Posted by Andrew Hickey on Mar 10, 2010 in
Travel 
From time to time I like to write some interesting tidbits about a particular location. I gather up 25 interesting (and odd) facts that are sure to educate, enlighten and kill some time while at your work desk. Previously I covered U.S. States New York and California, but for this post I went with one of my favorite cities to visit – Chicago. Enjoy!
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Chicago offers locals and guests about 40 museums, more than 150 theaters and over 6,000 restaurants!
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Harold Washington Library Center is the world’s largest public library with a collection of more than 2 million books.
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Move over Krakow and Greenpoint, because after Warsaw, Chicago has the largest Polish population.
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Chicago River is the only river in the world that flows backwards.
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The Windy City, Chi-Town, the Second City, the City of Big Shoulders, and the City That Works are just some of Chicago’s many nicknames.
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Did you know that the infamous “Route 66″ starts in Chicago at Grant Park on Adams Street in front of the Art Institute of Chicago?
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The metropolitan Chicago area is home to over 30 Fortune 500 companies!
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In 1893 at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, the Ferris Wheel debuted.
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Encircled by the elevated (‘L’) train tracks, Chicago’s downtown area is simply called “The Loop.”
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Chicago is home to one of only three major free zoos in the United States – the Lincoln Park Zoo.
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Lincoln Park Zoo is the country’s oldest public zoo with an annual attendance of roughly three million.
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Four states are visible from the Willis Tower (aka Sears Tower) Skydeck (Indiana, Illinois, Michigan & Wisconsin).
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Montgomery Ward & Co. founded the first mail-order business in 1872.
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Sorry Big Apple. but Chicago’s Home Insurance Company built the first skyscraper in 1885.
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In 1930, Chicago opened the Western Hemisphere’s first ever planetarium called The Adler Planetarium.
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Dr. Bernard Fantus opened the nation’s first blood bank at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital in 1937.
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Couch potatoes can thank Chicago because the remote control was invented there in 1950.
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On September 26, 1960, John Fitzgerald Kennedy and Richard Milhouse Nixon were apart of the first televised U.S. presidential candidates’ debate. It took place at Chicago’s CBS Studios.
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Roller skates rolled onto the scene in 1884 in Chicago.
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The Twinkie was invented in Chicago in 1930.
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The first ever daytime soap opera was filmed in Chicago and televised in 1949. The show “These are my Children” only lasted a few weeks before being canceled.
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The drive-through bank opened on November 12, 1946, in Chicago.
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But Chicago has played a vital role as the setting for some of televisions most memorable shows. They include “Chicago Hope,” “ER,” “Perfect Strangers,” “The Bob Newhart Show,” “According to Jim,” “Family Matters,” and “Married with Children.”
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The band Chicago actually was formed in Oakland, California. Kidding…they were in fact formed in Chicago, one of the many bands that named themselves after popular destinations (i.e. Boston, America, Kansas etc.).
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The name Chicago is derived from an Algonquin word “Chigagou,” which translates to “onion field.” So why was it called that? Basically it is pretty self explanatory, lots of onions grew on fields where the city was formed. Hence the name.
Tags: chicago, facts, illinois, Travel
Posted by Andrew Hickey on Mar 8, 2010 in
Guest Nomad,
Travel
Polish Four Man Bobsled Team
This week’s “Guest Nomad” is Amy Pflughaupt. Amy grew up in St. Louis and travels as much as she can in her free time. On her trips, she loves finding the best local coffee and spending time near the ocean. Amy recently returned from a visit to Vancouver to check out the 2010 Winter Olympics. Here is a small recap of her trip.
The Olympics are a grand gathering centered around sports. But as travelers we should appreciate it as a nation’s opportunity to show us everything it has to offer and to teach us about what makes it unique. By doing so it might give us a reason to visit it one day.
Canada definitely took advantage of those opportunities. After spending five days there for the Winter Games late last month, I know I’ll be back again soon.
The public transportation in Vancouver is impressive. It was clean, on-time, and was well-lit with lots of security and volunteers to help you find your way. This was a critical part of making the Olympics the success they were for the Canadians, as it made it easy for spectators to get around in a timely manner and it kept more cars off the roads which cut down on gridlock and pollution.
In between attending Olympic events at Cypress Mountain, Whistler, and BC Place, we relaxed at a couple of excellent Vancouver eateries. First, we tried Lift Bar and Grill near Stanley Park. Even for lunch, it had a great wine list and a great menu. I had the salmon and capped it with a delicious glass of ice wine, the dessert drink Canada has made famous.
Later in the week, we took the advice of a local and ate dinner at the InterContinental restaurant on West Cordova, a place with great ambiance, huge televisions, and excellent sweet potato fries.
And finally, after arriving early at Whistler for the last alpine event, we stumbled upon the Southside Diner. It was a tiny place, but they’ll make one of their famous egg scrambles however you’d like it and their coffee hit the spot on a bleary-eyed morning,
Coffee is something that Vancouver takes seriously and every cup we tried at every restaurant was excellent, especially as we were running around the city, taking in the sights and trying to soak up the Olympic atmosphere as much as we could.
Commercial Drive is especially famous for its countless cafes and coffeehouses. After our last day at Whistler, we tried as many of the coffee places as we could in an hour. We were able to get to seven, a couple of the Italian places and a couple of the free trade cafes. J. J. Bean had great atmosphere and great coffee, but it was Café Calabria that had the most robust and unique tasting espresso I’ve ever tried.
After spending four years planning this trip to the Olympic Games in Vancouver, our short time there lived up to all of my expectations. The city and its people did an amazing job and welcomed all of its visitors with enthusiastic hospitality that we’ll always remember.
If anyone is thinking of planning a trip to a future Olympics and would like help in doing so, feel free to email me, it’s a bigger task than it may look! You can also follow me on Twitter!
Tags: canada, olympics, vancouver
Posted by Andrew Hickey on Mar 7, 2010 in
Travel
Malibu, California sunset
Tags: california, malibu, sunset, Travel
Posted by Andrew Hickey on Mar 6, 2010 in
Travel
Little house at the end of the pier in the Costanera Norte. (Flickr/J)
Tags: argentina, buenos, costanera norte
Posted by Andrew Hickey on Mar 5, 2010 in
Travel
Atlantic Avenue Tunnel
A stroll down Times Square, a walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, and a visit to the Empire State Building are the typical locations people check out when visiting New York City. While there is nothing wrong with playing the role of a tourist in the Big Apple, you might want to take a break from the norm and check out these three unique views of the city that never sleeps.
230 Fifth (230 Fifth Avenue): The Empire State Building and the Top of the Rock might offer some spectacular panoramic views of New York City, but do they offer a delicious brunch, a year-round heated outdoor bar, and a rooftop garden? Well, if your looking to check out Manhattan from the view of a bird (with an adult beverage or two in hand), 230 Fifth is a “must visit” for any visitor. With rave reviews from the likes of the New York Times and NBC New York as the best rooftop view in all of Manhattan, this is by far one of the coolest places to get away from it all down below and get sauced in the process over brunch (a win, win in my opinion). In order to splurge here you might consider staying at the super-affordable Gershwin Hotel nearby.
The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel (Atlantic Avenue and Court Street): Did you know that the world’s oldest subway tunnel is not accessible via a train? Instead, you will have to meet up with a group at a corner in Brooklyn for a tour that starts off with a climb down a manhole. The once monthly 90-minute trek through the 166-year-old half-mile long abandoned tunnel is narrated by guide Bob Diamond. You will learn a lot along the way from Diamond about the history and one-time importance of the station that was supposed to link New York and Boston. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes (no high heels ladies) and to bring a flashlight. After wandering around underground, come up for air and and check-in down the road at the Nu Hotel.
Staten Island Ferry: (1 State Street Plaza): Many Big Apple insiders still consider the Staten Island Ferry as one of the best and affordable ways (it’s free!) to get an awesome view of Manhattan’s skyline. The Staten Island Ferry might be used mostly as a means of transportation each weekday morning and evening for thousands of Staten Island residents working in Manhattan, but it is also an enjoyable ride for visitors to the area by way of the Upper New York Bay. The five mile water ride takes about 30 minutes each way, so you can enjoy a fun day with family and friends, get that spectacular snapshot, and still be back in time to enjoy plenty of other attractions around the city. The ferry departs in Manhattan at South Ferry, so for a walkable hotel nearby check out the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park or the Wall Street Inn.
Tags: brooklyn, new york, Travel
