I traversed the South Branch of the Chicago River. The bridge has some cool looking features to it. Check out the obelisks with books on top, with a globe on that, with dolphins, or elephants, or other animals on them. It looks like they're advocating learning about the geography of dolphins. The statues are shout outs to various nearby institutions, like the planetarium, aquarium, or the university. The bridge houses have garlands with rams' heads on the top, that looks really Egyptian, and along with the obelisks, it looks like a bridge that you'd expect to be crossing the Nile! The bridge also crosses a bunch of railroad tracks. I wouldn't exactly hang out on this bridge, or under it! There's more scenic bridges out there to hang on. But it certainly doesn't look like other bridges I've seen and certainly stands out.

This trail is part of a larger trail that spans 26 or so miles. While many parts are plowed, you do…read moreexperience some icy portions in the winter. However, for winter running, especially lo g runs, it's a great loa toon and trail. There are some nice scenic parts to view and some street runs. I didn't see any spots for bathrooms, but I would like to check further along the way. It has some hills, which are great, and other parts that are flat. I enjoyed this paved trail very much. Can't wait to run it again!

This is my 500th review. I was waiting for something amazing for such a personal landmark. I am so…read moreglad to have stumbled upon the Cal Sag Trail. I am fairly certain that Mother Nature does not enjoy being paved. However, in the case of the Cal Sag Trail, maybe she might just reconsider. Hear me out. I used to stomp around with the dog along the Cal Sag as a side trip from Lake Katherine. The area along the Cal Sag was pretty disastrous. Overgrown, neglected, weedy, muddy or rocky, mostly unfriendly and unusable. We never travelled very far but we always liked watching the boats and trains along the way. Along came the Friends of the Cal Sag with a brilliant idea to put in a trail that would go all the way from Lemont to the Burnham Greenway, which is almost to Indiana. The full distance will be 26 miles. It is not all done yet, but the parts that are completed are spectacular. I walked with my dog along the new addition in Palos Heights. Not to sound cliché, but truly, "If you build it, they will come." That is exactly what happened here. So many walkers and so many bikers. All ages. And it is not even officially opened yet. The trail is paved and two lanes. It twists, turns and has some great sights, like bridges and trains. Other times maybe you see a car wash. There are signs along the route that let you know what suburb or area you are in. The Cal Sag Trail feels like it was always meant to be there. Land that was unused is now being used and enjoyed. Please, without delay, get a bike or some walking shoes and get out there.

A Chicago Landmark [Chicago IL]…read more This bridge is actually the DuSable Bridge (formerly the Michigan Avenue Bridge). The bridge is a gateway to the Magnificent Mile. We walked past this bridge and ascended from the Riverwalk from this bridge. We also drove through it while navigating our way through the city... but I paid more attention to Chicago's famous buildings more than the bridge. It isn't a long bridge but why is it popular especially when there are other bridges that crosses over the Chicago River in Downtown Chicago. Aha! I googled! Well, this bridge is movable with counterweights that lift so that boats can pass underneath. I've never seen it in action though. The bridge was named after the Haitian-born explorer and trader Jean Baptiste Point du Sable and there is a bust of him at the end of the bridge. Anyway, while there is historic significance to this bridge that dates back to when it opened in 1920 I just marveled at the spectacular views from the bridge... also, the former name is easier to remember, the Michigan Avenue Bridge. We passed the bridge a couple of times during an evening tour with the Chicago River 90-Minute Architecture Boat Tour. Review #3822

Another Chicago Staple and when in Chicago a must see!…read more Nice spot to take some amazing photos This bridge/area has a lot of history to it and the views are amazing The architecture is awesome and if you find yourself here on this bridge there are many options to go see that are walkable

The Marquette Building is a beautiful example of the Chicago School of architecture. The early…read moresteel framed sixteen story skyscraper was built in 1895. The steel frame is what allowed long "Chicago windows" due to less pressure of the masonry. It was designed by Holabird and Roche. The skyscraper was named for Father Jacques Marquette, the first European settler who explored Chicago in 1674-1675. Mosaics, sculptures and bronzes honor this expedition in the Marquette's entry and lobby. The bronzes and sculptures show the trip and important historic figures that were met along the journey. The railing around the atrium features beautiful Tiffany designed mosaics. Louis Comfort Tiffany was commissioned to create a mosaic frieze to detail the story of Marquette's life, the exploration of Chicago and the Native Americans that he met. Art panels are made of lustered Tiffany glass, mother-of-Pearl and semi-precious stones. It is stunning! The building is free and open to explore. Ask the security guard for a brochure or if you are lucky, he may even share some history about the building. There is also a small exhibit behind the lobby that discusses Chicago skyscrapers and architecture.

Chicago September 2019…read more Walked into the Marquette Building in downtown Chicago to view the beautiful artwork in the lobby. No admission fee. Just walk in and enjoy the view. The lobby is not too big but filled with stain glass art work that is eye catching. One can view the art from the first or second floor. Many Yelpers have already posted photos with great historical commentary. I'll just add a #metoo. No where to park around here unless you want to spend $30.00 ... I just jump on the CTA and pay $2.50 one way (or $5.00 round trip). Many of the buildings in downtown Chicago have fantastic art work in their lobbies. Most are free to explore. Welcome to Chicago !

Surprisingly large, easy to overlook gorgeous sculptured fountain - would def stop by if you're in…read morethe area, would definitely visit this area if you're from out of town - the UChicago campus is gorgeous

I never heard or seen this structure until I somehow found it during a drive through the…read moreneighborhood. My mom and I decided to park and look at it for a few minutes because we were trying to figure out what it was. We drove away after I thought the cloaked one was headless, but I realized that I was mistaken later. I regret not taking pictures of it. It was Interesting to see the structure from our car though.

There's a plaque on the building where he lived. A historical marker overgrown by a tree and no…read moreparking sign behind lines of cars on a street called Evergreen, where Nelson Algren spent a couple decades of his carousing days along Division, despite the likes of Simone de Beauvoir. Nelson, the crafty Jew with a Swedish name, lived on the third floor. I walked around alleyside to see the back porch - looked ragged enough for him to have perhaps once stood upon, contemplating a dive. Half a dance and a pint of whiskey to imagine a beloved muse who took his balls to the driving range and sandbagged them forever and for keeps. An overgrown marker and a rotting porch. It's a good thing he wrote it down, or there'd be nothing left. Cheers to Chicago Cultural Center Foundation, Chicago Tribune Foundation, and Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs for collaborating in attempt to keep some semblance of history alive in the ever-changing landscape of this city. For more Markers of Distinction, visit www.chicagotribute.org. Where will yours be?

Library: a place you went to get information before the Internet existed…read more The Walker Branch, built in 1890, is the oldest structure owned by Chicago Public Library. I'm so glad a previous reviewer posted a photo of the exterior, thank you. This was the library I used when I was in high school. There are so many stately old homes & buildings in the Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhoods that, at the time, I didn't appreciate the historic significance of my library. To me, it was just one more building like all the others I was accustomed to seeing. One of my close friends lived in an 1800's Victorian in Morgan Park. To us, it was just a nice big house. Big enough so that a bunch of girls could hang out there, in an upstairs parlor, without Penny's parents bugging us.....because, looking back, I doubt they were even aware of our presence. I recall being in a Frank Lloyd Wright house in Beverly. Being unfamiliar with the architect, I remember thinking how unusual the place appeared, with all the built-ins. Sounds like I shoulda spent more time at the library. But I actually did spend a lot of time at this library, doing research for school papers. Remember, there was no way to look up anything online. You had to find it in books. First you had to find the books. If somebody got to the library ahead of you & checked out the books you needed, you were S.O.L. (poop outta luck). Up the creek without a paddle. Scared you gonna flunk. I remember the library closed early in the evenings, like maybe 8pm. It was closed on Sundays & holidays. Problem. Because in order to get to the books you had to get to the library. Walker was the closest library to my house at the time but still kinda far to walk, impossible in frigid winters/snowstorms. I graduated high school when I was 16 so had no driver's license during most of my H.S. years. So I had to find a ride to get to the books. Or "borrow" my mother's car, which I did once when I was 15. I drove to the library in a '59 Impala convertible....with the top down. I remember wearing sunglasses to disguise my age. But I had the damn top down & even drove around the neighborhood a bit, like a hot-shot, hair blowing in the wind.....on my way to the library. I didn't get caught. I only did it once. I did know how to drive, btw. Most kids did know how before they were legal. And not many cars on the road back then, not anything like now. I didn't even see another car that day I drove to the library, a disappointment because I'd hoped a friend might notice me. So yeah, although I didn't appreciate architecture, I sure did appreciate a massive white convertible with big fins & a turquoise interior. Kudos to Mom. These days, I appreciate the Internet. I still love books and libraries but more for pleasure than for research. At Walker Library one time I had to do research for a paper on Marshal Ferdinand Foch. I was selected to read my paper to the class. Had the teacher not introduced me with the pronunciation of "Foch" as fosh with a long O (although I've since heard it pronounced fawsh)......well, that woulda been embarrassing cuz I thought it was fahk. If I'd gotten caught in that convertible I woulda been foched, per my incorrect pronunciation. Walker Branch Library, creator of stories & source of good times, I'm glad your historic, 128-year-old walls can't talk.

I'm on a quest to visit every branch of the Chicago Public Library…read more The Walker branch of the library is such a unique building! Inside, there is a nice little reading room referred to as the "ethnic room." I think I would spend a lot of time in that room if I lived near this branch. This branch has separate floors for children and adults which is really nice. It seems like they have a pretty nice assortment of materials for teens and for adults in general. But what I really like is the building; the setup of this library is just so unique and so different from most libraries. From what I understand, Walker donated the building to the library system. The front door is wooden! A nice, quiet space where it seems one could get a lot of work done.

Nice little city library on Kedzie Avenue just north of 87th Street. This location of the Chicago…read morePublic Library looks very new and is spacious and easy to get to. It has a fenced in parking lot to ease your parking concerns. On the day we were there they were having early voting for the Chicago election and as such had a lot of people outside handing out voting suggestions. But on a normal day we are sure the library is much easier to park at and get in to. Inside it is the typical Chicago library - loads of tables/chairs and lots of room. They have a large meeting room on the first floor that was being used for the early voting. This is a nice addition to the neighborhood. We needed to update our CPL library card and that's why we arrived here - their hours are a bit better (opening at 10 am) than many of the other branches which only open at noon on some days. The personnel we worked with were all delightful - especially the lady at the door greeting us with a smile and a hello. All in all a nice library location - give it a try.