Fall 2000 Meeting
Call
for Papers / Program
/ General
Information / Accommodations / Chapter
Dinner
Driving / Parking / Travel / Events / Maps / Registration / Food / Shopping
General Information
Mark your calendars for 23-24 September. As in years past, the fall meeting
of our Chapter will take place in Chicago, but this time in a new venue for
us: National-Louis University at 122 South
Michigan Avenue (room 5006). The location is wonderful; the Loop campus of National-Louis
is across the street from the Art Institute of Chicago and one block north of
the new Symphony Center--home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Our thanks
to Elinor Olin for handling the local arrangements in Chicago and to Lawrence
Bennett and the Program Committee, who
have put together an excellent program.
Registration
As always, registration for Chapter meetings is free to members in good standing--just
fill out a registration form and pick up a nametag at the registration table
outside the meeting room. You may pay your dues to the Chapter treasurer at
this time as well. To check your current membership status, visit our membership
and dues pages.
Call for Papers
Click on the link above for the fall 2000 call for papers.
Accommodations
Apparently we have stiff competition for rooms from another, much larger convention
in the Loop, so please act quickly. Within walking distance of the meeting,
rooms may still be available at the Congress
Plaza Hotel, 520 South Michigan Ave., 800/635-1666, 312/427-3800 (FAX 312/427-7264).
Unfortunately, the Congress is offering no conference rate to us; the rate quoted
is $139 single and $159 double. A less-expensive alternative is the Chicago
Downtown Travelodge at 65 East Harrison (888/515-6375 or 312/427-8000) for
around $99 per night. In the past, we have recommended the Cass
Hotel at 640 North Wabash Ave. (800/227-7850) as a more economical alternative,
but they are reporting no vacancy, although you might see if there has been
a cancellation. Those willing to take a five-minute taxi ride may want to try
the Motel 6 Chicago at 162 East Ontario
St. (800/621-8055 or 312/787-3580) advertised at around $70/night. For more
alternatives, see a Chicago hotel
index or visit the sites for national chains.
Travel
O'Hare International is one of the busiest airports
in the world and as a hub for many commuter flights, inexpensive tickets should
be available-even at the last minute. Midway Airport is
a bit closer to the meeting site and is a much smaller airport, although the
frequency of flights is reduced. Airport
Express runs vans from both airports (1-800/654-7871);
you may make a reservation in advance. Ask to be dropped off at the Palmer House
(the hotel closest to National-Louis). The cost from O'Hare is 17.50 one way
or $31 round trip; the cost from Midway is $12.50 one way and $23 round trip.
Less expensive public transportation can be had from either airport. From O'Hare
take the Blue Line; from Midway take the Orange Line (exit at Adams stop). Cab
fare from the airports ranges between 30 and $50. Call 1-800/TAXICAB. (All these
prices, though verified mid-August, are subject to change.)
Inexpensive train service is available to Chicago from most cities in the Midwest. Check with your local station for times and fares or visit Amtrak online. Chicago's Union Station (next to the Sears Tower) in downtown and within walking distance of the meeting site.
FROM THE SOUTH OR NORTH
If driving from the south on I-90/94 (Dan Ryan Expressway) or from the north
on I-90/94 (Kennedy Expressway), take the Congress Parkway exit east, follow
Congress to Michigan Avenue. A left turn onto Michigan Avenue is not allowed,
so continue past the equestrian statues and turn left, veering back toward Michigan
Avenue. The most convenient parking is the Grant Park South Garage ($11.00/day),
the entrance to which will be on the right, just before re-entering Michigan
Avenue. Exit the parking garage (on foot) at the north end of the structure
which will bring you to the front door of Symphony Center/Orchestra Hall. National-Louis
University is one block north of Orchestra Hall, also on the west side of Michigan
Avenue. Look for the Bennigan's Restaurant on the corner of Michigan and Adams.
The lobby of the building is one door north. Click here
for maps.
FROM THE WEST
From points west on I-290 (Eisenhower Expressway), you may also follow Congress
east to Michigan. From points north on Lake Shore Dr. (Route 41), exit at Monroe,
turn left on Columbus Drive, proceed south (behind the Art Institute) two blocks
to Congress, then right to Michigan Avenue, as above. If you're coming in from
the south on Lake Shore Drive (Route 41), exit at Balbo, turn right on Columbus
Drive, turn left on Congress, then right on Michigan. From points west on I-55
(Stevenson Expressway), exit on Lake Shore Drive north, then follow the above
directions. Click here for maps
Parking
The most convenient parking is the Grant Park South Garage ($11.00/day), The
entrance to the garage is near the intersection of Congress and Michigan Avenue
(see driving directions above).
Alternate parking may be found at the Monroe Street Garage ($8.00/day) at the corner of Columbus Drive and Monroe Drive, one block west of Lake Shore Drive. Walk west on Monroe (construction has blocked all vehicle traffic here) to Michigan Avenue; the university is in the block south of Monroe.
Parking for the Congress Plaza Hotel is available for guests at 610 South Wabash Avenue (between Michigan Avenue and State Street) with ticket validation at the front desk or the bellman's stand and costs about $22/day. This is within walking distance of the meeting.
Continuing construction on Millennium Park makes predictions about parking in the Grant Park area chancy. Updated information will be available here, so please check back as the meeting approaches.
Cultural Events
On the evenings of 22 and 23 September,
Daniel Barenboim will conduct the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra in performances of Mahler's Symphony no. 7 and Aurora
by Augusta Reed Thomas. Tickets range in price from $24 to $185. The telephone
number of the Symphony Center box office is 312/294-3000.
For its opening night gala on 23 September, the Lyric Opera is presenting Tchaikovsky's Queen of Spades. As of writing, ticket availability is restricted to those costing $59 (nosebleed) or $350, with not much left in between those extremes (call 312/332-2244, ext. 500). Web Manager's note: the upper balcony seats at both the Civic Opera House and Orchestra Hall are pretty good--you should bring binoculars, but the sound is great. Student rush tickets ($10) for the CSO are usually available the evening of the performance at the box office. Call in advance for details.
At the Art Institute of Chicago, the Pharaohs of the Sun exhibition will be in its last weekend (tickets required). There also will be three different photography exhibitions (Photograms, Optical Delusions, and Skyscrapers) and an exhibition of paintings by William Merritt Chase. For further information call the Art Institute at 312/443-3600.
The Chicago Cultural Center (the old public library, at the corner of Michigan and Washington -- about 3 blocks north of the NLU campus) will offer a free exhibit "Painting Revolution: Kandinsky, Malevich and the Russian Avant-Garde," during the conference.
Food
In the same building as our meeting (122 S. Michigan)
there is a Bennigan's Restaurant and an Au Bon Pain. Across the street on Adams,
there is a Panda Express as well as a fancier option, Rhapsody, which is part
of the Symphony Center complex. Further west on Adams (17 W. Adams) is the ever
popular Berghoff Restaurant--the location of our informal Chapter Dinner.. Also
recommended for lunch (open only until 3 p.m.) is the cafe on the 9th floor
of the Harold Washington Library, located on Congress between Wabash and State
streets. Note also that Wabash, which runs parallel to the "El" tracks, is home
to many fast food outlets, including one called The Oasis Cafe (inside the Jeweler's
Mall) on Wabash between Madison and Washington, which features pretty darn good
falafel. There are many restaurants within easy walking distance of the meeting
site, and, if you want to splurg, many four-starr establishments are a cab-ride
away. A number of good, inexpensive eats are available too--and there's always
Chicago-style pizza at Uno's, Giordanos, or Gino's. See links below for more
information or ask to have a reservation made by your hotel.
Chapter Dinner
A reservation for 25 has been made at the Berghoff Restaurant for 5:00 p.m.
on Saturday. The restaurant is located at 17 W. Adams (a short walk from our
meeting site) and is one of the famous landmarks of the city remembering the
early German immigrants who came to Chicago and the midwest. This is an informal
dinner beginning at 6:00 p.m. that will probably run each attendee around $20-25.
Chapter Treasurer Mary Natvig has graciously volunteered to collect a deposit
during registration and handle the bill, refunding any money that is left over
after food, taxes, and tip. Please let her know during registration that you
plan on attendings.
Shopping
A number of fine bookstores (both new and especially used), record stores, as
well as flagship department stores such as Marshall Field & Co. are within
easy walking distance of the meeting site.See links below. The main shopping
corridor in Chicago is just north (across the river) of the meeting site on
Michigan avenue and easily accessible by foot, bus, or cab.
Links
For a complete index to restaurants, shopping, and other events,visit Yahoo's
Chicago page or check the Centerstage
Chicago site.
Weather
Fall in Chicago is generally mild (at least compared to winter). Be prepared
from everything between 70 degrees and sunny to 50 degrees and rainy. If the
weather is good, a stroll along Grant Park or an Architectural walking tour
would be wonderful.
Local Arrangements
Dr. Elinor Olin is handling local arrangements.
Since she will not be able to attend the meeting, Michael Vaughn will handle
any problems that arise during the meeting.
Further details about the fall meeting will be added as they become available.
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