The “Madhouse” Architecture of Chicago Stadium
The old Chicago Stadium stood on the Near West Side for nearly 60 years until the United Center replaced it. Known as the “Madhouse on Madison” because of its rollicking crowds, the venue hosted the Blackhawks, Bulls, national political conventions, and even an NFL playoff game. Because of its architectural design, it had deafening acoustics and vertiginous […]
The Story Behind Chicago’s Downtown Office Space
We are currently in the market for Chicago downtown office space because we must leave Chicago Detours’ home for the past 5 years. We’ve been in the historic Bennett Brothers Building at Adams and Wabash. I’ve always like this cool retro ceiling in the lobby. Time for a New Space We have to move because of the changing […]
Personal Stories from “A Century at Wrigley Field”
This year the Chicago Cubs are celebrating 100 years at Wrigley Field. In honor of the centenary, I’ve reviewed a new book titled Cubs 100: A Century at Wrigley. It’s a collection of personal stories and anecdotes from the millions who have watched the Cubbies play at the Friendly Confines. Three stories struck me as particularly resonant examples of […]
Hidden History of Cabrini Shrine in Lincoln Park
The Mother Cabrini Shrine in Lincoln Park is a perfect example of the kind of surprises you run into when wandering Chicago. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was a Roman Catholic saint who worked in Chicago. Many Chicagoans associate the Cabrini name with the infamous Cabrini-Green public housing project, but that’s a couple miles south of here. […]
Saturated Landscape Detour Wrap-Up
Last Saturday we had our “Saturated Landscape” art opening and tour collaboration with Azimuth Projects and it was a grand success. People filtered in around 2pm to check-in and get their hot chocolate and hand warmers for the 2:15pm sold-out tour of ordinary landscapes in the neighborhood. The hot chocolate, from Katherine Anne Confections, was […]
The Story Behind the Chicago-Style Hot Dog
The Chicago-style hot dog…there are plenty of places in Chicago to grab one, and we each have our favorite. Before I share a little tour of our Chicago dog options, let’s dig into some history of Chicago’s special spot in the world of encased meats. Chicago’s Meaty History It has a lot to do with […]
Visit the Chicago Neighborhood of Pilsen
Downtown Chicago is known for its business, shopping, and extraordinary architecture. But downtown holds little in the way of truly individualistic expression and a sense of community. For that, you may have to think outside the Loop and the Mag Mile. For that, you can travel a short ways southwest, to the Pilsen neighborhood of […]
Walking Tours of Chicago Questions Answered
We give walking tours of Chicago almost daily to locals and tourists alike. One of the many perks of my job as a tour guide is meeting so many curious people. Encouraging questions as much as we do means getting stumped every once in a while. Here are answers to some of those questions. Is […]
Candy and Community: Austin Neighborhood Architecture
The Austin neighborhood of Chicago has had some years of sweet glory. I mean that literally since a big candy factory once operated there. Austin is a primary example of a neighborhood that went through “white flight” in the ’50s. Because of that, the social and architectural make-up of the Austin neighborhood has dramatically changed […]
UIC Campus History: Part 1
Walking on the manicured lawns of the UIC campus, it’s easy to forget that this venue for higher education was not always here. Before I dig into to Brutalist architecture in Part 2, let’s talk about UIC campus history and this Chicago neighborhood. From the early 1900s through the 1960s, the area between Halsted, Roosevelt, […]
