Other Information About the Meeting:
AER 2008 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE HOST NIGHT
Friday, July 25, 2008
Let the Illinois Chapter Host Committee send
you to experience CHICAGO!
Illinois AER is eager to welcome all AER conference attendees to Chicago! It is truly a world-class city, with museums, parks, architecture, arts venues (including music, dance, and visual arts), tourist destinations, international neighborhoods, great eating, sports venues, and so much more next to a spectacular lakefront. During the evening of Friday, July 25, transportation will be provided from the conference hotel to four of Chicago’s most interesting locations: Chinatown, Little Italy (Rosebud Restaurant), Millennium Par and Nay Pier. Information about these wonderful destinations are on the back.
Buses are ready to take you to the destination of your choice and will depart throughout the evening. Buses will depart from the Rush Street entrance of the Marriott Lobby.
Little Italy: This special event bus will depart at 6:30 to take you to Rosebud Café. It will return to the Marriott at 10:00 pm.
Millennium Park and Navy Pier: These combined destination buses will depart 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 8:00 pm and will begin return trips to the Marriott at 8:00 pm. 9:00 pm and the final bus returns at 10:00 pm
Chinatown: These buses will depart 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm. They will begin return trips to the Marriott at 8:30 pm and 10:00 pm.
Please remember, if you wish to stay in these destinations, you are more than welcome to. But you will need to provide your own transportation back to the Marriott after the last bus leaves at 10:00 pm.
Little Italy - located on the near west side of Chicago, in an area of recent growth and development due to the nearby University of Illinois Chicago and the Illinois Medical district. Parks and squares in the area feature sculptures of famous Italians (Christopher Columbus) and Italian Americans (Joe DiMaggio). Restaurant reservations in this area are hard to get on a Friday night. To ensure a great Italian feast, we have made reservations for a family-style meal at Little Italy’s most famous restaurant, Rosebud. The meal will feature Bruschetta, House Salad, Eggplant Parmigiana, Penne Bolognese, Cavatelli alla Rosebud, and the famous Chicken Vesuvio. Varous pastries for dessert and a cash bar will round out the meal. Cost per person will be about $45. If you choose to visit Rosebud, remember to arrive hungry! For more information about this indoor venue, check out their website at http://rosebudrestaurants.com/rest1.php
Chinatown - located on the south side of Chicago, has over 30 restaurants and stores in a four block area. Asian architecture and art flourish, and include the Chinatown Gate and Chinatown Mural. Ping Tom Memorial Park is nearby and offers a quiet gazebo near the Chicago River. The relatively new Chinatown Square Mall is a few blocks away and greatly expand the choices of restaurants and stores in the area. If you choose to take the bus to Chinatown, you can expect interesting hours of shopping, architecture, and meals that range from inexpensive to moderate prices. This venue is both indoors and outdoors. For more information check out the websites: www.chicagochinatown.com and www.chicago-chinatown.com
Millennium Park – Chicago’s newest outdoor venue, offering the arts, play areas, gardens and walking paths, and the most unusual view of the city through the Cloudscape sculpture, affectionately known as “The Bean” to locals. There are several fountains, and people are actually encouraged to take off their shoes and socks to explore the Crown Fountain, which provides an unusual visual display was well as a welcome water experience! Restaurants in Millennium Park include the Park Grill and a nearby extended outdoor patio which offer meals at moderate prices. Dinner options are extended by outdoor food vendors and restaurants across the street on Michigan Avenue. As a special treat, the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus will be performing a free concert of “Russian Splendor” in the Pritzker Pavilion (with limited covered seating and unlimited lawn seating) as part of their series of free concerts. The concert will begin at 6:30, so if you plan to attend be sure to take one of the earlier shuttle buses to Millennium. This venue is outdoors. The Millennium Park website is: www.millenniumpark.org.
Navy Pier - Finally, Navy Pier is a favorite tourist destination for many people! This collection of indoor and outdoor activities includes both formal restaurants, in indoor food court, and outdoor vendors, so dinner can be inexpensive or not, as you wish. There is extensive indoor shopping, and a free stained glass museum within the buildings. Outside, there is free music in the Beer Garden (no cover required), the Dock Street Performers and roving performers, boat rides, a Ferris wheel, and much, much more. More information is at the website www.navypier.com
