Remember Petula Clark? She used to sing, “The lights are much brighter there, You can forget all your troubles, forget all
your cares. So go downtown, things’ll be great when you’re downtown — no finer place, for sure downtown — everything’s waiting for you.”
It is fun to kick the dust off your shoes, grab the kids, jump on the train and
partake of Chicago’s glitz and glam.
For the drama lovers in the family, the Chicago Theatre offers special family
shows and also a great tour. The schedule through June offers a tour once a
day, Monday- Thursday at noon and twice on Saturday at 11and 12.
The website http://www.thechicagotheatre.com/tour/index.html tells what you can
expect from a tour. “The tour encompasses historical and architectural highlights of the building,
including the grand lobby areas, majestic auditorium and backstage space (when
possible) where performers through the years, including Julie Andrews, David
Copperfield, Sammy Davis, Jr., John Denver, Joel Grey, cast of The Family Guy,
Dustin Hoffman, Tom Jones, Diana Krall, Annie Lennox, Dean Martin, Liza
Minnelli, Bob Newhart, Olivia Newton-John, Conan O’Brien, Frank Sinatra, Neil Young and Widespread Panic have left their autographs
on the walls of dressing rooms and corridors.
“Our guides will share with you the stories of the visionaries who opened The
Chicago Theatre, whose influence on popular entertainment in Chicago is still
recognized today. Tours also include the photo exhibit in The Chicago Theatre’s lower lobby, “Chicago: Three Centuries of Theatres.”
One of the best parts of the tour is a demonstration of the landmark Mighty
Wurlitzer Organ. The cost for an adult ticket is $12 and children 12 and under
pay $10.
If you have a preteen or a shopaholic, downtown is a great place to just window
gaze and dream. A waltz through Macy’s and the small downtown boutique shops, as well as the staples like Feline’s Basement, are a shopper’s dream. To check out some upscale offerings, go to Watertower Place and ride
the escalator up, up and up! At both Macy’s (seventh floor) and at the Watertower information booth, if you tell them you
are from out of town, you can get a coupon book.
One of the best kept secrets enjoyed by the 10-or-over crowd is the tour of Macy’s, the former Marshall Fields store on State Street. Macy’s State Street is the second largest department store in the world. With more than 800,000 square feet of space, you will marvel at the Walnut Room
and the Tiffany Ceiling, both over 100 years old. The “lost fountain” is also a must, along with a stop for a purchase of the store’s wonderful Frango mints. A guided or audio tour will provide your child with an
amazing history and architectural insight into the store that is a Chicago
staple.
If you want more architecture and don’t mind spending a bit of cash ($28 per person during the week and $32 on the
weekend) there is nothing like seeing Chicago from a boat riding along the
Chicago River. This is a big-kid trip. My oldest has done this numerous times
and never seems to tire of the amazing downtown view from the water. The Web
site www.architecture.org explains: “CAF-certified expert docents interpret the world-class architecture along the
Chicago River. Marvel at Chicago’s soaring towers while enjoying a 90-minute, narrated river cruise. This tour
spotlights more than 50 architecturally significant sites where you will
discover a new perspective on the city.”
On a clear day, the Sears Tower observation deck offers a great view of the
buildings and a lot of oohs and aahs. When my son was about seven and deep into
the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the only thing he wanted to see in Chicago
was the Sears Tower. Even in the fog that day, the view gave us the feeling of
flying in a cloud. The Sears tower stands 1,450 feet tall and boasts 110
stories. The Sears Tower — to be officially renamed the Willis Tower this summer — is the tallest building in North America and the third tallest building in the
world. Currently the103rd floor is closed for construction, but the 99th floor
Skydeck remains open. The view spans up to 50 miles and four states. Sears
Tower tours are available from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The last ticket is sold at
9:30 p.m. Check out the Web site at www.the skydeck.com.
Where to eat? If you have taken the drama admirer to the Chicago Theatre and
walked through Macy’s, the Walnut Room may be in order for a sit-down froufrou luncheon. Although as
much a tomboy as a drama girl, my youngest college-age daughter went with the
family to a show and we ate at the Walnut Room before the show. She was amazed
by the wood panels and the service. For a small-town girl, this was really the
big time!
The menu for the Walnut room is available at www.visitmacyschicago.com. It
includes the history: “The evolution of the Walnut Room on State Street in Chicago began when a member
of our millinery department brought homemade pot pies for her clients so they
would not go hungry while shopping. A few years later, her pies became the
central offering of the tea room. Demand called for more space, and in the late
1890s the very first restaurant in a department store was opened. The Walnut
Room, the grande dame of our seventh-floor restaurants, soon grew to 17,000
square feet. Circassian wood imported from Russia and Austrian chandeliers
contribute to its elegance and comfort.”
The Cheesecake Factory also rates high with kids wanting a dining experience.
Located near the John Hancock building, this is a fun place that always
reminded my own children of Bedrock from the Flintstone cartoons. Chicago also
offers some amazing deep dish pizza options, offering tastes completely
different from the thin crust pizza familiar to Springfield residents.
These are just a few of the amazing things to see and do in Chicago. I didn’t even touch on the Art Institute, Navy Pier, the museums, Brookfield Zoo,
Garrett’s popcorn, the hotels and so much more. Trust me, “Things’ll be great when you’re downtown.”
Cindy Ladage of Virden has written three short story collection books and two
children’s fiction books with co-author Jane Aumann.
This article appears in May 14-20, 2009.
