Practical travel information for practical travelers
I spend an inordinate amount of times in airports. Some weeks it’s near daily. I have my favorites (Portland, San Jose, Vancouver BC) and those that I’d just as soon avoid (Atlanta, LAX, San Francisco). For most travelers, airports are a hot mess of crowds, frustration, and stress. I see it as an office environment. [...]
Music is an international language, and the 13th annual World Music Festival: Chicago 2011 transforms Grants Park into as a celebration of today’s international music. Featuring traditional and contemporary music from over 40 countries, the city-wide festival features performances and events in a combination of free and low-price ticket venues. The festival kicks off in [...]
The American Institute of Architects announced the results of its annual poll and named the top 150 favorite structures across the United States. Here are the Top Ten on the list: Empire State Building The White House Washington National Cathedral Thomas Jefferson Memorial Golden Gate Bridge U.S. Capitol Lincoln Memorial Biltmore Estates Chrysler Building Vietnam [...]
Japanese artist Takashi Murakami currently has a wallpaper exhibit in the MCA Café at Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art. So what’s significant about Murakami? He is one of the most significant artists of the under-40 age group to emerge from Japan, with art choices heavily influenced by pop culture and traditional Japanese art forms ““ [...]
When you think of the day after Thanksgiving, what comes to mind? Relaxing around the house and eating leftovers? Watching football? Listening to holiday music and putting up the holiday decorations? Or are you one of the many, many people who will be heading out to the stores for the kick off of the holiday [...]
When you think about Halloween events, you can’t help but think of spooky happenings in the cemetery. If you’ll be in Chicago during Halloween time, you can join the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s tours of Graceland Cemetery. There are two tours, offered on a variety of dates during October. The tours are two hour walking tours, [...]
After writing a couple of great articles about the Art Institute of Chicago and Second City, I talked pal Jon Rochetti into another article, complete with some of his photos, from his recent trips to Chicago. Enjoy! Even before the Chicago Fire of 1871, civic leaders realized that the city’s lakefront was something that should be protected [...]
Here’s another guest post from my friend, Jon Rochetti. If you didn’t read his post about the Art Institute of Chicago, be sure to read it after you finish here. The great photos are his as well. ——————————– If you are a fan of Saturday Night Live, Second City TV or comedy in general, The Second [...]
In addition to traveling, Mary Jo likes lingering over a cup of coffee, wandering in a museum, sipping wine at a cafe, enjoying a relaxing massage, and sharing it all with friends and readers.
Her most recent travels were to Portugal and Italy.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Google
Flickr