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2008 International Chicago Tango Fest - August 21-24
CHICAGO INFO
Come to Chicago and enjoy your summer dancing to the best tango event, and swim in the most beautiful beaches in the in the USA’s Midwest.
Chicago Beaches
You'll almost mistake Lake Michigan for an ocean with its vast expanse and seemingly endless shore. With beautiful blue water as far as the eye can see, you may think you've gone from Chicago to southern California. Chicago beaches are free to the general public, and generally open for swimming from the Friday before Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9am - 9:30pm.
Those not familiar with the vastness of Lake Michigan will be very surprised by the fact that Chicago is home to a miles long string of city beaches that just might make you wonder if you've somehow been transported to the west coast.
Chicago also looks great from every angle, whether you’re exploring the city’s astonishing architecture during a guided tour (on foot or aboard a Chicago River boat, lakeshore cruise or sightseeing bus) or enjoying the birds-eye view from the 103rd floor of Sears Tower Skydeck or the 94th floor of Hancock Observatory. The city’s 29 miles of lakefront paths and beautiful beaches are just one reason Chicago is one of the world’s most walkable, danceable and beautiful cities.
Chicago is a friendly city – and you’ll agree when you accept the city’s warm invitation to sample such free attractions as Lincoln Park Zoo, home to more than 1,000 mammals, reptiles, and birds. Enjoy the peaceful gardens under glass at Garfield Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Conservatory. To make sure you don’t miss out on anything the city has to offer, make your very first stop the Chicago Cultural Center - Chicago's Architectural Showplace for the Lively and Visual Arts and the city's official Visitor Center and workshop location for the International Chicago Tango Fest.
You’ll find magic in such sparkling Chicago attractions as Navy Pier – the Midwest’s top tourist destination – and its boardwalk, 150-foot Ferris wheel, boat tours, and countless dining or shopping options. Millennium Park offers dazzling music, art, landscape design and architecture – including the mammoth stainless-steel Cloud Gate sculpture – plus ice skating in the winter, splashing around in the interactive Crown Fountain during summer, and alfresco dining from spring to fall.
More Chicago Tourism Information Chicago:
The Great American City
Chicago is a city of world-class status and unsurpassed beauty, drawing visitors from around the nation and the globe. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the heart of the Midwest, Chicago is home to world-championship sports teams, an internationally acclaimed symphony orchestra, renowned architecture and much more.
Visitors to Chicago experience a virtual explosion of cultural activity, civic pride and multicultural expression. From stunning architecture and world-famous museums to lakefront parks and vibrant ethnic neighborhoods, Chicago offers a range of attractions which keeps visitors coming back again and again.
The Chicago Cultural Center, an architectural showplace for the lively and visual arts, is a great place to begin a visit to Chicago. In addition to housing one of the city's official Visitor Information Centers, the Chicago Cultural Center offers more than 600 free art programs annually. It serves as a cultural crossroads where visitors can meet and learn about Chicago and its residents.
Chicago History
The first resident of Chicago was Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a fur trader from Santo Domingo of French-African descent. DuSable built the first settlement in 1779 at the mouth of the Chicago River.
In 1830, lots were sold to finance construction of what would become the Illinois and Michigan Canal, connecting Chicago with the Mississippi River. Three years later, with a booming population of 350, the Town of Chicago was incorporated.
In 1837, the town was incorporated as a city with a population of 4,170. Chicago cemented its role as a transportation hub in 1848 when the 100-mile Illinois and Michigan Canal was completed, and the first locomotive arrived from the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad. The population tripled in the following three years.
Access to transportation played a key role in the development of the Chicago Union stockyards, which served the nation between 1865 and 1971. On Sunday, October 8, 1871, a fire began on the West Side. By Tuesday morning, the Great Chicago Fire had claimed 300 lives, left 90,000 Chicagoans without homes and destroyed $200 million worth of property. This disaster turned into an opportunity to plan and rebuild the entire city.
In 1893, Chicago hosted the World's Columbian Exposition that attracted nearly 26 million visitors during its six-month run. In order to provide transportation to the fair, the Chicago Transit Authority introduced the first elevated trains to Chicago. Today the system's “L” train encircles the city's central business district, referred to as “the Loop.” Chicago's cultural interests can be traced to this era, when its orchestra, library, and major museums were established. The Columbian Exposition's Palace of Fine Arts is now home to the Museum of Science and Industry, visited by more than two million people each year.
In 1909, the newly-formed Chicago Plan Commission published Daniel Burnham's comprehensive plan. The city's unobstructed lakefront, its city-wide system of parks and its green belt of forest preserves were all part of this unique plan, the first ever presented to an American city.
Chicago hosted the 1933 World's Fair, dubbed “A Century of Progress,” to show the technological accomplishments of civilization since the city was incorporated. The fair attracted 39 million visitors in a two-year period.
Richard J. Daley was elected Mayor of Chicago for the first of six times in 1955. For 21 years, Daley served “the city that works.” During his time in office, O’Hare International Airport (which became the world’s busiest) began operations, the Sears Tower (one of the world’s tallest buildings) was erected and McCormick Place Convention Center (the largest in the world) opened.
In 1976, Mayor Daley died in office. Since then, Chicago elected its first female mayor (Jane Byrne in 1979) and its first African-American mayor (Harold Washington in 1983).
In 1989, Mayor Richard M. Daley, son of Richard J. Daley, was elected Mayor and still holds the position.
The city of Chicago has increased its exposure as a world-class city by hosting the World Cup Soccer Tournament in 1994, the Democratic National Convention in 1996, the International Pow Wow in 1998 and an International Millennium Celebration in 1999/2000.
Chicago's multicultural heritage is reflected in its neighborhoods, which now attract thousands of visitors each year. Chicago is home to nearly three million people from all over the world. As each new group has come to Chicago, their unique community spirit, typified by Chicago's motto “I will,” has enabled them to build a new community, a new life, and a new future. This spirit is responsible for a city that has never stopped dreaming, building, rebuilding, growing, and making major contributions to the world.
Architecture
Chicago is the birthplace of the modern building. From historic landmark buildings to contemporary technological masterpieces, Chicago is home to unique and innovative designs that have shaped American architecture. Chicago is a living museum of architecture, thanks to the genius of architects such as Daniel Burnham, Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Helmut Jahn and hundreds of others.
Museums
Chicago is world-renowned for its diverse collection of museums which explore a variety of subjects, including Chicago history, modern art, African-American culture, astronomy, natural history and much more. Some museums offer free admission and many others have weekly free days.
Tours
By foot, bus, bike, boat, or plane--on the land, lake, river, or in the sky--you can tour all of Chicago, from its famous landmarks to its world-renowned cultural institutions and attractions.
Taste
Chicago has thousands of restaurants serving a medley of culinary delights to suit every taste, every budget and every mood. Reserve your table at one of Chicago’s award-winning restaurants, from Charlie Trotter’s signature dishes to Chef Jean Joho’s exquisite French menu at Brasserie Jo or Everest.
Shopping
Shopping in Chicago began on State Street, the center of the Loop. The original and flagship Marshall Field's department store opened in 1852 on State Street. The famed “Magnificent Mile” which runs along Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River to Oak Street offers hundreds of specialty shops and boutiques presenting top-of-the-line goods from around the world. Be sure to stroll down Oak Street, where designs from Paris, Milan and Manhattan are mixed with Chicago’s Gold Coast atmosphere.
For more Information, please visit:
http://www.choosechicago.com
City of Chicago Tourism Link
http://www.chicagogreeter.com
Come dance with us and enjoy tango in the windy city!!
