All in Chicago Tourism

Lions Convention

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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

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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

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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.

Henry Moore's Warning

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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

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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