Whether living in or near Chicago or visiting for vacation or a convention there are two really good items to put on the to-do list.
One: Millennium Park, a wonderful place to explore, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year with family events and performances July 18-21, 2024.
If there this Thursday-Sunday, celebrate with ¡Súbelo! and Fruko y Sus Tesos on Thursday, listen to the music of John Williams including Star Wars played by the Grant Park Orchestra Friday, or Grammy winner Common on Saturday and or R&B performers Sunday. Plus, there are family activities all day Saturday and Sunday. Check 20th anniversary above to see times.
But if those dates aren’t convenient, just go because there is the “Bean” (Cloud Gate) to see and the Fountain to splash in or photo.
Anish Kapoor’’s massive Cloud Gate sculpture, familiarly called “The Bean” is now as synonymous with Chicago as Picasso’s sculpture by City Hall. A 12-foot-high central arch is the “gate” to the underside but also the streetscape.
Calling the two, 50-foot facing towers the Crown Fountain | Millennium Park Foundation doesn’t begin to describe what it is and does.
Designed by Jaume Plensa and built by Krueck + Sexton Architects, Crown Fountain is about water, video, light, and glass elements
Changing images of Chicagoans are projected in a way similar to fountain gargoyles from which water flows out of their mouths. Really. The pooled water is often a splash and play area for children.
Then there is the Jay Pritzker Pavilion Jay Pritzker Pavilion | Millennium Park Foundation. Designed by Frank Gehry, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion is where crowds watch a variety of performers from bluegrass to classical music as they sit on reserved seats or on the grass.
The Pavilion which is 120-feet above ground with a billowing open top of brushed stainless-steel ribbons that frame the stage connected to an overhead trellis of crisscrossing steel pipes, can be seen before even getting to Millennium Park if walking east towards Michigan Avenue down Randolph and Washington Streets.
Jay Pritzker Pavillion (J Jacobs photo)
In addition:
Also in Millennium Park, look for the Lurie Garden on the eastern side of the Pavilion and the Boeing Galleries – Millennium Park Foundation (of art) at the north and south ends of the park. It’s also hard to miss the Millennium Monument at Wrigley Square | Millennium Park Foundation in the peristyle that was at the park location from 1917 to 1953.
Plus there are two walkways crossing over roads to try. They are Gehry’s stainless steel pedestrian bridge that goes from Millenium Park over Columbus Drive to Maggie Daley Park and Renzo Piano’s (designer of the Modern Wing of the Art Institute) Nichols Bridgeway that he designed to go over Monroe from Millenium Park to the upstairs of the Chicago Art Institute.
Two: (but not second in sights and enjoyment) is the Architecture Boat Tour of the Chicago River.
Most well-known:CAC boat tour
Get tickets at the Chicago Architecture Center, 111 e Wacker Drive, around the corner from Michigan Avenue across from the Chicago River.
trained docent volunteers have led the CAC River Cruise, sharing fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. Hear how Chicago grew from a small settlement into one of the world’s largest cities in less than 100 years. In just 90 minutes, you’ll get the best overview of Chicago’s architecture and its history. $54.
(Chicago Architecture Center River Cruise)
Also good is the Chicago River Architecture Tour by Boat 2024 (viator.com) that has good speakers talking about Chicago’s architectural history. It is also 90 minutes and costs about $44.
Jodie Jacobs
