Chicago

Steely skyscrapers, world-class museums and absurdly delicious food, Chicago is one of the most popular destinations in the world.

Known as the “Windy City”, Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois on the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. In Frank Sinatra’s words, “… And each time I roam, Chicago is calling me home, Chicago is why I just grin like a clown – It’s my kind of town…”.

With over 2.7 million residents, it is the third most populous city in the world. It is also the second largest economic center of the country. Global companies like McDonald’s, Groupon, Boeing, Kraft Heinz, Accenture, and Hyatt are all based in Chicago.

The destruction caused by the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 led to the largest building boom in the history of the nation. Today, Chicago’s skyline is among the worlds tallest and densest.

Architecture

Architecture is probably the most interesting feature of Chicago. From early days industrial structures to futuristic towers, the city and its powerful Chicago Architecture Foundation safeguard a unique heritage. Iconic architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, decorators like Tiffany, and visionary tycoons have shaped the city as we know it. A cruise on the Chicago River is a must to learn about the history of the city and its constant evolution towards the future.

Chicago boasts an array of iconic landmarks, including the Cloud Gate at the Millennium Park, Wrigley Field (home of Chicago Cubs, MLB team) and the Garfield Park Conservatory. But the one that literally stands tall of them all is the Willis Tower.

 The Willis Tower

The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower is the most remarkable landmarks in the city of Chicago. Completed in 1973, it held the position of the world’s tallest building for nearly 25 years.

The building was commissioned by Sears, Roebuck & Co, to be used as their headquarters and took three years and used enough concrete to make an eight-lane, five-mile-long highway. The last beam put in place was commemorated by the signatures of 12,000 construction workers, Sears employees, and Chicagoans. The Willis Tower’s observation deck – known as the Skydeck – is one of Chicago’s most popular attractions.

On a clear day the states of Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan can be seen from the Skydeck, but the most spectacular attraction at the Skydeck is ‘The Ledge’, a glass balcony extending 4.3 ft where you can look straight down at the city 413 meters below you.

Sports

Chicago is the home to some of the most famous professional sports teams in the world. The most notable of them all are the Chicago Bulls, and the Chicago Bears.

The Chicago Bulls are six times NBA (National Basketball Association) champions, having earned this feat between 1991 and 1998 with two three-peats (three consecutive championships). All six championship teams were led by Hall of Famers Michael “MJ” Jordan, Scottie “Pip” Pippen and coach Phil “Zen Master” Jackson.

Many experts and analysts consider the 1996 Bulls to be one of the greatest teams in NBA history. Their success in the 90s helped popularizing the NBA worldwide.

The Chicago Bears are considered as one of the benchmark teams in the NFL (National Football League) having crowned as champions for 9 times that include a Super Bowl title (1985).

The 1985 Chicago Bears are the unquestioned greatest team of the Super Bowl era. A defense that was nothing short of legendary and an underrated offense that actually finished second in the league in total points. The star studded Bears roster that won the Super Bowl XX included Walter ‘Sweetness’ Payton (Halfback) and Jim ‘Darth Vader’ McMahon (Quarterback), William ‘The Refrigerator’ Perry and Richard ‘The Sack Man’ Dent along with the coach Mike ‘Iron Mike’ Ditka.

Chicagoans

Chicago is home to some of the most iconic personals in the US history including,

Paul Harris – Rotary International Founder

Barack Obama – US President

Oprah Winfrey – TV Person and Entrepreneur

Walt Disney – Entrepreneur

Ernest Hemingway – Novelist

Robin Williams – Actor

Harrison Ford – Actor

Frank Lloyd Wright – Architect

Steve Carell – Actor

Tina Fey – Actress

and… Al Capone

Another icon is Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Hudson

Jennifer Kate Hudson, a singer, actress, and spokesperson rose to prominence through reality television series American Idol, where she finished at seventh.  Hudson made her film debut in Dreamgirls, for which she gained worldwide acclaim and garnered an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Her debut album Jennifer Hudson, debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold by the RIAA. The record was nominated for four Grammy Awards and exceeded a million sales worldwide. A well-known philanthropist Hudson has supported numerous charities and causes throughout her career which garnered her a Nat King Cole award in 2018.

Food

Chicago boasts fantastic restaurants and pubs like 3-Michelin star Alinea, regularly ranked second best restaurant in America, and Au Cheval, best burger in America. Chicago is also famous for delicious inventions like the Brownie.

The legend about the creation of brownies is linked to the luxurious Palmer House Hotel. In 1893 Palmer’s wife and prominent Chicago socialite asked a pastry chef for a dessert suitable for ladies attending the Chicago World’s Columbian Exposition. She requested a cake-like confection smaller than a piece of cake that could be enjoyed more casually than classic desserts. The result was the Palmer House Brownie with walnuts and an apricot glaze.

Deep Dish Pizza

Deep Dish Pizza is one of the many iconic foods in Chicago. Chicago-style deep dish pizza is baked in a deep dish cake pan which gives its characteristically high edge, leaving ample room for generous thick layers of cheese and tomato sauce. Unlike its regular, thin counterpart Deep Dish pizza is eaten with a fork and a knife due to its creamy consistency and it’s often hard crust.

Culture

Chicago constantly offers live performances at the Lyric Opera, through Broadway in Chicago, and outdoors at Millenium Park. The Windy City is also famous for the Adler Planetarium, the Shedd Aquarium, and the infamous Art Institute of Chicago.

Founded in 1879, it is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. Recognized for its curatorial efforts and popularity among visitors, the museum hosts approximately 1.5 million guests annually. Its collection includes iconic works such as Georges Seurat’s A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, Pablo Picasso’s The Old Guitarist, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, and Grant Wood’s American Gothic. Its permanent collection of nearly 300,000 works of art is augmented by more than 30 yearly special exhibitions. The Art Institute of Chicago has been crowned #1 Museum in the World by TripAdvisor.

Hidden gems like the Driehaus Museum and the National Museum of Mexican Art add to the colorful museum offering of the Windy City.

Rotaract In Chicago

The Rotaract Club of Chicago was established in 1992 and has served in over 30 international projects, local service projects, and raised over $75,000. Our volunteer numbers have grown year after year, representing up to 10 nationalities.

The Rotaract Club of Chicago is endorsed and supported by ROTARY/One, the first service club in the world.

Rotaract Club of Chicago