Lauren Cohn and WGN-TV’s Ben Bradley sits in for Bob and Marianne and chats with the stars of Something Rotten: The Musical, Andrew Santino comedian and star of Showtime’s I’m Dying Up Here, Navy Pier’s 101st birthday celebration, Krispy Kreme’s 80th birthday celebration, Radio Flyer’s 100th birthday celebration, plus more!
Tag Archives: Navy Pier
What your handshake says about you; The Rolling Stones are coming to Navy Pier – 2/17/17 (Hour 1)
Your handshake says a lot about your personality. A Rolling Stones exhibit is coming to Navy Pier.
Weekend A-Jenda: September 22nd – 25th
Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts
The Chicago Half Marathon
Date: Sunday, September 25
Traffic Impact from 6:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. – The race runs on the south side of Lake Shore Drive. The entire drive will be closed to traffic between Jackson Park (67th Street) north to 31st Street. Other streets around Jackson Park will be closed.
Oktoberfest Chicago
Date: Friday, September 23 – Sunday, September 25
Time: Friday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m – 7 p.m.
Location: 1429 W. Wellington Ave, Lincoln Park
Craft beer tasting nights on Friday and Saturday with “KinderFest” family activities on Saturday and Sunday.
Admission is $5, and benefits St. Alphonsus Church. The event is free of cost on Sunday!
Ravinia District’s Harvest and Harmony Festival
Date: Friday, September 23 – Saturday, September 24
Time: Friday, 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. & Saturday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Location: Jens Jensen Park
Friday, September 23rd
4-5pm School of Rock
5-6:30pm FUTURE STUFF
7-9pm Ravinia Ramblers
Saturday, September 24th
11-11:45am Little Miss Ann from Old Town School
Noon-12:30pm Language Stars
1-2:30pm 341 Trio
3–4:30pm Louie Zagoras of Rollover
5-6:30pm The Remars
7-7:45pm Michael McDermott
8-9pm Sam Llanas, Formerly of the BoDeans
For more information and list of food vendors, click here!
EXPO Chicago
Date: Thursday, September 22 – Sunday, September 25
Time: Friday, September 23 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Saturday, September 24 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Sunday, September 25 from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.;
Location: Navy Pier
From the website, EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, opens the fall art season each September at historic Navy Pier.
Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet 2016
Date: Saturday, September 24 – Sunday, September 25
Location: Millenium Park
The Bon Appétit website says:
Now in its ninth year, Chicago Gourmet is excited to introduce our first-ever Host Chef – Rick Bayless of the acclaimed Frontera Restaurants. Additionally, a weekend-long theme – Food Is Art! – will showcase the culinary arts and explore its vibrant connections to art of many kinds. You’ll find fun and interactive art components throughout the event including Friday night’s popular Hamburger Hop and the exclusive Grand Cru tasting.
.38 Special
Date: Sunday, September 25
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: Arcadia Theatre, St. Charles
After more than three decades together, 38 SPECIAL continue to bring their signature blast of Southern Rock to over 100 cities a year. And at each and every show, thousands of audience members are amazed by the explosive power of the band’s performance.
Their many Gold and Platinum album awards stand in testament to the endurance of a legendary powerhouse.
With sales in excess of 20 million, most associate the band with their arena-rock pop smashes, “Hold On Loosely,” “Rockin’ Into the Night,” “Caught Up in You,” “Fantasy Girl,” “If I’d Been the One,” “Back Where You Belong,” “Chain Lightnin’,” “Second Chance,” and more – Timeless hits that remain a staple at radio, immediately recognizable from the first opening chord, and paving the way to their present-day touring regimen.
Other Local Events
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) announced that starting Friday, Sept. 23, overnight lane closures will take place over several days, including a full closure of northbound and southbound Lake Shore Drive (U.S. 41), as part of the ongoing reconstruction of the interchange between Lake Shore Drive and the Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55). The closures are required for the installation of new bridge beams.
Friday, Sept. 23 to Wednesday, Sept. 28:
Northbound Lake Shore Drive: Starting at 8 p.m. Friday, northbound Lake Shore Drive will be fully closed until 12 p.m. Saturday. A posted detour will direct northbound Lake Shore Drive traffic to take the 39th Street exit to State Street, north on State Street to enter the inbound Stevenson and re-enter northbound Lake Shore Drive. The 31st Street entrance ramp to northbound Lake Shore Drive also will be closed.
Northbound Lake Shore Drive to outbound Stevenson ramp: The ramp will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday to 12 p.m. Saturday. A posted detour will direct northbound Lake Shore Drive traffic to take the 39th Street exit to State Street, enter the inbound Stevenson and exit at Martin Luther King Drive to immediately enter the outbound Stevenson.
Inbound Stevenson to southbound Lake Shore Drive ramp: The ramp from the inbound Stevenson to southbound Lake Shore Drive will be closed Saturday from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. A posted detour will direct northbound Stevenson traffic to take the ramp to northbound Lake Shore Drive, exit at 18th Street and enter southbound Lake Shore Drive.
Southbound Lake Shore Drive: Beginning at 10 p.m. Sunday, the left lane on southbound Lake Shore Drive will be closed, with a second lane closing at 11 p.m. At midnight, southbound Lake Shore Drive will be completely closed until 5 a.m. All lanes will be closed nightly until Wednesday, Sept. 28. A posted detour will direct southbound Lake Shore Drive traffic to take the southbound Stevenson ramp, exit at State Street and take the northbound Stevenson to re-enter southbound Lake Shore Drive.
CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts
Trains Rerouted Downtown – Lake and Wabash Closed; Pink Line Rerouted to Connect to Racine Blue Line Station
Orange and Brown Lines: Trains will operate as one route, between Kimball and Midway, via Wells and Van Buren on the Loop elevated.
Green Line: Trains will operate between Harlem and 63rd via Wells and Van Buren on the Loop elevated.
Pink Line: Trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and Polk, then to Racine Blue Line for connecting Blue Line train service to/from downtown.
• For service to downtown from Pink Line stations between 54th/Cermak and Polk, take a Pink Line train toward the Loop and stay on board until the train reaches Racine on the Blue Line, where you can transfer to continuing Blue Line service into downtown.
• For service from downtown to Pink Line stations between Polk and 54th/Cermak, take a Blue Line train toward Forest Park to Racine and transfer to a Pink Line train toward 54th/Cermak.
• For service to/from Ashland, Morgan or Clinton stations, use Blue Line service between Racine and Jackson, and Green Line service.
Customers may transfer between the Loop elevated, and Blue and Red line subways at Harold Washington Library (Loop elevated) and Jackson (Blue and Red lines) stations.
Weekend A-Jenda: Labor Day Weekend, 2016
Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts
It’s technically the end of summer in Chicago with the beaches shutting down promptly on Monday night, and CPS going back in session come Tuesday. It’s usually a pretty busy weekend at the Chicago beaches, but here are some water sports to get in before the summer comes to an end!
Chicago Water Sport Rentals at 31st Street Beach
http://www.chicagowatersportrentals.com/
Jet Ski, Hobie Kayak and Paddleboard rentals
Jet Ski Chicago at North Avenue Beach
http://www.jetskischicago.com/
Jet Ski Rentals (Must be 18 years of age)
Kayak Chicago at Montrose Beach, North Avenue Beach and the Chicago River
https://kayakchicago.com
Kayak and Standup Paddleboard rentals
SUP classes and Lake tours
Chicago Paddle Co. at Kathy Osterman (Hollywood) Beach
http://www.chicagopaddlecompany.com/
Stand Up Paddling (SUP)
Chicago SUP at North Avenue Beach and Diversey Harbor
http://www.chicagosup.com/
SUP Lessons, group outings, yoga
The Great American Lobster Fest
Date: Friday, September 2 – Saturday, September 3
Time: Noon to 10:00 p.m. on Friday
11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday
Location: Navy Pier
Info from the website: The Great American Lobster Fest is the Midwest’s largest Lobster and seafood festival. We’re returning for our 3rd year to Chicago’s legendary Navy Pier on Labor Day Weekend! September 2nd and 3rd 2016, summer’s last hurrah! Enjoy live lobster flown in fresh from the cold waters of the East Coast, live music performances, family-friendly games and activities, unique craft shopping, and cold beverages. What’s not to love!?
Not a lobster fan? Not to worry, many other great food options will be available including Steak, Surf & Turf Options, and more!
The Great American Lobster Fest is an all-ages, family friendly event.
Naperville Last Fling
Friday, September 2 – Gates open at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, September 3 – Gates open at 3:30 p.m.
Sunday, September 4 – Gates open at 2:30 p.m.
Monday, September 5 – Gates open at 2:00 p.m.
Location: Naperville
Sponge, Lit, Everclear, Sugar Ray…and that is just on Sunday!
From the website: The Naperville Jaycees’ Last Fling is a family-friendly community festival which takes place over Labor Day Weekend in and around Downtown Naperville and, for many, is a fun way to say farewell to summer! The Last Fling offers a wide variety of attractions for all ages to enjoy including national and local musicians on two stages, Family Fun Land, a carnival, unique special events, a business expo and a few running events.
Windy City Dub Fest
Date: Saturday, September 3
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Location: Lake County Fairgrounds
Windy City Dub Fest® 2016 will be held on Saturday, September 3rd, 2016 from Noon to 6pm CST at the Lake County Fairgrounds. Spectator Tickets and Show Registration are now available for purchase online. More information at the event website.
The Loop Luau!
Date: Friday, September 2
Time: 8:00 p.m.
Location: Northerly Island
Other events around the area
via festing.com
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
Over the Labor Day holiday weekend, 200 local Illinois law enforcement agencies are urging motorists to “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”
From the Illinois Department of Transportation:
“A high number of fatal traffic crashes on Illinois roads occur late at night, with an unacceptable amount involving drinking and motorists failing to buckle up, especially during the busy holiday travel periods,” said Priscilla Tobias, director of IDOT’s Office of Program Development. “Please, if you are on the road over the Labor Day weekend, drive sober and buckle up.”
Statistics show during last year’s Labor Day weekend (from 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4, until 11:59 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7) 13 people lost their lives in crashes.
Three of those fatalities involved a driver who tested positive for alcohol in their system.
“State police will be out in force with local law enforcement to get drunk drivers off the road during the Labor Day weekend,” said ISP Col. Tad Williams. “Troopers will show zero tolerance for impaired driving and seat belt law violators. Designate a driver before going out, and always buckle up,”
Here are some important safety tips:
– Designate a sober driver before going out and give that person your keys.
– Use your community’s designated driver program.
– If you are with someone who is impaired, do not let them drive.
– If you are impaired: Call a taxi, use mass transit or call a sober friend or family member to get you home safely.
– Promptly report impaired drivers, pull over to a safe location and dial 911.
– Make sure everyone in your vehicle wears a seat belt.
The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” Labor Day crackdown began Monday, Aug. 22, and continues through the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 6. It is administered by IDOT and supported by ISP local law enforcement agencies throughout Illinois.
|
|
| State Patrol will significantly increase enforcement during Labor Day weekend Construction on most major highways will be suspended for the holiday The Labor Day holiday period from Friday through Monday has been deadly on Wisconsin roads with an average of eight traffic fatalities during the last five years. Moreover, traffic fatalities so far this year are about 8 percent higher than the same period last year.To prevent deaths and injuries over the Labor Day holiday period, the Wisconsin State Patrol will use all of its available resources for high-visibility traffic safety enforcement to get motorists to buckle up, obey speed limits, drive sober, and eliminate distractions.“Every State Patrol region will be participating in special emphasis details during the upcoming holiday period to increase voluntary compliance with traffic laws, not to write more tickets,” says Lt. Col. J.D. Lind. “We’ve identified times and locations with high crash rates, and we’re concentrating our resources on those targeted areas. Our Air Support Unit pilots will be flying missions to watch for traffic violations especially speeding, tailgating, and aggressive driving. Our commercial motor vehicle inspectors will be focusing on violations of truck safety laws, including speed limits on highway corridors, and will intently monitor traffic traveling near large trucks. Many of our high-visibility patrols throughout the state will be announced in advance on WisDOT Twitter. (@WisconsinDOT, #WisDOT) to motivate motorists to make responsible decisions.”To minimize travel disruptions during the Labor Day weekend, most major highway construction projects will be suspended from about noon on Friday, Sept. 2 until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6. However, drivers may still encounter lane restrictions and traffic delays in highway work zones, according to Beth Cannestra of the WisDOT Bureau of Project Development.“To prevent crashes, drivers must slow down, pay attention and not tailgate when approaching and traveling through work zones. Rear-end collisions caused primarily by speeding, distracted driving and following other vehicles too closely are the most frequent type of crash in work zones,” Cannestra says. “When you see orange cones, put down your phone,” she says. “To help prevent distracted driving, a new state law taking effect Oct. 1 makes it illegal to talk on a handheld mobile device while driving in a work zone.” Traffic is expected to be heavy throughout the holiday period especially from about noon until 8 p.m. on both Friday, Sept. 2, and Monday, Sept. 5. |
|
CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts
On Sunday, Sep 4, updated schedules will go into effect for several bus routes. Most routes continue to have the same frequency and span of service, but arrival times may change up to a few minutes. For a copy of the new timetable brochure for any route, see the Advance Timetables page or call 1-888-YOUR-CTA.
It’s the last weekend for the #10 Museum of Science & Industry Revised Service Period — this bus only runs from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Metra – This weekend Metra will offer special early departure schedules for the holiday weekend.
From the Metrarail.com website: Most of these schedules include extra service prior to the regular 5 p.m. start of the rush hour, with the cancellation or modification of some later rush hour train schedules. A summary of the early departure schedules can be found here.
“Summer’s gone by too fast and we want to make it easy to squeeze in as much extra fun as possible this holiday weekend,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno. “Expanding our $8 Weekend Pass to include Labor Day, plus the fact that kids 11 and under can ride free, make Metra the most affordable choice for Labor Day weekend fun in the city.”
The Chicago Jazz Festival at Millennium Park, fireworks at Navy Pier and the North Coast Music Fest at Union Park are just a few of the many events to enjoy in the city over Labor Day weekend. Metra’s $8 Weekend Pass allows unlimited rides anywhere on our system. The pass, which is normally sold on Saturdays and Sundays, will also be available for travel on the Monday holiday.
On Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 5, Metra will operate all services on a Sunday/holiday schedule. Metra SouthWest Service, Heritage Corridor and North Central Service trains will not operate on Labor Day. Alcohol restrictions will also be in effect and no alcohol will be allowed onboard Metra trains after 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1 and Friday, Sept. 2 and all day Saturday, Sept. 3 and Sunday, Sept. 4.
Weekend A-Jenda: July 28th – July 31st (Lollapalooza Weekend)
Click Here for Weekend Traffic Projects
Click Here for Weekend CTA Travel Alerts
Ray Stagich’s Weekend Weather Forecast
Friday – Partly to mostly cloudy skies with scattered thunderstorms in the morning. High 77F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Friday Night – Partly cloudy skies. Low 66F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph.
Saturday – Scattered thunderstorms. Highs in the upper 70s and lows in the mid 60s.
Sunday – Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the mid 60s.
The Chicago White Sox take on the Chicago Cubs All Week
Mon, Jul 25 vs Cubs 7:10 p.m. (U.S. Cellular Field)
Tues, Jul 26 vs Cubs 6:10 p.m. (U.S. Cellular Field)
Wed, Jul 27 @ Cubs 7:05 p.m. (Wrigley Field)
Thu, Jul 28 @ Cubs 7:05 p.m. (Wrigley Field)
Lollapalooza 2016
Date: Thursday, July 28 – Sunday, July 31
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m., daily
Location: Grant Park
Metra is offering an unlimited ride, four-day train pass to this year’s Lollapalooza music festival (July 28-31).
The $20 pass is available for purchase at all ticket windows, including all downtown and outlying stations, and through the Ventra app.
REMINDER: “We realize that everyone attending this event will be using their phones to take pictures, text and post on social media throughout the day, but if they are using their phone as their ticket too, they need to make sure that they have sufficient battery power for the ride home,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Don Orseno.
Don’t have tickets? There’s no need to worry if you don’t want to spend the nearly $400 for a four-day wristband. Have fun with “Couch-a-palooza!”
Here are some of the acts that you can see through the web, courtesy of Red Bull:
Sugar Grove Corn Boil
Date: Thursday, July 28 – Sunday, July 31
Time:
Location: Volunteer Park 85 South Main Street in Sugar Grove
The Sugar Grove Corn Boil is a volunteer run, community event, featuring three family friendly and fun filled days.
Family Fun including Carnival rides, live music, Kids Zone, Business Booths, Art Vendors, Food, beer, Water Fights, 5K, Farmers Market, contests, raffles, used book sale, and BINGO.
The event also has a Pokemon Go Meetup scheduled, and the annual 5k Run/Walk. Register here!
DuPage County Fair
Date: Wednesday, July 27 – Sunday, July 31
Location: DuPage County Fairgrounds
Live music including “The Voice” Contestant, Michael Lynch and a Sock Hop with the Neverly Brothers.
Catch events uncommon of the area such as rodeos, animal expos and a demolition derby!
The Tall Ships at Navy Pier
Date: Wednesday, July 27 – Sunday, July 31
Time: During Navy Pier open hours
Location: Navy Pier, Chicago
From the website: One of Navy Pier’s most recognized events, Pepsi® Tall Ships®, makes its exciting return to Chicago from July 27 – July 31 2016. This year, the event will feature a majestic fleet of 13+ international vessels.*
The five-day festival kicks off at Navy Pier with a spectacular Parade of Sail on Wednesday, July 27. Then, starting Thursday, July 28, ticketed guests will have the opportunity to view, tour, and even sail away on participating vessels.
Chicago Margarita Festival
Date: Saturday, July 30 – Sunday, July 31
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 8 :00 p.m.
Location: South Shore Cultural Center
Tickets must be purchased, and participants must be over 21 years of age.
Chicago Margarita Festival is an outdoor festival combining a margarita tasting with live original music, dancing, food trucks and fun! What better way to spend the day lounging with friends on Lake Michigan, listening to music and more! So, join us for a fun day off the beach.
National Cheesecake Day – Celebrations at ALL Mariano’s Stores
Date: Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31
Time: 12:00 p.m. each day
Location: All Mariano’s Locations
This FREE event is at ALL Chicagoland Mariano’s locations.
Free Strawberry Topped Cheesecake samples will be available while supplies last, so get there for noon!
There is also a chance to win cheesecake for a year.
For more details visit: www.elischeesecake.com/marianosnccd
Other Events Around the Area
CTA and Public Transit Weekend Alerts
Increased Capacity, More Frequent Service for Lollapalooza
(info from transitchicago.com)
Red Line
Thu and Fri: Longer trains will operate until 2am next day. Trains will operate between 95th/Dan Ryan and Howard every 6 minutes from 6pm to 11:59pm.
Sat and Sun: Longer trains will operate until 2am next day. Trains will operate between 95th/Dan Ryan and Howard every 6 minutes from 6:30pm to 11:59pm, Saturday, and every 6-8 minutes from 6:30pm to 11:59pm, Sunday.
Brown Line
Thu and Fri: Longer trains will operate until 1am next day, Trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop every 8 minutes from 10pm to 11pm.
Sat and Sun: Longer trains will operate until 1am next day. Trains will operate between Kimball and the Loop every 8 minutes from 6:30pm to 11pm, Saturday and every 10 minutes from 9:30pm to11pm, Sunday.
Green Line
Thu to Sun: Longer trains will operate until 1am next day.
Orange Line
Thu to Sun: Longer trains will operate until 1am next day. Trains will operate between Midway and the Loop every 10 minutes from 8:30pm to 9:30pm and every 8 minutes from 9:30pm to 11pm, Thursday and Friday; every 10 minutes from 8:30pm to 11pm, Saturday; and every 10 minutes from 9:30pm to 11pm, Sunday.
Blue Line
Thu and Fri: Longer trains will operate until 11:59pm. Trains will operate between Forest Park and O’Hare every 8 minutes from 7pm to 11:30pm.
Sat and Sun: Longer trains will operate until 11:59pm. Trains will operate between Forest Park and O’Hare every 6 – 12 minutes from 8:30pm to 11pm, Saturday, and every 8 minutes from 9:30pm to 11pm, Sunday. Note: On Saturday, some trips will operate between O’Hare and UIC-Halsted stations only. Listen carefully to train announcements.
Pink Line
Thu and Fri: Trains will operate between 54th/Cermak and the Loop every 12 minutes from 9pm to 11pm.
Yellow Line
Thu through Sun: Trains will operate between Dempster-Skokie and Howard every 15 minutes from 11:59pm to 1am next day.
Why is service being changed?
Added service is being provided for the convenience of customers attending the Lollapalooza event.
Metra is offering $20-four day Lollapalooza passes which is available for purchase at all ticket windows, including all downtown and outlying stations, and through the Ventra app.
Traffic Restrictions & Road Projects
Closures in place for Lollapalooza:
-Columbus between Monroe & Roosevelt
-Congreess between Columbus & Michigan Avenue
-Balbo from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive
-Jackson from Michigan to Lake Shore Drive
Fiesta del Sol in Pilsen – Cermak will be closed between Ashland and Morgan, Thursday thru Sunday.
Jefferson Park – Lawrence Ave Between Milwaukee Ave and Long Ave closed for Jeff Fest
Whiting, In – Pierogi Fest – 119th St at Indianapolis Blvd closed
Navy Pier to get a hotel
(CHICAGO) Add hotel destination to the list of identities Navy Pier has taken on since Chicago’s famous lakefront attraction was built 100 years ago.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Sunday that construction of the hotel will begin in 2017 and be completed in the second half of 2018, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.
The five-story, 200-room hotel will be built next to the Festival Hall near the end of the Pier, and, for the first time, will allow visitors to spend the night, according to the mayor’s office.
A preliminary design of a glass-and-steel structure with balconies for each room has been put together by architect Jackie Koo, who designed the Wit hotel at 201 N. State.
“This new hotel will be a key part of the transformation and our efforts to bring 55 million visitors to Chicago annually by 2020, generating jobs and economic opportunity throughout Chicago’s neighborhoods,” Emanuel said in the release.
Navy Pier was a naval training facility during World War II. Afterward it served as a branch of the University of Illinois. And after years of neglect, it was transformed into one of Chicago’s top tourist destinations.
The hotel plan comes on the heels of another recent announcement: In 2015, Chicago set a record for domestic tourism, drawing 50.97 million visitors.
The hotel is projected to cost $90 million and will not require taxpayer money, the mayor’s office said. No brand name has been chosen for the hotel, which will be developed by and operated by Chicago-based First Hospitality Group. The group owns 19 hotels in Illinois under banners such as Hyatt, Hilton, Holiday Inn and Marriott.
“The hotel will provide a unique place to stay in Chicago year round — not to mention breathtaking and unparalleled views of the Pier, lake and city,” Marilynn Gardner, Navy Pier Inc. president and CEO, said in the release.
The hotel project, part of Navy Pier’s Centennial Vision, which aims to reimagine the Pier, is expected to create 300 construction jobs and 200 permanent jobs, according to the release.
Last year, the Pier unveiled its new 196-foot Ferris wheel, almost 50 feet higher than the one it replaced.
More than 8 million people visit Navy Pier annually. It is billed as the top-attended leisure destination in the Midwest.
The Pier stretches more than six city blocks and contains 50 acres of parks, restaurants, retail shops, sightseeing and dining cruise boats and exposition facilities.
Body of missing 21-year-old woman pulled from Lake Michigan
(CHICAGO) A body pulled from Lake Michigan near Navy Pier Saturday afternoon has been identified as a 21-year-old woman who was reported missing more than a month ago.
The Chicago Police Marine Unit responded to a call of a person in the water at 4:20 p.m. near the pier at 600 E. Grand Ave. and recovered the body of a female, according to Chicago Police.
She has since been identified as 21-year-old Jessica Suarez, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.
Suarez was reported missing after she left her home about 6 a.m. on Feb. 24 in the 6100 block of North Talman and never returned, according to police. Her car was later found unoccupied and parked at 5100 N. Simmons Dr. on the lakefront.
An autopsy did not immediately rule on Suarez’s cause and manner of death pending further investigation, according to the medical examiner’s office.
Navy Pier: Last Spin for the Ferris Wheel
By Nick Gale, WLS News
(CHICAGO) It was the final go-around Sunday night for the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier and crews started taking it down today.
It’s being replaced with a taller wheel that will stand 196-feet when it debuts in 2016.
Jen Kramer, director of special events for Navy Pier, tells the Big John Howell Show on WLS that the new wheel coincides with Navy Pier’s 100th anniversary.Listen to the John Howell Show podcast here.
“It certainly has been an icon on the Chicago skyline for [20] years and we just felt it fitting that it was time to make a slight upgrade and certainly welcome lots of [Chicago area residents] and international guests back with a bigger and better wheel next year,” Kramer said.
Kramer says say the new ride will last 12 minutes where the old ride was seven minutes in length. The new ride will also feature several safety enhancements. Some 30,000 people lined up over the weekend for a last ride
@ 2015 WLS News
Navy Pier boosts security after Friday brawl
(Chicago) Navy Pier has boosted security after a pregnant female was hospitalized and five people were arrested during a wild Friday night fracas at the popular tourist destination, the Sun-Times is reporting.
“We had a significant number of unruly teens who came to the pier and unfortunately ruined it for some of the other people who were having a great time,” Navy Pier spokesman Nick Shields said Monday of the disturbance at 7:45 p.m. Friday.
Police and witnesses have said anywhere from 30 to 100 brawling youths stormed through the pier’s Winter WonderFest, which is billed as a family-friendly event.
With the new security measures in place, anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by a parent or guardian, Shields said. Anyone 18 or older must show a photo ID when purchasing tickets to enter the 170,000-square-foot playground, which features rides, giant slides and an indoor skating rink.
Shields also said additional security guards will be working at the 14th annual event, which runs through Jan. 11. He declined to discuss specifics of the updated security plan.
This is not the first time mobs of teenagers have wreaked havoc in tourist-friendly areas of downtown. Beat cops have taken to call such events “wildings.”
And two other similar disturbances broke out over the weekend, though one was at a mall the southwest suburb of Chicago Ridge. There, a large group of young shoppers rampaged through the mall on Saturday night. One witness described it as a “riot.”
Then, early Sunday, a group of younger-looking people fought inside River North’s iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll McDonald’s, bashing themselves and restaurant décor with chairs.
The fight was captured on video and posted to YouTube, though police said no arrests had been made as of Monday night.
–Sun-Times
© Copyright 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC
Boy injured in fight outside Navy Pier
photo credit: NVP News Video
(Chicago) A boy was taken to the hospital Sunday night after he got into a fight with as many as four other people outside Navy Pier.
The boy, whose exact age was not immediately known, got into the altercation with three to four other males about 10:15 p.m. outside Navy Pier in the 600 block of East Grand Avenue, said police News Affairs Officer Janel Sedevic.
He suffered “minor scrapes and bruises” and was taken in good condition to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Sedevic said.
The Pier, which is hosting Winter Wonderfest, an annual holiday festival, was closed at the time.
No property was damaged and no gunshots were fired, police said.
© Copyright 2014 Sun-Times Media, LLC
