Chicago city proper is a big headache even for us locals not to imagine for people 200-300 miles away !
Parking is scarce or 10-20 $ an hour in downtown and hotels which own parking lots are 250 $ a night.
If we meet in nice and clean little town such Naperville,where you can find 30-40 hotels for under 80 $ with pool and launge.Train is walking distance and in 40 minutes you are downtown where we can go as a group take photos and go back to the meeting place.
I am just wondering if the out of towners would be driving to the area or flying. I was thinking of maybe each of us friendly midwesterners sponsor a person at our house or something. I am about 3 miles from the South Shore which takes you downtown in about 45 minutes also. Naperville is near the airport isn't it? dsa, pitsa, Deadstar, you guys feel like bringing a tourist into your house??? We could still have a meeting place & time. Just a suggestion. I don't have a spare room, but I do have a couch (which incidentally is the most comfortable place to sleep in my house)
Downers Grove calendar for end of June (which is next to Naperville)
JUNE 24
HERITAGE FESTIVAL RIDE PREVIEW NIGHT
Downtown Downers Grove
Pay one price rides
Time: 6-10pm
(630) 434-5555
JUNE 25, 26 & 27
Peter Pan
Midwest Ballet Theatre
Tivoli Theater, 5021 Highland Ave.
Admission: Free
Time: 1:30 - 3 p.m.
(630) 971-9751 //www.midwestballet.org
JUNE 25, 26 & 27
HERITAGE FESTIVAL STREET FAIR
Downtown Downers Grove
Admission: Free
Time: Fri. & Sat. 10 a.m. until 10:30 p.m.
Sun. Noon until 10 p.m.
(630) 434-5555
JUNE 25, 26
HERITAGE FESTIVAL CRAFT SHOW
Fishel Park, downtown Downers Grove
Admission: None
Time Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday 10am-4pm
(630) 632-5345
JUNE 25, 26 &27
HERITAGE FESTIVAL OPEN HOUSE
Downers Grove Museum
831 Maple
Admission: free
Time: Noon to 4pm
(630) 963-1309
Also we can visit the Morton Arboretum which is on I88 and Il53 right next to Naperville and Downers Grove,Also the Naperville riverfront and Naper Settlement.
Dang, that's the one weekend I won't BE in the midwest....I have to go to Nashville for my brothers wedding. (I'm supposed to take pictures, think he'll miss me?)
If we all decide this to be in Chicago for this meeting, my suggestion is to hold this after July 16, the reason being, the Millennium Park is going to be open to the public by that time. Millenium Park has the Frank Gehry designed music pavillion shell, the Anish Kapoor huge huge kidney shaped sculpture - an interactive reflective sculpture, the Jaume Piensa fountain and the Gehry pedestrian bridge, various gardens and walks etc.
It's a spectacular new park that will certainly be a stimulating experience for photography.
Here's a site that talks more about the Millennium Park:
Mayor Daley has just been in his beautification drive mode in the past five years or so and the city is absolutely beautiful during the summer.
Also on the weekends and Wednesdays, there are fireworks at the Navy Pier. The best place to see this is up the Hancock Tower (94th floor), the same place where
Damn flip,.. nice photo. Hell,.. if we can get things right,. who's to say this couldn't be a monthly thing at a different location each time. I don't know about the rest of you, but I get tired always going out by myself.
Simply an FYI on this thread. The Mrs. and I will be in Chicago July 5th and 6th. Could possibly do an earlier or extended stay, depending on some "other" factors. Have friends from Ireland that will be in town and am meeting them for a good Chicago Steak. (Any Steak House recommendations?)
Had a grand time in Dallas and would enjoy meeting some mid-western dpc'ers if the scheduling permits. Was too early for the DC get together and my timing may be off here as well.
There is a Museum near the waterfront if my memory serves me that has "everything".....German U boats, Planes hanging from the ceiling, slices of human torsos between glass panels.....I think it is called the Science Museum or something. Pretty awesome place as I recall from the 8th grade school field trip.
We could always shoot the amazing feat of Semi's navigating some of Chicago's corridors. Simply dumbfounding how they get through some intersections...and TURN NO LESS. There is always the Train Station for candids and the shopping district for those with too many credit cards and not enough debt. The shoreline is always windy.....and good practice for understanding the "real" definition of a "stable" shooting platform. There's the ball field and possibly a night game. And of course if one is bored, you can always venture into the "land of the unknown" and tempt fate with your need to capture the grit of a Chicago slum.
Simply an FYI on this thread. The Mrs. and I will be in Chicago July 5th and 6th. Could possibly do an earlier or extended stay, depending on some "other" factors. Have friends from Ireland that will be in town and am meeting them for a good Chicago Steak. (Any Steak House recommendations?)
Had a grand time in Dallas and would enjoy meeting some mid-western dpc'ers if the scheduling permits. Was too early for the DC get together and my timing may be off here as well.
There is a Museum near the waterfront if my memory serves me that has "everything".....German U boats, Planes hanging from the ceiling, slices of human torsos between glass panels.....I think it is called the Science Museum or something. Pretty awesome place as I recall from the 8th grade school field trip.
We could always shoot the amazing feat of Semi's navigating some of Chicago's corridors. Simply dumbfounding how they get through some intersections...and TURN NO LESS. There is always the Train Station for candids and the shopping district for those with too many credit cards and not enough debt. The shoreline is always windy.....and good practice for understanding the "real" definition of a "stable" shooting platform. There's the ball field and possibly a night game. And of course if one is bored, you can always venture into the "land of the unknown" and tempt fate with your need to capture the grit of a Chicago slum.
Best of luck...hope all is successful.
Flash
They actually are working on putting a World War II submarine in the museum.
Also, the Shedd Aquarium.
And for those who like Mickey Mouse, they have statues all up & down State St.
You have GOT to LOVE this town!!!!
As far as steak goes, there is always the Palmer House. I haven't had steak downtown in years, but that is always a good one.
I know that Chicago is nice place to be ,but how practical is to organize a group meeting especially on days around 4th of July !
It is just madness to go there with any vehicle,taste of Chicago, you are talking about million people going there daily ...
I will be adding a form to let individuals indicate which weekends this summer would work or not work and then we can pick from the ones that would have the most participants.
Until I get the form completed, either post here on this thread or email me with any additional information. The Chicago area (whether burbs or downtown TBD) seems to appeal to almost everybody, so let's concentrate on dates, then schedule and specific locations and activities.
