Sears Tower to pamper visitors

Sears Tower to pamper visitors THOMAS A. CORFMAN Published February 23, 2005 The venture that owns Sears Tower has hired a well-known local real estate firm to optimize the retailing and restaurant experience in the 110-story skyscraper. Key to the assignment is capitalizing on the roughly 1 million visitors who annually visit the tower's observation deck, said Bruce Kaplan, president of Northern Realty Group Ltd., which takes over leasing the building's 159,000 square feet of retail space on four levels. The Skydeck's separate entrance takes visitors to a lackluster lower level, where there are a ticket booth, souvenir shops and a viewing area for an introductory video. "During the peak tourist season, there can be very substantial wait times, and you can turn that from a tedious experience into an enjoyable one by adding interesting attractions, retailing and food," Kaplan said. The 103rd-floor Skydeck underwent a $4 million renovation in 2000, but the attraction was hurt by anxiety over the terrorist attacks. Skydeck revenues declined almost 10 percent, to $7.9 million, in 2001, the most recent year available, according to a summary prepared for financial analysts. Since then, attendance has bounced back, said Kaplan, who declined to comment about revenues. Restaurants and retailing accounted for just 6 percent of the tower's total revenues of $138.4 million in 2001, according to the summary. Security measures, put in place after Sept. 11, make visitors' access to the restaurants and retailers inconvenient, diminishing profitability. A venture that includes New York entrepreneur Joseph Chetrit bought the 3.81 million-square-foot building in April. MB to manage complex: Loeb Realty Partners LLC confirmed that it has awarded to MB Real Estate Services LLC the leasing and management of Michigan Plaza, two buildings totaling nearly 1.9 million square feet of space at 205 and 225 N. Michigan Ave. The coveted assignment is believed to be the third-largest office building management contract in downtown Chicago, behind only Sears Tower and Aon Center, said Peter Ricker, MB's chairman. New York-based Loeb put the contract up for bid after its January acquisition of the buildings, part of the Illinois Center complex. The contract, which sources said is worth at least $400,000 annually, not including leasing commissions, raises MB's downtown management portfolio to more than 8 million square feet. Charter One lease: Charter One Bank has signed a 10-year lease for 52,800 square feet of space at Hyatt Center, 71 S. Wacker Drive, said Jeffrey Liljeberg, a senior vice president with CB Richard Ellis Inc., which represented the Cleveland financial institution. The deal, which includes a first-floor, 2,600-square-foot branch bank, is mostly the result of business expansion by Charter One and its parent, Royal Bank of Scotland PLC. American Express mulls move: American Express Tax and Business Services Inc. is testing the market on a possible move from 1 S. Wacker Drive. Trammell Crow Co. is representing the accounting and consulting unit of the credit card giant. American Express currently leases 182,400 square feet, real estate research firm CoStar Group says. The lease expires in late 2006. American Express referred calls to Peter Livaditis, the Trammell Crow principal handling the assignment, who could not be reached for comment.>

New Mid-city transit proposals

This is from today's Sun Times. So let me get this right--they want to build a truck-only crosstown expressway and rapid transit along this route? Mid-City transit options explored August 26, 2005 BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter Advertisement Three years ago, Mayor Daley breathed new life into his father's unfulfilled dream of building a Crosstown Expy. The mayor talked about creating a mini-Crosstown for trucks only along railroad right-of-way to divert trucking behemoths now clogging Chicago expressways. A bus lane or rapid-transit line would also be studied, officials said. Now, consultants are fleshing out a portion of the mayor's vision. On Thursday, City Hall released studies examining the ridership and market potential for five mass-transit alternatives along what is known as the Mid-City Line. Three were CTA lines. One called for bus rapid transit. The fifth was a commuter rail line. The most popular alternative -- with a projected 95,280 riders a day -- would be a bus rapid-transit line between River Road and 95th Street. It would run along railroad right-of-way and surface streets using an "intelligent transportation system" to change traffic lights to green as buses approach. The high-speed bus line would be 29 miles long, with 35 stations. Seventeen of those miles would run along surface streets -- from River Road to Jefferson Park on the north and Cicero and 95th Street on the south. Truck route not included A close second, at 89,980 weekday riders, would be a CTA rapid-transit line from Jefferson Park all the way to 87th Street. With 20 stations and four park-and-ride lots, it would also be the "most effective" of the five alternatives in luring 28,500 motorists out of their cars. The one-way travel time would be 47 minutes. The north-south leg of the CTA rapid-transit line -- between Jefferson Park and Ford City -- would draw 48,000 riders on the average weekday. The east-west leg -- between Midway Airport and the USX site -- would attract 40,000 weekday riders. A commuter rail line between Jefferson Park and 95th and Cottage Grove would pale by comparison at 8,500 riders a day. That's apparently because there is no "fare integration" between CTA and Metra, there would be only 11 stations, and rush-hour trains would run at 15-minute intervals, compared with four minutes apart for the CTA. The $160,000 studies by Wilbur Smith Associates do not address construction costs, residential displacement or possible fares. Nor did the consultant analyze Daley's preferred alternative -- a truck-only route. A study on that is not expected to be done until early next year. Brian Steele, a spokesman for the city Department of Transportation, said the early results are encouraging enough to forge ahead. Roughly 760,000 people live within 1.25 miles of the right-of-way on either side. That's 26 percent of the city's population, the study shows. Fifty percent of the corridor's employment base is in the service sector; 30 percent is manufacturing. Fifty bus lines "cross perpendicular to" the Mid-City corridor. "The preliminary findings show there is strong potential for ridership," Steele said>

chicago moblogs?

http://chicago.textamerica.com/ is a moblog a tribune designer... he has some nice shots of randomness in chicago. does anybody know of any other ones? or maybe a community one so i can send some in?>

America's favorite cities

This is a comprehensive survey conducted by Travel & Leisure magazine on 25 most popular US cities. It seems visitors give our city good marks on categories such as Activities, Family Trips, Getting Around, People and Sightseeing. Activities (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. New York 2. San Francisco 3. Chicago 4. Honolulu 5. Miami 6. San Diego 7. New Orleans 8. Las Vegas 9. Orlando 10. Seattle 11. San Antonio 12. Los Angeles 13. San Juan 14. Nashville 15. Tampa/St. Petersburg 16. Washington, D.C. 17. Boston 18. Portland 19. Santa Fe 20. Twin Cities 21. Austin 22. Denver 23. Phoenix/Scottsdale 24. Philadelphia 25. Houston Family Trips (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. New York 2. San Diego 3. Chicago 4. San Francisco 5. Orlando 6. San Antonio 7. Los Angeles 8. Honolulu 9. Tampa/St. Petersburg 10. Philadelphia 11. Seattle 12. Houston 13. Boston 14. Denver 15. Washington, D.C. 16. Portland 17. San Juan 18. Twin Cities 19. Phoenix/Scottsdale 20. Miami 21. Austin 22. Nashville 23. Las Vegas 24. Santa Fe 25. New Orleans Holidays & Seasons (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. San Diego 2. Honolulu 3. Portland 4. San Juan 5. San Francisco 6. San Antonio 7. Orlando 8. Tampa/St. Petersburg 9. Boston 10. Seattle 11. Santa Fe 12. Nashville 13. Chicago 14. New York 15. Denver 16. New Orleans 17. Philadelphia 18. Las Vegas 19. Washington, D.C. 20. Miami 21. Twin Cities 22. Austin 23. Los Angeles 24. Phoenix/Scottsdale 25. Houston People (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. Honolulu 2. Austin 3. Santa Fe 4. San Antonio 5. San Diego 6. Chicago 7. Seattle 8. San Francisco 9. Nashville 10. Portland 11. San Juan 12. Twin Cities 13. Las Vegas 14. New York 15. New Orleans 16. Miami 17. Boston 18. Orlando 19. Denver 20. Tampa/St. Petersburg 21. Phoenix/Scottsdale 22. Houston 23. Los Angeles 24. Philadelphia 25. Washington, D.C. Romance (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. Honolulu 2. San Juan 3. San Francisco 4. New Orleans 5. Miami 6. Las Vegas 7. New York 8. San Diego 9. San Antonio 10. Santa Fe 11. Tampa/St. Petersburg 12. Seattle 13. Chicago 14. Portland 15. Orlando 16. Denver 17. Boston 18. Nashville 19. Phoenix/Scottsdale 20. Austin 21. Los Angeles 22. Philadelphia 23. Twin Cities 24. Houston 25. Washington, D.C. Quality of Life (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. Honolulu 2. San Diego 3. Santa Fe 4. Tampa/St. Petersburg 5. San Antonio 6. Austin 7. Denver 8. Phoenix/Scottsdale 9. Orlando 10. Portland 11. Nashville 12. Twin Cities 13. Seattle 14. San Juan 15. San Francisco 16. Las Vegas 17. Miami 18. Chicago 19. Boston 20. Washington, D.C. 21. New Orleans 22. New York 23. Houston 24. Philadelphia 25. Los Angeles Sightseeing (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. Washington, D.C. 2. New York 3. Philadelphia 4. Boston 5. Chicago 6. Santa Fe 7. San Francisco 8. San Antonio 9. New Orleans 10. San Juan 11. Nashville 12. Austin 13. Seattle 14. San Diego 15. Honolulu 16. Portland 17. Denver 18. Houston 19. Los Angeles 20. Twin Cities 21. Tampa/St. Petersburg 22. Phoenix/Scottsdale 23. Miami 24. Las Vegas 25. Orlando Getting Around (Overall) Scores according to VISITORS 1. Portland 2. Honolulu 3. San Francisco 4. Chicago 5. San Diego 6. New Orleans 7. Twin Cities 8. New York 9. San Antonio 10. Washington, D.C. 11. Nashville 12. Las Vegas 13. Philadelphia 14. Seattle 15. Santa Fe 16. Boston 17. Denver 18. Tampa/St. Petersburg 19. San Juan 20. Austin 21. Phoenix/Scottsdale 22. Miami 23. Orlando 24. Los Angeles 25. Houston http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/results.cfm?#>

90/94 ramp closures

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/l...l=chi-news-hed Washington's ramps onto Kennedy to close Workers to rebuild boulevard viaduct over expressway By Jon Hilkevitch Tribune transportation reporter Published September 2, 2005 The tricky left-side entrance ramps to the Kennedy Expressway at Washington Boulevard will be permanently closed next week in an effort to reduce rear-end and side-swipe collisions involving vehicles merging onto one of the busiest highways in the nation, officials said Thursday. Elimination of the Washington entrance ramps on both sides of the Kennedy (Interstate Highway 90/94) is also expected to improve traffic flow for the 260,000 drivers who use the downtown stretch of the expressway each weekday. There are a total of 23 entrance and exit ramps in an eight-block downtown section of the Kennedy. The Washington entrance ramp closure is the first since the expressway, originally named the Northwest Expressway, was completed in 1960 to provide a direct route from the Congress Expressway (later renamed the Eisenhower Expressway) to O'Hare International Airport. The sequence of center ramps spaced about every block results in a nerve-wracking rush-hour commute. Drivers often merge dangerously from the entrance ramps into expressway traffic or they must hit the brakes suddenly or swerve to avoid being struck by a merging vehicle. "It's a disaster out there. I recommend doing away with all the left-side entrance ramps," said Steve Helpern of Glencoe, a regular Kennedy commuter who said he always drives one lane over on the right to avoid vehicles entering from the center ramps. "Drivers are forced to merge as soon as they come down the hill. Why those ramps weren't removed years ago is beyond me," added Helpern, 65. The work, which starts Tuesday, also will involve rebuilding the Washington Boulevard viaduct over the Kennedy, according to the Chicago Department of Transportation. The viaduct will close to traffic Tuesday and reopen in late December or early January, officials said. The change means that drivers who normally enter the Kennedy at Washington will instead need to go north to the Randolph Street ramp or south to the Madison Street ramp, both of which are also center-of-expressway entrance ramps. The Washington exit ramps, located on the right side of the expressway lanes, will remain open. Removal of the Washington entrance ramps will be followed early next year by the elimination of the entrance ramps at Monroe Street, a move expected to further reduce weaving and sudden stops, officials said. "Having ramps in such close proximity oftentimes doesn't allow ample space for vehicles to complete their merge. Creating additional spacing for merging traffic will provide a benefit in terms of traffic flow and safety," said Brian Steele, a spokesman for the city Transportation Department. About 450 accidents occur annually on the Kennedy within a quarter mile of the Washington entrance ramps, said Mike Claffey, spokesman for the Illinois Department of Transportation. Seven people died in two fatal crashes in 2000, he said. Sixty-six people were injured in 425 accidents near the Washington entrance ramps in 2003, the latest year for which data are available. Officials said there are no plans to remove the center entrance ramps at Randolph, Madison or Adams Streets or Jackson Boulevard, but the Washington project will provide a longer merge area on the nearby entrance ramps. City and state transportation officials had been studying whether to close some of the Kennedy's center entrance ramps since the 1980s because hundreds of accidents each year are linked to the 1950s roadway design built to handle much less traffic. The state conducted an experimental closure of six Kennedy entrance and exit ramps between Washington and Adams in the late 1990s. The plan was dropped after criticism from residents and merchants that the closings made it more difficult for drivers to reach certain neighborhoods, including Greektown, and caused an increase in traffic congestion on major cross-streets that intersect the Kennedy. The reconstructed Washington Boulevard viaduct will look similar to the recently rebuilt bridge at Madison Street. In addition to a new bridge deck, it will feature decorative red railings, new sidewalks and brighter lighting, officials said. During construction, the recommended detour is south on Halsted Street, east on Madison, south on Desplaines Street, east on Monroe, north on Jefferson Street back to Washington, city transportation officials said. No CTA bus routes will be affected, although one bus stop will change. The No. 20 Madison stop will move from the northeast corner of Halsted and Madison to the southeast corner. ---------- jhilkevitch@tribune.com im sure ill be the only one angered by this i always thought the numerous ramps and bridges on the Kennedy just south of Hubbard's Cave was impressive, and its always fun taking the on ramps going south, and being told that not only do you have 500 ft to merge, but that the right lane you would merge into also closes in another 1,000 ft. Traffic moves at a crawl, and it really gives you a 'big city' feel driving that stretch. It always amazes out of towners en route from O'Hare. I know... its for saftey reasons. But i still say the hell with that. Keep the ramps. Put up signs that say "Idiots Use the -safe- ramp at Roosevelt Rd" for Hick McMoron and his John Deere that can't merge for shit. [/Rant] >

Feb 27th is Kanye West day

http://www.wgci.com/custom/kanyeday/kanye-day.html The office of Mayor Daley (big suprise) and WGCI officially proclaim Feb 27th to be Kanye West day! Free concert at the HOB with special guests. Doors open at 5 PM. >

For Sox, maybe Cubs weren't the issue

In baseball, more so than other sports, some teams transcend the majority. It may be that they have had unbelievable success. Or perhaps a long, colorful history. They might play in a vintage ball park. And they may represent a major city. It might be their rabid fan base than makes them known. And draw in out-of-towners to enhance that base. That select group would include the Yankees, Red Sox, Cubs, and Cardinals. And maybe the Dodgers. But the vast majority of MLB teams are just working class Joes. Their success in the box office is highly dependent on their success on the field. When theyÂ're playing well, people come out to see them play in droves; when theyÂ're not, there may be quite a view games with empty upper decks. The White Sox are part of the majority. And for all our analysis of the Sox and how they compare with the Cubs (NL vs. AL, North Side vs. South, Wrigley vs. Cell, Tribune vs. Reinsdorf, white collar vs. blue, etc.), perhaps we lose sight of the fact that interest in the White Sox and the attendance they generate puts them methaphorically in the Â"same ball parkÂ" with most other MLB franchises. Look, the Cubs will put asses in the seat no matter where they are in the standings with yuppies and a whole slew of young adults who are going to have Budweiser fun at the old ball park no matter how the Cubs are playing. Out -of-towners stream into town and want to see Wrigley. For Cub interest and Cub attendance, throw out the records. They draw. Just like Boston. But most MLB teams (including the Sox) cannot rely on Cub cuteness to draw. Most are like you and me....we need to experience success to be successful. So with the Cubs aside, how can you explain the weak interest in the Sox down through the years? No AL team has gone as long without a WS championship as the Sox in 1917. Since 1959 virtually every AL team has appeared in the WS with the exceptions of Tampa Bay, Texas, and Seattle (which didnÂ't even exist in 1959. In fact, out of MLB's sixteen original francises, the only one who has gone longer without a WS appearance is the Cubs. ThatÂ's futility, folks. With no ivy, absense of lights, or cool lakefront neighborhood to soften the blow. This is, however, is a new day. The Sox won a pennant and whether they play the Cards or Astros, you know they will be damned competive in the series. And even without a world championship, next yearÂ's season ticket sales and interest in the team will be exceedingly high. If the Sox have really turned a corner, they wonÂ't have to look at the Cubs through their rear view mirrors. Like any other of that vast majority of baseball teams, success on the field will translate into success at the box office. No matter what happens on the North Side of Chicago.>

is our paradigm off the mark on burgeoning Chinatown?

It seems like when we Chicagoans compare our Chinatown to those in other cities, we have a need to reluctantly add "it's not that large" or "it's not that major". Is that assessment realistic at a time when Chinatown's precious real estate is constantly under residential redevelopment, the neighborhood longs since has broken its boundaries and headed south into Bridgeport, parking is virtually impossible to find, new and exciting projects are announced, and China itself has taken a huge interest in Chicago. Look, I'm not saying our Chinatown is on par with SF, LA, NY. But in the US, ours would still have to be listed among the true major league Chinatowns today and in the future, even more so. Should we be seeing Chinatown in a different light today?>

What type of global city?

What type of global city do you envision (or want) Chicago to be? If you had a choice of either of the following paths, what would you choose: • the city continuing on its current path of massive development, but development with low density components and a steady rate of growth • a more massive NYC type of growth: far greater density, much greater increase in population, perhaps more transient in nature because of it In other words, do you prefer the current steady growth and ability to control the environment while still offering a full range of urban amenities -or- a higher paced, denser, more congested and less under controls of our own environment thatwe've been able to keep in place here (that NYC hasn't)>

Field's, Macy's, State....and CARSONS?

I've got one of those gut reactions on whether Marshall Field's will remain as such, or becomes Macy's. I have to admit, that gut reaction is strong and I'm going to express it with confidence: Federated's surveys and other public disclosue about a name change for Field's is just a charade. But not necessarily the charade you may be thinking. My sense is, by putting the issue out there, they will be providing evidence for those in the corporation who had any doubt that turning Field's into Macy's not only a bad move, but a suicidal one in the Chicago market. Why would a company interested in making money make such a counterproductive move. My bet (and I'm actually beginning to think this one is relatively safe): they don't. That said, here's a question that might be interesting to consider if in fact Federated shoots itself in the foot and plasters "Macy's" above the clock at State and Washington. What effect would such a move have on Carson Pirie Scott? Carson's for so many years was Field's little brother. During its hey day, it, too, was a high profile department store in a high profile building. It offered promotion with flair and while not Field's, it kept Field's on its toes. OK, I know this isn't the age of department stores. Still. Would a pissed off Chicago public, angered by a name change at Field's, walk a block south on State and fully embrace Carsons, elevate Carsons if you will, as an in-your-face Chicago department store staring Macy's eye ball to eye ball? Or is Carsons glory days so far gone that such a ground swell of emotion just won't happen?>

Life inside the BP oil refinery in Hammond

This is sort-of an article about something else, but I thought it was just kinda interesting and thought I'd post it here. For any of you who've driven by this thing and wondered about it. http://www.post-trib.com/cgi-bin/pto...1_news_01.html Company considers Whiting, Texas plants as sites for its $1 billion expansion project Oct. 16, 2005 by lisa shidler / Post-Tribune staff writer At night, the stretch of land straddling the Indiana Toll Road looks like an enchanting city of twinkling skyscrapers. But during the day, it screams industry. In some respects, the BP Whiting refinery is both — a symbol of industrial strength, yet also a city all to itself. Its metal grid-work and 220 oil tanks pique the curiosity of passersby. ItÂ's a mystery to many of those in Northwest Indiana whoÂ've never set foot inside the 1,400-acre plant. In just one day, the refinery produces enough gasoline to fuel 430,000 automobiles, more than 10,000 farm tractors 22,000 semitractors, 2,000 commercial jet liners and enough fuel to fill 350,000 propane cylinders. ItÂ's a massive collaboration, and itÂ's as much a part of this region as Lake Michigan, the dunes or the steel mills along the shore. And it could get bigger. Planning for an expansion that could cost more than $1 billion is in the works at what is already the nationÂ's largest inland refinery. ItÂ's not yet a sure deal, though. Company officials also are considering building that expansion at the Texas City refinery. Whiting Mayor Joe Stahura says heÂ's been in talks with BP officials about the possible expansion and knows there are still hurdles to final approval. Meanwhile, even in the age of sprawling oil plants, the Northwest Indiana BP plant retains a small-town feel — where instead of loaning one another a cup of sugar, here, theyÂ'll hand out advice. Â"One of the unique things about the work force is if you have a question, you can always find someone to answer,Â" said Bill Phillips, whoÂ's been working at the plant since the late 1970s. Â"We have a habit of looking out for each other. ItÂ's the only way to live out there.Â" A secret city BP officials have carefully organized the plant like a tightly gated community where each person must be accounted for. Even WhitingÂ's police chief alerts plant security before he enters the gates. Â"We stay out unless they need us,Â'Â' Whiting Police Chief Stephen Miller said. Â"We have an excellent working relationship with them. For one of my officers or myself to go into the refinery and figure out where weÂ're going, we donÂ't have a clue. I wouldnÂ't know where to go, and I wouldnÂ't want to jeopardize an officer,Â" Miller said. BP straddles three cities, but inside the gates itÂ's impossible to tell when youÂ're in Whiting, Hammond or East Chicago. The only real border that stands out is Lake Michigan. Once in the plant, guests and visitors arenÂ't allowed to drive unescorted, and workers and contractors must abide by plant driving rules or theyÂ'll be ticketed by plant security. BP officials say 9-11 forced them to beef up security. Long-time employee George Toth said he used to think it was charming when visitors to Northwest Indiana would stand outside the gates and take pictures; now it makes him uneasy. Â"ItÂ's just not like walking into a public building,Â'Â' Toth said. Â"We have to have accountability for our people.Â" BP doesnÂ't need much assistance from public agencies because it has its own security department, fire department and even a medical clinic. Firefighters attend the Texas A & M Industrial Fire School. The company, with its own emergency phone system, usually doesnÂ't need to call 911 operators. Instead, when an accident or small fire happens at the plant, BP officials handle it on their own, and the event goes undocumented in public police and fire reports. Inside the plantÂ's gates Upon entering the plantÂ's gates, all visitors must sign in to a newly built welcome center, which is equipped with a TV set-up to run a 15-minute safety video. Visitors arenÂ't allowed in the plant without their driverÂ's license and must watch the video and take a quiz on safety. This is a casual reminder that sets the tone of how dangerous life can be at BP. Â"ItÂ's a dangerous place to work. ThereÂ's no doubt about it,Â" Phillips said. Â"YouÂ've got to come to work with your eyes open and your head screwed on. ThatÂ's for sure.Â" Even with a guided tour of the complex plant, itÂ's hard to know where you are most times. Equipment like the catalytic cracker and ultraformer look the same to a newcomer. Employees like Toth, Tom Keilman and Phillips know the plant inside and out, but to others, the maze of pipes is like trying to put together a 10,000-piece puzzle. Â"ItÂ's very complex,Â'Â' Phillips said. Â"ItÂ's mind-boggling to a new employee. That first day, you wouldnÂ't even know how to get out of the plant. It all looks the same.Â" BPÂ's Whiting refinery is one of the largest in the nation and first constructed in 1889 on 235 acres. At the time, 600 barrels of crude oil daily were processed. Now, more than 400,000 barrels of crude oil are processed each day. Charlie Vesolowski, craft foreman for the Local 150 Operating Engineers, describes the plant as a maze. Â"This is a pipefitterÂ's Disneyland,Â" he said. Â"Everywhere you look, there are pipes. If you stop and stare, youÂ've got to wonder what kind of mind created this. The pipes are running in every direction conceivable and somehow it all works.Â" It takes a large, orchestrated effort to run this plant — so much so that some workers are required to go from one end of the plant to another and do so by bicycling. ItÂ's just easier that way. Phillips has often ridden around on a bike to get to another piece of equipment. Â"The units are so large itÂ's hard to get from one side of the unit to another,Â'Â' Phillips said. Â"Sometimes, youÂ've got to cover that whole area, and itÂ's an easier way of getting around.Â" Pipes wind around the plant together in a puzzle that fits together to process the oil into gasoline. Trailers dot the plantÂ's landscape, providing work stations for contractors and some workers. It takes new employees at least a year to be trained on a job. And to distinguish one another — all workers are dressed in special attire. The companyÂ's 1,275 employees wear blue overalls, which they call FRCs, fire retardant clothing. An additional 2,000 contractors dressed in green could be working at the site on any given day. The 2,000 contractors could be from a wide range of unions, including the Carpenters, Pipefitters or Operating Engineers. BP takes the crude oil and processes it into a number of products. The crude oil winds around the plant into a maze of processes while itÂ's been turned into products such as Ultimate gasoline, Silver gasoline, jet fuel or furnace oil. The entire plant is run from one office called central control. The workers call it Â"The Cube.Â" Here, about 15 operators watch monitors filled with numbers explaining every aspect of the gasoline process. Just feet away, workers have set up their own oasis in a coffee shop, complete with stainless steel refrigerators. TheyÂ've even got their own exercise equipment. Phillips started at the plant in 1979, and his father had worked there for 37 years before him. HeÂ's now risen in the union ranks to become president of the local, but still works at the refinery several times a month. Â"It keeps me familiar with the work going on in the plant.Â" Keilman, who has worked at the plant since 1998 in government affairs, had been familiar with the oil industry his whole life because of relatives who worked for such companies. But when he began working at BP, it was the first time heÂ'd been to the plant. Â"It was an interesting time of my life. I had the opportunity to spend a few days just visiting units to understand the more technical aspects of how things work,Â" Keilman said. Â"I got to climb up on a couple of units. ItÂ's very interesting and definitely gave me a better perspective.Â">

Chgo sports dominate Sunday NY Times

ON BASEBALL Murray and Ditka Still Waiting for Cubs • E-MAIL • PRINT • SINGLE PAGE • REPRINTS • SAVE • SHARE • DIGG • FACEBOOK • NEWSVINE • PERMALINK By MURRAY CHASS Published: February 4, 2007 No bigger Chicago Cubs fan lives than Bill Murray. But heÂ's a Bears fan, too. Asked the other day if he was a Bears fan, Murray said, Â"Yeah, IÂ'm in Miami.Â" He didnÂ't add, Â"you dummy,Â" but he seemed to utter the words silently. Skip to next paragraph John Gress/Reuters In Bill MurrayÂ's 56 years, the Bears have been kinder to him than the Cubs. But heÂ's still a passionate fan. M.L.B. • Schedule/Scores • Standings: A.L. | N.L. Wild Card Standings • Stats: A.L. | N.L. • Team Reports Yankees • Schedule/Results • Individual Stats | Team • Roster | History • Discuss the Yankees Mets • Schedule/Results • Individual Stats | Team • Roster | History • Discuss the Mets During his 56 years, the Bears have been kinder to Murray than the Cubs. The Bears today are playing in their second Super Bowl and fourth National Football League championship game with Murray as a devoted fan. He has not experienced the delight of seeing the Cubs in the World Series. Â"We were so close, five outs away, a three-run lead,Â" he said. Â"I donÂ't like to reflect on that game because everybody dwells on it. ItÂ's like the Bill Buckner game.Â" Murray was talking about the Steve Bartman affair in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship Series. Bartman, a fan, prevented Moises Alou from catching a foul pop for the second out of the eighth inning. The Cubs proceeded to make a series of errors, and the Florida Marlins scored eight runs and won the game and then won Game 7. Had the Cubs secured five more outs and held their lead, they would have been in the World Series for the first time since 1945. As a child, Murray, who was born in Wilmette, Ill., in 1950, never saw the Cubs in the postseason. They have reached the postseason four times in his adult years, but the World Series has been off-limits. Â"Someone said youÂ're going to be very upset when you lose,Â" Murray said, recalling the 1989 N.L. Championship Series against San Francisco. Â"I said: Â'You donÂ't get it. WeÂ've been losing since I was born. If defeat was going to break me, it would have happened a long time ago.Â' Â" The Bears have won more N.F.L. championships at Wrigley Field than the Cubs have won World Series. Each team has played at Wrigley five times for its sportÂ's championship, with the Bears winning four times and the Cubs none. When the Cubs won successive World Series in 1907 — thatÂ's 100 years ago — and 1908, Wrigley Field had not been built. When the Bears won the Super Bowl in New Orleans after the 1985 season, Mike Ditka was their coach, and the outcome helped make him a legend in Chicago. DitkaÂ's second-most memorable Chicago feat was his rendition of Â"Take Me Out to the Ball GameÂ" during a seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley. Â"I was probably the second-worst singer,Â" Ditka said. Â"Ozzy Osbourne was the worst. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I was late and had to run up the steps.Â" Like Murray, Ditka spoke by telephone from Miami, where he is doing Super Bowl analysis for ESPN. Like Murray, Ditka is a Cubs fan. Â"I am,Â" said Ditka, a former tight end from Aliquippa, Pa. Â"I grew up a St. Louis Cardinals fan because of Stan Musial even though I was in Pittsburgh. Â"My first autographed ball was Pie Traynor. I hit a home run in Little League and they gave me a ball autographed by Pie Traynor. But I was always a Stan Musial fan. HeÂ's from Donora, Pa. I still have his picture hanging in my home in Florida and my restaurant in Chicago.Â" Murray and Ditka are both experts on Cubs fans. Â"Cubs fans love the Cubs,Â" Murray said the day before Groundhog Day. Â"If youÂ're a Cub fan, youÂ're sort of a graceful loser. YouÂ've lost so many times you have some grace about it.Â" Ditka said: Â"They call the fans diehard for a reason. TheyÂ're there. ItÂ's like going to Fenway Park. Wrigley Field is a special place. ItÂ's a cathedral of baseball. The fans are terrific. TheyÂ're as positive as can be.Â" The CubsÂ' performance last season, however, strained the fansÂ' unquestioning allegiance. They had watched the crosstown White Sox and the Boston Red Sox win the World Series the previous two seasons, ending lengthy droughts, and now it was supposed to be the CubsÂ' turn. Â"ThatÂ's how I saw it, too,Â" Murray said. Â"But then I pick the Cubs every year. But I really thought the momentum of all this would make it happen.Â" The Cubs, however, had an assortment of injured players, most notably Derrek Lee, Kerry Wood and Mark Prior, and finished with the N.L.Â's worst record (66-96). Â"They didnÂ't keep too many people healthy,Â" Ditka said. He said he thought the poor season had embarrassed the Cubs and prompted them to spend a lot of money this off-season. The team brought in a new manager, Lou Piniella, and signing the free agents Alfonso Soriano and Ted Lilly, among others. Murray offered a different view. Â"The thing is for sale,Â" he said, referring to the Tribune Company, the CubsÂ' owner. Â"I think once itÂ's for sale everything changes and teams spend lots and lots of money. ThatÂ's what IÂ've noticed. Whoever buys it is going to eat all this money. They donÂ't care what happens. ItÂ's a great way to go out, spending someone elseÂ's money and still get tickets for the game.Â" Ditka noted that the Â"organization has taken some heat the last few yearsÂ" but endorsed the off-season moves. Â"The old story is wait till next year,Â" he said. Â"Next year is here. Bringing in Lou is big. Sometimes you have to get ticked off, show some passion. The game of life is emotion. You have an emotional guy leading them now. A lot of guys donÂ't like Lou, Bobby Knight, me. But weÂ're around for a reason.Â" Murray hopes that reason is to get the Cubs to the World Series. Â"It will be very sweet when it happens,Â" he said. Billy MartinÂ's Buddy Murray and Ditka Still Waiting for Cubs • E-MAIL • PRINT • SINGLE PAGE • REPRINTS • SAVE • SHARE • DIGG • FACEBOOK • NEWSVINE • PERMALINK Published: February 4, 2007 (Page 2 of 2) George Steinbrenner had a whole board of buttons to push when he wanted to get at his favorite target, Billy Martin, but the one that worked better than most was the Art Fowler button. Fowler, a former major league pitcher, who died last week, was MartinÂ's pitching coach, confidante and drinking buddy. Skip to next paragraph M.L.B. • Schedule/Scores • Standings: A.L. | N.L. Wild Card Standings • Stats: A.L. | N.L. • Team Reports Yankees • Schedule/Results • Individual Stats | Team • Roster | History • Discuss the Yankees Mets • Schedule/Results • Individual Stats | Team • Roster | History • Discuss the Mets When Steinbrenner wanted to make Martin uncomfortable in his job as Yankees manager, he would fire Fowler or not let Martin hire him as pitching coach. Fowler was the pitching coach in 1978 when he was fired the first time. Al Rosen, the club president, did the deed before a Sunday afternoon game in Detroit in June. It was the last game of a road trip, and by the time the team bus arrived at the team hotel in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., a devastated Fowler had had so much to drink he couldnÂ't get off the bus unaided. A month later, Martin resigned after uttering his memorable remark about Steinbrenner and Reggie Jackson, Â"The two of them deserve each other; oneÂ's a born liar, the otherÂ's convicted.Â" Yet Fowler returned again and again as MartinÂ's pitching coach even though he didnÂ't have much effect on the pitching staff. One time Fowler went to the mound and told the pitcher, Â"I donÂ't know what you did, but you got Billy really upset.Â" SosaÂ's Comeback Some players donÂ't know when theyÂ're well off. Having sat out last season, Sammy Sosa did not take the hint when virtually no one showed interest in him. Now he is poised to try to make a comeback, signing a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers. Maybe he wants to play so that he can delay the day of reckoning when he will learn if he will join Mark McGwire as a superstar who was snubbed for the Hall of Fame. Sosa has 588 home runs, 5 more than McGwire, and is fifth on the career list. Like McGwire, though, he is suspected of having hit many of them with the aid of performance-enhancing substances. Sosa didnÂ't come off as poorly as McGwire at the Congressional hearing in March 2005, but he was unconvincing nonetheless in his denial that he had used steroids. Â"I donÂ't have too much to tell you,Â" he said in response to a question. He also hid behind a supposed language barrier. Except for a corked bat, Sosa has never been found guilty of anything. But he could be buried under the weight of circumstantial evidence. Until Sosa and McGwire staged their scintillating home run contest in 1998, only two players, Babe Ruth and Roger Maris, had hit 60 homers in a season. They barely reached that mark and reached it once each. Sosa reached the mark three times, slugging 66, 63 and 64 home runs in a span of four seasons. Before that run, the most home runs he had hit in a season was 40 in 1996. He will draw intense scrutiny when he returns and all of the steroids questions will be brought up again. So why is he attempting a comeback? Â"This is what he loves to do more than anything,Â" Adam Katz, SosaÂ's agent, said. Â"HeÂ's passionate about it. He feels he can still contribute. HeÂ's taken some time off away from the intense media scrutiny, and heÂ's recharged.Â" Sosa, 38, isnÂ't coming back for the money. If he wins a job with the Rangers, he will have a $500,000 salary and could earn $1.6 million in so-called makeable bonuses for fewer than 500 plate appearances. ChicagoÂ's Kind of Team, the Blundering Blackhawks ArenÂ't Peter Wynn Thompson The BlackhawksÂ' home attendance has fallen. In 27 games this season, 12 crowds have been smaller than 12,000 in the 20,500-seat United Center. • E-MAIL • PRINT • SINGLE PAGE • REPRINTS • SAVE • SHARE • DIGG • FACEBOOK • NEWSVINE • PERMALINK By DAVE CALDWELL Published: February 4, 2007 Frank Pellico is the Chicago BlackhawksÂ' longtime organist, which means he usually gets to play in front of thousands of empty red seats at the United Center and for a mediocre team that often disappoints the fans who do show up. Skip to next paragraph N.H.L • Scoreboard • Schedule • Teams | Statistics • 2006-07 Standings: East | West • • Discuss the N.H.L. Rangers • Schedule/Results • Roster | Statistics • Discuss the Rangers Devils • Schedule/Results • Roster | Statistics • Discuss the Devils Islanders • Schedule/Results • Roster | Statistics • Discuss the Islanders Peter Wynn Thompson The Blackhawks are a sharp contrast to the Bears, but some hockey fans share dual allegiances. Â"Well, each game is brand new to us,Â" Pellico said cheerfully last Sunday on a snowy, windswept afternoon in Chicago. Â"We have to do each game like weÂ're in first place. Nobody backs down. I donÂ't see many down people at all.Â" Pellico excused himself because he was supposed to start playing 90 minutes before the game, when the arena gates opened. In this instance, Pellico played for 15 minutes before any people found their seats. A Blackhawks game rarely creates a stampede. Only 11,182 would come to watch the Blackhawks end a 10-game losing streak by beating Calgary. It was the 12th crowd of less than 12,000 in the 27 games that the Blackhawks played this season at the United Center, which seats 20,500 for hockey. Sam Walter and three of his friends, all in their 20s, decided an hour before the opening face-off to come watch the Blackhawks. They got their choice of $15 seats in a corner of the upper level. Asked why they came to the game, Walter smiled and said, Â"The Bears are off, and itÂ's fun.Â" A $15 ticket is barely more than a movie, he said. He paused, then said, almost sounding as if he were reminding himself, Â"This used to be a hockey town.Â" The Blackhawks provide a sharp contrast to the cityÂ's beloved Bears, who will play in the Super Bowl for the first time in 21 years today. The Blackhawks, who have not won the Stanley Cup since 1961, stir little passion in a sports-crazy city. Â"ItÂ's kind of hard at times to see it like this,Â" said Jon Eller, who sat beside Walter as he looked around the arena. The sad part is that Chicago used to be an N.H.L. stronghold. The Blackhawks began play in 1926, and such hockey legends as Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito played for the team. Chicago Stadium, their old arena, was an N.H.L. mecca. The arena, which stood across the street from where the United Center stands today, had a thundering organ and a booming foghorn that practically shook paint off the rafters after the Blackhawks scored. Traditions were established that are now fading away. One called for fans to cheer the national anthem from start to finish, whipping up a din that drowned out the singer and generated energy. Some fans still try to carry on the tradition, but they are often hushed by others. Little is the way it used to be.DickÂ's also had racks of Ben Wallace Bulls jerseys. But there were only two Khabibulin jerseys for sale, both in childrenÂ's sizes. The only adult Blackhawks jerseys were the No. 55 worn by Éric Dazé, who has played one game in three years because of injuries. Skip to next paragraph N.H.L • Scoreboard • Schedule • Teams | Statistics • 2006-07 Standings: East | West • • Discuss the N.H.L. Rangers • Schedule/Results • Roster | Statistics • Discuss the Rangers Devils • Schedule/Results • Roster | Statistics • Discuss the Devils Islanders • Schedule/Results • Roster | Statistics • Discuss the Islanders Â"WeÂ're definitely low on the totem pole in Chicago,Â" said Aucoin, who has been sidelined this year with a groin injury, Â"but one of the reasons I came here was because I knew there are still tons and tons of Blackhawks fans waiting for us to win.Â" As they wait, they continue to direct most of their frustration at Wirtz, a barrel-chested man often called Dollar Bill, and usually not in a nice way. His son, Peter, the teamÂ's 44-year-old vice president, wrote in an e-mail message: Â"Personally, it hurts me very much to see or read things that vilify my father. He is a man who has dedicated his life to the sport of hockey.Â" The Wirtz family has owned the team since 1954, and Bill Wirtz has been the team president since 1966. His employees say they enjoy working for him, but a legion of fans considers Wirtz to be tight-fisted and old-fashioned. Wirtz was unavailable for comment, but Peter Wirtz wrote that the franchise was committed to winning and had not given up on the season. Moreover, he said, the Blackhawks are trying to widen their exposure. Although five televised home games sound modest, they are the most ever, and ratings are up. The Blackhawks have a discount-ticket plan for students. When the Blackhawks played well before Christmas, more fans came to watch. Â"There was a lot of energy at our games,Â" Peter Wirtz wrote, Â"and the atmosphere in the building was tremendous. That is why I believe that Chicago is still a great hockey town.Â" The recent 10-game losing streak was the second for the Blackhawks in as many years; before last year, the team did not lose 10 games in a row since 1951. This streak clearly tested the emotions of their latest coach, Denis Savard, a former Blackhawks legend. After the Blackhawks won last Sunday, Savard said: Â"This is a great city, a great hockey town. I love this organization. I love this city. I love my players.Â" Savard, 45, retired after the 1996-97 season and became an assistant coach early the next season under Craig Hartsburg. Savard proceeded to work under Hartsburg and six head coaches that followed. Then it was SavardÂ's turn. He replaced Trent Yawney on Nov. 29 and the Blackhawks won their next three games. They even had a winning record as late as Dec. 26. But injuries followed, along with defeats. Â"It gets tough mentally sometimes, because the guys want to win,Â" said Martin Lapointe, a 33-year-old right wing who won two Stanley Cups with Detroit and signed as a free agent in Chicago last August. The fans want to win, too, at least those paying attention. Bears Make It a Practice to Force Turnovers Gregory Shamus/Getty Images The Bears led the league with 44 takeaways, and that included recovering 20 of 32 fumbles. • E-MAIL • PRINT • REPRINTS • SAVE • SHARE • DIGG • FACEBOOK • NEWSVINE • PERMALINK By CLIFTON BROWN Published: February 4, 2007 MIAMI, Feb. 3 — After falling short of the Super Bowl last season, the Chicago BearsÂ' coaching staff sought ways to make its defense even more ferocious. The coaches studied videotapes. They charted plays. And they found an answer. Skip to next paragraph Multimedia Graphic The Chicago Takeaway Machine Graphic How the Bears Can Win Blog Times staffers cover the road to the Super Bowl. Go to Blog » N.F.L. • Scores/Schedule • Schedules: A.F.C. | N.F.C. • Standings: A.F.C. | N.F.C. • Teams | Statistics • Transactions • Injuries: A.F.C. | N.F.C. • Discuss the N.F.L. Giants • Team Page • Schedule/Results • Statistics | Roster | Injuries • Depth Chart | History • Discuss the Giants Jets • Team Page • Schedule/Results • Statistics | Roster | Injuries • Depth Chart | History • Discuss the Jets Â"We created 26 fumbles last season, and only got 10 of them,Â" Ron Rivera, the defensive coordinator, said during an interview Thursday. Â"This year, we wanted 11 guys running to the football. We wanted to play faster. We wanted more turnovers.Â" The Bears led the N.F.L. this season with 44 takeaways, which included recovering 20 of 32 fumbles, And they want their next takeaway to be the Lombardi Trophy, awarded to the winner of SundayÂ's Super Bowl XLI between the Bears and the Indianapolis Colts. No matter the opponent, no matter the magnitude of the game, the Bears have four specific defensive goals every game: ¶To hold the opponent to 17 points or fewer. ¶To force at least four three-and-out series. ¶To force at least two turnovers. ¶To put the offense in scoring position at least once, or to score at least one defensive touchdown. If the Bears accomplish those goals against Indianapolis, Rivera says, there will be a championship parade in Chicago. The BearsÂ' defense has carried them this far, finishing the regular season with four more takeaways than the next closest team, the Baltimore Ravens, and eight more than the next closest team in the National Football Conference, the Minnesota Vikings. The inconsistency of ChicagoÂ's offense and quarterback Rex Grossman has been much discussed. Yet the Bears were the second-highest scoring team in the league during the regular season, tied with the Colts. Their 26.7 points a game came in part because their defense and special teams often scored, or gave the offense superb field position. In their 39-14 victory over the New Orleans Saints in the N.F.C. championship game, the Bears forced four turnovers that led to 13 points, using the art of the takeaway to set the tone for the game. All N.F.L. teams talk about forcing turnovers, but the Bears obsess about it. During every practice, whenever there is an incomplete pass, defensive players keep running to the ball until one of them recovers it. Defensive end Alex Brown said that he and his teammates sometimes reacted to the ball as if they had been hypnotized. Â"Every single practice, itÂ's emphasized, over and over,Â" he said. Â"IÂ've never been around a team, college, high school, that talks about turnovers this much. I have to catch myself during games sometimes, because thereÂ's a dead ball on the ground, the refÂ's blowing the whistle, but IÂ'm still chasing it. WeÂ're just trained to do it. The way we practice, it creates a sense of urgency when it comes to taking the ball.Â" Bears Coach Lovie Smith, a former defensive coordinator in St. Louis and linebackers coach with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, challenges his defense to take the ball at every opportunity. If one defender is making a tackle, somebody else should be trying to strip the ball. Deflecting a pass is good, but intercepting it is much better. In his quest to have a fast defense, Smith has not been bashful about giving playing time to young players. Starting safety Danieal Manning is a rookie, as is defensive end Mark Anderson, who led the team with 12 sacks. Â"IÂ've always been a coach that believed in playing rookies,Â" Smith said. Â"We look to see who our best players are, period. It doesnÂ't matter how old they are.Â" When Rivera watches videotape, he often freezes it to count how many Bears he sees in the frame. Â"If I only see two or three guys in the frame, I get on the other guys,Â" he said. Â"ItÂ's an accountability thing. They take a little bit of pride in it. They donÂ't want to get called out. Â"When it comes to forcing turnovers, some guys just have an innate sense to do it. Charles Tillman is terrific at it. Brian Urlacher is very conscious of it. Adewale Ogunleye thinks about it. When youÂ've got three or four guys believing in it, it kind of spreads to more guys.Â" Several times this season, the BearsÂ' defense has taken over a game with takeaways. The most notable example came in Week 6, when the Bears rallied from a 23-3 deficit against Arizona to win, 24-23, with the defense and special teams combining to score three touchdowns. On the BearsÂ' first touchdown, Anderson sacked Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart and forced him to fumble. Safety Mike Brown recovered and ran 3 yards into the end zone. Later in the game, Urlacher stripped the ball from running back Edgerrin James and Tillman recovered, running 40 yards for a touchdown. Minutes later, the Cardinals punted to Devin Hester, who returned the ball 83 yards for a touchdown. When the Bears sense that their offense needs help, they increase their appetite for a turnover. Â"We say it to each other on the sideline, Â'We need to get the ball back, right now,Â' Â" said Tillman, a starting cornerback. Â"ItÂ's big for momentum when you can get one, because a lot of times, thatÂ's what sparks the offense.Â" The Colts certainly know about ChicagoÂ's knack for takeaways, and they have worked in practice on ball security. Â"You can tell that itÂ's coached and emphasized highly,Â" Colts tight end Dallas Clark said of the BearsÂ' penchant for stripping the ball. Â"ItÂ's important as an offensive player to protect the ball. WeÂ've been working on that in practice and making the same conscious effort on trying to make sure we protect the ball and knowing that theyÂ're coming for it.Â" There are some similarities between these Bears and the 1985 Bears, winners of Super Bowl XX. Both teams were led by tenacious defenses. And just as the defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan left the Bears after Super Bowl XX to become coach of the Philadelphia Eagles, Rivera could be leaving after Super Bowl XLI to become coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Rivera said Thursday that neither he nor his agent had spoken with the Cowboys, but he had heard the speculation that he was the CowboysÂ' top choice. Might Rivera give his defense an impassioned speech in their last defensive meeting, much as Ryan did before Super Bowl XX? Â"I donÂ't know if any chairs will fly anywhere, but weÂ'll see,Â" he said. More important than watching chairs fly, Smith and Rivera want ChicagoÂ's defense to fly, to create the takeaways that have been so much a part of the season. The Colts have not lost a fumble during the postseason, but Manning has thrown six interceptions. A few more takeaways by the Bears on Sunday, and their next takeaway could be the Lombardi Trophy.>

O Hare International, pictures?

O hare is one of the busiest airports in the world I am was wondering if anyone has any pictures if it like the inside and shops and stuff please post if you have any. Thanks>

Skokie Swift questions

Hey guys, I was wondering something-- the Skokie Swift trains have overhead electric lines rather than the traditional 3rd rail. Doesn't that technically make it a light rail system? I always thought that the overhead power lines were the major distinction between light rail and heavy rail. Anyone?>

edsg25 should write a book on Chicago

somone once mentioned that edsg should write a book on chicago .i say edsg should write a book on Chicago! not that no one else isnt qualified, but edsg25 writes well and always brings forth many very interesting comprehensive descusions and veiw points. he has a love and passion for chicago thats matched only by a select few . hes been around throughout many of this cities changes -what is it 50+ years?- and has taken it all in and prossesed it in a unuique way no other auther has put into words yet.hes a guy i would trust to put chicgao into prospective for the world and display chicago in the best light. i propose that edsg25 write a book on chicagos past present and future! what do you guys think ? you agree ? dissagree? common guys back me up on this one.>

City to help fund CNA's Loop rehab

City to help fund CNA's Loop rehab $13.5 million subsidy offered to derail move By Thomas A. Corfman Tribune staff reporter Published February 23, 2005 To keep a large employer in the Loop, the Daley administration has agreed to provide a multimillion-dollar subsidy for the redevelopment of CNA Financial Corp.'s headquarters. A city grant of $13.5 million will help offset CNA's estimated $58.5 million cost of renovating the 45-story structure, constructed in 1972, said a spokeswoman for Planning Commissioner Denise Casalino, who confirmed the outline of the agreement. "We are not only retaining the employees that they have but also gathering new ones," the spokeswoman said. The deal staves off a possible move to the suburbs by the commercial property and casualty insurer, which has been advised by the Chicago real estate firm John Buck Co. At the same time, it prevents CNA's distinctive red building at 333 S. Wabash Ave., from turning into a real estate white elephant. As a part of the deal, CNA, which has 3,000 employees in its headquarters, will move about 100 employees from the suburbs to the city and hire an equal number of new workers, the spokeswoman said. The city subsidy, a tax increment financing grant, will allow the 1.1 million-square-foot building, originally designed for a single company, to accommodate multiple tenants. After the renovation is complete, about 300,000 square feet of office space will be available for lease by outside firms, the planning spokeswoman said. Even with the financial assistance, attracting tenants to the building will be challenging, some real estate executives say. "The East Loop is generally slow; it doesn't have a ton of velocity," said Steven Stratton, managing principal with tenant representative Staubach Co. "It's a B-type building, but B pricing is very soft right now," he said, referring to rents and using the real estate industry's practice of giving letter grades to office buildings. Up until now, the Wabash building was best known for a 1999 accident in which a glass pane fell, killing a pedestrian. The building's windows were subsequently replaced. The tax increment financing deal is a key step in a two-year review of its space needs by CNA, which originally occupied two buildings--the Wabash structure and a smaller, adjacent building at 55 E. Jackson, which was sold in 2003. At one point, CNA considered consolidating operations in Downers Grove, where it already has a significant office and where property taxes and real estate costs are substantially less than in the Loop. The real estate review is part of a costly financial restructuring CNA began in 2001, the result of aggressive policy pricing in the late 1990s. But the firm appears to be rebounding, and in 2004 recorded a profit of $441 million, compared with a 2003 loss of $1.43 billion. Based in Chicago since 1900, CNA is a publicly traded company that is 90 percent owned by Loews Corp., a conglomerate controlled by the New York's Tisch family that includes hotels, Bulova watches, an oil-drilling business and Newport cigarette brands. At 23 percent of the total $58.5 million, the city's grant is a particularly large amount, compared with past city deals, said attorney Rolando Acosta, who specializes in zoning and TIF deals. "But not when you consider how many jobs are involved," he added And cities have little choice but to be aggressive with financial incentives when large employers look to cut costs, said Acosta, a partner in Chicago-based Acosta, Kruse & Zemenides LLC. "The back-office jobs can easily be moved out of town," he said.>

What if Metra didn't terminate?

Metra probably does the best job of any heavy commuter rail system in the nation: it efficently moves suburbanites into the core of Chicago. It is marvelously on time. It is designed to do the job assigned to it. But what if.... Imagine somehow that the Metra system could be asked to do another job. That job would be to work in tandem with CTA (while still maintaining separate status) to more effectively move Chicagoland transportation by making Metra terminals downtown into stations along the route. Admittedly that might cause some problems in scheduling; commuter rail is based on departure times from downtown or end terminals. but those could be fixed if necessary. In fact, the current system of scheduled suburban-to-downtown trains could remain in place with other trains on the tracks using downtown as a stop, not terminal. Union Station has the capacity to move through traffic both north and south of its terminal. As a result Ogilvie benefits from those very tracks running a block to their east. Track adjustment could open Ogilvie to areas to the south. It would be more expensive to make a connection from the west of the river terminals to LaSalle Street Station, but distance makes this one feasible, too. No direct link could go north from Randolph St. station, but the lines to the south that use it could cut over in the South Loop towards LaSalle and the west of river terminals. Look, I realize that this is a multi-billion dollar project I'm suggesting, but it is still far cheaper than an extensive building of new CTA lines over much greater distances. In fact, my suggestion may be a bit like CTA's Circle Line concept in the sense that it makes tremendous use of existing track to implement a fundamental change to its system. Could it work?>

Loopy new Chicago business

This is one Chicago business that probably isn't going anywhere. To me, cereal seems like something people eat in order to fill themselves up in the morning when they don't have the time or inclination to cook a meal for themselves. If I'm paying for takeout, why would I order cereal? I think this idea is bizarre and I would be very surprised if the concept worked anywhere but near college campuses. Froot Loops come to the Loop The Associated Press Published February 23, 2005 Cereality Cereal Bar & Cafe, the quirky chain of cereal-only restaurants that relocated to Chicago this year from Boulder, Colo., announced plans Tuesday to open a downtown eatery in late spring as it seeks to add office workers to its predominantly young clientele. The company, which grew out of a kiosk at Arizona State University's student union, said the new outlet will be two blocks north of the Sears Tower. It will feature 30 kinds of cereal and 30 toppings, served in "bowls" resembling Chinese take-out containers. Also offered will be cereal bars, snack mixes, granolas and smoothies, all served up by pajama top-wearing "cereologists." The restaurant in Chicago's financial district follows the opening of Cereality's first cafe-size store in December on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, with couches, flat-screen TVs showing cartoons and free Wi-Fi access. Co-founders David Roth and Rick Bacher have announced plans for 10 more Cereality cafes by 2006 on campuses and in hospital lobbies, airports and office buildings. "This Loop location is perfect for the next phase of our national rollout" said Roth, who is chief executive officer. "We'll get a huge cross-section of office workers plus the thousands of traders, clerks and visitors to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange" — which is located across the street. The company recently hired as its chief operating officer Tim Casey, who was vice president of operations for Starbucks, to oversee its aggressive expansion plans.>

Chicago riverfront

Is there a chance that when buildings like Trump, Waterview, etc., are completed, the main branch Chicago Riverfront will be the most stunningly beautiful of all downtown settings, even exceeding the lakefront. That might sound blasphemous to suggest, but I believe the argument could be made. The Chicago River exceeds by far any river in the world in its ability to create a man made canyon. That this is located among some of the world's greatest architecture with soaring new towers under way only adds to the allure. It's great to be living at a time when our river has become as beloved and respected along with the lake.>

Does Chicago have mayoral elections?

I'm just wondering. I don't hear much about mayoral elections in Chicago. Damn, Mayor Daley must be strict.>

Where downtown for new Carsons?

Two articles in the business section of the Trib today would seem to be related: • American Girl Place will be taking over the first 2 floors of Lord & Taylor's WTP store • Carsons has benefitted from the Field's-to-Macy's changeover and is looking good in the Chicago market with a desire to expand. No mention of the replacement of the State Street was made in that arricle. It would have seemed to me that L&T WTP might have been a good choice, but I guess that is not to be. Where do you think that Carsons would likely go to replace the State & Madison store: State Street? N. Michigan Ave? Is the retail portion of Block 37 locked in and is that a possiblity? No Michigan Avenue site large enough for Carsons seems available on Michigan Avenue. Is there a chance that Saks (closing in Old Orchad and Oakbrook) with only Michigan Ave and Hghld Pk still open here might close and be converted to Casons? Is State or Michigan actually a necessity in the downtown area or could other less traditonal dept. store sites be considered? (I would have my doubts; Carsons would like to maximize sales in the central part of the city and would have dififculty doing this any place other than State or Michigan.) Thoughts?>

Neighbourhoods: Belmont & Addison Avenue by 94

How is the neighbourhood on the north side between Belmont and Addison and closed off by interstate 94 from the west. Not sure palce is called, but it is close to a river ... I got a job in Chicago (for 6 months only) and am looking a place. Found some internet offers in that part of the town, but since I am tied up in TO for now, could you guys tell me what you think about that part of time?>

Chicago Bears Thread

I think it is neccessary to have a Bears forum. I know we have a Chicago sports forum, but the Bears need a section of there own. The Bears are Chicago. So I hope the mods tag it and leave it up because Bears fans IMO are going to hae a lot of fun these next few months!!!! So right now it is Nov 21st. Da Bears are in FANTASTIC position, better than any position they have ever been in. Let's look at the facts, they are 9-1 with 6 games left against NE, Minn, STL, Tampa, Detroit, & GB. If the Bears finish 3-3, it is almost mathmatically impossible for them to not only have the bye, but also Home field to the Super Bowl. I mean, NYG and Seattle now have 4 losses and the Bears won both tie braker games. The other 6-4 are the Panthers and Cowboys, but there NFC records as of right now are 4-3 and 3-3. So the Bears are in unbelievable positon!!! Now are they the best team in the NFL right now, I don't think so(SD & INDY), but they are the best team in the NFC. So what excites, scares ya Bears fans? Also please use this thread during game time or post game Excites me: Defense-Leads NFL(120 points aloud, enough said) Running game lately-vs both NY teams, looked great Grossman-Yes he has had some horrific games, but atleast we are not one dimensional Bernard back- We need him to stay healthy, deep threat changes defense NFC not that good, if there ever was a year to make it the SB, this is it Scares me: -Winning a home Playoff game, Philly back in early 2000, Panthers last year, makes you sick -Blitzing defenses, i.e. Miami/Arizona games, Bears not great against Blitz on OL and Grossman becomes erratic -injuries, part of the NFL game, injuries can just kill a team(i.e NYG). We lost Mike Brown who was a huge influence on defense, cannot afford any mor injuries. All in all, I predict the Bears going and winning the Super Bowl, I really do. So Bear Down!!!>

Urban relationships: Chicago and....

Which cities does Chicago have a real "relationship" with? That is, what cities to we interact with in a special way. It's hard to define, but, to serve as an example, there would not be a special relationship between Chicago and, say, Baltimore? I'd go with: New York: the big two in urban structure, of big city feel. a long lasting skyscraper battle and economic competition down through the years Los Angeles: the whole "who is the # 2 city" in the nation? Lots of Chicago connection with Hollywood. an edgy relationship St. Louis: Cubs and Cards, of course, but even more so based on Chicago's effect on St. Louis's economic fortunes, the whole reversal of role thing Detroit: some similiarities with St. Louis. For much of the early 20th century, two cities with so much in common as large, industrial midwestern metropolises. The way the two have gone in different directions since then and the drain that Chicago seems to put on the youth of Detroit who often move here Minneapolis: Chicagoans recognize it, in some ways, as the midwest's second most forminable city Indianapolis: somewhat like Milw relationship; tends to be strong because of Chgo influence in IN Milwaukee: the whole, obvious sibbling relationship, played out with big city and smaller city. Tends to be friendlier than other relationships Atlanta: Atlanta in many ways tried to become the Chicago of the South. Battle over airports and convention trade spirit this relationship Boston: This one is wea. I'm sticking this one in strictly because of the Kennedy-Daley family relationship Las Vegas: strong link for massive numbers of Chicagoans who have gone on trips to Vegas down through the years (supposedly second in size to those visiting from LA); mob link Phoenix: huge number of Chicagoans who moved there and still retain Chgo roots, causing some desire to recreate Chicago to feel at home (i.e. LEYE restuarants). Cub spring training. Miami: similiar to Phoenix...lots of Chicagoans retire or have second homes here. Weaker than Miami-NYC link, but has some similiarities Houston: some similiarities with relationship with Atlanta and with LA (alhtough here its 3 and 4); Houston sees this more as a skyline race between the two than Chicago does>

when trump tower

When will be started the construction on trump tower site in chicago?>

the special world of the Loop

The Loop's theatre district has been beautifully restored and has been revived years ago. Block 37 will only enhance its strength. Many parts of the Loop have lost their business only atmosphere. The east Loop, in particular, has taken vintage buildings unsuitable for today's office space and converted them to condos; new condos have joined these structures. The Loop restaurant scene has improved, but still has a way to go. Entertainment other than theatre has not kept pace. [b]Isn't it time today to reexamine the role of what once was downtown Chicago, the Loop, the place where downtown=Loop and Loop=downtown. For all the pleasures that places north of the river can and do offer, isn't it time we started to reappreciate that there is only one Loop. Only one place where canyons rise block after block, street after street. Isn't it time to realize that no matter how trendy Rush Street or River North may be, there is nothing that compares with a theatre located in a dense cluster of skyscrapers for sheer excitement? That this is the most desirable location for dance, clubs, restaurants, virtually every type of pleasure-oreinted activity. For all the growth on the periphery of a downtown area that spreads from North Avenue to Cermark, from the lakefront to the United Center, shouldn't we also refocus on the core that made it all happen...the incredible, the unique Loop?>

Chicago Wallpapers

does anyone have? i love placing Chicago wallpapers...just to remember this awesome city, i adore it.>

Chicago's Proposed Riverwalk---Questions and or ideas???

Chicago riverbank walkway remains just an idea February 24, 2005 BY FRAN SPIELMAN City Hall Reporter It's back to the drawing board for Mayor Daley's ambitious plan to create a San Antonio-style riverwalk along Wacker Drive. After getting only one reply to its request for proposals -- from the California company in the eye of the storm for its handling of an $83million makeover of Illinois tollway oases -- City Hall has ordered a new round of competition in hopes of generating more interest. The Daley administration might even carve up the work into smaller pieces after seeking advice from real estate management firms and consulting San Antonio, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. The original plan called for the city to spend $40 million to $50million in yet-to-be-secured federal transportation funds to build a river-level boardwalk from Michigan Avenue to Lake Street. It would include 35,500 square feet of retail and restaurant space along with docks for tour boats and water taxis. Flaw in the concept When the work was done, the city would have turned the riverwalk over to a private management company in exchange for a monthly fee or a percentage of the gross receipts, whichever is greater. "We [have] such a potentially attractive and visible project, we had anticipated a lot more interest," said Brian Steele, a spokesman for the city's Department of Transportation. "Fifteen firms picked up the specs, but only one opted to submit a bid. We contacted some of those firms, and what we heard from them is that it might be too large for one firm to handle." Steele insisted that the city's decision to toss out the bid from Wilton Partners and restart the competition had nothing to do with the recent controversy over the tollway oases overhaul. Wilton's bid included the retail and restaurant development the city is seeking. But it also included an unexpected and apparently unwanted component: office and residential development along the riverwalk. "Those uses are not compatible with the city's goal to have that space be completely public," Steele said. Candy Express vs. Wilton Partners Wilton President Scott Mayer could not be reached for comment. Wilton Partners has been under fire for awarding tollway concession contracts to companies tied to Gov. Blagojevich's chief fund-raiser, Christopher Kelly, and to Blagojevich confidant Tony Rezko and for refusing to disclose the terms of those leases. In a lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court, Candy Express has also accused Wilton Partners of inflating oasis sales figures -- to "two to three times the national averages" -- in a fraudulent pitch to persuade the candy company to lease space. The bogus figures persuaded Candy Express to set up shop in all seven tollway oases in exchange for a monthly rent of $8,333 per store, with 8 percent increases over 10 years, the lawsuit stated. Wilton Partners has denied the charge and threatened a countersuit for breach of contract. The new round of bidding is not expected to result in any construction delays. So far, City Hall has secured funding for only one element of the project: a $3.5 million plaza between Wabash and State with a Vietnam War memorial as its centerpiece. The memorial is scheduled to open Memorial Day>

Loop Night Photos - II

I ventured back down to the Loop tonight--mostly around Millenium Park--to practice taking night shots. I hope you enjoy them. Anyone heard anything about this project? And last, but not least... >

Does Chicago have a Little Italy?

I have always thought that Chicago was just that All American city that every city in America should be modeled after, scaled down in many cases of course, but still. I was just curious about something. I have seen pictures or heard about all of these different areas of Chicago with an ethnic flavor to them. Greek, African American, Hispanic. I was just wondering, does Chicago have a perdominatly Italian neighborhood? I'm looking for street names, zip codes, that kind of thing.>

Chicago by hkskyline - Part 3

Chicago's Chinatown is fairly small, albeit very close to the Loop. I then proceeded to South Chicago to see the university campus. I was a little surprised how decayed the area was while the university was very nice. It was fairly foggy throughout the day. As the morning progressed, the fog didn't want to lift. Visit the U-boat on display at the science museum. It's definitely worth the trip! A scale model railway! Part 1 : http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=408284 Part 2 : http://skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=408367>

Anyone know about D. Garofalo's work?

... Such as the Redmoon Theater and the Hyde Park Art Center? There are prototypes on the firms website, but I'm wondering whether these projects have actually been started.>

Chicago by hkskyline - Part 5

Part 1 : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=408284 Part 2 : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=408367 Part 3 : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=416698 Part 4 : http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=441441>