All in Things to Do in Chicago

Regatta

Regatta

Jack Siegel
Chicago, Things to Do in Chicago, Sports

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The Lincoln Park Boat Club held the 37th Annual Sprints Regatta on July 7 through the 9th in the lagoon that seperates Lincoln Park from Lake Shore Drive.  I was in Maine at a photography workshop during the week, but managed to make it back for Sunday's finals.  The event features 1,000-meter, side-by-side, Henley style racing.  I don't have this year's numbers, but last year, over 1,000 athletes participated, with 27 clubs from 10 states in the chase for victory.

Lions Convention

Lions Convention

Jack Siegel
Chicago, Chicago Tourism, Festivals, Street, Things to Do in Chicago, Urban Landscapes

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Just about every event passes through the Trump filter in this day and age.  Today, the Lions Clubs International held a parade on Chicago's State Street to commemorate the Chicago-based organization's 100th anniversary.  One parade participant proudly told me that the Lions Club is the largest service organization in the world, with 1,400,000 members in somewhere around 200 countries.  The organization focuses its efforts on visual impairment, hearing loss, disaster relief, diabetes awareness, and other good causes.

Public Art

Public Art

Jack Siegel
Chicago, Architecture, Chicago Tourism, Demonstrations, Things to Do in Chicago, Urban Landscapes

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On Monday of this week, the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events installed a statue by Chicago artist Scott Reader across the river from the Trump Tower.  As is evident, the statue is simply the words "Real Fake" in gold lettering.  Quite appropriate for anything associated with President Donald J. Trump.

Gay Pride Parade

Gay Pride Parade

Jack Siegel
Chicago, Chicago Tourism, Demonstrations, Festivals, Performance, Street, Things to Do in Chicago

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Everyone knows what happens in Chicago on the last Sunday in June: The Gay Pride parade.  Having lived on the periphery of Boystown for over two decades, I've been to my share of Gay Pride parades.  Each year the parade is a little more corporate and a little less outrageous, reflecting the mainstream acceptance of gay people.

HPJF

HPJF

Jack Siegel
Chicago, Festivals, Jazz, Musicians, Performance, Things to Do in Chicago

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The 11th Annual Hyde Park Jazz Festival is just three months away, which is why the annual benefit gathering was held tonight.  About 175 people showed up at the Promontory Restaurant, Bar, and Performance Space to celebrate what has become one of the top jazz festivals in the country and certainly the top one in Chicago.

Henry Moore's Warning

Henry Moore's Warning

Jack Siegel
Architecture, Chicago, Chicago Tourism, Things to Do in Chicago, Urban Landscapes

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On December 2, 1942, Enrico Fermi established the first self-sustaining controlled nuclear reaction under the Stage Field Stadium located on the University of Chicago's Hyde Park campus.  The laboratory was a squash court, which is an appropriate given the speed and force that a squash ball ricochets off the walls of a court.  

Tribune Printing Plant

Tribune Printing Plant

Jack Siegel
Things to Do in Chicago, Chicago Tourism, Chicago, Architecture

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Several weeks ago, I received a notice that the Chicago Tribune was offering a two-hour tour of its Chicago Avenue printing and distribution plant, referred to as the Freedom Center.  My impression was that this was a one-time event, so I immediately purchased two $25 dollar tickets.  It turns out that the Tribune offers the tour nine times a year

Ellis

Ellis

Jack Siegel
Things to Do in Chicago, Jazz, Musicians, Performance, Chicago

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Tonight, Chicago's jazz community staged a benefit concert at the University of Chicago's Logan Center to help Ellis cover medical and rehab bills. That community loves her so much that the organizers had to turn away musicians who wanted to participate in the 2.5 hour concert.