The 85th tour...sniff, sniff...I can't believe it's over...



That's me Tweeting while on the tour!


The 85th tour.
Kind of has a nice ring to it, right?

Well, I made it to the 85th tour: Razzle Dazzle—a tour of Chicago’s theatre district led our docent Joan.

And what would a tour of Chicago’s theatre district be without a stop at the historic Chicago Theatre? Even if you’re not from Chicago, I know you’ve seen the Chicago Theatre. It’s the one with the huge “Chicago” marquee out front. That sign and the theatre itself have become an icon of the city on par with the Sears Tower and Hancock Building. I mean, can you even imagine the city without it? Chicago just wouldn’t be Chicago without the Chicago Theatre marquee.

When the theatre first opened in October of 1921 it was magnificent. Dubbed the “Wonder Theater of the World”, it set the trend for theater-building across the nation and around the world. The theatre was renovated for the 1933 World’s Fair but in the late 1940’s, early 1950’s, the theatre suffered an unfortunate “modernization”: elaborate plaster work was hidden, beautiful chandeliers were replaced with brass fixtures and a black-and-white geometric print covered the walls. Ouch.

In 1982, the Chicago Theatre closed and we came thisclose to losing the historic theatre and famous sign. During that time the wrecking ball lurked in the shadows ready to start leveling at any moment. But we Chicagoans love our landmarks. Through the efforts of civic leaders and concerned citizens the historic building was saved. In 1986, the Chicago Theatre was reborn following a meticulous nine-month $25 million dollar restoration. Phew!


The historic Chicago Theatre marquee on the night of the 85th tour

I also have to tell you that not only is the Chicago Theatre itself incredible, but so are the people who work there. To celebrate the conclusion of the Around Chicago in 85 Tours challenge, they graciously opened their doors and hosted an after party to celebrate, complete with a special marquee message. It was really an incredible moment for me. My parents, friends, colleagues, new social media friends as well as many CAF docents were all there to celebrate. It was an extraordinary night. From the bottom of my heart I cannot thank you enough for all of your support, encouragement and tweets throughout the entire 85 tours journey. It is truly something that I will hold dear to my heart forever.

So, I can’t wrap up the challenge without reminding you that there is no shame being a tourist in your own city. I’m a local and I did it. And if I can take 85…you can certainly take a few yourselves. So get on out there, Chicago. Explore your city. Make it your own, embrace it, learn about it and appreciate it. Take time and make time to look up and be a “tourist”. Believe me…it’s worth it.

See the most up-to-date tour schedule at http://bit.ly/dEwmpr and get on out there! Also be sure to check out everything else that goes on at the Chicago Architecture Foundation. We have fantastic programs for kids Kindergarten through 12th grade, fun family programs, incredible adult programs, a phenomenal shop and more. Visit http://www.architecture.org/ to see everything that we do.

Again, thank you for your support during the Around Chicago in 85 Tours challenge. It means the world to me and I hope to see everyone out on a tour soon! Yep…I said it…I’ll be taking more tours. What can I say? I’m hooked...

See you around town!
Jennifer

A magnificently cold mile

First of all, let me say there are no hard feelings. I know all of you have been very concerned that I would be upset that nobody showed up to take the 84th tour of the Around Chicago in 85 Tours challenge with me, but really…I’m ok…

But honestly, I can’t blame you. If I wasn’t taking the challenge I probably wouldn’t have gone either. Even though I’d been on tours in torrential rain, blizzards and excruciating heat…the weather during the Magnificent Mile tour in early December 2010 was by far the worst.

From what I remember, (sorry, part of my brain is still thawing out), it was approximately negative 1000 degrees outside with a wind chill of about 1 million below. To top it off, this tour was on Michigan Avenue, right along the Lake where the wind gusts were ferocious.

However, Anna, the lucky docent for the arctic Magnificent Mile tour was a trooper. In a moment of weakness I even told her that it was perfectly ok with me if we cut the tour short due to the serious risk of frostbite, but bless her heart, she wouldn’t listen to any such heresy and in her charming British accent said, “Oh no, dear! We can make it through! Look…we can stand for a spot in this little nook where it’s warm”. Mind you, in this case "warm" meant "only one or two of your limbs might freeze and fall off."

It was even too cold for the lady who stands on the sidewalk donned head to toe in animal pelts trying to entice people to buy coats from the furrier—she was standing inside the store. As we walked by she gave us a horrified look, (probably wondering who the two loonies were braving that weather), but quickly remembered her duties and indicated to me that I needed to buy a fur coat. All I could do was try to nod as I leaned into the wind, pushing north on Michigan Avenue.

But let me jump off that tangent and get to the tour.

Welcome back, Potter

Here’s a kicker…the original Palmer House, built as a wedding present from Potter Palmer to his bride Bertha, was completed just days before the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and was completely destroyed in the disaster. That would probably discourage some people from rebuilding, but not Potter. He began construction almost immediately, opening the second Palmer House in 1873. This was surely welcomed by Chicagoans, boosting morale and confidence after such a terrible event. And if there’s anything to be said about Potter, he wasn’t a man who was going to let a fire hold him back.

On the Palmer House tour we learned that from its violent beginnings to present day the Palmer House has been an iconic part of Chicago. There are so many interesting facts, stories and “things” about the Palmer House Hilton it is nearly impossible to choose just one to talk about. Which is why you have to take the tour, of course. Come on…I’ll always try to encourage you to actually take the tour.

But I have to pick something to write about so I’ll tell you a little bit about the Palmer House’s famous Empire Room. You may not have been inside, but I’m sure you’ve noticed the stairs at the far end of the lobby leading up to the room. The staircase is flanked by two Tiffany-designed bronze “Winged Angels”. Sheathed in 24 karat gold, I think they are stunning. Even in the ritzy, glitzy and gilded lobby, these statues stand out.

"Winged Angels"

Anyway, at the top of that staircase is the entrance to the Empire Room. It opened as a supper club in 1933 in conjunction with the Century of Progress World’s Fair (yes, Chicago was host to two World’s Fairs, the first one in 1893 was the one that The Devil in the White City was based on). From 1933 through 1976, the Empire Room was the place to party in Chicago. Many famous entertainers performed there including Jimmy Durante, Eartha Kitt, Phyllis Diller, Carol Channing, Bobby Darin, Lou Rawls, Maurice Chevalier, Liberace, Harry Bellafonte and Peggy Lee.

Take a look at the "big picture"

Every once in a while it’s good to take a step back and look at the “big picture”, right? I don’t think anyone would disagree with that. Now, it may have taken until the final few tours of the Around Chicago in 85 Tours challenge, but I think I found the tour that really looks at the “big picture”: Skyscraper Walk Thru Time.


Skyscraper Walk Thru Time tour group

As I’ve taken all these tours I’ve often heard other tour-goers struggle with the timeline—“wait, so this building was designed just before that building?”, “which building is older again?”—and I can completely understand their confusion. Not only do different architectural styles blend and merge, but it isn’t like buildings from the same era are clustered together on city blocks. The Loop is a mix of styles and eras. Getting a firm grasp on “what came first” can be difficult.


The Berghoff Buildings

Difficult unless you’re on the Skyscraper Walk Thru Time tour.

"Give the lady what she wants!"

It would be impossible to write a blog post about Macy’s on State Street without talking about the incredible Tiffany Dome.

Although I’ve visited Macy’s on other tours, the actual Macy’s on State Street tour, led by Barb, really gave an in-depth look at this historic icon of Chicago architecture.

As many of you may know, Macy’s was originally Chicago’s flagship department store, Marshall Field and Company. Opened in the 1880’s Marshall Field’s was known for its elegance, high quality of merchandise and courteous staff. Legend has it that one day as Marshall Field himself was strolling through the store he came upon a clerk and customer in a heated argument. Field asked the clerk what he was doing to which the clerk replied, “I am settling a complaint.” Field snapped, “No you’re not. Give the lady what she wants!”

Field wanted to give his customers an elevated, high-class experience. Not only was this achieved through Field’s insistence on great customer service, this was also conveyed through the design of the store itself. Everything about Marshall Field’s was elegant, but there was one feature which has really stood out since its unveiling in 1907: the Tiffany dome.


Tiffany dome: 6,000 sq. ft, 1.6 million pieces...WOW!

Designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany, the dome is the largest example in the world of an unbroken Tiffany mosaic glass surface. It covers more than 6,000 square feet and contains 1.6 million pieces of iridescent glass—which equals 2 pieces a square inch (wow!!). It was inlaid onsite in 18 months by 50 artisans on scaffolds under Tiffany’s direct supervision. This is truly a breathtaking hidden gem of Chicago that you must see.

Chicago Old and New

The Chicago Old and New tour is a little different from other tours at CAF—in this tour we studied different intersections in the Loop.

Jill, our docent and the creator of this tour developed the Chicago Old and New tour with a different angle in mind. Instead of looking at individual buildings, this tour looks at how the buildings relate to each other as well as to the people who occupy them.


People's Gas Building

One interesting intersection, Adams and Michigan, is just down the street from the Chicago Architecture Foundation headquarters. In fact, I am 100% certain you will be familiar with at least one historic fact about this intersection—it is the starting point of the historic Route 66. And now that I’ve got that famous song stuck in your head, let me tell you a little bit more about the intersection of Michigan Avenue and Adams.

There's someone at Rosehill Mausoleum who isn't too happy about his final resting place...and he'll let you know...



Our tour group

By the time I took the Rosehill Mausoleum tour I think I was getting pretty used to cemeteries. Well, maybe "used to" isn't the right phrase. But at least I wasn't getting weepy anymore. The Graceland Cemetery tour on Halloween with that creepy Laredo Taft sculpture really seemed to be a turning point for me. I went from weepy to creeped out.

And the creepiness factor continued on into the Rosehill Mausoleum tour, although I didn't know it in the beginning. It wasn't until the end that things became bone-chilling. But let me give you the story...


One of the beautiful corridors

Now, normally I’d tell you about the building—the multiple additions, the different entrances, the maze-like corridors, the absolutely beautiful stained glass inside many of the burial chambers—but today I feel compelled to tell you a story about a couple of the mausoleum’s residents: A. Montgomery Ward and Richard Warren Sears.

Those of you from the Chicago area are probably familiar with those names. But I bet you’re not familiar with their history.