Planes would land and pull right up to the airport level of the store. It all had that stylized, white-on-white aesthetic like something from their t.v. ads.
Ad images via Target.
They also offered petsitting. So you could drop your dog off for boarding and then go upstairs to board a plane.
Which is what we had planned to do in the dream. However, when we looked past the trendy waiting room furniture, we saw that the “kennels” were barely bigger than the dogs. They looked more like mesh organizer cubbies that belonged on sale in late August with the rest of the dorm room essentials.
Product images via Target.
We could not leave Quijote in such cramped quarters. I started scrambling to find somewhere else for him to stay and trying to figure out how we could take him to another place and still get back to Target in time to catch our flight…
Have I mentioned that I had this dream as we were getting ready to fly to Chicago and leave Quijote overnight for the first time? And that I knew we’d have to take him to the real-life boarding place first thing in the morning (and I’m not great at mornings) and then rush to the airport?
Yeah, I was anxious about how it would go.
Quijote helpfully napping on top of clothing I’m trying to pack.
In reality, however, Quijote stayed at his regular doggie daycare spot and did really well. Phillip and I made it to Chicago.
And, so far, Target is not in the airline business.
I guess travel anxiety can take your mind some wild places.
This post came from finding ways to squeeze in a little Chicago sightseeing when I was headed to a conference that would be split between the massive McCormick Place convention center and hotels a few miles away, along the Chicago River.
Now that I’m getting ready for another quick trip to Chicago, I’ve updated information and added to it.
Let me know what you like to do in the Windy City!
–Steph
I had been to Chicago O’Hare. But the airport doesn’t count. I had driven by Chicago on the interstate. That doesn’t really count either. The first time I was really in the city of Chicago, it was for a conference. Which just barely counts.
Part of the massive McCormick Place convention center in Chicago.
A conference can be like its own self-contained universe. You can eat, sleep, socialize, work, learn, and be entertained for days without ever leaving its confines. Or ever talking to someone who isn’t wearing a lanyard. Whether you’re there for knowledge or networking, you want to get as much as you can out of the conference itself. But it’s also nice to see some of the area outside the convention center.
As I prepared for the 2013 BlogHer Annual Conference, I also looked into what was near the downtown convention centers and hotels where I would be starting from and how I could see a small slice of Chicago if I found a spare hour or two.
Floor Clock II by Vito Acconci in Ogden Park Plaza.
Make the Most of Museum Visits
Quick trips to museums can be particularly tricky!
They’re often only open 9-to-5-type hours, so it can be hard to fit into a full itinerary.
Admission is typically for a full day – worth it, but it can feel a bit pricey if you’re pressed for time and can’t stay long.
While I couldn’t exactly find any special I’m-here-for-a-conference-and-only-have-an-hour discounts, here are some things to keep in mind to make the most of your museum visits…
Reciprocal memberships: Do you have a membership to a science center or museum where you live? Find out whether it’s part of the ASTC Travel Passport Program (like The Field Museum) or offers other reciprocal privileges (like the Art Institute) that grant you free general admission. Remember to bring along your membership card and photo ID!
Check for special events during the dates you’re in town. You may be able to take advantage of extended hours and/or discounts. However, the monthly or weekly Free Admission Days you’ll often see listed are specifically for Illinois residents.
Find out what you can see for free. A full Soldier Field tour may not fit your schedule, but you can explore the Colonnade level of the stadium at your own pace. If the stars haven’t aligned for a visit to Adler Planetarium, you can scope out the Doane Observatory anytime the doors are open.
Burnham Park runs along Lake Michigan. Locals hang out, picnic, and enjoy lake views.
It’s just outside of McCormick Place, but it still took me 15 minutes to wind my way through the convention center’s labyrinth of expo halls and walkways out to daylight. It’s that massive of a complex!
Lakefront Trail – Take a walk or run — if you haven’t already gotten enough exercise hoofing it over there. These bike and pedestrian trails go the length of Burnham Park — and beyond it!
Divvy Bike Share – You can purchase a Single Ride pass at Divvy Kiosks. $3 for 30 minutes.
To get your wildlife fix, visit this 6-acre grassland preserve created as a habitat for migrating birds.
Many locals don’t seem to know this place exists, including the McCormick information desk staff – even though the bird sanctuary is just south of the conference center and literally built on top of one of their parking garages.
For best results, get directions out to the Lakefront, and then follow the signage and/or Google Maps to get the rest of the way there.
Planetarium that seeks to connect people through the wonder of space science. Museum entry $19.
Doane Observatory: Large telescope outside of the planetarium with an open-door policy. Open daily 10am – 1pm or whenever conditions permit.
Doane at Dusk: Monthly telescope viewings and discussions with Adler Astronomers after museum hours. Free and open to the public on a first come, first served basis, weather permitting. Upcoming dates: 9/27 at 7:30pm, 11/22 at 7pm, 12/20 at 7pm
Adler After Dark: Evening event for adults (21+) every third Thursday of the month from 6-10pm. Includes full access to museum exhibits, unlimited sky shows, special guests, hands-on programs, access to Doane Observatory, live entertainment, and new themes every month. $20 advance / $25 at the door
Aquarium with a wide variety of aquatic creatures that also does Great Lakes conservation projects. Regular daytime admission is $40.
After Hours: Normally closing by 5 or 6pm, Shedd sometimes has extended-hours events for adults (21+). Upcoming 2019 dates: September 12 + 27 from 6-10pm. $25 admission.
Stadium built in 1924 with capacity to seat over 100,000 people. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, was the site of the first International Special Olympics Games in 1968, and is the current home of the Chicago Bears.
Public tours are available on weekdays, subject to event schedules. You can book an advance ticket online or walk up (if space is available). Tickets $15.
Groups of 10 or more can book a private tour at least 2 weeks in advance.
Free: The Colonnade level of the stadium, with the original columns from 1924, is open to the public 6am-11pm on non-event days Spring through Fall. They are lit up each night with multi-colored LED lights.
Surrounding Soldier Field is a 17-acre park with features such as the Children’s Garden and Memorial Water Wall.
Lake Michigan from Navy Pier.
Chicago River Area (Near North Side)
For conference-goers staying on the Near North Side of downtown, there are a lot more options in walking distance.
1st Floor: public restrooms, pedway access elevator, information desks and Welcome Center (for Millennium Park, Harris Theater, Lurie Garden, Maggie Daley Park, and The Art Institute of Chicago).
3rd Floor (Washington Street Side): Tiffany Dome, the largest dome made out of Tiffany glass in the world.
Public wifi network “Chi-Fi.”
Chicago River
Walk along it, take a river cruise, or just sit and watch boats go by.
A commenter suggested taking an architectural boat tour. A couple I found…
Iconic Chicago park just outside the Art Institute. Free.
Hours: 6am–11pm.
Take a photo under Cloud Gate, the large silver sculpture also known as “The Bean.”
Walk through Lurie Garden. Free 5-25 minute tours are offered on a first, come/first serve basis May to September on Thursdays and Fridays (11am – 1:15pm) + Sundays (11am – 2:15pm).
Downtown Chicago buildings, as seen on the ride from the airport.
West Side
Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) with its famous Sky Deck is about a mile inland. If you just have to go up but are short on time, they offer a Fast Pass with an elevator express lane for double triple the regular admission price. (Regular $25 / Fast Pass $75.)
For public radio fans, WBEZ’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me sells nonrefundable tickets ($30) to Chase Auditorium tapings 6 weeks in advance. Otherwise, you’ll have to take your chances the day of the show with the Wait Wait waiting list.
Monochrome II sculpture by Nancy Rubins. (This was at Navy Pier, but I’m not sure if it’s still there.)
Finally, you may not be able to do everything you’d like. But keep your eyes and ears open, and you might be able to catch a few glimpses of life in the city!
Shedd Gardens: outside of the aquarium are a dozen different gardens designed for the area’s climate and native habitats to be both beautiful and sustainable.
I’ve been thinking about Shahrazad the storyteller.
In the frame story of The Thousand and One Nights, a sultan has been forcing a new person to marry him every night and killing her in the morning. To stop the deadly cycle, Shahrazad (also spelled “Scheherazade”) volunteers to be his next bride.
That night, she begins weaving a tale so compelling that the sultan decides to wait on killing her in order to hear the rest. Night after night, she keeps telling stories. Wild, fantastic stories. Stories within stories. Stories with plot twists and cliffhanger endings. Stories that keep the sultan on the edge of his seat for so long that he never does get around to killing her.
She saved herself through her stories. With only her words and her wit, she also saved the rest of the kingdom in the process.
Of all the characters between the pages of The Thousand and One Nights, the actual hero is Shahrazad.
It was a possibility we had thought about for awhile, but then things happened super fast when Phillip got a new job. He started just over two weeks after being hired, before we even had a place to live.
Thankfully, friends let him crash on their couches his first week.
Moving weekend was kind of a mess. I wasn’t ready. I underestimated – everything. Even though Tucson is just an hour and a half south of Phoenix, this was the biggest move I’ve done. If you don’t count my semester abroad, it’s the first time I’ve had an address outside the county I was born in.
At the end of all that craziness, though, we were in our new apartment.
While we’re definitely still unpacking and settling in, we have our Tucson library cards and Quijote’s new tags are on the way. We’ve done our second Meet Me at Maynards walk – our first as Tucson residents – checked out the night market at Mercado San Agustin, visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens, and are trying out new places to eat, drink, and shop while regularly finding excuses to revisit the ones we were already fans of.
It’s free, open to all ages and abilities, and it’s happened weekly – regardless of the weather – for over 10 years.
In fact, we joined in for the first time on MMM’s 10th anniversary, when there was a big celebration and local bands playing all along the route.
We joined up in the middle, walking over from the Hotel Tucson, where we were staying.
The MMM path officially begins at Maynard’s Kitchen and winds through downtown neighborhoods — past restaurants, historic sites, parks, and public art.
There are designated 2-, 3-, and 4-mile routes you can follow. Or you can make adjustments and take breaks as needed.
In fact, breaks are encouraged. Several local businesses along the route provide water to MMM participants and lots of downtown restaurants offer discounts. So you could do part of the walk, stop for dinner or beers, and then continue on.
The point is to get out, get some exercise, and enjoy the local community!
— More Meet Me at Maynard’s Info —
How to join:
Register (once) online or in person at the information table in the courtyard behind Maynard’s.
Before each MMM you attend, check in (online or in person) and get your hand stamped at the info table. (While you’re there, ask about entering raffles.)
Start walking on your own or walk with a leader at 5:30 or 5:45.
You can walk, run, or take a yoga class ($5 at YogaOasis during MMM).
Leashed pets are welcome on the walk. So are unleashed kids.
To get Monday night restaurant discounts, make sure to check in and get your hand stamped at the info table in the Maynard’s courtyard.
Regular participants earn awards like t-shirts and hats. If you’re unsure where to go, look for people wearing the MMM shirts!
Closing ceremonies and in-person raffle winners are announced back at Maynard’s at 7pm.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video from the MMM 10th anniversary celebration, walk, and local bands — which I’ll post soon.
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