Looking for a Great Place for a Family Vacation?
by Susan Dunn
Dia dhuit, hello!
“The road from Chicago to Ireland is marked in
green,” they say, and the annual dying of the Chicago River emerald
green is described as “right up there with the parting of the sea by
Moses and the Pyramids of Egypt.” Well, what’s a little blarney, it’s
St. Patrick’s Day.
And how is this different from the normal murky
green of the River? “The difference,” the official Chicago St.
Patrick’s Day Parade website says, “is both significant and
breathtaking.” (Where is that stone when we need it most?)
Stephen M. Bailey, the man who dyed the River
green the first time, said, “with characteristic Irish exaggeration,
‘The Chicago River will dye the Illinois, which will dye the
Mississippi, which will dye the Gulf of Mexico, which will send green
dye up the gulf stream across the North Atlantic into the Irish Sea, a
sea of green surrounding the land will appear as a greeting to all
Irishmen of the Emerald Isle from the men of Erin in Chicagoland,
USA.’” Malarkey!
This is my hometown we’re talking about, the Windy
City, and where better to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? On this side of
the Big Pond at any rate.
The legendary Richard J. Daley took part in the
first St. Patrick’s Day Parade formed on Chicago’s West Side in the
50s, before he became mayor. Here’s a photo of the Shannon
Rovers Fife and Drum Corps (Irish Pipe Band) stepping off the
parade since 1956.
Irish and Catholic is the heritage of the City,
not the only one in this melting pot city, but a strong one. My father,
Ray Garrett (a good Irish name) loved his hometown, knew its history
well, and was always telling me tales. Every single time we rounded one
curve on the road into Chicago from the suburbs he would say, “This is
evidence of the power of the Catholic Church in this town.” The whole
highway had been swung around to allow a Catholic Church to remain
standing. This may be the subject of Eleen Skerrett’s book, “At the
Crossroads: Old Saint Patrick’s and the Chicago Irish.”
“Influential” others would say about the Irish in
Chicago, and strong in number. The Irish were one of the largest groups
of immigrants to the US and were always a large and influential group
in Chicago, especially politically. According to Eastern Illinois
University. Go to their website and
you'll hear the beautiful "Rose of Tralee."
1836, the Illinois and Michigan Canal opened,
linking Lake Michigan and the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. Much of
the labor was done by the Irish.
In 1893, John P. Hopkins became Chicago’s first
Irish Catholic major.
In 1900, Charles Comiskey, son of an Irish
immigrant, founded the Chicago White Sox.
In 1955, Richard J. Daley was elected mayor and
stayed in office until his death, December 1976.
And what about the wearing of the green? The
three leaf clover or seamóg became a symbol of Ireland and was worn by
the Irish regiments of the Queen's Army. According to the official
Chicago St. Patrick’s Day parade site, “when it became an emblem of
rebellion in the 19th century, Queen Victoria outlawed wearing it – the
wearing of the green - and made it punishable by death by hanging.
Fittingly sponsored by Chicago Journeyman
Plumbers Local Union 130 U. A., (which raises funds by holding their
annual corned beef and cabbage dinner in January at Plumber’s Hall, and
$55 per person at that), this year’s parade will be held Saturday,
March 13th at noon on Columbus Drive.
Meanwhile, a citywide search is on for
“Chicago’s fairest Colleen”. This bonny lass will lead the parade
riding an authentic Irish Side Car. The qualifications? “Any girl of
Irish ancestry, never married, 17-28 years old.” Take a look at last
year’s beautiful red-haired winner, Jaime
Dineen, robed in emerald green satin, and her court - Mary,
Colleen, Megan and Bridget.
And what can you do while in Chicago? In a town
full of architecture, museums, culture, art, fun, shopping, theater and
the home of urban blues, it’s just a matter of walking out the hotel
door. Chicago also has a long history of great food – remember the
cattle were sent up to the Chicago Stockyards for fattening? A small
point, but not if you’re a bread-lover – rolls in Chicago are sublime,
crisp on the outside, yielding to a soft and chewy interior. Move over
France. Eat in a “Grill” if you can; it’s a special ambiance.
Chicago has an excellent and affordable public
transportation system (bus, cab and elevated train, “el”) that will
carry you wherever you want to go.
Here are some of my favorites. Do consider
staying over through Tuesday, as most museums in Chicago are FREE on
this day.
CHICAGO MUSEUM OF ART This is a must. Housed in
a Classical Renaissance building with the famous lions out front,
you’ll see some of your favorites, and you’ll recognize Seurat’s
“Sunday Afternoon,” from that great scene in “Ferris Buehler.” Like
Hopper? There are some great ones there. Maybe the lions will be
wearing green. At Christmas time they have wreaths around their necks.
THE FIELD MUSEUM A premier natural history
museum now featuring “Live Over Time” exhibit with “Sue,” the largest
and most complete Tyrannosaurus rex ever discovered.
THE SEARS TOWER North America’s tallest building
where you’ll get a panoramic view of the city and Lake Michigan
CHICAGO MUSEUM OF SCIENCE & INDUSTRY Using
interactive displays back in the 50s, this museum is full of things
that clank and buzz and whirr, offering something for all ages. It’s
billed as the largest science museum in one building in the Western
Hemisphere.
The list goes on, including LINCOLN PARK ZOO
still free after all these years, the SHEDD AQUARIUM, THE MIRACLE MILE
(shopping), the original MARSHALL FIELD’S and more.
THE NORTH SHORE I would suggest you rent a car
and head up Lake Shore Drive to look at the beautiful suburbs and lake
views, including many parks – Evanston, Wilmette, Winnetka. They move
rapidly along the Drive and contain some of the most beautiful homes in
the US, as well as a few Frank Lloyd Wright structures. Along the drive
you’ll see Northwestern University, and the world famous Ba‘hai
Temple, known locally as “the lace building.”
In Wilmette, stop at the Pancake House. This is
not IHOP. Official name, Walker Bros. Original Pancake House, 153
Green Bay Rd., 847-251-6000.
How to prepare?
Put “The
Secret of Roan Inish” in the DVD
Start listening to “The
Danny Boy Collection” by yes, the great Irish tenor, John McDermott
Take a quick read of “Boss: Richard J. Daley of
Chicago,” by Mike Royka (available secondhand on amazon.com for
pennies)
Look up Mrs. O'Leary+cow+Chicago on a search
engine
And head on up to Lake Michigan.
Go raibh maith 'ad and slán agat.
(Thank you and Goodbye).
Susan Dunn, MA, The EQ Coach,
http://www.susandunn.cc . Coaching, Internet courses and ebooks around
emotional intelligence for your personal and professional success.
Featuring EQ Alive! Coach Certification Program - fast, affordable,
no-residency, training coaches worldwide. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for
more information, free ezine.
Susan Dunn may be contacted at sdunn@susandunn.cc
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Chicago – The Windy City
by: David Chandler
Chicago was founded in the early 1800s and served
as a
connection between the developed East Coast and the enlarged Wild West.
On the shores of Lake Michigan, the development of suburbia and
skyscrapers was low but persistent. Though the devastating fire of 1871
grounded Chicago, it came back again and this time growth took pace
every decade. By 1900, it crossed the mark of two million people.
Chicago is now the third largest city in the
United States next
to New York City and Los Angeles, California. Not only being the third
largest city in the U.S, Chicago also ranks among the world's leading
industrial and transportation centers
From what I have read, Chicago is nicknamed the
windy city for
different reasons. The first reason is that the Mayor of Chicago
boasted so much about Chicago hosting the worlds fair, which implied
the Mayor was windy. Another reason was that the politicians in the
Chicago are full of hot air therefore implying the windy city. The last
reason is that the editor of a newspaper was trying to promote Chicago
as a summer resort and used Lake Michigan's summer breeze as a selling
point. I do not know which of the reasons above gave Chicago its
nickname the windy city but they all seem to make sense to me.
Chicago is also renowned for its excellent art
institutions and
museums, great food and great jazz music. If you have an appetite for
sports, Chicago has the legendary Bulls, Bears, and Cubs, which are
well known all over the world.
Chicago is a wonderful place to visit. The fever
of Chicago will impress you.
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