The 108-story Sears Tower has recently had its name changed, and it is now known as the Willis Tower.  Chicago residents are not alone in struggling to remember the name change, and I have a feeling that it may take a generation or so before the new name sticks.
Regardless of what it’s called, you can still ride of to the Skydeck, the building’s observation deck.  Located on the 103rd floor of the Willis Tower, is is one of two popular observation decks in Chicago.  (The other is the Hancock Building, as there is great debate over which one is the …read more

Not surprisingly, July is National Hot Dog Month in the United States. It’s not hard to guess why this is, what with the 4th of July kicking off a whole summer or opportunities for grilling and outdoor cooking!

Hot dogs have been part of the national diet since 1870, when German immigrant Charles Feltman began selling sausages in rolls at Coney Island. Though the creation of the hot dog itself is long-disputed, with some claims going back as far as 1480, the summertime favorite was an instant hit in the States.
The original Feltman shop even spawned one of the more famous …read more

Today I have a guest post from Amanda, one half the blogging duo at Married with Miles.
Chances are, with the large corporations and the local convention business, if you travel for work, you will have opportunity to spend some time in Chicago. It’s also a great city to visit with your family.
We recommend a day trip to Chicago’s neighbor to the near west, Oak Park, Illinois. Many visitors find themselves in Oak Park to explore the Frank Lloyd Wright sites of his home and studio or Unity Temple.  Each of these are early examples of Wright’s work, but essential for …read more

Anyone traveling in the midwest probably has a story about O’Hare airport in Chicago.  Whether it’s air traffic congestion, weather delays (summer and winter), or crowded facilities, there are lots of ORD anecdotes – and they’re usually about how long a traveler was stuck at the airport.
The City of Chicago’s Office of Tourism can’t solve those airport delays, but they can help make any airport delay time a little more pleasant with its new website Explore Chicago, and two technology lounges in Terminal 2 and 50 computers located throughout the airport.
With help from technology sponsor HP, each high-tech lounge …read more

Shopping is one of the most popular vacation time activities, and if your travel plans have you headed to Chicago, you’ll want to take advantage of some shopping time along the Magnificent Mile.
The Magnificent Mile is eight blocks of Michigan Avenue, running from the Chicago River to Oak Street, and is the main street between the Loop and the Gold Coast.  It’s also about a block off of Rush Street, home to lot of great bars, nightclubs, and music.  Here you’ll find exclusive stores and boutiques, hotels, and restaurants.
Shopping choices range from elite upscale stores to simple specialty shops.  …read more

If you are heading to Chicago for the weekend, don’t miss out on the latest hot spots. Whether you are looking to indulge in a day of shopping or you want to hit the late night clubs, it’s all at your disposal in Chi-town. When hanging out in Chicago, here are some things you should check out.
All Day
Chicago is a shopping Mecca that features not only unique shops, but also is home to very reasonable prices. Whether you are looking for clothes, shoes, jewelry or accessories, you can find the latest and greatest in Chicago. One place you should hit …read more

For Brian Wolf, the Chicago marketing manager, the best solution for combating his own undateability was to take matters into his own hands. This spring, he launched Settleforbrian.com. Mr. Wolf says his site is what major online dating services would be if everyone were honest. Though he writes on the site that his nose is big and he doesn’t want kids, he also touts his sense of humor and good job: “I’m by no means perfect, but you could also do a lot worse. … In the end, you’d probably be happier with me than chasing the dream of Mr. …read more