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| #Chicago_Gotham_City As i am taking the Architectural River Cruise, learning many things about Chicago (as one local told me) it is what New York wanted to be 😃 A) Movable Bridges: has more than all the other cities in the world B) Backward-Flowing River; was engineered to reverse to keep the drinking water from being contaminated from the sewage C) Ground Raised; was hydraulically elevated several feet in the 1800s to create a better runoff system D) Windy City; the nickname was first used by the newspaper here to mock the politicians and not the weather E) First Skyscraper; the worlds first steel framed tall structure was the Home Insurance Building in 1885 |
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Gotham The name was first used to describe New York City by American author Washington Irving in the 1800s Then in 1941 by the comics to give the Batman series a real time feel to it So both cities have been used for filming locations, but when here look for theses areas if your a fan A) Chicago Board of Trade Building; was used for Wayne Enterprises B) Lower Wacker Drive; its multi-layered underground streets for the high speed chase scenes C) Willis Tower; when Batman was surveying the city from its roof D) Downtown Alleys; with the many used for the fight scenes against the criminals E) Old Main Post Office; was the "bank" targeted by the Joker |
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| Mag Mile It was given the name from a developer who was changing the area from its past of mansions to a retail destination in 1947 Today it has over 460 stores plus shopping malls over a 13 block stretch of North Michigan Avenue Fun Facts A) Surviving Construction; the Old Chicago Water Tower (1867) is one of the few to be still standing after the Great Fire of 1871 B) Wrigley; was the first major structure to be built in the area which helped spark the development C) Looking Glass Theatre; the Tony Award winning company in the Water Tower district and with its free gallery exhibits D) Historic Properties; Drake Hotel, Tribune Tower plus the Palmolive Building |
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Father Time Clock Was a gift in 1926 from the Elgin National Watch Company who was renting space in the building at 35 East Wacker Drive Look for the figurine on top, of the bearded man holding an hourglass and a scythe This represents the relentless passage of time The Jewelers Building A) Car Elevator; the structure was originally designed for diamond and jewelry merchants So it had a vehicle lift going up to the 22nd floor, all to avoid being mugged on the street B) Al Capone; rumor had it he ran a Speakeasy (running of an illegal bar during the Prohibition era) on the top floor But when that nightclub was opened he was in jail, so impossible But a cool story😎 none the less C) Movie Sets; Transformers and its giant robot battle, Batman as the City Courthouse , Home Alone 2 and Lost in New York (even know we know where this location is jajjaja) |
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| Medinah Athletic Club (now InterContinental Hotel) Was built in 1929 with the intent of a docking space for blimps with a structure on its spire, but was never used As Chicago had its own disaster with the Zeppelins, when in 1919 a Goodyear craft caught fire and crashed into the city which resulted in the deaths of 13 people (on the ground -10 bank employees) Government Council within 6 hours after the tragedy passed an ordinance to regulate flying over the city, thus ending any early ambitions to be an airship hub |
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| Iconic Buildings A) Wrigley Building; its clock tower is lit up every night since the 1920s The entire exterior is covered with 250,000 individual pieces of glazed white terra cotta tiles It has six different shades becoming lighter towards the top, to emphasize the buildings height If you make it here you will notice no huge sign plastered on the side of the structure, but only a small brass plague as you enter the building As William Wrigley Jr. said; the structure itself and its unique appearance with its constant illumination is enough of an advertisement I like his style and way of thinking B) Aqua Tower; has the unique facade that can extend out by 3.6 meters (12 feet) to give it the look of a rippling water effect But it has a purpose; to maximize the views, reduces wind sway and provides natural solar shading which all blends into its sustainability status It also has one of the largest green roofs in Chicago, specific glass treatments to minimize bird strikes and a efficient water irrigation system C) Palmolive Building; was originally built in 1929 and was the headquarters of Colgate-Palmolive-Peet Company Also the Playboy Magazine was here (1965-1989) with then a residential conversion in the early 2000s On the roof there was a powerful navigational light aid installed in 1930 to help guide planes into the Midway Airport, which was called the Lindbergh Beacon After complaints by the local residents of the light (as the buildings kept being built more vertical) the beam was turned off in 1981, but restored in the 2000s and modified to rotate back and forth just over Lake Michigan D) John Hancock Centre (875North Michigan Avenue); has the distinctive X-bracing on the outside This was for structural engineering innovation which allowed a more open concept interior, because less fewer internal support columns were needed. Also on the 44th floor there is Americas highest indoor pool plus a full service grocery store Onto the 94th level for the 360Chicago Observation Deck, where on a clear day you can see Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan |
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| Food Choices Hey when in any new area i am trying what the place is famous for Deep Dish Pizza Only started in 1943 and is made upside down to prevent the cheese from burning as the mozzarella goes directly on the crust, followed by the toppings (sausage is the most popular in Chicago) then a chunky layer of tomato sauce which takes 35 + minutes to bake Rainbow Cone Its sliced not scooped with five flavors (chocolate, strawberry, vanilla with cherries plus walnuts and pistachio almond) with orange sherbet on the top During the Depression Era the founder created this idea as to offer something substantial and filling He was trying to convince people to spend their limited money on ice cream instead on a full meal which would be the same cost Twinkies Invented here in the 1930s, but had no more room left inside me 😅 |
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| Route 66 The "Mother Road" that starts in Chicago with the Illinois section the first to be paved When visiting the city, look for East Adams Street at South Michigan Avenue for a small "Start Historic Route 66" sign on a lamppost The Beginnings The idea was to connect hundreds of small rural towns in the Midwest and the West Coast of America The planners used the southerly alignment (along the 35th parallel) which was a better route to avoid the more extreme weather and the steep grades of the northern highways Many Commuters The growing trucking industry started using Route 66 to ship their goods Then it was well traveled during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl eras, as hundreds of thousands used the road migrating to California searching for a better life Finally during the world conflict it was an important military transport corridor, used to move equipment, fuel plus troops to the west coast ports Post-War Car Culture The American road trip was born with the rise of more economic prosperity, better dependable automobiles plus the improved highway system, all led to a sense of freedom and exploration This started a boom in the roadside businesses like motels, diners and quirky attractions Some Local Landmarks Berghoff Restaurant One of the oldest diners along the route and famously received the cities first post-prohibition liquor license in 1933 Dairy Queen Opened on the highway in 1940 which now the building is now a local landmark Historic Gas Stations Look for Standard Oil and Amber-Becker Gemini Giant The classic muffler man as a roadside photo stop |
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Charcoal Sketch As i finish my drawing of the city, it is considered the birthplace of modern architecture and the skyscraper Until we meet again, i will miss your ambience Chi-Town |