The 10 Totally Best Chicago Movies

THE 10 TOTALLY BEST CHICAGO MOVIES. Yup, most of them are from the 1980’s.

Robert Redford on location in Lake Forest, Illinois, directing Timothy Hutton in Ordinary People, 1980

Like Rob Gordon, from the comedy High Fidelity (2000,) we love making lists – mostly about Chicago. Rob and his cohorts’ used their “top five lists” to bring some order to a chaotic world, and we get it. We’ve defined a “Chicago” movie, as one that was actually shot in part here, and one that captured the essence of Chicago in some magical way in the process.

But, first – just a little bit of Chicago movie history.

Chicago was the original hub for movie making at the turn of the 20th century, not New York or Los Angeles. Yes, before Hollywood went on to become, well Hollywood, it was Chicago that paved the way – of course. The city was brimming with production companies and filmmakers at the time. It was the start of the silent movie era, and Essanay Studios in particular was one of the earliest and most powerful, producing fifteen short films with Charlie Chaplin, and giving Gloria Swanson her start. But soon – with the birth of the “western,”the industry headed west. Essanay Studios was eventually absorbed by Warner Brothers, and it would be nearly seventy years before a new creative swell in filmmaking would return.

The gigantic success of two movies are largely credited with jump starting that shift; Cooley High (1975,) written by Eric Monte about his experiences coming-of-age in Chicago, (Monte wrote the hit TV shows; Good Times, The Jeffersons and What’s Happening,) and The Blues Brothers (1980.) The latter in particular was considered to have been the catalyst for ushering in a golden age of filmmaking in Chicago during the 1980s. This eventually lead to the rebirth of the “teen movie” and a trove of iconic John Hughes films; from Sixteen Candles (1985,) The Breakfast Club (1986,) Uncle Buck (1988) and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1984.)

So here goes part one of our list – It’s all completely speculative – and in no particular order.

The list (part one)

10 – HIGH FIDELITY

Released 2000; Directed by Stephen Frears ; Screenplay by John Cusack, D.V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink Starring John Cusack, Jack Black, Iben Hjejle, Todd Louis, Lisa Bonet, Tim Robbins

There are probably not many lists about favorite Chicago movies that do not include High Fidelity, and with good reason. Not only does it perfectly capture a Chicagoan man-child having a thirty-something’s identity crisis at the turn of the century, but the movie’s lead, co-screenwriter and producer is hometown golden boy, John Cusack. You see his passion for the city at every turn. The script is based on the Nick Hornby novel about a record store owner with relationship issues. Originally set in London, Cusack moved the story to Chicago and set-up protagonist Rob Gordon’s shop up in a storefront on Milwaukee Avenue. With such insider touches as references to local record labels like Wax Trax! and Touch and Go Records, it’s easy to believe that Rob and his friends were an authentic part of Chicago’s outta sight music scene in the 1990s.

John Cusack in High Fidelity, 2000

9- ABOUT LAST NIGHT

Released 1986; Directed by Edward Zwick; Screenplay by Tim Kazurinsky and Denise DeClue Starring Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Elizabeth Perkins, Jim Belushi

The film, About Last Night, is remembered for aptly reflecting an authentic Chicago-y singles scene; with its’ main characters playing softball on the weekends in Grant Park and hanging out with their pals at Lincoln Park and Division street bars, where you might find their modern-day counterparts today. Demi Moore even put on twenty pounds so she looked more like a “realistic” Chicago gal. Yeah, I know. Anyway, the script was loosely adapted from the 1974 play Sexual Perversity in Chicago, by Chicago scribe, David Mamet, and was first performed at the Organic Theatre Company. Mamet turned down the chance to adapt his drama about a twenty something couple, who fall in and out of love, with the help of their romantically cynical friends, for the screen. Still, the movie version is a moving love story, that went on to show a generation of gen-xers that love could be found in the Chicago bar scene, and even after a one night stand. Trust us, it’s Demi Moore at her very best – plus anything with Elizabeth Perkins is a go!

Demi Moore and Elizabeth Perkins in About Last Night, 1986

8 -THE BLUES BROTHERS

Released 1980; Directed by John Landis; Screenplay by Dan Aykroyd (story) and John Landis Starring John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd

Chicago is first and foremost, the star of the iconic film, The Blues Brothers, based on John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd’s band by the same name. From the films spot on depiction of the bustling late 1970s Maxwell flea market, to the climatic chase sequence that winds through Lower Wacker Drive, there is no doubt that the musical comedy was an homage to the city. It took director, and hometown boy, John Landis, just two weeks to write the script, and the movie soundtrack sounds like Chicago, with music by Aykroyd and Belushi, and tracks by Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and James Brown, who also appear in cameos. Jake and Elwood’s journey takes them many places, but most iconic is probably the duo’s epic performance of Jailhouse Rock for the prisoners at Joliet prison.

Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, Blues Brothers

7 – ORDINARY PEOPLE

Released 1980; Directed by Robert Redford; Screenplay by Alvin Sargent Starring, Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland

This was Robert Redford’s directorial debut, one so good, that no one ever thought of him as “just an actor” again. Based on the 1976 novel, Ordinary People, by then first time author, Judith Guest, try and watch this film to completion without dissolving into a pool of tears – this film invented the term “tear jerker.” Filmed largely on Chicago’s North Shore during the fall of 1979, the scenery of suburban Lake Forest is instantly recognizable for anyone who grew up in the area. The story follows a Chicago family, shattered the accidental death of its older son. The direction by Redford, and acting across-the-board, is simply sublime. Timothy Hutton plays tormented teen, Conrad, who blames himself for his brother’s death and breaks our collective hearts in the process; Mary Tyler Moore got a nomination as his ice-cold mother, who blames him too, and Donald Sutherland, the peacemaker and arguably the true protagonist of the story, is finally forced to see things as they are. Judd Hirsch played the therapist who helps him, and a very young Elizabeth McGovern plays his love interest. The film went on to sweep the 1981 Academy Awards, winning best picture, best director, best screenplay and best actor for Timothy Hutton.

Mary Tyler Moore, Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland, Ordinary People, 1980

6- HOOP DREAMS

Released 1994; Directed by Steve James Starring William Gates and Arthur Agee

Filmmakers Steve James, Frederick Marx and Peter Gilbert set out to film a documentary in 1986 for PBS about playground basketball, hoping to shed light on Chicago’s street culture. They ended up shooting for four years, resulting in the 1994 emotional powerhouse, Hoop Dreams. One may not think that a documentary about basketball would have that kind of impact, but we promise you it does. Director Steve James narrowed in on the lives of two young black teenagers, basketball prodigies, Arthur Agee and William Gates, who grew up in Chicago’s housing projects. After they both win scholarships to a suburban high school, their fortunes diverge. One follows the footsteps of St Joe’s favourite son, all-star Isiah Thomas and the other doesn’t make the cut. Considered one of the best films of the 1990s, it was notoriously snubbed by the Oscars, winning best editing and losing out best picture to of all things – Forrest Gump.

Arthur Agee, Hoop Dreams, 1994

from Related Chicago - Feed https://ift.tt/2EIdRZk

Real Estate Broker Gwen Farinella

via IFTTT

Off to Save the World – From Illinois farm girl to Chicago Icon, Jane Addams

From Illinois farm girl to Chicago Icon, Hull House Founder and world peace activist, Jane Addams, set out to make a difference in the world – and boy did she.

Jane Addams, 1915

“Nothing could be worse than the fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world.”
– Jane Addams

When Jane Addams died in 1935, she was considered “the greatest women in the world”, a “priestess to both prince and pauper,” and with good reason. She was literally the mother of all social work. She fought throughout her life for child labor laws, insurance against unemployment, old age and poverty. She was instrumental in the successful lobbying to establish a juvenile court system, better urban sanitation and factory laws, along with the establishment of playgrounds and kindergartens throughout Chicago and the country. She battled for the equal rights of women and was a leader in the women’s suffrage movement. She is considered the first American woman philosopher, a leader in establishing the study of sociology, and was a published author many times over. She was among the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and is considered a LGBT heroine. A warrior, who battled relentlessly for the cause of disarmament and for world peace, a cause for which she was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, becoming the first American woman recipient. And of course, she was most famously, co-founder of the Hull-House in Chicago.

Addams was born September 6, 1860, in the small farming town of Cedarville, Illinois. The eighth of nine children, her mother died in childbirth when she was two, and her father, John H. Addams, a banker who served for nearly twenty years in the Illinois Senate, was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln. Born into wealth and privilege, she knew at a young age that she wanted to be useful and have a voice in the world. Inspired by the works of Charles Dickens and of Lincoln’s creed “the equality of men,” she focused on her studies. Among the first generation of educated American women when she graduated from Rockford Female Seminary in 1881, she felt an obligation to put her education to greater use. Unlike her classmates, she was more interested in visiting the poor than spending a year in Paris, or going on safari in Africa. And after visiting a settlement house in London with her friend Ellen Gates Starr, her life was set on course.

It was in the early years of industrialization and massive immigration when Addams and Starr founded The Hull House in 1889. They were the first two occupants. Between a saloon and an undertaker, they were situated in one of the most miserable neighborhoods of the city at the time. At its height, it was visited by 8,000 people each month, mostly immigrants, and eventually, it became a 13-building settlement. With all that she accomplished throughout her life here in Chicago and around the world, she never left Hull House, remaining its head resident until her death in 1935. Her friend, Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader in the Women’s’ suffrage movement, said upon her death.

“I do not base her greatness on Hull House,” she explained, “important as that contribution is. Far more remarkable is the human trait of sticking to that project all her life. She made it a success. She stuck through when it was a success. That is a rare thing to do–to stick to a success.”

The Jane Addams Hull House Museum in Chicago reopened this month, in honor of this iconic Chicagoan and American, on what would have been her 158th birthday this month (I know, of course she’s a Virgo.) Here are just five contributions that Jane Addams and Hull House made to Chicago and the world.

PLAYTIME

“America’s future will be determined by the home and the school. The child becomes largely what he is taught; hence we must watch what we teach, and how we live.”
– Jane Addams

Addams fought passionately for the rights of children to be children. She felt very strongly that those that were deprived of a childhood, were “likely to become dull, sullen men and women working mindless jobs, or criminals for whom the adventure of crime became the only way to break out of the bleakness of their lives.” Sounds about right. She worked tirelessly to stop the use of children as industrial laborers, and instead fought for playgrounds in Chicago and was part of the movement that rethought the importance of childhood play opportunities. Hull House in Chicago had one of the first playgrounds in the city, and also held children’s clubs and classes of all sorts – including free kindergartens.

Jane Addams with the neighborhood children at Hull House Chicago

A MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY

“I do not believe that women are better than men. We have not wrecked railroads, nor corrupted legislature, nor done many unholy things that men have done; but then we must remember that we have not had the chance.”
– Jane Addams

One of the many things that made the settlement house unique, was that it was considered an acceptable site for women’s activism at the time. And that was because – well it was literally and figuratively, a home. So, while it absolutely turned the traditional patriarchal norm that a woman’s place was in the home on its heels, the Hull-House provided a totally socially acceptable alternative to marriage. And, almost incredibly, enabled women to cultivate deep and often lifelong friendships as alternatives to traditional marriage, providing these women the chance to experience an expanded sense of family and self. Hull House had dozens of clubs that were organized to aid working women. A lunch room was opened, as was a nursery for the children- the start of day care. There was also a gymnasium, a natatorium, a penny savings bank, a lodging house, as well as a circulating library and an employment bureau. These programs which became models for hundreds of others throughout the world helped to liberate women from desperate subservience and provided a wide range of opportunities for women to gain experience in public life so then they could give back. And give back they did.

Women Residents at Hull House Chicago.

ARMS WIDE OPEN

“The essence of immorality is the tendency to make an exception of myself.” – Jane Addams

Hull House was established primarily to help immigrants assimilate to American lifestyle. Hull House always held welcoming arms out, whether it be Poles, Jews, Russians, Italians, Greeks, Germans, Irish and the Bohemians. All were welcome. Hull House grew to be known as one of the largest and best-known of the nation’s settlements of immigrants, providing such an array of services so many that it does not seem nearly possible, but here’s a go at it. Hull House provided medical services such as midwifery, a night school for adults, clubs and educational classes for older children, a public kitchen, an art gallery, a gym, dance classes, a girls’ club, a bathhouse, a book bindery, a music school, a drama group and a theater, a library, meeting rooms for any kind of discussion political or otherwise, an employment bureau, and a lunchroom. In addition to making available social services and cultural events for the largely immigrant population of the neighborhood, the music program at Hull House was also very influential. Originally established to aid immigrants in assimilating to American life, its music program went above and beyond this goal, helping immigrants to connect cultural roots and background while learning about American life.

Immigrants at Hull House

PEACE ON EARTH

“Action indeed is the sole medium of expression for ethics.” – Jane Addams

Addams was a pacifist that fought for world peace. She believed deeply that human beings were capable of solving disputes without violence and she took action. She protested the American entry into World War 1, and was part of a group of women activists who toured warring nations, hoping to bring about peace. Addams toured Europe in an effort to persuade the heads of the belligerent nations, but found that the spirit of war was too strong. Well, at least she tried.

Jane Addams and other women from Hull House as Peace Delegates,

Be sure to visit the Jane Addams Hull House Museum , which reopened September 2018! 800 S. Halsted Street, hullhousemuseum.org

from Related Chicago - Feed https://ift.tt/2ItYx0R

Chicago Luxury Lifestyle: The Final Frontier on Designing Your New Modern “Bathroom”

5 TRENDS TO CONSIDER WHEN DESIGNING YOUR NEW MODERN “BATHROOM”

“Whenever you have the chance, go to the bathroom.” – King Henry V

While it may seem like the whole world subscribes to one open design plan after another, making us always accessible and always on display, what we are really looking for is a place to be good to ourselves, a place of complete and utter luxury and peace.

One could conclude that the new modern bathroom is actually the last frontier of privacy, the final bastion against the grind of our daily life. Too much? I don’t think so. Today’s bathroom begs to be an experience, somewhere between an incarnation of your every pleasure and desire, and your favorite yoga retreat. Ideally, it is a room not to be shared, and if it must be, then by no more than one other person. Ultimately, it should be a luxurious space all your own.

THE KITCHEN HAS SOME COMPETITION

The trend of making the bathroom part of your living space rather than a purely functional room is similar to the evolution that kitchens went through over the last fifteen to twenty years. The bathrooms of yesteryear were normally tight, fit with a commode and two matching sinks, side-by-side, a few matching hand towels – in and out. This is all a thing of the past. The latest trends for bathrooms are all about where high-tech meets low maintenance, meets wellness – meets feel good.

So with that, here are five trends to consider when building your own private sanctuary – yeah the word bathroom doesn’t really suffice anymore.

YOUR OWN PRIVATE DAY SPA

Taking a cue from the Romans, yes the Roman Romans, what homeowners really want from their bathroom these days is pretty simple. They aren’t looking for a utilitarian exercise; they want all the pleasure and wellness found at their favorite world-class spa. That’s all. People might go to a spa once a month or when they’re on vacation, but think about building your individual health and wellness routine into your bathroom design for everyday benefits. Consider the most basic of things – like water. Up to this point bathroom water has been a means to get clean; wash the day and dirt away. But the effects of water on the skin, its untapped benefits for metabolism and the immune system are endless. Consider installing a system with Vitamin D infused water and a horizontal shower which uses the power of water for total relaxation, washing away your everyday stress.

A LOO FOR ONE, NOT TWO

Exercise your very best morning routine with a his-and-her master en suite. The concept of building separate spaces for a couple is nothing new; originally it was born of necessity, fueled by couples having to get ready for work at the same time not wanting to trip over each other, perhaps aiming to keep up some mystique or simply seeking out tranquillity, a respite, yes from even those you love the most. But now, with master bathrooms going the way of the private home spa, its the scale that has changed. Splurge on creating a space where you can spend time alone if you want, soaking in a tub along with some spa amenities like that horizontal rain shower or a nap on your fainting couch. It can not only be your place to get away from it all, but your place of wellness. A haven where you, a party of one, will emerge feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world. This is truly one of life’s great luxuries.

SHOWER WITH NO LIMITS

When it comes to showers, it is all about features, more and more features. Luxury showers these days are being designed more as a wet room and most always include a steam and or sauna chamber. Consider adding preheated tiles or a shower head that gives you all the water experiences you can possibly think up blasting water that feels gentle like a misty rain or hard like a monsoon. You can add mood lighting and music. Further your spa-like-vibe by adding voice control so you can select your favorite music while chilling out in a steam – exerting as little effort as humanly possible. Fiddling around with the shower knobs can also be a thing of the past too. Try voice controlled shower controls or LED lights that change color as the temperature adjusts so that you are always aware of whether the water is hot or cold. This can be an especially handy feature on a chilly morning, of course. And, for all you music lovers who appreciate being able to listen to or make music in the shower, add built in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity. Enjoy belting out a tune, listening to podcasts, music, news or whatever takes your fancy while you go about your morning routine; it is all at your fingertips.

A GOOD SOAK

The highest form of bathroom luxury is to be able to devote an entire room to your bath. Perhaps you are a large marble tub in the middle-of-the-room person, or maybe you prefer more of a mini lap pool. Regardless, the modern era has seen a remarkable plethora of bathtub options, everything from Japanese wood to modern glass; there is something for whatever fits your fancy. For many of us, our bathrooms are also spillover rooms where, whether we like it or not, we plan the mundane details of the day. It’s the what-are-you-doing-after-work and can-you-go-to-the store conversations. If life does seep into your bath time, the style of tub can be very important. Add seating areas so that one person can be in the tub while the other tells you about their day – and it’s all good. Don’t feel guilty. In medieval times, people stayed in the baths all day sometimes, soaking while eating and watching some jousting. Sounds good to me.

MAGIC MIRROR ON THE WALL

The Evil Queen of Snow White fame, is so vain that she doesn’t just stare at herself in the mirror all day, she expects to get her mirror to tell her who she needs to kill. Yikes. So, while, the new smart mirrors of today aren’t going to do that for you, they can do way more than just show off your reflection and store your aspirin. As space is often at a premium and mirrored cabinets normally do need to offer some practical storage, current new smart technology can be activated for a little ease. Adding sensor lighting makes it bright enough to apply makeup during the day, and discreet enough to act as a nightlight in the evening, all with a wave of the hand. Before we know it, mirrors will be programed to offer up everything from personalized beauty and wellness input, to onscreen news, weather and alerts as part of your morning routine.

Now tell me, who’s the fairest of them all?

from Related Chicago - Feed https://ift.tt/2QiBVmv

Chicago’s Skyline: On The Horizon

With a crop of new buildings set to reshape the Chicago skyline over the next decade, our view will soon be transformed forever.

Chicago Skyline
“Make no little plans.” – Daniel Burnham, 1891

No words have been used more frequently by Chicago architects and planners over the generations than those of famed architect and prolific urban planner, Daniel Burnham. First used in front of a Chicago city council meeting at the turn of the 20th century, the famous quote pretty much sums up the spirit of Chicago architecture and skyscraper design to this day.

A brief history

It was one hundred and fifty eight years ago when the city was ravaged by the Great Fire of 1871, killing 300 and destroying more than 17,000 buildings over the course of just two days. The monstrous fire left a charred landscape in its wake and was an utter disaster. But, it came at a time of extreme civic pride in the city, an unprecedented building boom, and a rapidly expanding population. Architects looking to make their mark in the world, like Daniel Burnham, William Le Baron Jenney, John Wellborn Root and Louis Sullivan, saw an epic and historic opportunity. With more than a million residents, Chicago had surpassed Philadelphia to become the second biggest city after New York, and, well, they all needed a place to live. Then with the introduction of the elevator, things started looking up – literally. In 1888, Jenney designed the world’s first skyscraper in Chicago, the Home Insurance Building. Overnight, Chicago became a brooder of high-building innovation, producing such an outstanding group of architects that they changed the modern American city as we know it, and whose work would go on to have a profound influence on skyscraper building design.

Between about 1879 and 1910, these architects of the time were part of what came to be known as the Chicago School. They were the first to promote the use of the steel frame skyscraper introducing function over monument and emphasizing industrial materials. Their guiding principle was that they didn’t want to adhere to any principles. They were renegades in their time and favored using a wide variety of designs, construction techniques and materials to that of a unified approach.

Around 1940, a new wave of high-building design first appeared in the city, sometimes referred to as the Second Chicago School of Architecture. This is associated largely with the arrival of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1938, whose minimalistic designs changed our skyline again and forever. The principal architecture firm of this time was Skidmore, Owings and Merrill. Formed originally in 1936, they made breakthroughs in design and structural engineering during the 1960s and 1970s which led to designing several of the tallest buildings in the world including the John Hancock and Willis Tower. This again confirmed Chicago as the undisputed leader in high-rise 20th-Century architecture and led to a new generation of supertall towers.

Chicago continues to be a place where architects come to test the limits of structure and aesthetics. Our skyline now serves as a kind of barometer revealing history and the changing times and tastes of the people. From the gleaming white terra cotta of the Wrigley Building to the minimal residential towers of Mies van der Rohe right up to 21st-century supertall skyscrapers built here first and then thousands of miles away in Hong Kong and Dubai, Chicago continues to be an incubator for skyscraper design.

The Millenium Boom

And now, as we approach 2020, Chicago is in the midst of another building boom with nearly a dozen innovative projects in the works over the next ten years. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, One Bennett Park is now the tallest all residential building in Chicago at 836 feet and is on track to open this fall. Other projects currently heading for the stars include 110 N Wacker Street, VISTA Tower, and NEMA Chicago. One Chicago Square and 1000M have been approved to break ground, and epic projects including 400 N. Lake Shore Drive, Wolf Point South and 725 W Randolph Street are on the approval track hoping to be complete by the middle of the next decade.

400 N. Lake Shore Drive, Related Midwest

So, when you’re buzzing about the city this week, be sure to take a moment to pause and look up at our skyline, and in particular at these five iconic Chicago buildings. Before you know our view is gonna change forever.

THE ROOKERY

Erected 1888

With its rockstar design pedigree, it is no surprise that The Rookery has long been considered one of the finest building in the world. This iconic Chicago landmark was designed by John Root & Daniel Burnham of Root & Burnham, architecture royalty at the time, and the interior was redesigned in 1905 by none other than Frank Lloyd Wright. The exterior reflects a melange of styles from Roman, Venetian and medieval architecture. But much of what makes the Rookery stand out is its interior light court which literally fills with light and air. It is a space to be seen and experienced. The building was designated a Chicago Landmark in 1972, and was listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1975. 209 South LaSalle Street, therookerybuilding.com

The Rookery, 2018

THE CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE

Erected 1924

Fourteen-year old Madelyn FioRito was leaving a summer job interview at the Fine Arts Building. The lift operator passed her a note, which read; “Please come up to my studio. I have spent a year looking for a model for the statue of Ceres, goddess of grain, which I have been commissioned to do for the top of the Board of Trade building. You are the model for whom I have searched.” The note was from artist John Storrs. The young girl said yes. The statue, inspired by Madelyn, sits on top of the Chicago Board of Trade pyramid roof looking down upon the bustling city below, a sheaf of wheat in her left hand and a bag of corn in her right. It is the perfect symbol of Chicago. Designed by Chicago’s Holabird & Root, the building itself is a decadent Art Deco masterpiece, with structural design that symbolized its purpose, activity, and the city’s industrial might. 141 W Jackson Blvd, 141wjackson.com

Chicago Board of Trade Building

AQUA TOWER

Erected 2009

One of the most unique things about the Aqua Tower is how the view changes – close up the balconies appear like soft clouds, billowing up the building, and from a distance the concrete balconies and reflective glass look like waves, dancing on top of pools of water. This gives the skyscraper an other-earthly, sculptural quality. There is no doubt that Architect Jeanne Gang from Studio Gang formidably solved the age old question; how you make a skyrise (essentially a box) aesthetically pleasing? Not only is it, but Aqua Tower is also a marvel of engineering with balconies designed to withstand high winds, provide shade and prevent migrating birds from flying into the windows. And because of the unique design shape and protrusion, residents can chat with neighbors above or below, which is beyond cool. 225 North Columbus Drive, rentaqua.com

Aqua Tower

MARINA CITY

Erected 1964

Marina City was born as an answer to the problem of suburbanization in the early 60’s. The masses were leaving Chicago and in record numbers. The government was investing $3,000 in the suburbs to every $85 spent to support housing in the city. Architect Bertrand Goldberg thoroughly believed that people wanted to live in downtown Chicago. His approach to Marina City was to design a “city within a city” that could fully accommodate people’s daily routines within a short distance from their homes, bringing the seeming ease of suburban life to an urban setting. He wanted to make the city more habitable which he believed would not only have economic benefits, but it would make people happy. Fancy that. It was also the first mixed-use complex in the United States, including units for housing and businesses, and for a short time were the tallest residential buildings in the world. The now iconic corn cob shape towers have appeared on everything from classic airline posters to appearances in TV shows and background in movies like Ferris Buellers Day Off. State Street, marinacity.org

Marina City

WRIGLEY BUILDING

Erected 1924

Chewing gum magnate, William Wrigley Jr. never forgot his visit as a young boy to the 1893 World’s Columbian Exhibition, in particular the otherworldly gleam of the White City. Decades later, when he set out to build his new headquarters on what would become known as the Magnificent Mile, he had his inspiration. Architects Graham, Anderson, Probst & White delivered. The Wrigley Building incorporated it’s iconic terracotta facade using six different shades of white so it grew brighter as you gazed upward. Wrigley insisted the facade was maintained immaculately, keeping its appearance sparkling white, and that it was continuously floodlit, with only three exceptions; for three years during World War II, during a light replacement in 1971, and during the energy crisis in 1974. The Wrigley Building captures the weight of history, not only due to its height and steel frame construction, but for being the world’s first building to use air conditioning, and so perfectly capturing that quintessential Chicago design. The Wrigley company sold the building after receiving official Chicago Landmark status in 2012. 400-410 N Michigan Avenue, thewrigleybuilding.com

The Wrigley Building

from Related Chicago - Feed https://ift.tt/2DCS0lv

THE ROOF GARDEN TWO STEP

It’s peak rooftop season in Chicago, attracting pleasure hounds and dreamers alike for decadent nights and lazy days on top of the city…it’s always been that way.

 Flappers dancing on top of Chicago Hotel, 1926

Well, almost –

Chicagoans have long had a love affair with their rooftops. In cities like Miami and Los Angeles, rooftops are obviously a big deal because they are used all year-round, but here in the Windy City – it’s a much bigger deal. Perhaps it’s because of the limited time in which we can enjoy the weather, or those unobstructed views of our magnificent skyline, the stars so close that you feel as though you could simply pluck one out of the sky, or maybe it’s just our love of a good party. Regardless, rooftops are the ultimate luxury of Chicago living and lifestyle. So, it comes with no surprise that today’s hotels and residential developers continue the tradition of reinventing ways to feed this need of ours to climb on top of tall buildings and hang out.

It’s the American dream.          

                                                                                                                                                                                                                    However, near the end of the nineteenth century, the only things that hung on a Chicago rooftop was wet laundry. At the time, real estate developers had begun to invest in apartment buildings for the rising urban-middle class, who were flocking to the city. It was the new American dream. However, this emerging demographic was not yet comfortable living in the city, on top of each other. They valued their privacy. Coming from the country, they were accustomed to living with ample space between them and their nearest neighbor. Accordingly, the new buildings were built with private entrances and staircases, in order to limit any possibility of stumbling into awkward conversations. Even balconies were rare in these buildings, and seen at the time mostly in working-class, immigrant housing.

Then, at the turn of the century, and with the advent of the elevator, buildings began to reach for the skys’. It became the new status symbol of this emerging class. Grand apartment buildings came with grander views, and rooftops and balconies were designed for full advantage. Laundry moved to the basement, and we flocked higher and higher, not only to frolic but to enjoy the fresh air and city views. Developers of the day, soon began to make use of a structure’s roof, to offer leisure activities and entertainment. It was before the advent of movies, when a fad called, theater rooftop gardens, was fashionable. It had become a staple of summertime extravagance at the time, promising entertainment and spectacle. A song called Rooftop Garden Two Step, and outlandish vaudeville acts, which showcased rooftop performers, were all the rage. During intermission, flappers imbibed and danced wildly on the buildings’ rooftops. These decadent parties went on for decades.

The friendly confines of Wrigley.            

Wrigleyville Rooftop Viewing back in the day

                                                                                                                                                                                                                        It was around 1914 when the rooftops around Wrigley Field were first used to view Cubs baseball games. This was before big business stepped in of course, when building owners would simply invite family and friends to take in a ball game from their roof. These were small, casual gatherings. Neighborhood folks, would perch atop of what’s come to famously be known as, Wrigleyville Rooftops, lining Sheffield and Waveland Avenues. Imagine sitting on a folding chair,  a cooler filled with beer, watching Cubs gameday action in 1915. Decades later of course, an invite became an increasingly coveted prospect and building owners began constructing more and more sophisticated seating arrangements, building bleachers and charging admission to their buildings. This did not bode well with the Cubs organization at first, but after some legal entanglements, they are now officially endorsed, and the Wrigleyville Rooftops are considered a structural paradise.

Caviar wishes & airship dreams –  

Promotional picture, InterContinental Chicago, 1929

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    In the 1920’s the city was crazy for airships. The talk of the time was that Chicago would actually become some kind of airhub for the newest dirigibles technology. These were “lighter-than-air steerable aircrafts” that floated around the skies like ocean liners (pre-Hindenburg.) Zeppelin loading docks would span the city’s rooftops, to accommodate. Sounds amazing. Of course, this was a terrible idea, which ultimately proved totally impractical. But legend has it, that a few hotels went so far as to build blimp moorings, to appeal to their exclusive clientele, who were on a never- ending quest for the next big thing. The hotels wanted to keep up.  This never came to be, BUT it is true that the InterContinental Chicago Hotel (originally known as the Medinah Athletic Club) built a blimp mooring on top of its’, already opulent, rooftop onion dome.

 

The green movement   

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Fast forward almost a century and rooftops have become more than a leisure pursuit. Chicago has been on the forefront of the green-roof movement for more than two decades now. It ostensibly started when the city began looking for ways to actually make Chicago cooler in the summer, after a terrible heat wave in 1995 had resulted in 700 deaths.  In 2000, Chicago’s most famous rooftop garden was built atop City Hall. It features 20,000 plants from 150 different species and is credited with ushering in a new renaissance of green rooftop gardens, for which the city has become known.  It was conceived as a demonstration project and developed as part of Mayor Daley’s efforts to combat the urban heat problem, and improve air quality. The transformation of City Hall’s roof into a sprawling green space, set an ever important precedence for not only residential and commercial property owners in the city, but around the country, to follow suit. It demonstrated that green roofs do more than add beauty and sanctuary to our lives, it makes us healthier.  

 Chicago City Hall Rooftop, 2001

 

It’s a rooftop renaissance.      

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         And now in 2018, it’s safe to say it would be practically illegal to put up a new luxury apartment building or launch a new hotel in Chicago without a rooftop lounge – and certainly so to hang your laundry up there. These days the legacy of the rooftop lifestyle not only lives on, but is experiencing a complete renaissance. New luxury developments are being designed by the world’s leading architectural and landscape designers, and include an ever-expanding array of modern rooftop amenities, such as infinity pools and spas, sustainable gardens, summer kitchens and winter fireplaces – it’s like your own private resort.

And then there are our hotels, for which Chicago has long been known. Yet, over the last few years, we’ve been in a full-on renaissance, with a slew of new developers reimagining historic hotels and buildings with spectacular effect, each with a cooler rooftop scene than the next. Perhaps, spend an afternoon this weekend floating around one of these hotel rooftop oases.  Enjoy an Orange Blossom or some watermelon juice and the sunny skies. In about five months, this will all seem like a dream.

The Chicago Athletic Hotel (12 S. Michigan Avenue) was founded in 1890 by some of the most influential men of the time. It was an exclusive mens-only private club for more than a century, becoming one of the most highly anticipated hotel openings in the city’s history when it launched in 2015.  Enjoy an old fashioned, or a moscow mule at Cindy’s Rooftop. The hotel’s restaurant and open air terrace has insane views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan.

The London House Hotel (85 E. Wacker) began life in 1923, as the London Guarantee and Accident Building. Decades later it was the location of The London House jazz supper club, where big names such as Sarah Vaughan and Ramsey Lewis performed. Take in the history and a cocktail at LH Terrace, which has amazing views from the center of the city.

The Viceroy Hotel (112 N. State Street)  opened this year, replacing the historic, 1920’s era Cedar Hotel. The developer incorporated the old building’s masonry and terracotta exterior, signature Chicago style elements, into the new tower. Enjoy a night at the hotel’s rooftop bar and pool area, the Devereux, complete with craft cocktails and its’ long views of the Chicago skyline.

The Robey Hotel (2018 W. North Avenue) is housed in an 1920’s office building in Wicker Park. It has maintained many vintage touches, from the preserved first-floor office directory to the Art Deco lifts. The hotel’s Cabana Club, is a rooftop lounge with a cool city vibe, boasting 180 degree views of the Chicago skyline, and a triangular dipping pool. Enjoy a margarita or a glass of rose and soak up some sun.

Hotel Lincoln (816 N. Clark Street) was built in 1928, and went through a century’s worth of iterations before being reborn again in 2012. The rooftop hotel bar and restaurant, J. Parker, features an outstanding view of Chicago.

London Calling, LH Terrace, 2018

 

AMB

from Related Chicago - Feed https://ift.tt/2LKQnB7

THE ART OF DINING IN A NEWLY GILDED AGE

Take a cue from the past when working with a private chef. It will nourish you and make your dinner parties the talk of the town.

Slim Aarons, “Dining at the Wilmonts”

 

“I have made a lot of mistakes falling in love, and regretted most of them, but never the potatoes that went with them.”
-Nora Ephron

It may seem like a luxury, but really, it’s not.

It may happen in the middle of planning your next dinner party. You find yourself drifting off into an alternative universe, one where you are living like a modern-day version of Lady Mary Crawley from Downton Abbey. You’re barely aware of the lavish dinner preparations at hand, and not a bit worried. Your team of professionals are preparing a menu that you tasted and approved a month ago. Instead, you are the consummate hostess, greeting your guests as they assemble in the “drawing-room,” gentlemen arriving in dress suits, escorting ladies in beautiful dresses. And when it’s time, you announce that dinner is served and lead your guests to a perfectly-set table with complete confidence and grace.

Or, perhaps your fantasy is about waking up on a late summer morning, intent on making fresh eggplant salad for your brood. The sun shines brightly as you admire your lush kitchen garden. You pick gorgeous, fresh basil and a perfectly ripe eggplant, and some oh-so-green lettuce, from your perfectly composed dirt. Produce in hand, you feel a bit like the Hamptons’ goddess herself, Ina Garten, effortlessly preparing lunch for her husband Jeffrey.

But reality bites – whether it’s that empty space where your perfect kitchen garden should go, or its remembrances of your last dinner party, the one where you were still making the sauce and applying a last coat of nail polish when one of your guests inevitably arrived on time.

And it’s then that you decide. It’s time to hire a private chef. And you should. It is totally worth it.

Why be in it alone?

The food options at our fingertips in Chicago are endless, feeding our appetites both healthy and not. But you can only go out to eat so often, or order so much take out – really, with all the waste “to go” creates, its’ enough already. In 2018, like in the days’ of yore, in order to keep a proper kitchen, and consistently prepare, nourishing and exciting meals for yourself, your family and friends – you need help.

Today, eating is still very much about culinary indulgence, and the kind of happiness that comes from having a great meal and good conversation with family and friends. And yet, these days, it’s also about food values and wellness. Thank goodness.

So with higher expectations for ourselves, and less time to execute, it is not at all surprising that more people today are choosing to bring the best of the restaurant, and sometimes the chefs’ themselves home with them – by hiring a private chef.

Today’s private chefs are artists, experts in all types of cuisine, and in many cases, also skilled in floral and table design. They have studied at the best culinary institutions, understand nutrition and farming, and know where to purchase the most ethically sourced meats and local produce. These modern day godfreys, can make your dinner party the talk of the town and also strictly facilitate your food goals.

Here are few things to consider when finding and working with a private chef.

It’s not just about the food, it’s chemistry.

The key of course, is finding the right person. Just as the food should match your preferences, the chef should be a good match for your personality. He or she should also be private and discreet. Unlike a personal chef, who will have multiple clients, a private chef is going to be up close and personal with your family and friends—and in many cases living and traveling with you. They will be front and center to both your whims, as well as those little personality quirks that make family dinners so fun. So spend time together first. Try out a few meals, and like with anything, iron out your expectations. At best, these relationships should be a collaboration, and the process consultative.

Mindful eating, aka food values

You want a food partner, one that understands, not only your style, and what you’re looking to achieve, but someone who will help facilitate your expectations when you’re there and when you are not. A private chef is responsible, not only with preparing your meals, but for costing ingredients, sourcing product, and planning menus tailored to your wants and needs. For many in 2018, being conscious and aware of where food comes from, whether it has been sustainably and ethically sourced, is of utmost importance. Also, for many, the same goes for having a deep understanding of how what you eat affects your health and wellness. You want someone, who not only shares your values, but someone that you can trust to facilitate. You don’t want to worry about where your vegetables are coming from.

Consider a kitchen garden.

Creating a beautifully maintained kitchen garden, one where you can select herbs, vegetables, and fruit for each meal is the ultimate luxury. City life is no excuse for not maintaining one. In Chicago, we are known for our rooftop gardens and have led the way among many big cities in cultivating this new trend, and the positive impact they can have on our environment. Fresh food also makes us happy, boosts our energy, and gives us an edge. We know this. However, when life becomes busy we tend to neglect these basics. Think about growing all the staple items, like herbs, onions, shallots, tomatoes, eggplant, and other crops that see a lot of daily use, or even some harder to find items like lemongrass, alfalfa sprouts, root vegetables, and maybe some artichokes.

DID YOU KNOW? For every kilogram of vegetables grown in your own dense garden, you are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2 kilograms, compared with buying in the store.

So, now that you are nourished…entertain and travel

The happiness that comes from bringing friends together for a meal can not be overstated. Why not indulge them? One of the key benefits of hiring a private chef is that you will have a partner when entertaining, whether its for an elegant tasting menu, an intimate gathering, or a traditional dinner party. While served at home, the service and quality will reflect the best of the restaurant feel with the irreplaceable feeling of home. And then when you do leave home, whether it be for a weekend getaway to the mountains or for a month-long trip to the summer beach house, they can come with you.

Creativity…because everything should be as beautiful as the food

Finding a chef that is also your creative partner, is a winning combination. All those ideas you have, like buying spices in bulk at Whole Foods to create your own custom mixes or infused oils, canning your favorite soups and sauces, made using vegetables from your new kitchen garden, harvested in the summer, to enjoy during the endless winter- you can do it together. Create custom gift baskets reflecting your own seasonal esthetic for your friends and family at the holidays or for birthdays. Or consider creating a bespoke cookbook, one that chronicles family favorites, along with new recipes and menus, that can be passed along generation to generation. In addition to projects, your private chef can teach you untraditional cooking methods, like live-fire cooking, using a smoker or a wood-burning pizza oven, or maybe if you are feeling crazy, even sous-vide cooking.

The possibilities are endless.

AMB

from Related Chicago - Feed https://ift.tt/2N7P04a